Join us for a public panel and discussion:

Thursday, November 8 at 7:00 pm
Kwantlen Polytechnic University, 12666 72 Ave
Birch 250 (see campus map)

This event is taking place in Surrey on the unceded territories of the Kwantlen, Qayqayt, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Semiahmoo, Tsleil-Waututh, Tsawwassen, and Musqueam Nations. 

In Surrey, the issue of crime dominates local politics, mainstream media, and public discourse. But “crime” is an ambiguous term – it is both a catch-all for various illegal activities and a symbol for all sorts of fears and anxieties. It conjures up images of murder, sexual assault, and gang shootings, but also refers to the strategies of poor and homeless people who are just trying to survive. Crime rates are falling in Surrey and across the country, but politicians, mainstream media, and the RCMP contribute to a sense of escalating danger, and reinforce the message that the best way to address “crime” is through policing and prisons.

We’re told the police exist to keep our communities safe, but this story falls apart when we consider the day-to-day activities of police officers. They surveil and harass homeless people, arresting them for survival activities like panhandling. They enforce the catastrophic war on drugs, responsible for countless deaths. And they terrorize racialized and Indigenous communities, profiling and brutalizing young people of colour with impunity. The City of Surrey is already home to the largest RCMP detachment in the country; this overwhelming police presence does nothing to address the underlying causes of our fear and insecurity. Massive funding for police comes at the expense of social programs and resources, like community centres and youth programs, which could actually address some of the root causes of violence. By divesting from the police, we can invest in real community solutions. It is up to us to decide what form those solutions take.=

AGAINST POLICING & THE POLITICS OF FEAR is a panel and discussion on the moral panic over crime in Surrey. Members of Anti-Police Power Surrey will speak about:

  • Moral Panic, Racist Anxieties & the Surrey Gang Task Force
  • The Surrey Outreach Team & the Criminalization of Poverty
  • Immigration Detention Centre & Migrant Justice in Surrey
  • Community-Based Alternatives to Policing

After the panelists present, there will be time for questions and discussion.

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION available here. If you have any specific accessibility questions or requests, email us at antipolicepower@gmail.com.

ANTI-POLICE POWER SURREY is new organization that formed to push back against the relentless expansion of police power and call for the City of Surrey to divest from the police and invest in the people. Anti-Police Power Surrey is supported by Alliance Against Displacement.

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