Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality’s Plan to Fix Unjust System
The director of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality discusses the Rayshard Brooks shooting, why he believes outsiders should be welcome to protest in Detroit, and why his organization talks about reprioritizing the police budget rather than defunding the police.
About This Episode
Director of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, Chris White, recently joined Mike and Kevin to discuss the recent protests around the country. Chris has been an activist for 36 years with several Detroit organizations. He also teaches classes on political science and business. Chris’ organization has recently been involved with advising Detroit protesters on their demands and conduct.
Mike and Kevin ask Chris about the killing of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta and what flaws in the police training may have led up to it. Chris also discusses the claim that a good portion of Detroit protestors are not city natives and shares his opinion that outsiders should be welcome to protest. Tune in to hear about Chris’ passionate fight against police brutality and what changes he believes need to be made in order to achieve equity.
Show Notes
- Introducing today’s guest, the director of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, Chris White.
- What is Chris’ background?
- What are you seeing in Atlanta?
- Are people unified in what they’re fighting for?
- Has your organization been involved with the Detroit protests?
- Has your organization been meeting with city leadership?
- Why is your organization against Project Greenlight?
- The problems with facial recognition technology
- What do you think about outsiders coming to protest in Detroit?
- The Shelby Township Police Chief was suspended but not fired
- What is your opinion on Rayshard Brooks?
- What is something the Detroit Police do well?
- How long has the idea of defunding the police been around?
- You can contact the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality at: 313-778-4993 or on their Facebook page.
- Thank you for being on today, Chris, we would love to have you on again as things progress
- Thank you for watching this episode of the Open Mike podcast
FAQs
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Why hasn't the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality attended the George Floyd protests in person?
Chris White says a spokesperson lost family members to the virus, he contracted it and had it for a month, and the group’s president was under the weather, so they made a conscious decision to protect their members. Instead, they have advised protest leaders who call them on what to ask for and how to conduct themselves, and have helped set up backyard talks in neighborhoods.
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What does Chris White mean by 'reprioritizing' rather than 'defunding' the police?
He says the word ‘defund’ scares people, because in the general accounting sense it means taking all the money away, and the first thing people think of is abolishing the police, which he says won’t work in a city like Detroit with its high crime rate. His organization instead talks about reprioritizing the budget: asking whether Detroit is getting what it pays for, and putting more money into programs like the health department rather than policing.
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Why does Chris White's organization oppose Detroit's Project Green Light?
Chris White says the city hasn’t produced numbers showing Project Green Light is working, and that facial recognition technology was used for years before the public knew. When the interviewer noted that facial recognition falters especially with African Americans, White agreed, saying there have to be proven strategies that don’t criminalize African Americans.
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What does Chris White think should have happened differently in the Rayshard Brooks shooting?
He says there are several methods of de-escalation officers could use and that police should be trained to subdue someone without having to take their life, which should be the absolute last alternative. He says that in Atlanta it seems to be the first approach.
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Does Chris White think outside protesters should be barred from Detroit demonstrations?
No. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, he says “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” and that people fighting for justice should be welcome wherever the injustice is taking place, noting that Dr. King traveled across the country. He calls setting up a city-versus-suburbs division a divisive strategy.
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