We, the undersigned DC residents, voice our support for the full demands of the Defund MPD Coalition and call on DC Council and Mayor Bowser to implement these demands without delay. Police and prisons impact so many aspects of our lives, and the solutions to replace them are equally broad. That’s why we demand the District of Columbia defunds the Metropolitan Police Department to REFUND the community. Our demands include the following:

REDUCE MPD’S BUDGET BY 50% OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS

- Problem: DC spends more than half a billion per year on police yet DC residents face poverty, homelessness, and gun violence. They’re overfunded while our communities are underfunded.
- Solutions: Fund our communities by firing officers who violate our civil rights, freezing MPD hiring, cutting MPD’s staff in half, capping over time, and end reprogramming of DC funds for MPD.

EDUCATE WITH CARE AND COMPASSION

- Problem: Our children are being criminalized at school just for being kids. There are more cops in DC schools than guidance counselors, accelerating the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Solutions: Remove all police from DC schools. Fund more school counselors. Increase pay for teachers. Expand programs providing trauma-informed support and school-based behavioral health expansion.

FUND OUR COMMUNITIES: HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING, AND REPARATIONS
- Problem: The root causes of harm and violence are inequitable and inaccessible systems of care (e.g., healthcare, housing, education). Not enough resources are devoted to addressing these systemic issues.
- Solutions: Invest savings from reduced MPD budget into services and programs, including reparations, that lift up DC’s working-class and low-income communities and make us safer.

UNIFY THE COMMUNITY WITH REAL PUBLIC SAFETY
- Problem: Police don't keep us safe. Instead, they perform duties they shouldn’t be doing and actually cause violence and harm to the people they’re supposed to protect.
- Solutions: Create a non-police 911 response center. Expand violence interruption programs, harm reduction services, and community-based groups. Decriminalize homelessness, drug use, street vending, sex work, and other means of survival.

NON-VIOLENCE IN ALL PUBLIC SERVICES
- Problem: Policing is a racist, violent institution. DC police have killed and harmed too many in our community. In fact, from 2015-2020, DC spent $70 million on police misconduct claims.
- Solutions: Ban stop-and-frisk, jump-outs, surveillance, home search warrants, and chemical weapons. Make officers personally liable for lawsuits under $10K. End special treatment for officers under investigation. Remove police from social services, traffic enforcement, wellness checks, and emergency response.

DEMAND BRAVE LEADERSHIP
The time is now for DC’s elected leaders to put our community, our safety, and our children above property, profits, and superficial safety. We need them to join us in reimagining public safety without police and prisons. We demand our Council and Mayor vote “No” on all MPD budget increases, give the community a seat at the table, and implement our proposals without delay.

We will be closely monitoring the FY22 Budget process to ensure the budget funds real public safety and justice for our communities and reduces police spending.