Branden Snyder, Co-Executive Director of Detroit Action comments on Mayor Duggan’s endorsement of expansion of the surveillance program Shotspotter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2022
Contact: Alex Catsoulis
alex@theworkeragency.com

“Everyone deserves to live free from violence. However, certain individuals will claim this tragedy to divert funds from the services proven to keep us safe. It is disingenuous for Mayor Duggan to claim that Shotspotter would aid in helping the police catch the perpetrators of violence when in reality, this technology has and will continue to lead to more police terror on Black, Brown and Indigenous community members and institutionalize police overspending. Using American Rescue Plan dollars to fund Shotspotter proves that Duggan is incapable of implementing a safe Detroit that doesn’t include the mass policing and incarceration of poor Detroiters.

The truth is that spending $8.5 million in taxpayer dollars on faulty and ineffective surveillance technology when marginalized Detroiters are struggling with rent, water affordability, and so much more is not only irresponsible, but despicable. Giving the police more incentive to monitor historically impacted communities is inherently violent to the people of Detroit and should be treated as such.

The vast majority of people in Detroit want the city to reinvest in our community and address public safety with prevention that is proven to work. We need housing for all, the right to counsel to keep people in their homes, better schools, emotional and mental health support, and economic opportunities, yet the Mayor refuses to listen to these demands. We ask that our elected officials do not exploit this tragedy to encourage more police technology that will further harm communities of color.”

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