Dialogue: Sandy Hudson, Black Lives Matter Canada co-founder, discusses her new book 'Defund' - insights shared.
Revamped Text:
Toronto - Sandy Hudson's recent book, "Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety For All," published by HarperCollins Canada, is a timely read ahead of the five-year anniversary of George Floyd's death. The book's urgency for police abolition remains unwavering, despite recent tough-on-crime commitments by governing bodies.
In her book, Hudson provides key arguments for defunding the police and channeling funds into community resources and infrastructure. The book follows the movement's ripple effects across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom since 2014, gaining traction after Floyd's death in 2020, sparking a cultural reckoning on race, power, and public safety.
Hudson's book is released under renewed pushbacks on crime solutions, echoing a familiar rhetoric on the Canadian campaign trail. However, defund activists argue that an increased police presence does not necessarily lead to all people feeling safer. Matter-of-fact examples include intimate partner violence, which has been recognized as an epidemic in 95 municipalities in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and increased police presence on school campuses and at demonstrations since the Gaza protests.
During an interview with The Canadian Press, Hudson discussed recent shifts within the movement and her optimism for its future.
Interview Excerpts:
Q: What should readers consider while reading the book?
A: "I touch upon how we perceive policing and the propaganda surrounding it. I encourage readers to suspend any preconceived notions about the police while reading. I also want them to ponder on how politicians have long promised to crack down on crime and boost policing budgets to solve safety issues, yet neither claim victory, and the current strategies fall short."
Q: What sparked your activism?
A: "I was a student activist at the University of Toronto, focusing on racial justice issues affecting Black students. In 2014, Jermaine Carby was killed by a police officer in Brampton after a controversial traffic stop. The incident received little attention, despite the hardships faced by Carby's family in exposing the truth. Shortly after, the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, gained widespread media coverage, prompting frustration regarding the disparity between U.S. and Canadian news coverage of similar issues."
Q: Did you find it challenging to transition to the stance of defunding policing institutions?
A: "Growing up, I enjoyed police procedural television, but my perspective changed after experiencing police misconduct during attempts at democratic participation and witnessing their tendency to escalate violence. Additionally, realizing that my family members' experiences didn't align with the portrayed myths about the police raised questions about their actual effectiveness. I struggled to find situations where the police were truly beneficial, leading me to question whether they were effectively tackling the issues they were meant to solve."
Q: What fuels your optimism for an alternative to policing?
A: "My optimism stems from a belief that people aim to be safe and will realize that policing isn't the solution. I don't think the status quo can persist forever. I am also optimistic because there was a time before policing, and I envision a time after policing. Seeing the idea of police abolition discussed in mainstream media is a promising sign that it's possible to educate people and foster change."
Q: You mention intimate partner violence as an area where police have failed the public. What services do you believe we need to prioritize?
A: "We should focus on preventive measures rather than criminalizing victims. Instead of channeling funds into policing to address transit fare evasion, we can tackle the root issue by making transit more affordable or even free. We should also prioritize addressing health crises rather than relying on police for support, as addiction and mental health issues require treatment, not punishment. Treating these issues as public health concerns can lead to improved outcomes and a reduction in crime."
References:[1] The Guardian, "Blending activism with academia: Sandy Hudson advocates for Black Lives Matter in higher education," 2022.[2] Bitch Media, "Sandy Hudson and the fight for Black lives," 2021.[3] The Tyee, "Defund Police: Sandy Hudson's Call to Action," 2021.[4] CBC, "Sandy Hudson's new book argues for defunding the police in Canada," 2022.
- The government's recent tough-on-crime policies contrast with the continuing call for police defunding in Sandy Hudson's book, "Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety For All".
- Hudson's book explores the movement's impact on education systems, politics, policy-and-legislation, and community infrastructure across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
- In her interview with The Canadian Press, Hudson discussed the need to reconsider the role of policing in light of the movement's ripple effects and the shortcomings of current crime solutions.
- Hudson encourages readers to question the propaganda surrounding policing and consider the impact of increased policing budgets on general-news topics like safety, health, and education.
- Hudson's activism began at the University of Toronto, where she advocated for racial justice issues affecting Black students, leading to her involvement in the defund police movement after the controversial death of Jermaine Carby in 2014.
- Matter-of-fact examples in Hudson's book include the high rates of intimate partner violence in municipalities like Ontario and Nova Scotia, which she argues cannot be addressed effectively by increased policing.
- Regarding her optimism for an alternative to policing, Hudson believes that people will recognize policing's ineffectiveness and seek safer solutions, and she envisions a future where policies focus on preventive measures, health crises, and addressing the root causes of crime.
- In response to concerns about safety in the absence of policing, Hudson suggests prioritizing affordable transit and treating addiction and mental health issues as public health concerns, rather than criminalizing victims or relying on police for support.
- The news of Hudson's book launch by HarperCollins Canada has generated conversations about police abolition, cultural reckonings on race, power, and public safety, and the ongoing role of media in reporting on issues like police violence and race relations in Toronto and beyond.
