Bulletin
Defund the Police? What does that mean? Join us for an educational conversation
July 10, 2020
To: All MoveUP Members
Our Human Rights & Multicultural Committee, along with our Executive Board, would like to invite you to join us on Thursday, July 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. for an online webinar where we will have an educational conversation on the topic of defunding the police.
This will be a panel discussion led by Ricardo Bortolon, a MoveUP member and job steward from UBC’s Alma Mater Society, and Adrienne Smith, a trade unionist, human rights advocate, and lawyer with a specialty in drug policy.
Since the tragic deaths of Chantel Moore in New Brunswick and George Floyd in the United States, there has been a spotlight on the use of excessive force by police officers.
We are seeing more stories come out on how wellness checks, traffic stops, and other minor incidents reported have resulted in police officers using unwarranted, yet extreme physical force and weapons with deadly consequences especially in Indigenous and Black communities.
We have heard the calls to “defund the police” repeatedly over these past few weeks. These demands are becoming louder and many of our political leaders are recognizing that the issues of systemic racism and police brutality within our police forces here in Canada need to be addressed.
We know that conversations are happening in Parliament, at municipal boards, and within other unions and there is a desire to take action, but many citizens are unsure of what “defund the police” actually entails.
We hope members will participate in our webinar with questions, comments and concerns so that we are able to address this very important topic with the voice and opinions of our members guiding us.
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2020
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Please click here to register for the session
On behalf of your Human Rights & Multicultural Committee,
Gunter Seifert and Christy Slusarenko
Co-Chairs, MoveUP Human Rights & Multicultural Committee