National

Violent crime data from the FBI does not support funding local police departments at current levels, activist DeRay Mckesson said Friday during an Axios virtual event.

What he's saying: "Even if you made the argument that we need to have the police to deal with the most violent crimes, that is literally only 5%...What if you took 95% of the budget and moved it somewhere else? The data would support something like that. And that's FBI numbers. That's not even a homegrown number from a think tank," Mckesson said. 

Activist DeRay Mckesson: Data from the FBI doesn't support current police funding

He argues violent crime is 5% of all crime; the other 95% of police budgets could go elsewhere.

Activist DeRay Mckesson speaking with Axios' Dion Rabouin

Politics

Police

Violent crime data from the FBI does not support funding local police departments at current levels, activist DeRay Mckesson said Friday during an Axios virtual event.What he&#x27;s saying: &quot;Even if you made the argument that we need to have the police to deal with the most violent crimes, that is literally only 5%...What if you took 95% of the budget and moved it somewhere else? The data would support something like that. And that&#x27;s FBI numbers. That&#x27;s not even a homegrown number from a think tank,&quot; Mckesson said.

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Activist DeRay Mckesson: Data from the FBI doesn't support current police funding

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