>> I BELIEVE YOU ON
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD.
>> THANK YOU, THE JUNE THE
THIRD, 2020 SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN
SERVICES COMMITTEE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
IT IS 12:02 P.M.
I AM LISA HERBOLD, CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLL.
SEEMA COUNCILMEMBER GONZALES.
>> CARE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> CARE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT.
WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY COUNCIL
MATTER , COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON.
THAT IS ALL, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE WILL APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR
THE COMMITTEE MEETING.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION,
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, TODAY'S
AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
A SHORT OPENING OF REMARK ABOUT
TODAY'S MEETING.
>> I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT I
AM HERE AS WELL, THIS IS
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THIS IS BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF
PROTEST FOR CHANGE, AND A
LONGER HISTORY OF INSTITUTION
JUSTICE AND RACIALIZED
VIOLENCE.
ESPECIALLY TOWARDS BLACK MEN
AND WOMEN.
THE PROTESTING WE ARE
EXPERIENCING IN SEATTLE AND
SING AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE THE
RESULTS OF THOSE HISTORIES
SPARKED BY THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD I MINNEAPOLIS POLICE.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE PUT TODAY'S
MEETING IN THAT CONTEXT, THAT
BLACK MEN AND WOMEN HAVE
DISPROPORTIONATELY SUFFERED AND
DIED AT THE HANDS OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN SEATTLE, AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND, PROTESTERS ARE PLEADING,
NOT JUST FOR JUSTICE FOR GEORGE
FLOYD, BUT FOR AN AND TO POLICE
VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK MEN AND
WOMEN HERE IN SEATTLE AND
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
I WAS WITH MANY OF YOU AT, NOT
THIS TIMES EVENT AT WESTLAKE ON
SATURDAY PROTESTING THE MURDER
OF GEORGE FLOYD AND GENERATIONS
OF HARM DONE TO BLACK
COMMUNITIES AND BLACK PEOPLE AT
THE HANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THE STIRRING WORDS OF REGENTS
ARE OF THE MANY VOICES LIFTED
SATURDAY WERE A LAMENT TO
FAILURES OF A NATION.
BUILT BY BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE, TO DELIVER JUSTICE AND
LAW ENFORCEMENT, FAILURES TO
DELIVER ADJUSTMENT, AND FAILURE
TO DELIVER ECONOMIC EQUALITY AND
EARLIER TO DELIVER EDUCATIONAL
EQUITY.
I'VE HEARD MANY SAY THAT IN THE
LAST THREE DAYS THAT EMBRACING
PROTEST DOES NOT HAVE TO
CONSTRAIN OUR RIGHT FROM
EXPRESSING RAGE, SORROW AND
HEARTBREAK.
IT MUST NOT.
ON SATURDAY I LEARNED FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AT 5:57 P.M.
ABOUT THE 5:00 P.M.
CURFEW.
I'M SORRY I LEARNED AT 4:57 P.M.
I TALKED TO AS MANY PROTESTERS
AS I COULD TO TELL THEM ABOUT
THE LATEBREAKING CURFEW.
THAT EVENING WHEN I GOT HOME I
CONTACTED COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALES AND WE DECIDED THEN
AND THERE WE NEEDED TO PUBLICLY
ISSUE A REQUEST TO THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE, CHIEF BEST, AND A
REQUEST TO PROVIDE THE NUMBER
OF INJURIES AND ARESTIN AS WELL
AS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
IMPACTS OF THE POLICE RESPONSE
TO THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
WE ASK FOR A DETAILED AFTER
ACTION AND INCIDENT REPORT
INCLUDING DETAILS SPECIFIC TO
RIFLE STOLEN, POLICE VEHICLES
DESTROY, DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND
TO THE INTERSTATE AS A RESULT
OF THE DEMONSTRATION.
WE FIRST AND FOREMOST EMPHASIZE
THE IMPORTANCE OF A REVIEW OF
WHETHER OR NOT THE POLICIES FOR
POLICING OF DEMONSTRATIONS IN
THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
, FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION IN
2015 WERE ACTUALLY FOLLOWED.
TODAY'S AGENDA WILL BEGIN WITH
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF
INTEREST IN PUBLIC COMMENT
TODAY.
SO FAR 93 OF YOU HAVE SIGNED
UP.
WE WILL FOLLOW PUBLIC COMMENT
WITH THE COMMUNITY PANEL OF
INDIVIDUALS WITH FIRST-HAND
WITNESS ACCOUNTS, OF POLICE
RESPONSE AT THE DEMONSTRATIONS
PROTESTING THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD AND GENERATIONS OF HARM
DONE TO BLACK COMMUNITIES ON
BLACK PEOPLE AT THE HANDS OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AFTER OUR COMMUNITY PANEL, WE
WILL HEAR FROM THE EXECUTIVE,
INCLUDING SENIOR DEPUTY MAYOR
FONG, AND CHIEF CARMEN BEST OF
SPD AND HAROLD SCOGGINS OF THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE WILL THEN HEAR FROM THE
THREE CIVILIAN LED POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AGENCIES ABOUT
THEIR ROLE, INVESTIGATING
COMPLAINTS, RECOMMENDING
DISCIPLINE, AND RECOMMENDING
POLICY CHANGES TO THE COMPLAINTS
AND DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM.
WE WILL CLOSE THE MEETING WITH
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE ARE CREATING A LISTENING
SPACE HERE TODAY.
OUR GOAL IS TO CENTER THE
VOICES AND EXPERIENCE OF BLACK
MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE MOST
IMPACTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE AND
WHOSE VOICES ARE OFTEN LEAST
HEARD.
PLEASE JOIN US IN STARTING FROM
THE PREMISE, THAT EVERYONE HAS
A PERSPECTIVE, THAT SHOULD BE
UNDERSTOOD.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY SAW,
AND JOINS WITH US TODAY, WITH
WHAT THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND,
AND WITH THEIR OWN LIFE
EXPERIENCES.
THIS IS NOT A FACT-FINDING
EXERCISE, IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LISTEN.
WE WILL CREATE A PLAN TO
RESPOND AND WE WILL DO SO
TOGETHER, EVEN IF THAT PATH IS
NOT MADE CLEAR TODAY.
I PLEDGE TO YOU TO CENTER MY
POLICY EFFORTS, AND PLACE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND INVESTMENT IN
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUFFERED
FROM THIS DISINVESTMENT.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL TRANSITION
IN TO PART ONE OF THE REMOTE
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
OR UNDER THE COMMITTEE'S
PURVIEW.
PLEASE NOTE, THERE ARE TWO
PARTS TO TODAY'S PUBLIC
COMMENTS, TO ALLOW US AMPLE
TIME TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC
AND OUR PANEL, AND CITY
DEPARTMENTS, ON EVENTS
SURROUNDING THE RECENT PROTESTS.
ALL REGISTERED SPEAKERS WILL BE
SPLIT INTO TWO PUBLIC COMMENT
OPPORTUNITIES.
THE TIME DEDICATED FOR EACH
PUBLIC COMMENT IS AS FOLLOWED.
PART ONE WILL BE UP TO 20
MINUTES AND THEN I WILL MAKE A
REQUEST TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMENTS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10
MINUTES.
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HEAR FROM
AT LEAST THE FIRST 15 SPEAKERS.
PART TWO OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS
WILL BE EXTENDED FOR A TIME
DETERMINANT BY THIS COMMITTEE,
AND OF THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS
REGISTERED, AND PRESENTED TO
SPEAK.
SPEAKERS MOVED INTO THIS PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WILL NOT BE
REREGISTERING AND WILL BE
CALLED AND THE ORDER REGISTERED.
THIS COMMITTEE ANTICIPATES PART
TWO OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
TO START AROUND 3:00 P.M.
PLEASE NOTE THE 3:00 P.M.
TIME IS ESTIMATED, AND I AS
CHAIR WILL WORK TOWARDS MEETING
AND REQUEST YOUR PATIENCE AS WE
WORK THROUGH THIS AGENDA ITEM.
IF YOUR SPEAKER NUMBER IS 16 OR
ABOVE, AND YOU DO NOT WISH TO
EITHER MONITOR THE MEETING
UNTIL THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT
SESSION, NOR DO YOU WANT TO
LEAVE AND COME BACK TO THE
MEETING AT 3:00, WHEN THE
SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION
IS ESTIMATED TO BEGIN, BECAUSE
HE CAN LEAVE THE MEETING AND
COME BACK, PLEASE BE AWARE WE
WILL BE TRACKING THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENTS, AND DO NOT AVAIL
THEMSELVES OF THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TESTIFY IN THE SECOND PUBLIC
COMMENT SESSION.
BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO DO NOT COME BACK, TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE SECOND
COMMENTS., WE WILL CONSIDER
HOLDING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING
TO HEAR FROM ALL PEOPLE, WHO
WISH TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN
THESE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND/OR
THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE CITY'S
RESPONSE TO THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
WE HAVE STRUCTURED PUBLIC
COMMENT THIS WAY, TODAY BECAUSE
WE WANT TO CENTER THE EXPENSES
OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
LIVED EXPERIENCES OF BLACK MEN
AND WOMEN, WITH FIRST-HAND
WITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE CITY
AND SPD'S RESPONSE TO THE
DEMONSTRATIONS.
