Zohran, Wilson, the Left & the Police: How should the Left and its candidates relate to the police?

Zohran, Wilson, the Left & the Police:
How should the Left and its candidates relate to the police?
This Sun 11/23
5pm
Victrola Cafe (411 15th Ave E) – Community Room

Since the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, left-wing and democratic socialist candidates have faced scrutiny over their past positions on the police and are relentlessly pilloried for them.  We saw this in the mayoral races in both NYC and Seattle. In response Zohran and Wilson put forward starkly different positions than they had in the past – Zohran apologized to NYC police for saying the NYC police department was racist and he is keeping the current Police Commissioner on as commissioner.  Wilson has also softened on the police by saying recently that the police do a hard job and that we need more “boots on the ground” (police).  How should left-wing and socialist candidates and the left relate to the police?  Should we call for the abolition of the police and to defund the police? Do left wing/democratic socialist candidates have to speak positively about the police to get elected? What role do the police play in a capitalist society?

Join the next Seattle DSA District 3 branch meeting (you DON’T need to live in D3 to attend!) to discuss this important issue, along with whether the US is going to invade Venezuela, building the Seattle District 3 branch and possibly District 3 joining the 11/26 Boycott War Profitters Thanksgiving Blackout picket at PCC’s across the city. We’ll also continue the discussion on electing co-chairs.