Thank you to the organizers for inviting me to speak at this wonderful celebration of struggle. Frederick Douglass, a former slave, leading abolitionist and activist for women’s rights, spoke words that can act as a guide still today. Frederick Douglass proclaimed that “If there is no struggle, there can be no progress. Power concedes nothing […]
On May 22, 2017, the Seattle City Council passed “police accountability” legislation. Below are my comments explaining what in the legislation is positive, and how it falls far short of what is needed to provide real police accountability in Seattle. I would like to thank the Community Police Commission for their dedication to police accountability, […]
On May 19, 2017, I wrote the following letter to Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider, Head Coach Pete Carroll, and Owner Paul Allen, asking them to sign Colin Kaepernick as backup quarterback. Dear Seattle Seahawks General Manager John Schneider, Head Coach Pete Carroll, and Owner Paul Allen: I am writing to convey that Colin Kaepernick […]
Yesterday, I wrote Mayor Murray, Sheriff Urquhart and Chief O’Toole to urge them to immediately halt the physical eviction of the Umoja PEACE Center, one of the pillars of the Central District and Seattle’s black community. Nothing demonstrates the unacceptable impacts of gentrification and de facto redlining taking place in Seattle like the eviction of […]
On March 15, 2017, I sent the following letter to Mayor Murray, Sheriff Urquhart, and Chief O’Toole, opposing the eviction of the Central District’s Umoja PEACE Center. Dear Mayor Murray, Sheriff Urquhart, and Chief O’Toole; I am writing to urge you to immediately halt the physical eviction of the UmojaFest PEACE Center House, a pillar of […]
Over the last two decades, Seattle has seen a massive influx of new workers, particularly in the tech industries. City Hall has gone to great lengths to court specific companies through sweetheart deals to mega-corporations and developers. In the meantime, low income Seattleites and people of color, in particular, have been neglected, and the Mayor’s proposed budget continues this […]
Garfield High School teacher and social justice activist, Jesse Hagopian, announced at a press conference on January 28th that he is filing a lawsuit against the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) after being pepper sprayed as he walked down the street. The incident, which was captured on video, occurred after […]
On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2015, I gave the following speech outside of our local youth jail. My Sisters and Brothers, Greetings on this day of remembrance for the great fighter and radical, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many thanks to the MLK Celebration Committee, and all who, through their dedication, ensured […]
On Monday, January 12th at 9:30 am at City Hall, Chief O’Toole and other leading officials from the Seattle Police Department will answer questions from Councilmembers about the SPD‘s policing of the Black Lives Matter protests over the last several weeks. It is important that civil rights activists and social justice advocates come to this […]
For many months, civil rights activists and community leaders have been organizing against the construction of a new youth detention center in King County. At many council meetings they have clearly articulated how this jail would exacerbate institutional racism in Seattle, and how the $210 million dollars could be spent on better projects than a […]