Joe Biden and the right-wing Democrats have declared war on the working-class and colonized people of the U.S. After the rebellions that took place all over the world in the summer of 2020 in response to the lynching of George Floyd, many activists organized around either defunding or abolishing the police. Delivering his State of the Union address on March 1, 2022, Joe Biden said “The answer is not to defund the police. It’s to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them.” Nevermind that at least a quarter of USians were in favor of defunding the police. Nor that U.S. police have shot and killed at least 1,055 people in 2021 alone. The message is clear—the ruling class will not allow their security apparatus to be disarmed nor are they willing to divert those funds towards social programs to benefit marginalized communities.

The war currently taking place in Ukraine with Russia has many citizens in the West urging the U.S. to arm Ukrainians and intervene in the conflict directly or through NATO. What that means is that taxpayer dollars will enrich weapons contractors like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and any relevant surplus weaponry will make its way back to the U.S., and into the hands of local and state police via the Department of Defense’s 1033 program. We reject the notion of escalating conflict abroad through material support from the military-industrial complex as well as for the domestic occupying force that we call the police here in the states.

Hawaii bill would limit state participation in federal programs to militarize police

  • Senator Stanley Chang (D) is pushing Senate Bill 2239 which would restrict state and local law enforcement from acquiring specific military equipment, including weaponized drones, military rifles, grenade launchers, and other items

  • Biden has yet to reinstate any restrictions or oversight that was previously in place for the 1033 program under the Obama administration (which itself was minimal in its enforcement)

  • The bill needs to pass through the Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs Committee to proceed

San Diego Police to adopt new rules for use of military-style equipment

  • SDPD released new guidelines for funding and acquisition of military equipment in their force, which will be set for approval by the city council in the near future

  • In September of 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB481, which mandates law enforcement agencies have to receive approval from their mayors/city councils to use military equipment in their jurisdictions

  • SDPD does not participate in 1033 according to city officials, but AB481 also oversees how law enforcement agencies are allowed to participate in the program

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Banner photo: Santa Cruz County Sheriff's SWAT team members (right) get help from Santa Cruz Police in searching for a suspect in a shooting on Riverside Road at Blackburn Street in Watsonville. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian file)