DC protesters weigh-in on 'Defund the Police' idea

The statement "defund the police" is appearing on more signs during demonstrations in Washington DC over the death of George Floyd, but not every protester fully agrees with the broad, often misinterpreted phrase. During the largest demonstration in Washington DC yet, Saturday, June 6, activists painted in large yellow letters "Defund the Police" on 16th street just north of the White House. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser recently commissioned a large painting on the pavement on 16th street with the words "Black Lives Matter" and also added street signs renaming the plaza.

Crews with the city recently touched up the original mural, restoring the three stars above the DC flag. 71-year-old Beverly Hill grew up in Washington DC and now lives in Maryland, and wanted to see all of the street art firsthand during a low traffic time Monday afternoon. Hill wants a better future for her children and grandchildren but is uneasy about calls to take away funding or even abolish police departments altogether.

"We do need protection, but my thing is if we can weed out the bad, and keep and bring in the good then I prefer that. I want to be able if I need them to call them. But I want them to also be of the mind frame that they're going to keep us safe. That they're not going to come in and harm us or kill us, or you know."

Washington DC resident Ellis Wilder said he is comfortable with some of the ideas behind "defund the police", but does not see the phrase itself as being productive in the cause of fighting back against police brutality.

"Like you know what 'Black Lives Matter' means. I don't think you should have to go out of your way to say 'No Defund the Police isn't this, it's this' because it's so ambiguous and vague," Wilder said. "I don't know what that really looks like, and I'm not sure that is even the right strategy. I think it could cost more to police properly than it costs to police improperly."

Instead, Wilder said he favors rebuilding aspects of America's criminal justice system that he sees as 'inherently' racist including private prisons, mandatory minimum sentences and the US military funneling weapons to law enforcement agencies.

Vietnam Veteran David Merriweather hopes the calls for change do not fizzle out like the activism that blossomed in the 1960s.

"Humanity is a good cause. Nothing greater than that," Merriweather said. "You know it's just wonderful to see black, white, out here together protesting, they want justice. 'No justice. No peace.'"

Many supporters of the "defund the police" movement are also calling for more investment in things like education and housing for black communities across the country.