Overpolicing, racial profiling, and police brutality make our communities more dangerous and our city less just. There is a better way.

But we have thought too small for too long, and we will not find that better way through half-measures. From Santos Rodriguez to Botham Jean, with every killing by police the DPD, Sheriff, and the DA promise to stop the violence. There is always a new task force, a new committee, a new report — yet the official violence by city and county law enforcement continues. Always more promises; never less violence. This system is designed for the control of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — all to protect the ruling class. Not to protect us, but to prop up privilege and power over us. The criminal justice system here is more criminal than just.

We recognize we cannot reform our way out of this. Therefore, we demand:

Divest from Police
We demand investments in the education, health, and safety of Black people instead of investments in the criminalizing, caging, and harming of Black people. We want divestment from exploitative forces including prisons, fossil fuels, police, and surveillance. As the city responds to projected COVID-19 shortfalls, it is necessary to cut from DPD’s budget to support our communities. This requires a reduction in the size of the police force and the removal of military-grade weapons and tactical gear.

Invest in Community Health & Safety Measures
We demand a city and county where those most impacted in our communities control the laws, institutions, and policies that are meant to serve us – from our schools to our local budgets, economies, police departments, and our land – while recognizing that the rights and histories of our Indigenous family must also be respected.

Free ‘Em All!
We demand an immediate depopulation of Dallas county jails, prisons, immigrant detention centers, and juvenile facilities. We must get our people out of cages and ensure they have what they need to be healthy and free through this pandemic and beyond.

End the War on Black People in Dallas
We demand an end to the war against Black people. We demand DPD and all law enforcement agencies to immediately cease enacting violence on community members. We demand an end to the criminalization, incarceration, and killing of our people.

Our people are hurting, mourning, and crying out for health and safety in the midst of this pandemic and an economic crisis. Now is the time to invest in a safe, thriving future for our city that is free of violence. We need safety; we need justice. We deserve safety; we deserve justice. This is the better way, and we can travel it together. But “more police” is not the answer. We cannot afford to keep funding DPD’s attacks on Black lives.

Defund the Dallas Police Department and the invest in the larger Dallas community.