Perspectives: Where do Americans Really Stand On 'Abolish the Police'?

After George Floyd was killed by a police officer in May, many liberal activists have called to defund or abolish the police, claiming the criminal justice system is inherently racist. But where do most Americans really stand on the "Abolish the Police" movement? In Seattle, the police precinct for the Capitol Hill neighborhood was disbanded as protestors occupied the zone for nearly a month of protests. Now, a group of local businesses owners from the Capitol Hill neighborhood is suing the city for property damage and lost revenue during the occupation. A recent Gallup poll revealed that 61 percent of black Americans want police presence to remain the same, with 67 percent of respondents preferring police presence to remain the same; it is important to note that the Gallup poll only included adults. Some media outlets with young adult audiences promote abolition of police, prisons and federal crime units, suggesting that the young people may end up taking a more progressive stance on criminal justice than the previous generation. The Seattle lawsuit and Gallup poll results have both been covered by outlets from all sides of the political spectrum. Voices from the right said the Gallup poll proves that the majority opinion was not represented in liberal media's “national conversation” about race and policing. Many voices from the left advocated for government funding to be reallocated from police budgets and used to address purported root causes of crime, such as unemployment and class inequality.