Publication Date
Winter 2022
Abstract
To address police brutality, we must ground our responses in abolition rather than reform. Abolition demands that we address the root causes of police brutality and transform society into a place where we can thrive together. On the other hand, reform makes surface-level changes while maintaining the core elements of our inherently flawed policing and carceral systems. The author grounds his arguments for abolition based on his personal experiences and life accounts, and on the ongoing abolitionist efforts in the wake of George Floyd. In so doing, the author challenges us to think creatively and broadly about what kind of society we want to be a part of—arguing that being grounded in abolition means having the courage to confront our demons and reimagine our world.
Recommended Citation
Felix Sitthivong, Why Reforms are Not Enough: Justice and Accountability Reimagined, 25 CUNY L. Rev. F. 66 (2022).