There is a clear set of proposals to defeat systemic racism
“The protesters who have turned out over the past week also seem to be more aware of structural racism in the past, and prepared to combat it. Many seem to recognize that the criminal justice system is just one part of a panorama of structures of oppression across this country, from the criminalization of the poor to widespread, unequal access to housing, nutritious food, employment, environmental safety, health care, clean air, water and citizenship.” — Peniel E. Joseph, Politico
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The Argument
The Black Lives Matter protests will lead to lasting change because there is a set of clear proposals. A clear set of proposals have been written and disbursed by leaders of the movement. It is now a matter of lawmakers, members of congress, and politicians alike to see that these proposals are implemented nationwide.
In 2015, Black Lives Matter released a series of policy solutions to address police killings, excessive force, profiling and racial discrimination, and other problems in law enforcement, called "Campaign Zero."
The proposal they put out was comprehensive and all-encompassing. It included a call to end policing that leads to mass arrests for low-level offenses such as drinking in public, end policing for profit, limit the use of force, demilitarization, mandatory body cams, de-escalation, and racial bias training, etc. Some but not all of these proposals were adopted by police departments around the nation.[1]
It is now 2020, and once again the Black Lives Matter Movement has introduced a revamped set of proposals to address racial injustice in America drawn up by the Movement for Black Lives.
The BREATHE Act is a four-part proposal named after the phrase uttered by victims of police brutality like Eric Garner and George Floyd. The core of this proposal is to redirect federal funds away from police, prisons, and other parts of the criminal justice system and into underserved communities of color.
[2]
A clear and comprehensive set of policies and reform initiatives are included in the four-part proposal, it is widely available to the public, and it has been championed by prominent progressive leaders in congress.
Counter arguments
Because the Black Lives Matter movement and protests are not led by one single leader, but rather by hundreds of prominent activists, politicians, and public figures who each have their own unique ideas about proposals for racial justice, the BLM platform has become convoluted and unclear in their goals. Statements like “Defund the Police” and “End Systemic Racism” are the rallying cry of the protesters but their actual proposals haven’t made it to mainstream news channels and into the hands of U.S congressmen and women.
Proponents
Premises
[P1] A clear set of proposals was introduced in 2015 with the “Campaign Zero” policy proposal.
[P2] A clear set of proposals has once again been introduced in 2020, with Black Live Matter championing the “BREATHE Act”.