THAT IS WHO COMPRISES OUR
COMMUNITY PANEL, OUR FIRST ITEM
ON THE AGENDA AFTER PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I HOPE EVERYONE WAITING TO GIVE
PUBLIC COMMENT UNDERSTANDS AND
AGREES HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR
US TO CENTER THOSE VOICES IN
OUR DISCUSSION TODAY.
FINALLY, BEFORE WE OPEN FOR
PUBLIC COMMENTS, I ASK EVERYONE
TO BE PATIENT AS WE LEARN TO
OPERATE THE NEW SYSTEM IN
REALTIME.
I WILL MODERATE THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL IN EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME, AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED
TO SPEAK, BUT WOULD LIKE TO,
YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE END OF
THE PUBLIC HEARING, BY GOING TO
THE COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
THE LINK IS ALSO LISTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL THE SPEAKERS NAME,
STAFF WILL UNMUTE THE
APPROPRIATE MICROPHONE, AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTE IT WILL BE THE
SPEAKER SKU THAT IT IS THEIR
TURN TO SPEAK.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE TOPIC
YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
SPEAKERS WILL HERE CHIME WHEN
10 SECONDS OR LEFT OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME.
AGAIN, YOU WILL HERE CHIME.
ONCE THE SPEAKER HEARS THE
CHIME, WE ASK THAT YOU BEGIN TO
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF SPEAKERS DO NOT AND THEIR
PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE TIME PROVIDED, THEY WILL BE
MUTED AFTER 10 SECONDS TO ALLOW
US TO CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
ONCE YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR
PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE ASK THAT
YOU PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM THE
LINE.
IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE
FOLLOWING THE MEETING, YOU CAN
DO SO VIA THE SEATTLE CHANNEL,
OR LISTENING OPTIONS ON THE
AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN,
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST.
THANK YOU.
>> HI, I AM SPEAKING ON POLICE
RESPONSE TO PROTESTERS THIS
WEEKEND.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
I'M A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER, I
HAVE LIVED IN AND AROUND
SEATTLE FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS.
MOST IMPORTANT AM A PUBLIC
MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER HERE IN
SEATTLE.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY
STUDENTS.
THEY ARE 13, 14 YEARS OLD.
THEY ARE PASSIONATE, THEY ARE
WELL SPOKEN, THEY ARE
THOUGHTFUL AND THEY CARE ABOUT
PUBLIC ISSUES.
ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES WHERE
THEY CAN HAVE THEIR VOICE
HEARD, IS THROUGH PUBLIC
PROTEST.
THEY CANNOT VOTE YET, THEY ARE
SOMETIMES BARRED FROM CERTAIN
PLACES FROM SPEAKING BECAUSE
THEY ARE CONSIDERED TOO YOUNG.
PUBLIC PROTEST IS ONE OF THE
ONLY PLACES WHERE THEY ARE
HEARD.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY TOO SCARED
TO ATTEND PROTEST, BECAUSE OF
THE ACTIONS OF POLICE.
MY STUDENTS ARE FEARFUL FOR
THEIR SAFETY.
DURING PEACEFUL PROTEST, NOT
BECAUSE OF OTHER PROTESTERS,
NOT BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY
THAT SURROUNDS THEM, BUT
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF
POLICE.
MY STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE
SCARED OF GOING TO A PROTEST
FOR FEAR OF BEING PEPPER
SPRAYED IN THE FACE.
MY STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE TOO
SCARED TO ATTEND A PROTEST, AT
THE AGE OF 13 AND 14 BECAUSE OF
THEY MIGHT GET HIT WITH A FLASH
BANG CANISTER THAT IS THROWN
INDISCRIMINATELY INTO A CROWD.
THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT MY
STUDENTS CAN HAVE THEIR VOICE
HEARD RIGHT NOW, AND IT IS
SHAMEFUL TO ME THAT WE ARE
USING PEPPER SPRAY ON CROWDS,
THAT MY STUDENTS MY 13 AND 14-
YEAR-OLDS CANNOT SAFELY ATTEND,
AND CANNOT SAFELY TALK ABOUT
THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT.
ONE OF MY STUDENTS HELP
ORGANIZE THE CLIMATE WALKOUTS
IN THE FALL.
SHE WOULD LOVE TO ATTEND THESE
PROTEST, SHE WANTS TO BUT SHE
CANNOT.
SHE IS TOO SCARED OF WHAT THE
POLICE MIGHT DO TO HER.
IT IS SHAMEFUL, THAT WE ARE
USING PEPPER SPRAY DURING A
RESPIRATORY PANDEMIC.
IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT WE ARE
PUTTING THEM IN THESE
SITUATIONS.
AND IN FEAR, AND IN DANGER.
MY STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE
SCARED.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE TOO SCARED
TO ATTEND A PLACE THAT IS THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO
ASSEMBLE.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, I AM A CONSTITUENT FROM
WEST SEATTLE AND I'M ADDRESSING
THE DEFUNDING OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HOPE YOU'RE AS HORRIFIED AS I
AM AS THE VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS
TACTICS THEY HAVE USED AGAINST
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS OVER THE
LAST WEEK, BUT UNLIKE ME YOU
HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE ACTUAL
ACTIONABLE CHANGE.
I'M CALLING ON THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL TO BAN THE USE OF TEAR
GAS, DEFINED THE POLICE
ADVERTISE WITH SPD, AND CITE
THE POWER OF THE POLICE UNION
WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON A RIOT
SHIELD IS STOLEN FROM THE MOUTH
OF A LOW INCOME CHILD IN THE
CITY.
EVERY PENNY SPENT ON TEARGAS IS
STOLEN FROM THE BUDGET OF THE
SCHOOL.
IF THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR DURKAN
CARED ABOUT THE MOST VULNERABLE
PEOPLE WE WOULD NOT HAVE SPENT
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER
MONEY TO ATTACK AND KILL THE
PLACE, THOSE THEY CLAIM TO SERVE
. YOU WOULD FUND SOCIAL
PROGRAMS TO LIST THE PEOPLE
THAT NEED IT.
NOT THROW MONEY AT A WHITE
SUPREMACIST ORGANIZATION SO
THEY CAN BUY A NUMBER HUM BE.
YOU WOULD NOT ALLOW THE USE OF
TEARGAS ON YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN
THE MIDDLE OF A RESPIRATORY
PANDEMIC.
HOW DARE MAYOR DURKAN ALLOW
CHEMICAL WEAPONS BE USED ON
THE UNARMED POPULACE.
HOW DARE MAYOR DURKAN ALLOW
SOMETHING FOR USE IN WAR TO BE
USED ON CIVILIANS.
PROTESTERS DON'T CAUSE RIOTS,
COPS DO.
STAND UP, SPEAK OUT AND DO
SOMETHING USEFUL.
I YELLED MY TIME TO THE NEXT
SPEAKER, GOOD DAY TO EVERYONE
BUT MAYOR DURKAN AND THE SPD.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS IAN
STEWART.
>> HI, THIS IS IAN, I'M
ADDRESSING THE DEMANDS OF
ACTIVIST ORGANIZATIONS HAD BEEN
BROUGHT FORTH IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING ONLY FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY, AT MINIMUM WE
ARE ASKING FOR A DRASTIC
DEFUNDING OF THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU AMY FOR
TALKING ABOUT IT.
TO AMPLIFY THE DEMANDS, I'M
GOING TO AMPLIFY THE DEMANDS OF
THE COVID MUTUAL AID GROUP
TODAY AND CALLING UPON THE CITY
COUNCIL, 21, PROPOSE A 50% CUT
FOR THE MILLIONS ALREADY
BUDGETED FOR THE SPD.
TWO, PRIORITIZE HEALTH AND
SAFETY STRATEGIES, THREE, THE
CITY ATTORNEY MUST NOT
PROSECUTE PROTESTERS INCLUDING
THOSE ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING
CURFEW.
FURTHERMORE, ALL OFFICERS WHO
TAPED OVER THERE ABOUT
IDENTIFICATION, MUST BE
IMMEDIATELY FIRED.
SECOND, ON THIS COMMITTEE, I
WANT TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO VOTED
TO APPROVE THE SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS GUILD CONTRACT.
I'M GLAD YOU HAVE SINCE BEEN
CALLING FOR A RENEGOTIATION BUT
YOU SHOULD KNOW THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A
SECOND CHANCE TO ADDRESS POLICE
LOOK BRUTALITY, AND THANK YOU
TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT FOR
YOUR LOAN VOTE AGAINST THE
CONTRACT.
I CALL FOR THE IMMEDIATE
RESIGNATION OF MAYOR DURKAN.
HER RESPONSE HAS BEEN VIOLENCE
BY THE PLACE WITH LITTLE OR NO
PROVOCATION.
ON THE FIRST YEAR PRIDE MONTH
SHE TEAR GASSED PROTESTERS AND
HISTORICALLY BLACK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE OFFICERS WERE CAUGHT ON FILM
COMMITTING VIOLENCE.
AND ACTED ONLY AT THE WHIM OF
THE SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
GUILD.
IT IS CLEAR THAT AS LONG AS SHE
IS ASKED THAT HOME.
