Running 150k to Defund Ottawa Police Service
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Hi, I’m Gus and I’m running 150k throughout the month of November to raise money to defund the Ottawa Police Service and promote non-police mental health intervention.
I organized a similar fundraiser in June of this year to defund the Minneapolis Police Department following the death of George Floyd among others, and in light of the verdict of not guilty on all charges in Daniel Montsion’s manslaughter case against Abdirahman Abdi I feel an obligation to take action again.
As clearly and concisely as possible, I want to make my case for why I feel Ottawa Police should be defunded, starting with a quick explanation of defunding itself.
Defunding Police
Calls to defund police have become increasingly prevalent as people question the outcomes from police work. The main symptom of this issue being discussed right now is police perpetrated violence, but failures of policing can take many forms. Generally speaking, the scope of what police are expected to do is increasing, while the funding and training to back up those initiatives is not. Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly himself has said “Officers are frustrated and dealing with “difficult” emotions stoked by constant pressure to do more with less.” Defunding aims to narrow the scope of what police are expected to do, divesting from the police budget and investing in other city services to more appropriately respond to the needs of citizens. This could take the form of a separate emergency service staffed by experts in mental health crises, but that isn’t the only solution. Any kind of investment in affordable housing, addiction services, or mental health treatment would likely help mitigate the factors that lead to violent interactions with police.
“Officers are frustrated and dealing with “difficult” emotions stoked by constant pressure to do more with less.”
Why Defund Ottawa Police?
The case that motivated me to take this initiative revolves around the death of Abdirahman Abdi. For those not familiar, Abdi was assaulting customers at a coffee shop on the morning of July 24, 2016 when police were called to the scene. Police attempted to arrest him and an altercation ensued, leaving Abdi dead. Many questioned whether the use of force exhibited by Constable Daniel Montsion in subduing Abdi was appropriate, and he was charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, and assault with a weapon. Within weeks his peers in the Ottawa Police Service had started a fundraising campaign to show solidarity with him. Though then Chief Charles Bordeleau banned officers from wearing them on duty, many continued to defy the order and the wristbands were overwhelmingly popular among the force.
Montsion had his legal fees covered by OPS, and while waiting for the trial to run its course continued to receive his salary despite being suspended. All the while enjoying unwavering support from his colleagues of the OPS, it seems as though his righteousness with regard to his involvement in Abdi’s death was never in question in their eyes. With Daniel Montsion now acquitted on all charges, he will likely serve again on the force. This, to me, is the most clear display of why the Ottawa Police Service should be defunded. When Montsion arrived on the scene he knew he would be dealing with a person going through a mental health crisis. He moved to engage Abdi with carbon fiber plated gloves, without first considering de-escalation.
By standing by him and supporting his actions, the Ottawa Police Service has sent us a very clear message: if you or your loved ones are the next victim of police brutality they won’t hesitate to stand by their fellow officers. They won’t hesitate to take sides, and it won’t be yours. The verdict was clear that the threshold for “good faith” use of force was met in this case, but that shouldn’t be surprising. It’s well known that the judicial system props up criminal cops by making the standard to prove malfeasance exorbitantly onerous. And though it’s legitimately terrifying that judges so readily acquit violent officers, my campaign seeks to strike at the heart of the problem by avoiding police involvement in mental health issues altogether.
They won’t hesitate to take sides, and it won’t be yours.
How Do We Defund Them?
There are some amazing organizations that have been pushing for justice in the time since this case began. The group I’m fundraising for, the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, has been working tirelessly since Abdi’s death. They have fought for material change in policy through many channels. Recently, they pushed Mayor Jim Watson to introduce a motion calling to suspend members of the police service, without pay, who are charged or convicted with a serious offence. They also recently pushed a motion to hold public consultations into options for non-police mental health intervention. Their demands include freezing the police budget at 2020 levels and reallocating any budget increase to public health initiatives and social services for Indigenous and Black communities in Ottawa. They also support defunding OPS to allow other city services to reclaim the massive divestments they have incurred in favor of inflating the police budget in recent years. Their goals are ambitious and bold, and they have a proven track record of achieving them. If any one organization can make the changes necessary to prevent another tragic death like Abdi’s, it’s theirs. Join me in raising money for the Justice for Abdirahman Coalition, and help make Ottawa a safer place.
The Gofundme campaign can be found here.
