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5 FOR 5!

5 days of action, taking no more than 5 minutes each

Day 1- Email Darrell Clarke & forward to 3 people to do the same:

Dear Councilmember Clarke,  

My name is _____________, and I'm a resident of Philadelphia, PA who is urging you to cut 10-15% from the 2021 Philadelphia Police Budget.

Last week, I was one of the tens of thousands of neighbors who called, signed petitions and emailed you directly to ensure that the $19 million proposed increase for the Philadelphia Police budget was stopped. Thank you for hearing us, but that's not enough.

Despite the city budget deficit due to COVID-19, despite criminally unchecked police brutality in our city, the PPD is still on track to receive a $760 million budget at a time when we can't provide $4 million for arts and culture. Now more than ever we need funding for the arts, the Office of Homeless Services, the Office of Workforce Development, and more, but this budget plans to decimate funding for these programs.

The police budget is bloated. Our communities are suffering. Enough is enough.

I demand that the police department sees a decrease in funding. I demand that the 2021 budget be amended so that funds from the police department are reallocated to fund our libraries, schools, and community anti-violence programs.  

The police don't need these resources. We, the people, do.

Day 2- Email Mayor Kenney and forward to 3 people to do the same:

Dear Mayor Kenney,

My name is ________________ and I am a resident of Philadelphia. I'm reaching out today to say that I am tired.

I'm tired of living in a city that prioritizes police over its people.

I'm tired of hearing that there's no money for but enough to militarize the police force.

I'm tired of seeing our recreation centers fall apart, our libraries closed, our public health in a free fall.

I'm asking you to consider a cut in the PPD budget for this upcoming year. This budget that you have created will set the tone for the city's priorities over the next five years. Right now, the budget is saying we don't care about the needs of our community.

We are demanding more from our leadership. We're no longer accepting the narrative that there isn't enough for our city. Begin to cut funding from the PPD and reallocate it to community services that are actually proven to reduce crime. Begin to cut back drastically on the number of new hires we have for the police.

You have the opportunity to make the right choice in history- don't let us down.

Day 3- Call the office of your councilmember:

Script:

Hello,

My name is ______________ and I am urging your office to support a cut in the 2020-2021 Police Department Budget. The city's budget reflects its priorities and at the moment, Philadelphia's budget indicates that we care more about the police than we do about supporting our own COMMUNITIES. This year's budget is PARTICULARLY important not only because of the timing but also because it will be what shapes the budgets for the next 5 years to come. Begin to make our communities a priority- a choice that will ultimately make our city a safer and better place to live.

Thank you!

Find your City Council member’s phone number here

Day 4- Share information about the budget and PPD & tag councilmembers/friends:

There are so many accounts sharing information about the budget and the PPD. A few include: @noservicesnocity, @amistadlawproject, @aquakerowl

Councilmember social accounts:

Day 5- Tweet at your local council member and Mayor Kenney

Twitter templates:

We're asking you to choose a future Philadelphia that overflows its communities with resources instead of bloating its Police Departments with funds. #DefundThePPD @PHLCouncil @PhillyMayor

Save Black lives. Defund the PPD. @PHLCouncil @PhillyMayor

Philadelphia is broken - we need to create a budget that makes our community a priority! Cut the police department's budget and invest in our communities! @PHLCouncil @PhillyMayor

What is Philadelphia without art and an empathetic hand to help those who are vulnerable? We're about to find out unless we #DefundThePPD @PHLCouncil @PhillyMayor

We want a better Philadelphia - cut from the PPD & commit to supporting our communities. We refuse to continue to be silenced. @PHLCouncil @PhillyMayor

Tips for contacting councilmembers (& avoiding having your email filtered out):

I've provided templates but if possible- edit it as much as possible to not only reflect your own views, but to avoid being filtered out.

Thank members for the way they vote and things they say. They are people too.

Spread information about how a member voted if they did the wrong thing. Elections are frequent. We will not forget.

Create a new email instead of just sending a fwd-ed one & encourage people you fwd emails to do the same!

Councilmember and staffer emails: