​A breaking story​ in the ​Colorado Springs Indy ​newspaper recently revealed that CSPD sent an undercover officer to infiltrate and monitor leftist organizing groups in the city, including Colorado Springs DSA. The money to pay this officer's salary was a waste of taxpayer dollars, and the act was an infringement on our democratic right to peacefully organize.

Such actions result in fear and intimidation in our community, which too often prevent concerned citizens from feeling safe to express our political views and organize to pass policies that we care about. This is NOT how we want our tax dollars spent. We deserve and demand a city environment that promotes, not suppresses, democratic movements. We want to see our tax dollars going to solve current problems, such as homelessness and the lack of affordable housing, NOT to manufacture crime where there is none.

The actions of CSPD are unconscionable and we ask that all city leaders, including the office of the mayor and city council members, strongly condemn these actions and pledge to build a community where it is safe for residents to organize peacefully in accordance with our values. We also urge city leaders to divert funding from CSPD, which spends these funds wastefully and with prejudice, and instead insert those funds into city resources that will promote sustainable and equitable growth in our city, including more robust social services; investments in public education and the wellbeing of our youth; initiatives that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion; and environmental initiatives.

We deserve better than unwarranted surveillance and unjust police targeting and we demand that this city do better by its citizens, regardless of political orientation.