The movement to defund the police is one of the most dangerous and misguided campaigns to emerge from the left in recent years. Proponents argue that it’s about reallocating resources to address root causes of crime, but the reality is far more insidious. Stripping police departments of funding doesn’t make communities safer—it leaves them vulnerable to the very crime and chaos they claim to be solving. And, as always, it’s the most vulnerable communities—those already struggling with high crime rates—that pay the steepest price.
When Minneapolis slashed its police budget in the wake of George Floyd’s death, violent crime didn’t magically vanish. Instead, it skyrocketed. According to the Star Tribune, carjackings jumped by 537% in 2020. Homicides surged by 105%. And yet, progressive leaders still touted their grand vision of “reimagining public safety,” as though catchy slogans could stop bullets or recover stolen property.
The data doesn’t lie. A study by the Council on Criminal Justice found that cities that reduced police funding experienced sharp increases in violent crime. Meanwhile, in cities like New York and Los Angeles, where similar cuts were implemented, homicides and assaults surged dramatically. This isn’t just a coincidence; it’s cause and effect. Fewer officers on the streets mean less deterrence, slower response times, and fewer resources to investigate crimes. It’s a simple equation that even the most “progressive” activists should understand.
The left’s argument that social workers can replace police officers is laughable at best and dangerous at worst. Imagine sending a crisis counselor into a domestic violence situation where tempers are flaring and weapons are present. Social workers play a vital role in addressing societal issues, but they aren’t equipped to confront armed criminals. That’s not just naive; it’s reckless.
Defunding the police also ignores the voices of those who live in high-crime neighborhoods. A 2021 Gallup poll found that 81% of Black Americans wanted police presence in their communities to remain the same or increase. The very people the left claims to champion are begging for more police, not less. But, of course, those voices are drowned out by activists shouting from their safe, gated communities about “abolishing the carceral state.”
The left’s obsession with defunding the police is less about public safety and more about virtue signaling. Progressives use buzzwords like “equity” and “justice,” but their policies lead to neither. Instead, they create a vacuum where criminals thrive, and law-abiding citizens suffer. Meanwhile, the wealthy elite in their crime-free neighborhoods will never feel the consequences of their policies. It’s the working-class families and small business owners in crime-ridden areas who are left to pick up the pieces.
America needs law enforcement to maintain order and ensure safety. Conservatives must unapologetically defend the police and push back against policies that embolden criminals. A civilized society can’t function without the rule of law, and the left’s crusade against law enforcement only makes life harder for those they claim to represent. It’s time to stop playing politics with public safety and prioritize the well-being of all Americans.
