INDIANAPOLIS — Members of the Indy 10 Black Lives Matter Organization are upset with black lawmakers for not supporting an effort to defund police departments.
The organization has made it clear they want to see the budget for Indianapolis Metro Police cut back drastically as they are concerned about police brutality. Members of Indy 10 BLM hosted a Zoom panel discussion about why they are upset.
“When you look at the police, you’re basically talking about a frat with guns,” said one panelist.
“We don’t want white supremacy in blackface,” said another panelist. “Show me a cop of color who has joined the force, and I’ll show you someone who belongs under a white sheet marching along with the KKK. It is no benefit to me. There are no good cops.”
“Capitalism has to die simultaneously,” another panelist added. “Because the police is like the military for white supremacy … all of these things have to crumble together to really make this work.”
The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus in the Indiana Statehouse made it clear last week that they do not support efforts to remove any funding from police departments.
“IBLC does not believe in defunding the police,” said state Rep. Robin Shackleford, an Indianapolis Democrat. “We believe in reimagining the police. We believe in restructuring the police but we do not believe in totally getting rid of law enforcement. We see the need for law enforcement in our communities.”
“I understand people’s concerns and a desire to get more funding to these types of groups, these grassroots groups, but I don’t think it should be at the expense of the police department and the work we’re trying to do,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor.