THIS IS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR
COMMUNITY, AS BEING THE MOST
VULNERABLE AMONG US ARE BEING
KILLED AND BEATEN BY POLICE
OFFICERS.
THESE ARE THE STAKES WE DON'T
NEED MORE PRETTY WORDS, WE NEED
ACTION NOW.
MOST OF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DOING
YOUR JOBS AND IF YOU'RE NOT
WORKING TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF
THE PROTESTERS THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE WILL MOVE YOU FROM
OFFICE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU IAN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
ALL WEEKEND I SAW THESE PROTEST
BEING TERRORIZED WHILE THEY LEFT
AND MADE GESTURES TO ANTAGONIZE
THESE PEOPLE.
THEY TOOK DIRECT AIM AT THE
FACES OF PEOPLE AND SHOT ME
DIRECTLY IN THE SPINE WHILE WE
PRACTICED OUR FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
TAKING THE WORD OF THE POLICE
IS THE EXACT REASON WE ARE AT
THIS POINT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
ALLOWING CHIEF BEST AND MAYOR
DURKAN TO HAVE VERY MANICURED
PRESS CONFERENCE UNDER THE
GUIDANCE OF COLEMAN, NOT
ALLOWING FOR FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
SHOWS THEIR LEADERSHIP DOES NOT
WANT TRANSPARENCY.
IF PEACEFUL PROTESTERS ARE
OUTNUMBERING THE SO-CALLED
AGITATORS MORE THAN 300 TO 1,
ANDTHE POLICE CANNOT HANDLE
THAT WITH THE $357 MILLION
BUDGET AND ALL OF THE TRAINING
THEY RECEIVED, THEN WE CLEARLY
NEED A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION
TO BE IN CHARGE OF OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY IF THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE
IT OUT ON INNOCENT PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE INSTEAD OF PROTECTING
THEM.
STATE PATROLS BEING HURT, DON'T
KILL THEM, HIT THEM HARD,
BEFORE THE ORDER IS GIVEN DOES
NOT SOUND LIKE DE-ESCALATION
NOR DOES IT COINCIDE WITH
PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE PREMEDITATION.
IF OFFICERS NEED A TWO-PIECE
INCH OF TAPE TO MAKE THEM FEEL
BETTER, MAYBE WE SHOULD SPEND
MORE ON GETTING THEM THERAPY
AND LESS ON SPECIAL OPERATIONS
AND TEARGAS.
I HOPE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL WILL REALIZE THE POWER
AND RECOGNIZE MAYOR DURKAN HAS
DISPLAYED MORAL TURPITUDE FOR
PRETTY MUCH OUR WHOLE TIME.
I WILL EXPLORE SECTION 10 OF
THE SEATTLE CHARTER.
THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
FOR LISTENING AND YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS MATTER.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD AND OTHERS.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN GREENWOOD IN
DISTRICT 6. I'M ADDRESSING THE
ACCEPTABLE POLICE RESPONSE TO
THE RALLY THAT I ATTENDED ON
SATURDAY, MAY 30th AND OTHER
RESPONSES TO PROTEST THE RECENT
DAY.
EVEN BEFORE THE RALLY BEGAN
AROUND 2:45 P.M.
I HEARD THEM EXPLODING
INCENDIARIES.
MY PATH WAS BLOCKED BY A LINE
OF POLICE OFFICERS USING
BICYCLES.
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL WAS
ALREADY IN FULL RIOT GEAR.
I'VE BEEN TO MANY RALLIES AND
I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT KIND OF
RESPONSE BEFORE THE RALLY
STARTED.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS NOT SPOKE
PUBLICLY HER PRESS CONFERENCES
THIS WEEK.
I HEARD NUMEROUS EXPLOSIONS.
I SAW PEOPLE TRYING TO PEPPER
SPRAY OUT OF THEIR EYES.
MOST WERE WOMEN, MOST WERE
BLACK.
SINCE THEN WE HAVE WITNESSED AN
ESCALATION IN POLICE ATTACKS.
THEY IS THE SLIGHTEST
PROVOCATION BY ONE INDIVIDUAL
TO ATTACK THE ENTIRE CROWD.
IT IS NOT DEMOCRACY, IT IS NOT
JUSTICE.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I USED TO
WORK IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, 10
YEARS AGO.
ALL OF THESE ISSUES CAME UP
AGAIN REGARDING MENSTRUATION
MANAGEMENT AND MORE.
INDEPENDENTLY REVIEWS WERE DONE
AND CHANGE WASN'T DEMENTED.
AZUCENA SAID, NOTHING IS
CHANGED.
WE SPENT A DECADE ON JUST THE
MOST RECENT PHASE OF POLICE
REFORM, IT DOES NOT WORK.
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
URGING US TO DEFUND THE POLICE
AND FIND A TOTALLY NEW WAY TO
FIND SAFE AND HEALTHY
COMMUNITIES AND JENNY DURKAN
NEEDS TO RESIGN.
SOLIDARITY TO EVERYONE AT THE
PROTEST.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, I AM SPEAKING REGARDING
THE VIOLENCE DISPLAYED BY SPD
THIS WEEKEND.
AFTER INCREASED POLICE ACTIVITY
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, I SPENT
LAST NIGHT TAPING PLASTIC WRAP
AND GARBAGE BAGS TO MY WINDOWS
AND VENT SO I COULD HIDE IN MY
SHOWER OUT OF FEAR THAT MY
NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE GASSED BY
POLICE.
I'M GOING TO BRIEFLY LIST
INSTANCES EYEWITNESS ONLINE
THAT I SAW AS VIOLENCE AGAINST
OUR CITY AND PEOPLE.
SATURDAY POLICE HAD UNSECURED
ASSAULT RIFLES IN THEIR VEHICLE
AND PROMOTING THAT THEY ARRIVED
FOR VIOLENCE AND NOT HIS DE-
ESCALATE.
MONDAY THEY GRABBED A PINK
UMBRELLA FROM A PROTESTER AND
PROCEEDED TO PEPPER SPRAY THEM
WHEN THEY RESISTED.
AFTER SIX HOURS OF PEACEFUL
PROTESTING, A WATER BOTTLE.
HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE STATED
MANY TIMES THE COVID IS A
RESPIRATORY DISEASE THAT SPD IS
AUTHORIZING USE OF WEAPONS THAT
CAN CAUSE LONG-TERM RESPIRATORY
DAMAGE.
WHY DOES OUR CITY HAVE FUNDING
FOR WEAPONS WHEN THERE ARE SO
MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WHO
ARE FACING POVERTY,
JOBLESSNESS, LACK OF ACCESS TO
RESOURCES, AND INABILITY TO PAY
THEIR RENT AND BASIC UTILITIES.
I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS
SPEAKERS THAT WE NEED TO DEFUND
THE SPD.
THE FUNDS SHOULD GO TO PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING AND
SCARED FOR DECADES I NEED HELP,
NOW.
ALL OF THESE INSTANCES ARE ON
FILM, THEY BEEN SEEN BY PEOPLE
ACROSS THE WORLD ON THE
INTERNET.
IT REFLECTS NOT ON US, BUT ON
YOU.
THESE ARE CLOSE CIVILIANS
UMBRELLAS.
WHO ARE TRYING TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES, AND DE-ESCALATE ONE
ANOTHER AMIDST BEING MET WITH
ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPPED
WITH CHEMICAL WEAPONS, BLUNT
OBJECTS, AND GUNS.
YOU ARE LEADERS, NEED TO DO
BATTLE, BETTER TO DE-ESCALATE
THE VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK
TODAY, HAVE A NICE DAY.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, THIS IS KAREN.
THE CITY ENTERED ITS CONSENT
DECREE DUE TO BLATANT EVIDENCE
OF THE OVERWHELMINGLY EXCESSIVE
USE OF FORCE.
THE PAST TWO DAYS HAVE SHOWN
ALL OF US THAT NOTHING HAS
CHANGED.
THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
MEASURES PUT IN PLACE HAVE
CLEARLY NOT CHANGED SPD'S
BEHAVIOR.
THE CITY CANNOT FAIL ITS PEOPLE
BY THE OVER MEANINGFUL, RESCIND
THE CITY'S REQUEST TO UNDER THE
CONSENT DECREE.
IN FACT, ASK THE JUDGE TO LOOK
INTO THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
AND POLICIES.
ALSO, IT IS YOUR JOB TO
AGGRESSIVELY NEGOTIATE THE
POLICE UNION CONTRACTS.
PLEASE DO NOT LET US DOWN
AGAIN.
THE MAYOR FAILED TO PROTECT THE
REFORM THE PEOPLE DEMANDED AND
FOUGHT FOR.
THE REFORMS THAT WERE ENACTED
INTO LAW, IN HER NEGOTIATIONS
úWITH THE POLICE UNION.
HOW THE MOST RECENT CONTRACTS
WERE OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED BY
CITY COUNCIL IS BEYOND ME.
COPS INVESTIGATE AND COPS.
ONLY SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE AN
INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT
AGAINST AN OFFICER.
ZERO MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT OF
COPS.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU
ALREADY ADDRESSED IN LAW.
SO SPD DOES NOT NEED TO OBEY
THE LAW BECAUSE IT WAS NOT
NEGOTIATION BUT PROTESTERS
FOLLOWING THE LINE EXERCISE
THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS GET
GASSED AND ARRESTED.
