Police Defunding and Reform

April 1, 2021
Grades 7-10 This book in the Being Black in America series (4 titles) discusses what defunding the police would mean and addresses the rationale behind it as well as the objections from those who say it's too radical. The impetus behind the movement stems primarily from the 2020 killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as the deaths of other Black Americans at the hands of police. The book describes police reforms that have been enacted in many cities and state governments since then, like the banning of chokeholds and no-knock warrants and the institution of new de-escalation training for police, as well as other reforms that are being examined now. This timely and well-sourced book evenhandedly presents both sides of a debate that's still unfolding in the news.

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