Join us in demanding Mayor Arreguin and Berkeley city council members commit to supporting any budget reallocations and future policies that are centered around the divestment of funds from BPD and reinvestment into frontline communities.  

For decades, Berkeley has prided itself on being one of the most progressive cities in the country, known for setting a precedent when it comes to racial and social justice. As such, Berkeley should continue to set this precedent by discontinuing the tens of millions of dollars poured each year into BPDs new SUVs and riot gear, and instead reinvesting into initiatives that contribute to local and community wellness, such as tenant-owned and community-controlled housing, access to mental health care, local food, education, and worker-owned businesses. At the same time, in order to prioritize public safety, we must reallocate funds from the Berkeley Police Department into social workers trained in trauma-informed crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics who live in the community, and neighborhood organizers coordinating mutual aid. All of these initiatives must be led by and function in relation to Berkeley’s frontline community-based organizations.

The time is now to advance the demands of the Movement for Black Lives within Berkeley! Sign this petition and hold your city representatives accountable to protecting those who have been marginalized and criminalized by police in our communities for hundreds of years.