Worldwide protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd included calls to defund or abolish the police until a sharp rise in crime gave politicians and police supporters the fuel they needed to suppress the movement. Unfortunately, a detailed conversation about transforming public safety was never had. In this film (shot on iPhone), ten experts discuss how policing and incarceration create more harm than good, why the system persists and what changes can be made to make everyone safe.
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, director Matthew Solomon returned to school to earn an MPA to better position himself to use his privilege and access to help work towards positive social change. In his MPA program, Matthew began applying the coursework regarding sustainability and workable societies to the issues with policing and incarceration. His academic advisors suggested he create a documentary film for his thesis project. Reimagining Safety is that film.
Interviews include:
Dr. Jody Armour, Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law, University of Southern California
Nikki Blak, Sociologist, Anti-Racism Educator
Sennett Devermont, Police Auditor & Founder, AFTP Foundation
George Gascón, Los Angeles County District Attorney
Jose Gutierrez, Licensed Social Worker, Therapist & Restorative Justice Practitioner
Dr. El Jones, Professor & Co-Author of Defunding the Police - Planning the Way Forward for the HRMHadiya Kennedy, Former Detective, Los Angeles Police Department
Hawk Newsome, Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter NY & Black Opportunities
Gina Viola, Former LA Mayoral Candidate Who Ran on an Abolition Platform
Alex S. Vitale, Professor, Brooklyn College & Author, End of Policing
