Dear Sacramento City Council,

This past week Sacramento has seen SACPD use aggression towards peaceful protesters exercising our first amendment right resulting in violence and harm. SACPD  utilized tear gas, concussion grenades, rubber bullets and more.  These actions have resulted in rioting, looting, arrests of peaceful protesters, the harm of children, BIPOC, disabled folks and supporting members of the community. This is not okay.

The police currently receive 1/3 of the city’s budget. We ask to reject Mayor Steinberg’s proposal to increase the police by $5 million. We ask to decrease the police budget and invest in our communities by funding services that strengthen our communities. We demand the funding go towards social services, physical and mental healthcare, accessible public transit, housing, quality education, parks, access to food, and support to underserved communities instead of placing police directly into communities with a majority of BIPOC causing a vulnerability to violence. Nurture your communities and keep those at risk safe instead of targeting them.