ANYTHING SHORT OF A FORMAL
REJECTION OF THE MAYOR'S BRUTAL
TACTICS, LIES, GAS LIGHTING OF
HER OWN CONSTITUENTS IS TACIT
APPROVAL.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE
PROBLEM IS, START AT THE TOP,
WITH JENNY DURKAN.
I ALSO WANT TO ECHO ALL OF THE
OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTERS TODAY
DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST
PROTESTERS.
STOP USING WEAPONS AGAINST HER
OWN PEOPLE, BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, I AM ADDRESSING
POLICY ACCOUNTABILITY, AND
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'M A MASTERS OF SOCIAL WORK,
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE
HAVE SEEN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
TO MANY IMPOSSIBLE THINGS IN
ORDER TO MANAGE THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC.
FOR INSTANCE WE WAIVED HIPAA
REQUIREMENTS FOR TELEHEALTH.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS A LOT
OF MEASURES FOR FINANCIAL AID
STIMULUS AND INCREASE SERVICES
VERY VERY QUICKLY.
NOW, POLICE VIOLENCE AND
BRUTALITY IS NOT NEW, AND IT IS
NOT A PANDEMIC BUT IT IS
OBVIOUSLY AN EPIDEMIC.
I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE
FULLY CAPABLE OF MAKING SIMILAR
RAPID MASSIVE CHANGES FOR THIS,
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE FOR
COVID.
WHY ARE POLICE EQUIPPED WITH
TEAR GAS AND FLASH BANGS FOR
INSTANCE.
WE COULD CHANGE THAT TOMORROW,
TODAY.
LET'S BE CLEAR, WATER BOTTLES
BEING THROWN IN THE PARK, THAT
IS AN AVERAGE NIGHTLY
EXPERIENCE.
I HAD A FRIEND A FEW MONTHS AGO
WHO HAD A GLASS BOTTLE THROWN
AT HER.
I DON'T THINK THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE
APPROVED OF HER RESPONDING BY
TEAR GASSING FOR CITY BLOCKS.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD HAVE
CONSIDERED THAT A REASONABLE
REACTION.
WHY IS IT A REASONABLE POLICY
FOR THE PEOPLE.
I BRING UP COVID, BECAUSE IF WE
MADE THOSE RAPID CHANGES FOR
PANDEMIC MITIGATION, DOING
THINGS LIKE CREATING BEING
STRONGER FORCE POLICIES,
REDUCING THE MILITARIZATION OF
THE POLICE, AND DEFUNDING OUR
POLICE IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO
DO FOR COVID AND PANDEMIC
PROTECTION AS WELL.
PROTESTERS ARE NOT GOING TO
STOP UNTIL THERE IS REASONABLE
TO BELIEVE MEANINGFUL CHANGE
WILL HAPPEN.
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT A
WILL BE MADE SAFER TO THE
CITIZENS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO
PROTECT.
THE MORE RISK THERE IS TO GET
COVERED.
IT INCREASES NIGHTLY.
THERE ARE TWO HEALTH CRISIS AT
PLAY.
CORONAVIRUS AND THE SYSTEMIC
WONDERS OF BLACK PEOPLE IN
CRIMINALIZATION OF BLACKNESS.
WHICH ALSO IS PART OF WHY FOLKS
ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THAT
THAN CORONAVIRUS THEMSELVES.
IN ORDER TO REDUCE ONE HEALTH
CRISIS WE MUST REDUCE THE OTHER
END VERY QUICKLY.
THANKS JACK.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS SYDNEY
PORTER.
I'M A WHITE STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON WHO IS
TIRED OF SEEING MY BLACK AND
BROWN PEERS HAVING TO FIGHT
AGAINST CENTURIES-OLD
OPPRESSION.
THE ONGOING PROTESTING IS IN
RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS VIOLENCE
THEY DISTORTION MY FACE AT THE
SEATTLE POLICE.
AN INVESTIGATION LED BY THE
CIVIL-RIGHTS MISSION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN 2011,
FOUND THAT ONE IN FIVE USED
EXCESSIVE FORCE, AND THAT IN
MOST CASES OVER 50% OF THESE
INVOLVED MINORITIES.
THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICES ESCALATE SITUATIONS AND
USED UNNECESSARY OR EXCESSIVE
FORCE FOR MINOR OFFENSES FOR
THE PROTESTERS ARGUMENT
DEMANDING INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
SO BRUTALITY AGAINST BLACK AND
BROWN BODIES CANNOT CONTINUE.
I WILL BE SPEAKING ON THE
DEMANDS BY THE PROTESTERS.
THEY INCLUDE THE DEFUNDING OF
THE SPD, AND INCREASE IMMEDIATE
AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN
BLACK COMMUNITIES.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
PRIORITY IS CLAIMED TO BE
REDUCE CRIME AND DISORDER, TO
SERVE WITH HONOR,
PROFESSIONALISM AND TO STRIVE
FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE, TO
SPONSOR BETTER TRUST, AND TO
USE DATA-DRIVEN POLICIES AND
PRACTICES.
AS WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT
PROTEST, THE DEPARTMENT DOES
NOT HOLD THEMSELVES TO THEIR
OWN SET OF IMPROVEMENT
GUIDELINES.
AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
INVESTIGATION, AND THE VIOLENCE
OF THE SEATTLE PROTEST IS
REVEALED, THE OFFICERS RESORTED
TO QUICKLY TO WEAPONS, AND HAVE
A TRACK RECORD OF RACIALLY
BIASED PRACTICES.
INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO POUR
MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF THE
SPD, WE NEED TO BE INVESTING IN
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.
50% CUT FROM THE SPD COULD BE
USED TO FUND THE COMMUNITY LED
PROGRAM AND EDUCATION.
INVEST IN PEOPLE, NOT POLICE.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, I AM A MEMBER, I AM A
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SUBSTITUTE.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS MIKE
COMMENTS, AND INCREASE, I
WANTED TO LET THE CITY COUNCIL
KNOW THAT I DEMAND AN INCREASE
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY,
CRACKDOWN ON RACIAL BIAS, AND
DIMINISH THE SUPPORT.
DURING THE PROTEST I SEE, AND,
I READ A LOT OF, IN A LOT OF
PLACES THAT POLICE ARE TURNING
OFF THEIR BODY CAMERAS, I
DEMAND THAT THE USE OF FORCE
SHOULD BE UNAFFECTED.
OFFICER BADGES NUMBERS AND
NAMES SHOULD BE VISIBLE.
IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT EVENTS
OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC
SCHOOLS ENDING THE RELATIONS
WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
DEPARTMENT, I DEMAND THAT ALSO,
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE
PIANO, SEATTLE PD REEVALUATE
THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND TRY TO
TERMINATE AND MOVE TOWARD
TERMINATING THEIR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
I CANNOT, AS A MEMBER OF THE
EDUCATOR COMMUNITY, I CANNOT
LOOK MY STUDENTS IN THE EYE,
AND SAY I CAN PROTECT YOU.
I WAKE UP EVERY DAY, GOING TO
WORK WORRIED ABOUT MY FELLOW
BLACK STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND
COWORKERS.
SO, WITH THAT, I DEMAND ALSO
THAT THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT BEING DEFUNDED, AND,
THE RELATIONSHIP THAT IT HAS
WITH THE OLDEST MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY
WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BEING
TERMINATED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO.
THE OTHER NIGHTS, TWO NIGHTS
AGO, THERE WAS A PROTEST AND
ONCE THE FLASH BANGS AND, TEAR
GAS WENT OFF, IS SEEPED INTO MY
APARTMENTS, AND MY THREE MONTH
OLD SON, WHO WAS SLEEPING, WAS
AWOKEN FROM HIS SLEEP,
COUGHING, CRYING, SPITTING OUT
MUCUS, MUCUS BUBBLING OUT OF
HIS NOSE, HE WAS BRIGHT RED,
AND WE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE OUR
HOMES.
WE RAN TO OUR CAR, WE DID NOT
EVEN HAVE TIME TO PUT THEM IN
THE CAR SEAT, BECAUSE IT WAS SO
BAD.
MY WIFE HAD TO PUT BREASTMILK
ON HIS EYES, AND WE HAD TO
LEAVE OUR HOME, AND WE ARE NOT
THERE.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN WE CAN GO
BACK, BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS
OF TEAR GAS SEEPING INTO OUR
MATERIALS AND AFFECTING THE
RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF INFANTS.
SO I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT, WHEN POLICE
USED TEAR GAS, AND THE USE OF
FLASH GRENADES, THERE IS DAMAGE
TO PROTESTERS, WHICH IS WRONG,
BUT THERE IS ALSO DAMAGE TO
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
PARTICIPATING IN THE PROTEST
AND LIVE IN THOSE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHY WOULD THEY USE TEAR GAS,
WHICH IS A WAR CRIME, ACTUALLY,
WHY WOULD THEY USE THAT IN A
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT EMPTIED OUR BUILDING, AND
NOW I'VE HAD TO FIGURE OUT IF I
CAN EVEN GO THERE, BECAUSE I AM
WORRIED ABOUT MY CHILD LUNGS.
I DEMAND THAT THE SEATTLE
POLICE IMMEDIATELY STOP USING
TEAR GAS AND FLASH GRENADES, TO
HANDLE PROTESTS.
