Politicians have been neglecting the essential services that keep our communities healthy — education, social services, the health care safety net — by pouring money into military-style police forces that continue to commit abuses and take lives without consequences. It’s time to shift our priorities.
We are calling for a shift from a militarized police force to a model that promotes community support and connects individuals to available services. We need our leaders to commit to prioritizing public health approaches over further investment in policing.
Defunding and divesting from the police looks different in every city, and requires participation from the community to make it happen. The goal must be to prioritize programs that strengthen Black communities, creating communities that are safe and sustainable.
We encourage you to reach out to your local elected officials and tell them to shift funding from your local police department to services that keep our communities healthy: like education, human services, and health care initiatives.
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Use this tool from Common Cause to get the contact info for your local officials and demand action.
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If you live in Philadelphia, sign this petition to ask Mayor Kenney to cut funding for the Philadelphia Police Department in the updated city budget this week.
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If you live in Pittsburgh, use this template to send a message to Mayor Peduto and call on him to demilitarize the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
The state-sanctioned violence against Black people by police runs counter to the standards we value at Planned Parenthood — caring for our bodies, lives, and futures. Racism has long been a public health crisis in our country, and Planned Parenthood’s first priority is, and always will be, the health and safety of our patients.
Want to learn more about what defunding the police would look like? Looking for further resources on how to show up for Black lives in your community in this moment? Check out these recommendations from our team here at PPPA and support local Black-owned book shops while you’re at it:
Articles and reading lists:
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Why Anti-Blackness Is America’s Perpetual Pandemic (Blavity)
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We Don’t Just Need Nicer Cops. We Need Fewer Cops (The Nation)
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A Practical Guide to Defunding the Police (Rolling Stone)
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Anti-Racism Resources for White People (A great resource!)
Black-owned book shops to support here in PA:
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Tiny Bookstore (Pittsburgh)
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Big Idea Bookstore (Pittsburgh)
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Harriett's Bookshop (Philadelphia)
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Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books (Philadelphia)
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The Black Reserve Bookstore (Lansdale)