After the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, many people have called for the defunding of the police. There has been a lot of confusion over what that would mean, so I'm here to clear some things up.

The idea behind defunding the police is to take the majority of the money and spend the money to create a network of specialized services. This keeps the police from handling problems they are not equipped to handle. The majority of plans do not involve disbanding the police, just limiting the calls they could answer.

The Black Lives Matter movement has a 6-point plan to defund the police:

1) Move funds used for policing and incarceration to education, restorative justice programs, and employment plans.

2) The decriminalization of drug and prostitution offenses and the release of anyone incarcerated for these offenses. Money used for this would be used for education and employment plans for people affected by the drug and sex trade.

3) Universal healthcare that provides reproductive services, mental health services, paid parental leave, and quality child and elder care.

4) A full-funded education that is open to everyone, that includes health services and a curriculum that includes cultural education, physical activity, quality food, daycare, and freedom from unwanted search and seizure.

5) Divestment from the use of fossil fuels and investment in sustainable energy solutions.

6) A cut in military spending and re-investment in domestic infrastructure and community well-being.

I hope this helps you to understand what people mean when they say "defund the police".