From Police Reform to Police Abolition? How Residents and Activists in Minneapolis Want to Make Black Lives Matter
Michelle Phelps, associate professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota, will present “From Police Reform to Police Abolition? How Residents and Activists in Minneapolis Want to Make Black Lives Matter” as part of the Criminology, Law and Society’s Colloquium series.
Abstract: The police killing of George Floyd in 2020 was a watershed moment, triggering massive protests across the country and demands to “end” the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). I draw on a multi-method case study of anti-police violence activism and community perceptions of the police in Minneapolis from 2017-2021 to understand how activists, city leaders, and everyday residents frame the problems in policing and their potential solutions. The project findings highlight the enduring role of race/racism in shaping orientations toward the law and the future of public safety.