Danielle Purifoy: Johnson right to call out police

Regarding the June 23 news article “Police: Durham council member should apologize”: Councilwoman Jillian Johnson spoke for many of us when she highlighted the dangers of the police and the military to our collective safety.

Many Durham residents have opposed everything from the re-accreditation of the police department to the new budget not only because we distrust the police, but also because we genuinely believe the carceral system and state violence undermines, rather than upholds, our safety.

The police killings of residents like Jesus Chuy Huerta and La’Vante Biggs, the constant surveillance of black and brown communities and the deaths of black and brown people in jail cells, like Matthew McCain and Dennis McMurray, have no relationship to public health and safety, which is the real work of local government.

Our government rules out of fear rather than out of love for our communities. But we have other options.

The Durham Beyond Policing campaign articulates many alternative possibilities for keeping our communities safe and whole. We can start by reallocating funding to support things that make us well, like housing, wellness, recreation, good food, gainful employment and spiritual guidance.

They are the best anti-violence policies.

This story was originally published June 26, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Danielle Purifoy: Johnson right to call out police."