If you can, please visit <
https://yjpu.org/petition> -- this is where we are collecting new petition signatures! (If you have a problem finding the petition there, you can still sign it here.)
Police murders of Black people across the country reflect the larger violence that police departments and prisons commit against Black communities every day. We need to defund police departments across the country and reinvest in Black and Brown communities. Just as Minneapolis groups are demanding a $45 million cut to the police budget to reinvest in community-led health and safety, we must move funds from the Boston Police Department back into Boston communities.
We demand that Mayor Marty Walsh cut the police budget by 10% from $414 million to $372 million or less, including cutting at least $40 million from the Police Department's $60 million overtime budget. Those funds should be reinvested in the needs of Black and Brown communities, including providing housing and jobs to people released from prison.
In addition, we demand that funds are reinvested in youth jobs during a global pandemic and economic crisis. The City should fund $15 million for 5000 summer jobs and 1000 year-round jobs lasting from September to June, including hiring 14-22 year olds, hiring undocumented young people, and providing grants to organizations. Mayor Walsh, CFO Emme Handy, and Director Justin Sterritt: meet with young people immediately to discuss protecting young people this summer!