Writer: Siena Iwasaki Milbauer
This Black History Month, AAOP is celebrating by focusing on one of the most important aspects of the movement for Black lives: police abolition work. Of course, abolition is something that will benefit all of our communities, but we must recognize that it has been largely Black ingenuity and Black labor which has built this powerful platform.
Previously, we covered the basics of abolition and spoke with artist and activist serena about their experiences participating in police abolition work. In this conclusionary blog, we aim to contextualize abolition work within the larger history of Black liberation and alongside other crucial organizing work.
Abolition: Its History
There is a common misconception that police abolition is a new concept. In fact, it is an idea that has been around in one form or another for decades. It has its roots in the original 20th century fight against Jim Crow, specifically in calls to end prisons and other American institutions that contribute to the continued systemic oppression of Black communities. There’s a reason that police abolition includes the term “abolition:” it’s a reminder that the liberation of Black folks which began with the cessation of slavery is not over, but still an ongoing fight.
Police forces have long been recognized as perpetrators and enforcers of structures of racist oppression, making police abolition a necessary step in the journey towards a truly just and equal America. Advocates for police abolition grew louder all through the second half of the 1900’s. Their voices have finally reached the mainstream in the last few years as communities have reached their breaking point under the boot of police brutality, moved to action by grief for the unconscionably long list of people of color who have lost their lives to cops and by a desire to build a better future for their descendants.
Abolition: Side by Side with the Fight Against Mass Incarceration
As indicated by its origins, police abolition work goes hand in hand with prison abolition work. These interdependent structures feed each other’s dysfunction. Functionally, one cannot exist without the other, and both currently do disproportionate harm to communities of color and other marginalized folks. America’s current law enforcement and prison systems also take a completely punitive approach to public safety. Their strategies are all punishment, no prevention. Our communities deserve better.
Abolition: Abolish Police, Abolish ICE
The fight to abolish police also coexists with the fight to abolish ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement). In fact, “abolish ICE” was an ancestor rallying cry to “abolish the police,” most prominently emerging in response to the Trump administration’s monstrous policy of separating children from their parents. Again, these two entities often assist in each other’s harm, sharing information and muscle. Police forces and ICE each operate on a foundation of white supremacy, targeting and harrassing folks of color, and displaying behavior which represents the darkest imperialist and racist impulses of America. If the United States is to reach its full positive potential, they need to go.
Abolition: A Truly Intersectional Issue
Like so many of the important issues of our time, police abolition work intersects with dozens of other important organizing initiatives. We’ve specifically highlighted its relationship with prison abolition and ICE abolition because of how deeply interconnected those endeavors are. However, police abolition work also intersects with organizing efforts for gun control, racial justice, appropriate mental health and substance dependency treatment options, equitable economic systems, and fair housing, to name just a few.
When we, as youth and young Asian people, participate in police abolition work, we are also participating in the broader fight for a more just society. We are standing up in solidarity with the movement for Black lives, and we are standing up for our own communities who have also suffered under the tyranny of our current law enforcement systems.
We live in an interconnected society with interconnected issues, and more hopefully, the potential for interconnected solutions to those challenges. Compassion, collaboration, and solidarity is how all of our communities will achieve their best and brightest futures.
Sources
Arrieta-Kenna, Ruairi, “The Deep Roots-and New Offshoots-of ‘Abolish the Police’”, Politico, 12 Jun. 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/12/abolish-defund-police-explainer-316185. Accessed 8 Feb. 2021.
Felber, Garrett, “The Struggle to Abolish the Police is Not New”, Boston Review, 9 Jun. 2020. http://bostonreview.net/race/garrett-felber-struggle-abolish-police-not-new. Accessed 8 Feb. 2021.
Narea, Nicole, “How ‘abolish ICE” helped bring abolitionist ideas into the mainstream”, Vox, 9 Jul. 2020. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/7/9/21307137/abolish-ice-police-immigrant-black-lives-matter. Accessed 8 Feb. 2021.