There has to be a readjustment of resources that is being diverted to police and policing as opposed to community health services, and there certainly has to be control over the police by the communities that they are supposed to protect and serve.

In this quote, Alicia Garza argues for a reallocation of resources from police and policing to community health services. She highlights the idea that funding should be directed towards services that directly address the well-being of communities, such as mental health care, education, and social support, rather than primarily funding law enforcement. Garza is calling for a broader rethinking of how public resources are used to ensure they support communities' needs in more holistic ways.

Garza also advocates for community control over the police, stressing that law enforcement should be accountable to the communities they are tasked with protecting and serving. She is suggesting that communities should have a greater say in the operations, priorities, and conduct of the police. This idea challenges the traditional model of top-down law enforcement, proposing that more local involvement can lead to fairer, more effective policing that is genuinely in service of the people.

The origin of this quote comes from Garza’s work as a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, which aims to address systemic issues within policing, particularly in marginalized communities. Her advocacy for shifting resources away from punitive systems towards preventative and supportive services reflects her broader stance on social justice, equality, and the need to reform structures that perpetuate inequality.

In a larger context, Garza’s words underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of crime and societal issues, such as poverty, mental health, and inequality, rather than relying solely on law enforcement to manage these complex challenges. By advocating for a redistribution of resources, Garza is calling for a more equitable, sustainable approach to public safety and community empowerment.