Before the pandemic, the fight against police and carceral forms of punishment already had a long history unique to specific communities. Throughout the pandemic people have re-imagined what a world without police could look like. After the murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020, global uprisings occurred and actions continue to be ongoing. It is important to recognize that police violence is not inherent to America and often Canadians believe such violence does not exist here.
In this episode, Nashwa sits down with two organizers to discuss what defunding the police looks like in different parts of Canada. She’s joined by James Wilt of Winnipeg Police Cause Harm and Sarah Jama of Defund Hamilton Police. This episode about defunding movements across Canada is part of a tiny series of episodes that we will be putting out on Canadian activism and social movements.
Although we witnessed a surge in defund the police movements and organizing in the summer of 2020, such community based activism has a much longer history throughout Canada. This episode features two conversations with organizers and breaks down what defunding can look like in Winnipeg and Hamilton. It was an absolute honour to talk and learn from both James and Sarah. We cover tactics, tools, alternatives to police, and lessons from organizing and local context of the role policing plays in their communities.
Local movements like these are part of the larger fight for a collective future we all long for. Solidarity is forever and to those fighting police brutality in their communities.
If you like the show and would like to see a specific politician interviewed or cause covered please find us on social media and drop us a line!
Guest Information:
Guests of the Week: James Wilt of Winnipeg Police Cause Harm and Sarah Jama of Defund Hamilton Police.
Defund Hamilton Police
Defund Hamilton Police is a coalition in Hamilton calling for defunding the Hamilton Police. They have successfully removed school resource officers out of the Hamilton-Wentworth district school boards through their advocacy. Most recently they held a multi day action involving a Freedom Camp in front of city hall to highlight the housing crisis in Hamilton where evictions are occurring at alarming rates and encampments are being torn down. The result of the this action is launch of Hamilton Encampment Support Network. You can follow Defund Hamilton Police on twitter here.
Sarah Jama community organizer based in Hamilton, Ontario with a passion for community engagement, disability justice, and activism.
Winnipeg Police Cause Harm
Winnipeg Police Cause Harm is a community-centred police abolitionist group committed to defunding the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and reallocating resources to life-sustaining services. You can follow Winnipeg Police Cause Harm on twitter here.
James is a writer, student, and organizer with Winnipeg Police Cause Harm.
Production Credits:
Hosted by Nashwa Lina Khan
Show Music by Johnny Zapras and postXamerica
Art for Habibti Please by postXamerica
Production by Andre Goulet, Nashwa Lina Khan and Johnny Zapras
Production Assistance by Raymond Khanano and Ali McKnight
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Canadian Social Movement Series - Episode 15 with Winnipeg Police Cause Harm and Defund Hamilton Police