my path towards abolishing police is less focussed on the logistics of government. it’s about interpersonal relationships, shame, and the action of caring.

because even if we have alternatives to policing, communities must:
1. trust the new systems to keep them safe
2. be able to ask for what they need without feeling ashamed, judged, or vulnerable to a dangerous degree
3. the organizations to prevent crime must not become a source of power within communities, they should always be about problem solving and allocating resources appropriately

unfortunately all 3 of the above require american culture to change fundamentally. all 3 go against the core of our current systems.

i understand there is a lot more to abolition than this. but i think the barriers to abolition can be lowered if all communities begin to trust each other and learn to give and receive care without judgment or shame.