Colin Kaepernick Calls For The Abolition Of America’s Current Policing System

Collin Kaepernick is calling for the end of America’s current policing system. The ex-NFL star explicitly stated his wishes for the country in a pointed essay (TMZ).  Kaepernick claims the current U.S. police system has “roots in white supremacy and anti-Blackness.” Based on his research, he believes the “central intent” of police officers is to “surveil, terrorize, capture, and kill marginalized populations, specifically Black folks.” And, according to Kaepernick, the only way to stop that is to tear down the entire system.

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ABOLITION FOR THE PEOPLE: The Movement For a Future Without Policing & Prisons

The collection of 30 essays will be posted below over the course of the next 4 weeks. #AbolitionForThePeople https://t.co/jccRsxqLhT

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) October 6, 2020

Let’s be clear about this. Kaepernick is calling for the abolition of the policing system. Not reform or defunding. Abolition. “F**k reform,” Kapernick said, adding, “reforms have done nothing to stop the actions that force us to #SayTheirNames.”

He is also pushing for the end of the nation’s prison system. Claiming that it, too, is rooted in racism. “Abolition is the only way to secure a future beyond anti-Black institutions of social control, violence, and premature death,” Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick’s wishes, if granted, would mean a complete dismantling of both the police force and the prison system. I can’t even begin to imagine what that would look like. How do you even go about doing such a thing? Does that mean that every crimal, black or white, who is currently locked up just gets to run free? It’s just not plausible, and it makes zero sense. I’ve stood with Kaepernick in his fight for social justice. I believe his heart is in the right place. But this is not something I can get behind.

Kaepernick says once the systems are dismantled he wants to see several things. This includes the funding being reinvested directly into communities to address mental health needs, homelessness and houselessness, access to education, and job creation. As well as community-based methods of accountability.

These are all great things. But, Kaepernick, I’m sorry. Abolishing the police and prison systems completely is just not how you get it done. How do you get it done, you ask? I’m glad you asked. That’s a question I only wish I had a good answer for.

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