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McManus: Defund police? Let’s start with reform.

Photo by Maya Alleruzzo of The Associated Press / People walk on the words 'defund the police' that was painted in bright yellow letters on 16th Street as demonstrators protest on Sunday, June 7, 2020, near the White House in Washington, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. Photo by Maya Alleruzzo of The Associated Press / People walk on the words 'defund the police' that was painted in bright yellow letters on 16th Street as demonstrators protest on Sunday, June 7, 2020, near the White House in Washington, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis.

By Doyle McManus / The Los Angeles Times June 11, 2020 4 min read

Anybody remember “Abolish ICE?”

That was progressives’ impassioned cry last year after Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents imprisoned undocumented immigrant children in cages. It was a litmus test of compassion for Democrats running for president.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said yes, “abolish ICE.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said she’d “replace” the agency. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said he’d “restructure” it.

But Joe Biden, the leading moderate in the race, refused to get near the idea. Eventually, “Abolish ICE” disappeared – and Biden won the nomination.

Now, after George Floyd’s death under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, progressive groups have raised a new banner: “Defund the police.”