• Latest
  • Trending

Obama Cautions US Activists Against Using ‘Defund the Police’ Slogan

December 3, 2020
US Health Secretary Azar Resigns, Cites Capitol Attack

US Health Secretary Azar Resigns, Cites Capitol Attack

January 16, 2021
End of Merkel Era Begins as German CDU Picks New Party Leader

End of Merkel Era Begins as German CDU Picks New Party Leader

January 16, 2021
UK Covid Variant Could Drive ‘Rapid Growth’ in US Cases, CDC Warns

UK Covid Variant Could Drive ‘Rapid Growth’ in US Cases, CDC Warns

January 16, 2021
Retired Doctors, More Syringes: Biden Unveils US Vaccination Plan to Improve on Trump’s ‘Dismal Failure’

Retired Doctors, More Syringes: Biden Unveils US Vaccination Plan to Improve on Trump’s ‘Dismal Failure’

January 16, 2021
Buhari Orders Service Chiefs to Ensure Synergy in Fight against Insurgents

Buhari Orders Service Chiefs to Ensure Synergy in Fight against Insurgents

January 16, 2021
Mexico President Backs Dropping of Drug Case Against Ex-Defence Minister

Mexico President Backs Dropping of Drug Case Against Ex-Defence Minister

January 16, 2021
US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran in Final Days of Trump Presidency

US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran in Final Days of Trump Presidency

January 16, 2021
Dutch Government Resigns Over Child Welfare Fraud Scandal

Dutch Government Resigns Over Child Welfare Fraud Scandal

January 16, 2021
Uganda polls: ‘I’ve Survived Two Assassination Attempts’ Says Bobi Wine

‘Under Siege’: Bobi Wine Says Military Raids Home

January 15, 2021
Covid: UK to Close all Travel Corridors From Monday

Covid: UK to Close all Travel Corridors From Monday

January 15, 2021
Global Death Toll From Covid-19 Hits Two Million

Global Death Toll From Covid-19 Hits Two Million

January 15, 2021
Nigeria Health Officials Issues ‘Fake Covid Vaccine’ Warning

Nigeria Health Officials Issues ‘Fake Covid Vaccine’ Warning

January 15, 2021
60,000 Flee Violence in the Central African Republic in One Week, UN Says

60,000 Flee Violence in the Central African Republic in One Week, UN Says

January 15, 2021
Covid Vaccines From COVAX Will Arrive Nigeria Late February, Okonjo-Iweala Says

Okonjo-Iweala: We Should Encourage Young People to Become Entrepreneurs; I’m Proud of What Many of Them Are Doing

January 15, 2021
Covid Vaccines From COVAX Will Arrive Nigeria Late February, Okonjo-Iweala Says

Okonjo-Iweala Hopeful of WTO DG Job After Biden’s Inauguration

January 15, 2021
Covid Vaccines From COVAX Will Arrive Nigeria Late February, Okonjo-Iweala Says

Watch Twitter Director Okonjo-Iweala Speak on the Growing Influence of Big Tech in the Political Space

January 15, 2021
Covid Vaccines From COVAX Will Arrive Nigeria Late February, Okonjo-Iweala Says

Covid Vaccines From COVAX Will Arrive Nigeria Late February, Okonjo-Iweala Says

January 15, 2021
UK Bans Arrivals from South America Over Brazil Coronavirus Variant

UK Bans Arrivals from South America Over Brazil Coronavirus Variant

January 15, 2021
Indonesia Quake Kills at Least 35, Injures Hundreds

Indonesia Quake Kills at Least 35, Injures Hundreds

January 15, 2021
‘We Defeated the Dictator By Far’: Bobby Wine Claims Victory in Uganda Polls Despite Official Results Showing Museveni Ahead

‘We Defeated the Dictator By Far’: Bobby Wine Claims Victory in Uganda Polls Despite Official Results Showing Museveni Ahead

January 15, 2021

Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare Agency Denies There Is a Vaccine Sharing Formula for States

January 15, 2021

#Watch: We Haven’t Told States How Vaccines Will Be Shared, Nigeria’s Primary Healthcare CEO Says

January 15, 2021
Tutu, Soyinka, Robinson, Scores of Activists Petition AU, UK, US, EU Over Museveni’s Assault on Opposition

Tutu, Soyinka, Robinson, Scores of Activists Petition AU, UK, US, EU Over Museveni’s Assault on Opposition

January 15, 2021
Uganda Bans Social Media Ahead of Presidential Election

Uganda Is 15th African Country to Restrict Social Media Due to Elections Since 2015

