A coalition of Black Lives, labor, and community leaders held a small press conference Monday afternoon on the steps of City Hall amid continued demands to end systemic racism and defund police departments.
The tone from many of the speakers was largely calm and measured, after more than a week of crowds burning with grief and anger over the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other black Americans that have strengthened calls for police and criminal justice reforms.
Dr. Melina Abdullah, a co-founder of the Los Angeles Chapter of Black Lives Matter, cited Ras Baraka mayor of Newark who recently announced a comprehensive local ordinance that will slash up to $15 million from the Newark Police Department.
The people’s budget calls for the city of Los Angeles to disinvest in murderous policing, and to invest instead into building the black community.
In Los Angeles, however, Mayor Eric Garcetti does not support dismantling the police department entirely, but last week agreed to redirect $150 million from the city’s police budget and give it to communities of color.
