Activists across the country protesting police brutality are calling for police departments to be defunded. While proposals have varied, it generally means shifting funding from police — which typically consume the largest portion of a city's budget — to boost social programs.

As protests over police brutality and systemic racism continue, state and local leaders in Wisconsin are grappling with how to address the needs of their own communities. Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes discusses police budgets and policy, a culture of racism, and his vision for the state.

Despite warnings of severe weather throughout Wisconsin, protests were planned across the state on June 9 in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

A number of different groups across Wisconsin are organizing Black Lives Matter protests, and each have their own perspective about needs in their communities. Still, there are common themes to their requests.