DO SO IN A MORE MATURE MANNER,
AND I DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY,
BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY
SON WHO IS NOT OLD ENOUGH TO
SPEAK YET.
I HOPE THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS
A LOT OF DIFFERENT STORIES AND
IDEAS, I HOPE THIS STORY STAYS
WITH YOU, BECAUSE IT IS A THREE-
MONTH-OLD WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR
HIMSELF AND IS VERY VULNERABLE
AND IS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS.
THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE REACHED THE 20
MINUTE MARK.
IMMUNITY MEMBERS, IF THERE IS
NO OBJECTION THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD WILL BE EXTENDED AN
ADDITIONAL 10 MINUTES.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD, IS EXTENSION 10
MINUTES.
WE WERE RESUME PUBLIC COMMENTS
AFTER THE PANEL PRESENTATIONS.
NEXT SPEAKER.
CAROL, WE ARE HAVING A HARD
TIME HEARING YOU.
CAROL, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU, I AM
SORRY.
>> SORRY.
>> SO MUCH BETTER, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER
NOW?
>> WE RESTARTED YOUR CLOCK.
>> I LIVE IN DISTRICT 7, AND IS
SPEAKING ON THE PROTEST THIS
WEEKEND.
MY INITIAL LOCATION, WAS WHERE
I COULD NOT SEE THE PLAZA AREA,
DESPITE EVERYTHING, THEY
FOCUSED ON A SIX-YEAR-OLD WHITE
WOMAN AND NURSE, AND THEY
HANDED OUT MASKS, AND WATER,
FIRST AID ITEMS, NOT A HOSTILE
CROWD.
OUR GROUP CONTINUED SOUTH,
AROUND FOUR.
THE CROWD WENT NOTICEABLY
TENSE, AND IF YOU MINUTES
LATER, THERE WAS PLEASE
OFFICERS IN RIOT GEAR, THE
ADDITIONAL OFFICERS SWARMED THE
BUILDING, IN FRONT OF THE
BUILDING, THE CROWD BECAME
NOTICEABLY MORE ANXIOUS AND
HOSTILE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
CIVILIANS DISPLAY THE MIDDLE
FINGER.
I DECIDED TO RECORD THE CROWD,
BECAUSE MY INSTINCT WAS I
WANTED TO SHOW HOW PEACEFUL THE
CROWD WAS IN THE MOMENT BEFORE
THE TEARGAS WAS DISPLAYED.
I HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE THAT IN
MY LIFE.
MY OVERALL IMPRESSION, SPD
GREATLY RATCHETED UP WHAT WAS
BASICALLY A CALM CROWD
PEACEFULLY EXERCISING ITS
RIGHTS.
AND FLASHING VEHICLE LIGHTS.
CERTAINLY THE CHOICE TO TO PLAY
TEARGAS INTO A CROWD THAT WAS
NOT WRITING CONCERNS THIS
IMPRESSION.
WHAT I SAW, SPD ACTUALLY
CREATED WHATEVER RIGHT OCCURRED
BY INITIATING HARMFUL ACTIONS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE I
WOULD HAVE REALLY LOVED TO SEE
MAYOR DURKAN, AND ANY OF THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL SUSTAINED
APPEARANCE, IT MIGHT'VE HELPED.
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS
INTENT ON MILITARIZING OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, WE
SHOULD NOT BE FOLLOWING THAT
EXAMPLE, THANK FOR YOUR SERVICE
AND YOUR INTEREST.
>> THANK YOU, THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HELLO, I LIVE IN DISTRICT 4,
AND I AM ADDRESSING THE SPD'S
RESPONSE TO THE PROTEST.
I ATTENDED THE PROTEST WAS PART
OF THE PEACEFUL PROTEST
WITNESSED COUNTLESS ACTIVE
POLICE AGGRESSION AND
ESCALATION.
MY GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE IT,
WHICH YOU TRY TO RETURN HOME
FROM A PEACEFUL PROTEST ON
SUNDAY, AND WAS ACCOSTED BY AN
OFFICER BLOCKING HER WAY.
THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT THE VIOLENCE THAT HAS
TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST THREE
DAYS WAS LARGELY DUE TO SPD'S
USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE.
I WOULD ASK WHO THE FORCES
MEANT TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
THE ISSUES THE SPD RUN DEEPER
THAN THAT.
THE FORCE OF THE CULTURE ISSUE,
THAT RUNS DEEP.
I WITNESSED OFFICERS INTENDING
TO START A CONFLICT.
SPD HAS BEEN ABLE TO CHECK SOME
BOXES LAST FEW YEARS, THE
DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CHEST OF
THE COMMUNITY, IT TAKES
DECADES, GENERATIONS TO UNDO.
WHOLESALE CHANGES NEEDED TO
EARN IT BACK.
THE ACTIONS LAST NIGHT
RESEMBLED THAT OF AN
AUTHORITARIAN POLICE STAGE
LOOKING FOR X USED TO STOMP OUT
A PROTEST.
I KNOW A FEW BAD APPLES CAME
UNDER WATER BOTTLES, BUT THERE
IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLICE
AND US.
I FIND THE ACTIONS LAST NIGHT
TO BE DISPROPORTIONATE, AND
CRUEL.
THE PROTESTERS HAD BEEN THERE
FOR SIX HOURS, PEACEFULLY.
A FEW WATER BOTTLES DOES NOT
UNDO THAT COMMENT CERTAINLY
DOES NOT REQUIRE RESPONSE
CONSISTING WEAPONS BAN BY THE
GENEVA CONVENTION.
THEY OBVIOUSLY DO NOT KNOW THE
DAMAGE IT DOES TO THOSE THAT
LIVE IN THE AREA.
EXCESSIVE FORCE IS DISPLACED
MANY IN THE COMMUNITY.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD
HAVE DONE THAT.
THEY DO NOT REALIZE HOW BAD OF
A DIVISION THAT WAS.
I FEEL IT REPRESENTS AN
ABSOLUTE FAILURE.
BRING DRASTIC CHANGE TO THE
BUDGET OF SPD WHO MUST BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE AND THE PROTESTERS
MUST NOT BE PROSECUTED.
I WILL NOT FORGIVE IF CHANGES
DO NOT COME.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, THANKS.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI.
I'M FROM HIGHLAND PARK IN WEST
SEATTLE, AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY
TO ASK YOU TO MAKE DEFUNDING
THE POLICE AN IMMEDIATE
PRIORITY.
I WAS PLANNING TO GO ON THE
PROTEST MONDAY EVENING, TOLD MY
FRIEND LIKE IT FELT LIKE I WAS
PREPARING FOR WAR.
IT WASN'T THE UNDER
DEMONSTRATORS I WAS FEARFUL OF,
OR EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF
WHITE SUPREMACIST INSTIGATORS,
WAS THE POLICE.
I HAD EARPLUGS TO PROTECT MY
EARS FROM FLASH BANGS.
I HAD GOGGLES TO PROTECT MY
EYES FROM TEARGAS AND MACE.
I SAID I FELT LIKE I WAS
PREPARING FOR WAR, AND YET THE
TEARGAS AS A WEAPON HAS BEEN
AND IN WARFARE BY THE GENEVA
CONVENTION.
BY CITIES AND POLICE, AND OTHER
CITIES AND POLICE LIKE OURS
THINK IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO USE I
GUESS THE VERY CITIZENS THEY
ARE SWORN TO PROTECT.
I WAS THERE FOR THREE AND HALF
HOURS FOR THERE WAS NOT A HINT
OF FRIGHT OR VIOLENCE FROM THE
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
MY WIFE AND FRIENDS AND I LEFT
AT 8 P.M.
IT WAS NOT LONG AFTER THAT THAT
WE HAD REPORTS OF PROTESTERS
BEING THROWN INTO CHAOS BY THE
POLICE.
IT FELT LIKE THE POLICE HAD
JUST GOTTEN BORED.
THEY WERE TIRED OF PEOPLE
PEACEFULLY EXERCISING THEIR
RIGHTS AND WANTED TO GO HOME.
SO THE INSTIGATED VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE COMMUNITY.
THERE IS VIDEO SHOWING THIS,
THANK GOD THERE IS VIDEO.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE NOT SAFE
FROM THE POLICE.
WE ARE NOT SAFE FROM THE POLICE.
WE NEED TO DEFUND THE POLICE.
INSTEAD OF FUNDING RACIST,
ANTAGONISTIC AND WOEFULLY
UNDERTRAINED OFFICERS TO HANDLE
EVERYTHING FROM TRUANCY TO
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO
HOMELESSNESS TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, YOU NEED TO POUR OUR
MONEY INTO SOCIAL SERVICES,
THEY CAN ACTUALLY ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES, RATHER THAN PUTTING
MORE PEOPLE AT RISK OF LOSING
THEIR LIVES.
WE MUST INVEST IN HOUSING,
EMPLOYMENT, AND HEALTHCARE, AND
DIRECTLY TARGET THE PROBLEMS OF
PUBLIC SAFETY.
INSTEAD OF CRIMINALIZING
HOMELESSNESS, WE NEED TO
PUBLICLY FINANCE SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING, AND STATE OF USING
COMMUNITY-BASED ANTIVIOLENCE
PROGRAMS.
