Much of what the police do right now are things that social workers can do,

things that case managers can do, things that other governmental workers can do,

and that's why our movement is calling to defund them.

Welcome to Deconstructed. I'm Mehdi Hassan.

When you see week after week police officers beating unarmed protesters,

reporters, passes by, an elderly man with cancer, in broad daylight, on camera.

You have to ask, what is the solution? Surely reforming the police isn't enough.

Defending the police means that we're actually resourcing communities with access to healthcare,

access to adequate public education, and access to jobs.

That's my guest today. Patrice Colors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, and reform LA Jails.

So, is it time to defund the police? And how would that even work?

Last Saturday, I watched a video of one of the most remarkable scenes involving an elected

politician and their constituents that I've witnessed in my adult lifetime.

Jacob Fry, mayor of Minneapolis, the city where it all kicked off, where George Floyd

was so brutally killed by the police, Jacob Fry, a young liberal Democrat, former civil rights

turned up to join a protest against police brutality and show solidarity with his Black constituents.

But it didn't go so well for him. When he was asked in front of the entire crowd by the organizers,

whether he was willing to go beyond the usual platitudes about police reform.

Jacob Fry, we have a yes or no question for you.

Yes or no, will you commit to defunding Minneapolis police department?

What does that say?

We don't want no more police.

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