TORONTO — Sandy Hudson's new book on police abolition, titled Defund: Black Lives, Policing, and Safety For All (HarperCollins Canada), is released just before the five-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder. Despite changes in societal attitudes since Floyd's death, the urgency for police abolition remains strong among activists.
The 39-year-old co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada, now based in Los Angeles, aims to equip other activists with key arguments advocating for defunding the police while advocating for increased investment in community resources and infrastructure. Released in April 2025, Hudson’s book analyzes the waves of the police abolition movement that have emerged since 2014, gaining more traction after Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020. This incident sparked a significant cultural reckoning regarding race, authority, and public safety across North America and beyond.
Hudson's book arrives amidst renewed tough-on-crime rhetoric from the U.S. government, a trend echoed during Canada’s recent political campaigns. However, advocates for defunding argue that increasing police presence does not equate to enhanced safety for everyone. Hudson points to intimate partner violence, acknowledged as an epidemic by ninety-five municipalities in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and heightened police presence at schools and protests as examples where more policing does not translate into greater safety.
During an interview, Hudson highlighted major themes from her book, expressing a desire for readers to critically examine their preconceived notions about policing. She pointed out that the prevailing political trend since the mid-1970s has been to promise harsher crime policies and increased policing funds as solutions to safety, yet these measures have repeatedly proven inadequate.
Reflecting on her journey into activism, Hudson recounted her beginnings as a student activist at the University of Toronto, focusing on racial justice issues. Her activism intensified following the police killing of Jermaine Carby in Brampton, Ontario, in 2014, an event overshadowed by the more widely publicized killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Hudson felt frustration over the disparity in media coverage and attention given to similar issues in Canada.
Hudson expressed her evolution in understanding the role of police in society, noting that her views transitioned from acceptance to critical scrutiny based on personal experiences with law enforcement during protests and rallies. She questioned the effectiveness of police responses in conflict resolution, suggesting that police often escalate rather than de-escalate situations, which could lead to more danger.
Despite the challenges, Hudson maintains an optimistic outlook for alternatives to policing. She believes that society will eventually recognize that policing does not necessarily provide safety. Drawing on historical contexts, Hudson asserts that policing is not an unchangeable fixture and envisions a time when society will move past it. She has observed a shift in mainstream discussions regarding police abolition, which fuels her hope that education about the realities of policing and its failures can lead to significant change.
In her work, Hudson underscores that policing has often failed to protect vulnerable populations, such as victims of intimate partner violence. She argues for reallocating resources from policing to provide the necessary support for individuals looking to escape abusive situations, emphasizing the need for better financial and emotional resources.
Hudson advocates for services that address underlying social issues rather than relying on punitive policing strategies. For example, she critiques spending on transit police aimed at penalizing fare evaders instead of addressing the root causes of fare evasion, such as affordability issues. She argues for redirecting funds to enhance public transit accessibility. Similarly, Hudson emphasizes the need for reform in how health crises are handled, suggesting that instead of relying on police intervention, society should provide support and treatment for those facing mental health or addiction issues. By viewing these issues as public health concerns rather than criminal ones, she argues that society could reduce crime while offering necessary support to those at risk.
