Dr. Frances Gill, a delegate in the Democratic Socialists of America’s political committee, faced a difficult question during a televised interview about the implications of abolishing police and prisons. When asked by NBC Los Angeles anchor Conan Nolan what would happen if his daughter were sexually assaulted under such a system, Gill did not provide a direct answer regarding the prosecution of rapists.
Instead, Gill stated that "of course" a rapist would be held accountable, but then pivoted to discussing the root causes of crime and the allocation of public funds. "We're spending absolutely outrageous amounts of money on police and policing, and we're not spending money on things that actually make people safe and feel safe," she said, citing well-lit streets and substance abuse treatment as examples of alternative investments.
The exchange drew criticism online, with former mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt highlighting the moment on social media. Pratt contrasted Gill's response, which he characterized as focusing on "street lights," with the severity of the hypothetical crime.
The Democratic Socialists of America's official platform advocates for defunding the police by rejecting budget expansions and aiming to cut police budgets annually towards zero. The organization also supports demilitarizing the police and investing in community self-governance.
During the interview, Gill also declined to state whether the DSA would endorse Nithya Raman, a progressive candidate and fellow DSA member running for Los Angeles mayor against incumbent Karen Bass. Raman, who was previously elected to the City Council, had campaigned on defunding the police but later stated she would maintain the LAPD's size if elected. She is now campaigning on a public safety plan that includes integrating unarmed officers into 911 response and investing in prevention.
Gill indicated that the DSA was still in the process of making endorsements for the general election and that Raman could still receive an endorsement, noting that "a lot of members are excited about Nithya."