Willie Burnley Jr. is co-founder of Defund Somerville Police Department and is city councilor in Somerville, Mass. Endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America, he is a Black and queer organizer, a former union steward with Teamsters 122 and former campaign staffer for Massachusetts Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
Feature
What's Next for the Defund Movement?
Five police abolitionists from around the country—some of them newly elected to city councils—talk about lessons from 2021 and plans for 2022.
Kandace Montgomery, Robin Wonsley Worlobah, Andrew R. Hairston, Willie Burnley Jr. and Makia Green