INSTEAD OF SCHOOL POLICE MANY
NEW COUNSELORS, ACTIVE SCHOOL
PROGRAMS AND RESTORATIVE
JUSTICE PROGRAMS.
THANK YOU.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI.
I AM A MEMBER OF NEXTEP
WASHINGTON, WHICH WAS FOUNDED
BY THE PARENTS OF THE LATE
LEONARD THOMAS.
THE ECHOES OF BOMBS EXPLODING
IN OUR CITY STREETS ARE THE
SCIENCE OF A FAILED
ADMINISTRATION AND POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM.
THIS IS MAYOR JENNY DURKAN'S
ADMINISTRATION.
ACTIVELY SEEKING TO DISMANTLE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
IN SEATTLE.
I JUST GOT OFF A ZOOM CALL WITH
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
AND OTHERS WERE MANY MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY WERE CALLING ON
MAYOR DURKIN, AND SHE SAID TO
RESIGN.
WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS, THEY
HAD MISSED THE CHILD, HAD
OFFICERS PLACING KNEES ON THE
NEXT OF PROTESTERS.
LOST POSSESSION OF MULTIPLE
FIREARMS RATE HAS OFFICERS
PUNCHING PROTESTERS DURING
ARREST.
EXPLODING INCENDIARY DEVICES AT
EASILY IDENTIFIABLE NEWS MEDIA
AND IS GOING THE VIOLENCE OF
THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
IT IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION WHAT
DEFINES THE CIRCUMSTANCES AS
OKAY.
CITY OFFICIALS SOUGHT TO AND
POLICE LACUNA VALLEY MATTERS IN
SEATTLE.
CHIEF HOLMES, AND MAYOR DURKIN,
AND FULL COOPERATION WITH THE
TRUMP JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
RECENTLY FILED A MOTION TO
PREMATURELY END THE OVERSIGHT
OF THE SPD.
YES, WE MUST DEFEND THE SPD.
WE MUST CEASE USING THESE, WE
WANT COMMUNITY ARREST AT THE
NEGOTIATING TABLE, DURING THE
LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, FOR THE SPA
CONTRACT.
AND, WE MUST HAVE THE CITY
WITHDRAW THE MOTION TO
DETERMINATE THE DISSENT DECREE.
THE ABUSES THAT WE HAVE
WITNESSED WITHIN THE LAST FEW
DAYS ARE ONLY A SMALL FRACTION
OF THE SPD'S UNHINGED AND
UNREPENTANT BEHAVIOR.
ONLY WEEKS AGO AN OFFICER USED
TO SILENCER TO SHOOT AND KILL A
YOUNG FATHER, HOLDING HIS
INFANT CHILD.
THE HORRID HISTORY INCLUDES THE
MURDER OF CHARLIE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, I AM MARK TAYLOR CAN GO.
I AM AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ORGANIZATION THAT SPECIALIZES
IN COVERING PRO-DEMOCRACY
MOVEMENTS AROUND THE WORLD.
I'VE ALSO WRITTEN FOR THE
NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD REPORT
ON THE CITY OF SEATTLE'S
INVESTIGATIONS.
I SERVED AS A WATCHDOG GROUP
THAT RECEIVED THE CITIES OF
CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN
1989.
I WAS COVERING THE PROTEST AS A
JOURNALIST ON CAPITOL HILL, ON
JUNE 1st.
MY VIDEO OF WHAT HAPPENED, IS
POSTED ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
I SAW NO SIGNS OF HER RIGHT, I
POSTED A COMPILATION OF VIDEOS
ON MONDAY NIGHT ON
INSTAGRAMMING YOUTUBE CALLING
IT A PEAK UMBRELLA RIOT.
THEY SHOULD AT LEAST RECEIVE
ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN
EFFECTIVE CROWD CONTROL
MEASURES.
THE VIDEOS HAVE SEEN ALL OVER
THE LOCAL MEDIA.
WHEN POLICE USE PEPPER SPRAY
AND FIRED TEAR GAS CANISTERS
DIRECTLY INTO THE CROWD THEY
CAUSED A PANIC AND A CRUSH OF
BODIES WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN
ITSELF.
THIS IS HOW ROCK CONCERT
ATTENDEES HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
THE PAST.
THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
THESE DEVICES DIRECTLY INTO THE
CROWDS OF PROTESTERS IS NOT
RECOMMENDED.
I THINK OF PROTESTANT SEATTLE
SINCE THOSE EVENTS, EXCESSIVE
USE OF TEARGAS, FLASH BANG,
PEPPER SPRAY, AND OTHER CAR
DEVICES DURING THE OCCUPY WALL
STREET PROTEST.
THE MAYOR HAD TO APOLOGIZE FOR
THE PEPPER SPRING OF AN 85-YEAR-
OLD RESIDENT.
RECENTLY A NINE-YEAR-OLD CHILD
WAS ALLEGEDLY SPRAYED BY
SEATTLE POLICE.
YESTERDAY I TALKED TO A PARENT
NEWS REPORTER WHO WAS STRUCK BY
A GAS CANISTER OVER THE WEEKEND.
DURING PROTEST ON SATURDAY AND
DURING MEDIA EVENTS I HAVE
SUFFERED FROM THE OF EFFECTS OF
FLASH BANG GRENADES, CROWD
CONTROL LIKE THESE ARE QUOTE,
NONLETHAL, BUT THEY CAN BE VERY
DANGEROUS AND LETHAL AT TIMES.
LINDA TROTTER WAS STRUCK IN THE
EYE, SHE HAS PERMANENTLY LOST
SIGHT IN THAT I.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST SPEAKER FOR THE FIRST
PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION IS
ZACHARY GARDNER.
>> HELLO, I AM A RESIDENT OF
OLDTOWN, BEEN A RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE FOR 12 YEARS NOW.
I WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE
OCCUPY SEATTLE PROTEST, BACK IN
2011, AND, I HAVE BEEN VERY
VERY INVOLVED, AND HAVE BEEN AT
EVERY SINGLE PROTEST, EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
IT IS INSANE TO ME, THAT THEY
THINK THAT THIS IS A MEASURED
RESPONSE.
THE DIFFERENCE IN RESPONSE,
BETWEEN THE OCCUPY PROTEST, TO
THESE PROTESTS IS JUST
OVERBOARD.
THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING,
WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.
MYSELF AND MY WIFE WITNESSED
THIS AS WE WALKED DOWNTOWN, TO
EVEN TRY TO GET TO THE PROTEST.
WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO, THE
WORD BIKE COPS IN THE WAY.
IT IS VERY CLEAR, EVEN BEFORE
THE CONSENT DECREE, AND THE
OCCUPY PROTEST, THEY HANDLED IT
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
I WOULD NOT SAY THEY HANDLED IT
WELL.
THEY MORE JUST WERE NOT JUST
INDUSTRY MINUTE WE TEARGAS
THING.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THEY ARE NOT
DOING ANYTHING.
REMOVE THE BLACK TAPE, IT IS AS
EASY AS THAT.
REMOVE THE TEARGAS, REMOVE THE
PEPPER SPRAY.
OBSERVE THEM, DO WHAT CHICAGO
HAS DONE.
THEY ARE NOW JUST OBSERVING
PROTEST.
IT WILL NOT ESCALATE UNTIL
SEATTLE PD ESCALATES IT.
I AM SICK OF IT, BLACK LIVES
MATTER, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US, THAT IS OF THE END
OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR THE FIRST SESSION.
THIS HAS BEEN 30 MINUTES
DEDICATED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AS A REMINDER, WE WILL HAVE
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT
THE END.
WE HOPE THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAS
SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
CAN STAY AND LISTEN TO THE
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY PANEL.
FEEL FREE TO CONTINUE
LISTENING, OR, LEAVE, AND
REJOIN THE MEETING.
AGAIN, WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO
ITEM ONE ON THE AGENDA.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ THE
ITEM INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE,
COMMUNITY PANEL, BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION FOR 60 MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU.
THE COMMUNITY PANEL IS
REPRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY, WITH FIRST-HAND
WITNESS ACCOUNTS.
THE PUBLIC RESPONSE, TO THE
DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE LAST FEW
DAYS, JOINING US IS DOMINIQUE
DAVIS OF COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS.
LEADING THE WAY IN REIMAGING,
AND RE-CREATING, AND ALTERNATIVE
TO TODAY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
ALSO JOINING US IS AMARI
SALSBERRY WITH CONVERGED MEDIA.
A LEADING PRODUCER OF CURRENTLY
RELEVANT AUDIO AND MEDIA
CONTENT.
ALSO WILLARD EMERSON WITH UNITED
BETTER THINKING.
AND, A FILMMAKER, COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER, AND MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE FILM TASK FORCE.
LET'S SEE, WE ALSO HAVE A WOMAN
NAME, I'M SORRY, I DO NOT HAVE
THE INFORMATION.
HER NAME IS IVANA.
AND, I AM SORRY I DO NOT HAVE
INTRODUCTORY TEXT FOR YOU, AND
I TRUST THAT YOU WILL INTRODUCE
YOURSELF.
ALL FOUR PANELISTS HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN THE SEATTLE
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN THE
PAST WEEK.
I AM SO GRATEFUL, THAT THEY
HAVE AGREED TO SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCES WITH US TODAY.
