One of the key demands of the recent Black Lives Matter-led protests in Canada, U.S., and other countries, has been to defund police, often under the umbrella term of “abolishing police”. Since the protests begun, a number of municipalities in North America have agreed to significantly reduce their police budgets, while others (ex. Toronto) have promised various policing reforms (from mandatory body cameras to de-escalation training and so on).
What do you think are some key differences in views of police and its role in society between the abolition and reform camps? Try to connect these different perspectives on police and community to concepts of individual and institutional discrimination.
