via Wikimedia
There’s something happening in Oregon that Black America needs to know about.
An organization called "Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets," or CAHOOTS, is taking on emergency response as an alternative to the police - and it’s making a big difference.
Since cops are not trained medical professionals, calls regarding mental health crises and other emergencies often result in senseless police killings.
Welfare checks like the one that took Atatiana Jefferson’s life can be avoided with emergency services that DON’T involve law enforcement.
Several cities across the nation are considering these types of services. CBS affiliate kval.com reports CAHOOTS responds to issues such as: homelessness, intoxication, disorientation, substance abuse, mental illness, dispute resolution, fire aid, and basic emergency medical care.
This is being considered in Oakland, New York, and other cities working on similar services of their own.
Already, CAHOOTS has responded to tens of thousands of calls in Oregon. It’s an option that cities should take very seriously because, when the police are the only solution to issues, Black people are never safe.
Understanding this, we shouldn’t have police be the only option when we need someone to call!
Just imagine how many Black lives could have been spared if there was a nonviolent alternative to the problems we face. Just imagine how many lives can be saved moving forward.