"Defund Police" and "Defund NYPD" were among phrases spread across signs during New York City protests this weekend over the death of George Floyd.

The sayings represent the idea that the best way to reduce violence between police and communities of color isn't by spending money on training or other reform programs, but by reducing the budget for police.

The proposal would divert money away from law enforcement and into housing, job creation, and other initiatives.

An advocate for the concept is Professor Alex Vitale from the sociology department at Brooklyn College.

Vitale’s calling for a reduction of $1 billion to the NYPD over the next four to five years. He says this will be made possible “through attrition, cuts to overtime and a few specific programs."

Vitale pointed to Los Angeles as an example, saying the city has half the number of officers per capita than NYC.