>

Police need replacement/retraining, but you still need a uh, town guard to adress common crime. There'll still be random crazies and DUIs for the time being. The point of a police force existing is also basic deterrence to reduce the feeling of unchecked consequenceless lawlessness (even if there is say "only" 70% chance getting caught it make a lot of people rethinking crime).
Yes the "militarized swat-only police" budget obviously need to be partly allocated to auxiliaries to descalate, medical assistance and so on. And they shouldn't be above the law (re prosecuting the obvious gang & racist murders waved with a badge, leading neonazi mobsters to join in bulk to try to dodge the law). But you still need at least some cops. Even after booting all the neonazis & corrupt elements.
Saying we don’t need police will cause you to loose all credibility in any real discussion about what to do about very real problems. >

It wouldn't surprise me if that's entirely the point to avoid legislation or discussion about police accountability. >

So they are asked about the notion that police offer protection, but the question itself was a loaded one and they don't really address the point. So, I'm all for considerably scaling back the presence and function of police. I've seen the studies that show having a school resource officer on campus actually increases incidents of violence. I think there's something to be said about the mere presence of police shaping the places we occupy and how we understand our roles within it. However, what happens if there's a murder? Or a robbery? What happens if a bunch of white people decide they want to start lynching black people? If there are no police, what happens in that situation? I think that if you're going to argue for abolishing the police, this is the first point you need to address, since it's the first question skeptics are going to ask themselves. >

One of the many books I read last year was Mariame Kaba's "We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice" which was okay. So, I'll have to add this one to my list to check out this year. >

Are they actually advocating for abolition of police? >

Absolutely >

Cool, I guess gun laws are all null and void now. Never thought the leftists would be the ones helping the right in the battle for the 2nd Amendment.