A call to “defund the police” is one issue that has emerged from the Black Lives Matter movement and
protests over the death of George Floyd, and cities across the country are grappling with how to address
police reform. The issue is at the forefront of debate in Austin, where the City Council recently voted to
reallocate police funds to other community services. To help its readers understand the issue, the
Austin-American Statesman has hired you, the best political analyst in Texas, to write an article.
Specifically, the Austin-American Statesman wants you to address the following:
• What do advocates of “defunding the police” mean by the term? What reasons do they give for
the need to “defund the police”? Why did the city of Austin decide to reallocate funding?
• What are the arguments of those who are against the notion of “defunding the police”? What
reasons do they give for wanting to keep police funding the same? What are the arguments of
those against Austin’s reallocation of funds?
• What is your evidence-based conclusion on the issue? Present your argument to the AustinAmerican Statesman readers using facts, data, and documented research.