The Weeknd and Lizzo Sign Open Letter to Defund Police
The Weeknd, Lizzo, Talib Kweli, and John Legend have signed an open letter to defund the police, Variety and Rolling Stone report. The letter was launched by activist Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter and a founding member of the Movement 4 Black Lives (M4BL), and is part of a week of action led by M4BL in tandem with organizers across the country to fight systemic racism following nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd.
The “open demand” letter calls for local officials to vote No on all increases to police budgets, Yes to decrease police spending and budgets, and Yes to increase spending on health care, education, and community programs.
“Policing and militarization overwhelmingly dominate the bulk of national and local budgets,” the letter reads. “We call for defunding of police and for those dollars to be rerouted to create a public national healthcare system.” Read the letter in full here.
Find more resources in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism, including a list of organizations to donate to if you’re able, here.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
