The Backlash Against 'Defund the Police': Understanding the Shift in Progressive Politics

It's been a year since the George Floyd protests brought attention to police brutality and systemic racism in the United States. The Black Lives Matter movement, which gained momentum during that time, called for defunding and dismantling of police forces, arguing that they perpetuate violence and oppression. However, in recent months, some progressive politicians who initially supported the call to defund the police have begun to distance themselves from the movement. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani are two notable examples of this shift in progressive politics.

This reversal has sparked debate within the Democratic Socialists of America, with some members criticizing Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani for abandoning their earlier commitment to police reform. As a member of the DSA, Derecka Purnell, argues in an op-ed for The Guardian, this move 'puts organizers who continue this work at risk, especially right now.' Purnell's piece also highlights the tension between electoral politics and social justice movements, with politicians like Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani prioritizing their political careers over the demands of their constituents.

The context behind this shift is complex. During the pandemic, many politicians, including Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani, used language that aligned with the abolitionist movement, which seeks to dismantle systems of oppression and build alternative social structures. However, as the movement gained momentum, some politicians began to reevaluate their stance, opting for more moderate approaches. Ocasio-Cortez's comments, as reported by Purnell, suggest that she sees the defund the police movement as a 'rhetorical device' that has lost its relevance in the face of rising crime rates.

A closer examination of the issue reveals a deeper problem. The language of 'public safety' is often used to obscure the historical context of policing in the United States. As abolitionist geographer Ruth Wilson Gilmore notes, the overwhelming majority of prison and jail growth since 1980 is not due to an increase in crime rates but rather a greater propensity to lock people up. This history has profound implications for how we understand the role of police in society and the need for fundamental reform.

Furthermore, the defund the police movement is not simply about removing dollars from a budget but rather about building a more just and equitable society. By dismantling police forces, we can redirect resources towards community-based solutions that address the root causes of violence and oppression. As Purnell argues, democratic socialism would produce more equal social relationships and reduce crime, making it logical to reconsider the allocation of resources towards law enforcement.

Despite the challenges, organizers and activists across the country continue to push for police reform and abolition. The 'refund Raleigh' campaign in North Carolina is a prime example of this effort, aiming to decouple public safety and police while investing in community services. This and other initiatives demonstrate that the struggle for justice and equality continues, even in the face of backlash from politicians who prioritize their careers over the demands of their constituents.

The implications of this shift are far-reaching. As Purnell cautions, the demonization of people, organizations, and ideas about justice can lead to targeting, surveillance, deportation, imprisonment, and death. By downplaying the movements that produced their elections, progressive politicians risk eroding the very base that put them in office. It is essential for leaders like Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani to recognize the power of social movements and the importance of listening to the demands of their constituents.

In the end, the question remains: what time is it when politicians across the political spectrum use the language of 'woke 1' to deride activists and organizers? It is a moment when those who have not yet realized that the demonization of people, organizations, and ideas about justice can have devastating consequences must confront the reality of their actions.