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blurstoftimes's review against another edition
5.0
Phenomenal collection. All of these articles are expertly written and thoroughly poignant. These stories about law enforcement failing to protect the communities that they serve is a dominant vindication for much of the radical and transformative ideals that are brought up and persuaded to readers in hopes of universal change. My favorite is “Our Dreams, Our History”—which talked about the intersection of Black People and Native Americans. Not only was it insightful and well-written, but it was frightening evidence that Native Americans—a marginalized group who have been colonized and subsequently brutalized by police—are just as displaced and terrorized as Black and Latinx people. Whether it be context about the ongoing corruption of Chicago Police Departments or the additional punishment that pregnant women face in our legal system, this book is successful in presenting detailed stories about marginalized groups that are facing an ongoing battle with police who simply don’t serve to protect them. It’s a harrowing but immensely important read.
whatcandicereads's review
4.0
An always timely and necessary collection of shorter works from advocates, organizers, academics etc., Who Do You Serve, Who Do You Protect? offers a critical analysis of police violence in and even outside of the U.S.. This isn’t actually my first time reading this book — I always find myself coming back to excerpts throughout this text, as indicated by my numerous sticky notes, worn binding, and scribbled margins throughout the chapters. The book does a fantastic job of proposing solutions, offering alternatives, and encouraging readers to think bigger. For folks interested in defunding the police and greater abolition, this should be on your must read list.
If you found this book to be interesting, I recommend Alex Vitale’s the End of Policing and Angela J. Davis’ Policing the Black Man. Both continue the framework within this book and from my perspective, serve as essential companions.
If you found this book to be interesting, I recommend Alex Vitale’s the End of Policing and Angela J. Davis’ Policing the Black Man. Both continue the framework within this book and from my perspective, serve as essential companions.
gillyreads's review
informative
medium-paced
Comprehensive and important look at how state violence functions, including a expansive view beyond just the us police force.
If one sees policing for what it is—a set of practices sanctioned by the state to enforce law and maintain social control and cultural hegemony through the use of force—one may more easily recognize that perhaps the goal should not be to improve how policing functions but to reduce its role in our lives.”
hannahpom's review
5.0
This anthology provides much needed context for many of the increasingly popular ideas of the movement for Black Lives and transformative justice. I’ll be thinking about the descriptions and prescriptions written here for years to come.
ofbooksandtrees's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Read February 2024
Given that it was first published May 2016, reading it in 2024, it does feel a bit dated. The book focusses mostly on 2014-2015, making a lot of the information almost 10 years old. And it’s not that that information isn’t relevant anymore, but a lot has happened since (not saying the progress made is good, but it’s just not up to date.)
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Also, considering this is not my first resource read on the subject, a lot of the information, especially in in the first two thirds (that focus mostly on what the issue is), just wasn’t new to me.
The last third, which focuses on solutions/alternatives, was more interesting to me as I’m less familiar with the things mentioned. Though the issue with it not being up to date still stands.
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The information given is still good, so if you’re less familiar with it and don’t mind that it not quite up to date, I would still recommend it. I think personally, I just wanted more from it (but that’s on me for knowingly picking up an older book.)
Given that it was first published May 2016, reading it in 2024, it does feel a bit dated. The book focusses mostly on 2014-2015, making a lot of the information almost 10 years old. And it’s not that that information isn’t relevant anymore, but a lot has happened since (not saying the progress made is good, but it’s just not up to date.)
.
Also, considering this is not my first resource read on the subject, a lot of the information, especially in in the first two thirds (that focus mostly on what the issue is), just wasn’t new to me.
The last third, which focuses on solutions/alternatives, was more interesting to me as I’m less familiar with the things mentioned. Though the issue with it not being up to date still stands.
.
The information given is still good, so if you’re less familiar with it and don’t mind that it not quite up to date, I would still recommend it. I think personally, I just wanted more from it (but that’s on me for knowingly picking up an older book.)
bluestarfish's review against another edition
4.0
This anthology of essays written by activists, organisers, and journalists cover a range of lived experiences of police violence and responses and resistance to the same in the United States. The first half covers the experiences and reasons for resisting the state violence and policing and the rascism inherent in it all. The second half covers examples of activism and projects and dreams and hopes of those organising for a world without police.
The essays offer many ideas and questions for those of us thinking about the abolotion of police and what community safety and justice means in our situations. The writers are based in the United States, but sadly the US does export more than just films and music and policing techniques have been among them. And of course the role of policing in other countries has also had tight ties to state-sanctioned violence against peoples, so there's much to learn in solidarity.
The essay that had the most impact for me from the first section: "Black Parenting Matters: Raising Children in a World of Police Terror" by Eisa Nefetari Ulen. The essay with the most new information for me in the second half: "Community Groups Work to Provide Emergency Medical Alternatives, Seperate from Police" by Candice Bernd.
Edited by: Maya Schenwar, Joe Macare, and Alana Yu-lan Price
The essays offer many ideas and questions for those of us thinking about the abolotion of police and what community safety and justice means in our situations. The writers are based in the United States, but sadly the US does export more than just films and music and policing techniques have been among them. And of course the role of policing in other countries has also had tight ties to state-sanctioned violence against peoples, so there's much to learn in solidarity.
The essay that had the most impact for me from the first section: "Black Parenting Matters: Raising Children in a World of Police Terror" by Eisa Nefetari Ulen. The essay with the most new information for me in the second half: "Community Groups Work to Provide Emergency Medical Alternatives, Seperate from Police" by Candice Bernd.
Edited by: Maya Schenwar, Joe Macare, and Alana Yu-lan Price
jessicaps's review against another edition
4.0
An anthology of essays about the history of police brutality and state-sponsored violence and ideas/organizing around abolishing police and prisons. The essays about community organizing were informative and I really appreciated the part about successful organizing being rooted in community-building and not judgment/looking down on others.
snapplespice's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of essays, so the topics explored don’t go into as much depth as a full book on each topic could. Most of the essays explore the problems with police forces rather than focusing on possible community-based alternatives, although that is touched upon a bit more in the final selections. I appreciate the multiple perspectives, especially the essays discussing police brutality against Black women.
kathhreads's review against another edition
4.0
proper review to come
One of the most insightful and significant books I’ve read.
One of the most insightful and significant books I’ve read.
samjunipero's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible read all the way through.
A must read for all white people, especially ones in the United States.
A must read for all white people, especially ones in the United States.