January 15, 2021
Incumbent Museveni Takes Early Lead in Uganda Vote Count as Opposition Alleges Widespread Fraud

Incumbent Museveni Takes Early Lead in Uganda Vote Count as Opposition Alleges Widespread Fraud

January 15, 2021
Travel Will Never Be the Way It Was Before Pandemic, Airbnb CEO Says

Travel Will Never Be the Way It Was Before Pandemic, Airbnb CEO Says

January 15, 2021
Indonesia Downloads Data from Flight Recorder of Downed Jet

Indonesia Downloads Data from Flight Recorder of Downed Jet

January 15, 2021
Nigerian Governors Move to Take Over Covid-19 Vaccines’ Distribution, Meet Wednesday

Nigerian Governors Move to Take Over Covid-19 Vaccines’ Distribution, Meet Wednesday

January 15, 2021
96 Firms Bid for Rehabilitation of Nigeria’s Oil Pipelines, Depots

96 Firms Bid for Rehabilitation of Nigeria’s Oil Pipelines, Depots

January 15, 2021
North Korea Unveils New Submarine-launched Missile

North Korea Unveils New Submarine-launched Missile

January 15, 2021
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
No Result
View All Result
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Arise News
  • HOME
  • Breaking
  • Global
  • Regional
  • US ELECTION
  • BUSINESS
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • TECH
  • Health
  • VIDEOS
  • Covid-19 Updates
Arise News
  • HOME
  • Breaking
  • Global
  • Regional
  • US ELECTION
  • BUSINESS
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • TECH
  • Health
  • VIDEOS
  • Covid-19 Updates
No Result
View All Result
Arise News
No Result
View All Result
Home Global

Obama Cautions US Activists Against Using ‘Defund the Police’ Slogan

December 3, 2020
Reading Time: 4min
0 0
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Former President Barack Obama cautioned young activists against using the slogan “defund the police” to achieve changes in policing practices, instead urging them in a new interview to have a more inclusive discussion to better enact changes.

In doing so, the former president, who still holds enormous influence in the Democratic Party and has voiced support for protesters in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, is taking a strong stance on a contentious phrase that is a dividing point among Democrats, and speaks to the friction between the more liberal wing of the party and President-elect Joe Biden’s calls for a moderate path forward.

“If you believe, as I do, that we should be able to reform the criminal justice system so that it’s not biased and treats everybody fairly, I guess you can use a snappy slogan like ‘Defund The Police,’ but, you know, you lost a big audience the minute you say it, which makes it a lot less likely that you’re actually going to get the changes you want done,” Obama told Peter Hamby on Snapchat’s “Good Luck America” when asked what his advice is to an activist who believes in using the slogan although politicians are likely to avoid it.

“But if you instead say, ‘Let’s reform the police department so that everybody’s being treated fairly, you know, divert young people from getting into crime, and if there was a homeless guy, can maybe we send a mental health worker there instead of an armed unit that could end up resulting in a tragedy?’ Suddenly, a whole bunch of folks who might not otherwise listen to you are listening to you.”

Obama, who previously said he would not defund police departments, said the key is for activists to decide whether they want to get something done or feel good among people they agree with.

“And if you want to get something done in a democracy, in a country as big and diverse as ours, then you’ve got to be able to meet people where they are,” he said and “play a game of addition and not subtraction.”

Other top Democrats, including Biden and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, have said they support changes to policing practices but warned the phrase – which generally calls for redirecting some funding from police departments toward social welfare programs – could be harmful to the movement and the party. Many progressives, however, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have touted the phrase.

The 44th President also provided a glimpse at how progressive and moderate Democrats can work together under an upcoming Biden presidency, noting that the party should “focus on talking about getting certain things done” instead of labels and ideology.

He called socialism a “loaded term” and offered a messaging strategy on Democrats can appeal to people, especially those who are young.

“Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders both agree about raising the minimum wage. Nobody really cares about the label. They care that that is something that is important to a lot of young people and a lot of older people alike,” he said. “My advice for the Democratic Party is telling a story. Because people, young people, folks my age, people generally don’t listen to a bunch of policy analysis.”

Obama continued that people are moved by stories “that connect with their own lives” and not ideology, adding that “promoting young people is really important” when it comes to the Democratic Party.

“We stick so long with the same old folks and don’t make room for new voices,” he said.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2020 Arise News - Part of the Arise Media Group.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • Breaking
  • Global
  • Regional
  • US ELECTION
  • BUSINESS
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • TECH
  • Health
  • VIDEOS
  • Covid-19 Updates

© 2020 Arise News - Part of the Arise Media Group.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist