The events of the last week–the unwarranted killing of Alton Sterling, Philando Castille, and the five Dallas police officers–have left all of us here at tSB feeling heartbroken. We ache for our community and for the many people impacted by these deaths. We stand with all of you who are feeling vulnerable, angry, and helpless. If you are in need of a safe place to process your thoughts and feelings, please contact sara@theserviceboard.org and we promise to be there for you.
In the midst of this tragedy, we want to remember the strength we have when we pull together as a community and demand change. Below are a few suggestions of actions you can take to make a difference.
Become informed: educate yourself on the issues so you can be a more informed citizen and voter. A great website that explains the issues and offers suggestions to fix them is http://www.joincampaignzero.org/#vision.
Contact local government: make sure your voice is heard at the local level by e-mailing, writing, or visiting Mayor Ed Murray and the City Council. To contact Mayor Ed Murray: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/get-involved/contact-the-mayor. To contact the City Council members: http://www.seattle.gov/council/meet-the-council
If you feel confused about what you should be asking local government officials to reform, here are a few talking points to research and suggest:
- Reinstate Pierce Murphy as civilian watchdog for Seattle Police Department’s Office of Professional Accountability
- Include civilian panel and oversight requirements in the new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild
- Remove provisions in contracts with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that delay investigations, prevent meaningful civilian oversight, and expunge or cover up officer’s disciplinary records
- Stop the construction of the $160 million North Seattle Police Precinct and the new $210 million youth jail and use these funds for education, officer training, training for de-escalation techniques, and alternative to incarceration
Come visit us a tSB and sign the petition to put Initiative 873 on the ballot. For more information on what this petition is pushing for, visit: http://www.notthistime.global/
