Even after weeks of protests, the Mayor's proposed budget for next year INCREASES funding for LPD, while also decreasing funding for community programs like public libraries.  The funding for law enforcement is already disproportionate in relation to the city's overall budget.  The police should not be responsible for responding to every problem in every sector of society, our community is stronger than that. Time after time, ordinary citizens have seen that the presence of police in our communities escalates tense situations and puts people of color in situations of undue risk. Decrease funding from law enforcement and increase funding to mental health professionals, social workers, schools, and other community programs.  

Sign this petition to call on the city council & the mayor to defund the  police (in part or in full) and place those funds into programs that proactively keep the community safe.  

Just because Lincoln is a small city in the midwest does not mean we can't be at the fore-front of transformational community change.  Other cities are making big changes, and we need to act now. The weeks of non-violent action by the people have made it clear: THE CITY OF LINCOLN WANTS JUSTICE. Small reforms have failed to deliver the justice & equality our communities of color deserve. The city & it's leaders need to put it's money where its mouth is and show people of Lincoln it stands for social change. 

Worried about what a defunded police department would look like?  Here's a FAQ that may put those worries to rest: https://www.mpd150.com/what-are-we-talking-about-when-we-talk-about-a-police-free-future/