Progressive politicians Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Zohran Mamdani are facing scrutiny after publicly distancing themselves from pandemic-era defund the police
rhetoric.
The 12th Anniversary Shift: How Progressive Rhetoric Changed on Policing
On August 9, marking the 12th anniversary of the police killing of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed an ABC news anchor regarding progressive politicians and Democratic Socialists of America candidates moving away from statements made during the pandemic concerning police and prison abolition.
Explaining the shift, Ocasio-Cortez referenced New York City Councilman Chi Ossé, stating that the pandemic era was a time when the doors were really open in trying to entertain any and every policy that was going to get us to a better place.
She added that current discussions around crime are fundamentally different than past rhetoric aimed at bringing crime down.
“I have a local city councilman that has this saying: ‘Woke 1 was crazy’… especially during Covid, I think that the doors were really open in trying to entertain any and every policy that was going to get us to a better place.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative, via Theguardian
Shortly afterward, Zohran Mamdani, the progressive New York mayor who previously supported the defund movement through pandemic-era tweets, chimed in on Ocasio-Cortez’s comments.
“Sometimes what you believe in can change. I know there are some for whom they still believe in that. I’ve made very clear that I do not believe in defunding the police and that to me, delivering critical public safety also looks like working with our police department alongside many other partners.”
Zohran Mamdani, New York Mayor, via Theguardian
Organizers Push Back Against Budgetary Priorities and Broken Trust
The backtracking has triggered pushback from community organizers who spent years building grassroots movements around the slogan defund the police (or prisons)
. In Milwaukee and across the country, organizers emphasize that the defunding slogan was a practical strategy to reallocate resources toward housing, jobs, and youth opportunities.
Devin Anderson, an organizer with the African American Roundtable, pointed out the financial disparity in municipal and state budgets. According to Anderson, cities continue to spend portions of public funds on police forces even though bad things still happen.
“We currently spend, you know, over 40% of our budget on police to produce safety, and yet bad things still happen.”
Devin Anderson, organizer with the African American Roundtable, via Wuwm.com
In New York, critics question how maintaining a police budget squares with democratic socialist goals. The New York Police Department operates with an annual budget of $11bn.
Defining the Framework: Abolition Versus Community Control
Amid political distancing, organizers draw a distinction between ideological police abolition and practical tactics like defunding or community control. Alan Chavoya, an organizer with Milwaukee’s Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, explains that while abolition serves as a framework, defunding police is a practical tactic.
Rather than complete abolition, Chavoya’s organization advocates for community control, where residents gain a direct say in police department functions. He contrasts local advisory boards with more engaged models, such as Chicago’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability pilot program, which fosters community involvement.
Similarly, Sean Wilson, a director at Dream.org, emphasizes that criminal justice reform hinges on resource distribution. Pointing to state allocations, Wilson noted that the prison system budget is more than the entire UW system, highlighting governmental priorities.
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