BY REQUEST OF COUNCILMEMBERS IS
TO PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTION
FOUR PANELISTS UNTIL THE END OF
ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND WE
WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
SOME OF THE PRESENTERS HAVE
OTHER COMMITMENTS, AND MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FOR THE
DURATION OF THE PANEL.
LET'S PLEASE START, WITH
WILLARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, FOR HAVING ME ON
THIS PLATFORM.
I WOULD NOT SAY THAT IT IS A
PLEASURE TO BE ON SUCH A
PLATFORM AROUND SUCH HORRIFIC,
AND HORRENDOUS REALITIES OF WHY
WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS PARTICULAR
SPACE AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
SO I AM WILLARD JIMERSON.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
UNITED BETTER THINKING BUT I AM
ALSO A PROJECT PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ALSO
ONE OF THE YOUNGEST IN KING
COUNTY TO BE TRIED AS AN ADULT
IN 1994. AT THE AGE OF 13, I
WAS TRIED AS AN ADULT.
SINCE, SIX WEEKS AFTER TURNING
13.
TURN OUT TO 23 YEARS, EIGHT
MONTHS AND FOUR DAYS.
OUT OF THAT TIME I SERVED FROM
94 TO 2000 14.
KEEPING MY HEAD ON THE PULSE OF
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY.
LOCALLY, AS WELL AS NATIONALLY
AND GLOBALLY.
SO, ALSO, YES, WE HAD A
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION THIS
PAST WEEK, AROUND SOME OF THE
HORRIFIC ENGAGEMENTS COMING OUT
OF THE GEORGE FLOYD
CIRCUMSTANCE.
WE STOOD IN SOLIDARITY, AS WELL
AS YOU KNOW, RAISING THE ISSUES
THAT ARE GOING ON IN REGARDS TO
THIS OPEN INDICTMENT THAT IS ON
BLACKS.
EVERY DAY I FEEL LIKE I WALK
AROUND AS A POSSIBLE OBITUARY.
FROM DAILY INTERACTIONS,
ANYTHING CAN PRETTY MUCH
HAPPEN.
IT COULD TURN INTO A DRASTIC
SITUATION FOR ME, WALKING INTO
A STARBUCKS OR JUST DRIVING
DOWN THE STREET.
OR JUST HAVING A CASUAL
ENCOUNTER, THAT CAN GO IN A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
IT CAN BE PROVED TO A DEATH
SENTENCE.
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT A
LITTLE BIT IS POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
A SYSTEM OVERHAUL OR CHANGE,
AND EFFORT, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
HERE, JUST TO CREATE A PUBLIC
SAFETY MEASURE FOR ALL.
OUR CURRENT SYSTEM AT THIS
PARTICULAR MOMENT SCREAMS OF
INEQUITY, AND EXISTING GAPS.
IT REEKS OF THE POSSIBILITY IN
MOST CASES, DEATH.
WE HAD SHAY TAYLOR, AND OTHERS,
THAT WE CAN SPEAK INTO THE
EXISTENCE OF THE REALITY IS,
THAT WALKING AROUND BLACK, AND
BROWN IN THE SOCIETY AND THIS
COUNTRY, RIGHT HERE, EVEN IN
PROGRESSIVE SEATTLE, WHERE
EVERYBODY SAYS WE ARE SO
PROGRESSIVE, BUT WE ARE JUST
DISCONCERTED AS ANY SOUTHERN
STATE.
YOU KNOW YOU GO TO MISSISSIPPI,
YOU GO TO ALABAMA, SOME OF THE
THINGS THAT WE DO WILL NOT BE
CONSIDERED HORRENDOUS IN
COMPARISON, THEY DO NOT SEE THE
MAJORITY OF THEIR FOLKS.
OR TRY THEM AS ADULTS, OR
WHATEVER.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS INVEST
IN CRIMINAL DEBASING
STRATEGIES, SOME OF THE WORK
THAT MYSELF HAS DONE, YOU KNOW,
JUST REALLY IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY,
DURING THE RELATIONAL VALUES.
AND, JUST THE KIND OF RESPONSE
TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.
ABOUT THE PROTEST, ARE, THE
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION I WOULD
RATHER SAY.
YOU KNOW THERE WERE FLASH
BANGS, THERE WERE PEPPER SPRAY.
I WAS DOWN THERE AND IT
PEACEFUL MANNER WITH THE FOLKS
I CAME DOWN THERE WITH.
THEY WERE PEACEFUL, THEY DID
NOT ENGAGE IN ANY KIND OF
VIOLENCE.
WE STILL ENDED UP WITH PEPPER
SPRAY IN OUR MOUTH AND
NOSTRILS, AND EYES.
ON OUR SKIN.
WE HEARD THE FLASH BANGS.
IT WAS SO CRAZY, I HAVE A 19-
YEAR-OLD COUSIN, AND I AM
WALKING UP THE STREET TO GO TO
MY VEHICLE, AS IT WAS PARKED
AWAY FROM THE PARK.
IT WAS QUITE SOME TIME AS FAR
AS WALKING DISTANCE.
PROBABLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES
WALKING DISTANCE AWAY FROM MY
VEHICLE, AND I RUN INTO MY
LITTLE COUSIN.
WHEN I SAW MY LITTLE COUSIN, MY
FATHER'S YOUNGER BROTHER'S
DAUGHTER.
AND SHE HAS EYE RATES, AND I AM
LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON, AND SHE
IS LIKE, I JUST GOT HIT BY A
FLASH BOMB, BY THE POLICE, AND
I LITERALLY WAS JUST GETTING
OUT OF MY CAR, SITTING HERE
JUST OBSERVING, OR STANDING AND
OBSERVING WHAT IS GOING ON.
AND SHE GOT HIT IN THE FOUR
HEAD, AND ALSO HIT IN THE LEG.
FIRST SHE STARTED TALKING SHE
GOT KIND OF BEAT UP BY THE
POLICE, AND EYES, I ASK WHAT
HAPPENED.
SHE NEVER BEEN THROUGH THIS,
SHE WANTED TO BE IN SOLIDARITY
WITH THE MESSAGING, THE
PEACEFUL PROTESTING, SHE ENDED
UP BECOMING VICTIMIZED, AND HER
MOM IS CALLING ME, LOOKING
AROUND BECAUSE SHE HAD SEEN
THAT I WAS DOWN HERE AND WAS
CONCERNED FOR HER BABY.
THEY'RE TRYING TO SPIT OUT THIS
PEPPER SPRAY, THAT IS IN HER
NOSTRILS.
AND I ASKED SOME FOLKS THAT
WERE WITH ME AS WELL.
THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED, BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, THEIR HIGHLY
MELON AIDED JUST AS WELL AS I
AM, AND WE KNOW THAT CAN TURN
INTO A DRASTIC TURN.
AS SOON AS THE CURTAIN CAME
THROUGH, IT WAS ABOUT 5:00 WHEN
THE CURFEW CAME.
5:00, SEATTLE DOWNTOWN.
THERE WAS NO WARNING, AND IT
FELT LIKE IT WAS A SENATE.
IT WAS EQUIVALENT TO SAYING, IF
ANYBODY IS WORKING RIGHT NOW,
YOU ARE SUBJECT TO GO TO JAIL.
IT WAS JUST A SET UP, AND NOW
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH 100% OF
EVERYBODY WAS WALKING AT THAT
TIME.
EVERYONE WAS PRETTY MUCH SET UP
TO GO TO JAIL.
THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW, IS A
VERY, IS VERY ANTAGONISTIC
ROLE.
IT IS NOT CONNECTING WITH THOSE
WHO HAVE ELECTED FOLKS TO BE IN
THIS POSITION, TO SERVE US.
AND THEY ARE BEING PAID BY OUR
TAX DOLLARS, PAID BY OUR HARD
SWEAT, EQUITY, AND, OUR
DILIGENCE TO THE WORK.
THEY ARE NOT SHOWING UP, THEY
ARE NOT SHOWING UP.
THEY'RE NOT DOING THE WORK, AND
YOU HAVE TO BUILD A DO, YOU
HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE SPACE,
AND OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR
THOSE OF US WERE DOING THE
WORK.
AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT, OUR
BACKS AGAINST THE WALL, AND WE
ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING
DRASTICALLY, TO BE DONE
DIFFERENTLY.
AND I CLOSE MY STATEMENTS.
I BELIEVE YOU ARE MUTED.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT DEMANDS ARE
ON YOUR TIME, BUT WE ARE GOING
TO BE HAVING QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS AT THE END, IF
YOU CAN STICK AROUND, THAT IS
GREAT.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD MORNING, CAN EVERYBODY
HEAR ME?
OKAY.
FANTASTIC.
WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE LATE AT
NIGHT, FOR ALL OF THESE
PROTESTS, THAT ARE HAPPENING
HERE IN SEATTLE.
I THINK THE BEST WAY, THAT I
CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE HERE, TO
THE CITY COUNCIL, AND TO THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE JOINING THE
CALL, IS TO GIVE A
CHRONOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN AS TO
WHAT I HAVE SEEN HAPPEN HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, STARTING WITH
FRIDAY, FRIDAY JOINED THE
PROTEST ON FIFTH AND MARION.
WHEN I ARRIVED, I SAW THE
AMAZON GO STORE HAD BEEN BROKEN
OUT.
AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WERE
DAMAGED.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S,
PUSHED THE PROTESTERS FURTHER
SOUTH OFF FIFTH AND RUNNING.
PASS THEM IMMISCIBLE FACILITIES
THERE.
NEAR WASHINGTON STREET, IN
BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND JACKSON,
IS WHEN THE PROTEST FIZZLED.
AFTER THAT THOUGH, A LOT OF THE
POLICE PRESENCE LEFT, AND FOR
45 MINUTES, I WITNESSED, A
GROUP OF A WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
CALL THEM, ANARCHISTS OR
PANELISTS OR WHATEVER, DESTROY
THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICTS.
IT ABSOLUTELY DID NOT STOP.
I WATCHED THEM, NUMEROUS OTHER
SMALL BUSINESSES OWNED BY
PEOPLE THERE, AND THE
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT.
THE SAME GROUP WALKED BACK PAST
THE POLICE, WHICH WERE NOW AT
THE BANK OF AMERICA.
AGAIN, NOBODY STOPPED TO THIS
GROUP, NOBODY SAID ANYTHING.
THEY WENT TO THE KING COUNTY
COURTHOUSE, AND WENT TO THE
SHERIFF OFFICE THERE.
NOBODY STOPPED THEM.
THEY WALKED DOWN THERE AND
BROKE OUT THE WINDOWS OF THE
IBM BUILDING, BROOKS BROTHERS,
THE U.S. BANK.
BY THE TIME I LEFT, THEY HAD
GONE FROM FIFTH AND JACKSON, 27
BEN PINE, UNCHALLENGED,
ANYTHING, THEY SAID BARRICADES,
IT WAS TAPE THAT THEY PUT OUT
THERE, THEY JUST CAME TO
DESTROY.
IT WAS NOT EVEN LOOTING.
IT WAS JUST A WRECKING CREW.
THERE WAS NO POLICE PRESENCE.
I TAKE THAT BACK.
THE POLICE WERE FOLLOWING THEM
IN A CAR.
THEY WOULD SEE THEM AND THEY
WOULD KEEP GOING.
I'M ONLY BRINGING THIS UP
BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO
PREFACE IT TO WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THE PEACEFUL PROTEST.
I LITERALLY SAW.
I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE SMALL
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION AND PEOPLE
DOWNTOWN HAVE LOST FAITH AND
TRUST IN THE CITY, BECAUSE THEY
TRUSTED THEM, HEY, OUR BUSINESS
IT SHOULD BE OKAY, AND THEY GOT
THROUGH.
I'M JUST REAL QUICK, MEMBERS OF
THE ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
THAT ARE ON THERE, THE TAPE WAS
OUT THERE, MORE BLACK PEOPLE
DID NOT COME TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE TAPE SHOWS WHO DID THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING?
SATURDAY.
WHAT IS CRAZY, TWO THINGS THAT
STOOD OUT WAS THE PEACEFUL
PROTEST STARTED PEACEFULLY, AND
ENDED PEACEFULLY.
IT WAS ONE STORY, WHICH IS KIND
OF CRAZY THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE
IS A CAR ON FIRE OVER THERE,
AND EVERYTHING.
THOSE GUYS STAYED.
THE POINT OF IT WAS, DO NOT BE
DISTRACTED.
THAT PROTEST DID STAY PEACEFUL.
OF COURSE THE FIRE OVER THERE,
THERE WAS SOME DISORDER.
I DID NOT WITNESS WHEN THE
POLICE GAVE UP THE
INTERSECTION.
I DID NOT SEE FOR MYSELF.
I DO KNOW WHEN I ARRIVED, THEY
HAD LOCKED OFF PARTS OF THE
ROAD IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS
BUT SOMEHOW THEY GIVE UP THE
POSITION.
I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT.
WHEN I WENT OVER THERE, THERE
WAS NO POLICE PRESENCE, AND IT
WAS A BIT OF CHAOS ENSUING.
THE THING THOUGH, THAT DID
STRIKE ME, WAS THAT, AND IT WAS
CRAZY, SINCE THEY GOT IT ON
VIDEO.
THE INTERSECTION OF SIXTH AND
PINE ON THE CROSSWALK THE
POLICE ANNOUNCED A BARRICADE,
WITH THE BICYCLES.
THAT WAS 30 FEET FROM THE
SIDEWALK IS EMR.
IT WAS THE FIRST DOOR THAT WAS
PENETRATED THERE, BY THE
RIOTERS.
OR THE VANDALS, WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO CALL THEM.
THAT WAS THE FIRST DOOR.
IT WAS LESS THAN 30 FEET.
YOU WILL SEE ON CAMERA, I'M
LIKE HEY GUYS, THIS IS GETTING
LOOTED RIGHT HERE, THEY'RE
GOING INTO THE NORDSTROM'S.
ARE YOU GOING TO DO ANYTHING,
WHAT IS GOING ON, THEN FROM
THERE THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT.
ACROSS THE STREET, STARBUCKS,
BOOM, KICKED IN.
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THERE,
WHATCHAMACALLIT.
KICKED IN, EVERYTHING ELSE.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON POLICE
TACTICS ON STUFF LIKE THAT.
I DO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT
THEIR TACTICS, AS OTHER TACTICS
HAVE IMPACTED MYSELF.
BUT TWO DAYS IN A ROW, WE SAW
THE BAD GUYS RUN FREE, TWO DAYS
IN A ROW.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING,
THERE WAS TEAR GRASS DEPLOYED
AND EVERYTHING ON SATURDAY BUT
TWO DAYS IN A ROW.
NOW LET'S GO TO SUNDAY, SUNDAY,
PEACEFUL PROTEST, YOU KNOW WHAT
I AM SAYING, NOBODY REALLY
TRUST EACH OTHER SATURDAY.
POLICE ARE KIND OF LIKE, WE DO
NOT TRUST THE PROTESTERS.
PROTESTERS DO NOT TRUST THE
POLICE.
PEACEFUL PROTEST 100%.
ACTUALLY, MADISON PROTEST STOPS
RIGHT THERE.
YOU CANNOT GO BACK DOWNTOWN.
THE PROTESTERS RIGHT THERE.
WE WANT TO GO BACK DOWNTOWN.
SOMEHOW, THERE IS A NEGOTIATION
THAT OCCURS, AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE, WE HAVE GOT IT ON TAPE.
SEATTLE POLICE TOLD THE
PROTESTERS, YOU GUYS ARE MORE
THAN WELCOME TO WESTLAKE.
THEY GIVE HIM AN ESCORT, THEY
RALLY DOWN THERE.
BY THE WAY, I AM NOT A
PROTESTER, I'M NOT FOR OR
AGAINST THE ORGANIZATION, TILL
I SEE IT THERE.
WE GET DOWN TO WESTLAKE, PEOPLE
ARE DOING THEIR THING.
ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF, THE
POLICE ARE LIKE YOU HAVE GOT TO
GET OUT OF WESTLAKE.
HERE IS THE PROBLEM, GUYS.
DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY
DOWN THERE THERE WAS NO BUSES,
THERE IS NO RIGHT, LIGHT RAIL.
THE NEURAL GOOBERS WERE COMING.
WHERE WERE THESE PEOPLE
SUPPOSED TO GO.
A GOOD THING, YOU WATCH YOU,
YOU WATCH US.
INSTEAD THE POLICE WANTED TO
SWEEP THESE PEOPLE, THESE ARE
PEACEFUL PEOPLE ALL DAY, SEVEN
HOURS.
ONE OF THE MOST PEACEFUL,
WHATEVER, SEVEN HOURS.
THE POLICE INVITED THEM
DOWNTOWN.
AND WHAT HAPPENED IS, AND I GOT
THE OFFICER ON TAPE, WHO WAS
LIKE, YOU GUYS SHOULD NOT HAVE
SNUCK DOWN HERE.
HE IS ON TAPE, I'M LIKE HEY
GUYS, HOW DO YOU WANT THEM TO
LEAVE.
NOT EVEN AS A JOURNALIST BUT AS
A CONCERNED MEMBER OF OUR
SOCIETY HERE IN SEATTLE.
THEY DON'T HAVE A BUS, THERE IS
NO LIGHT RAIL.
>> NOT MY PROBLEM.
SOMEHOW SHOULD'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
THAT BEFORE THEY GIVE THE
ORDER.
I SAID WE'LL DO NOT SWEEP THEM.
JUST LET THEM SIT IN THE PARK.
THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR
THEMSELVES OUT.
THEY WERE DETERMINED TO SAVE
THE PROTESTERS, PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS.
OUT OF SEATTLE ON SUNDAY NIGHT
AND MAN, I'M TALKING ABOUT A
QUICK STEP.
THEY TOOK THE BATONS OUT THERE
AND THEY PUSHED US, THEY PUSHED
US OUT, OF PINE HILL, AND OUT
THE BARN , PEOPLE IN SEATTLE,
KNOW THAT THAT IS A STEEP HILL.
DO NOT CHASE PEOPLE ALL THE WAY
TO BROADWAY.
ON A SUNDAY.
MONDAY, YOU GUYS SAW THE TAPE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING?
THIS IS THE THING, I BROUGHT UP.
THE POLICE DID MAKE AN
IMPROVEMENT IN TACTIC, IS THEY
NEVER, THESE GUYS NEVER TELL
ANYBODY, WHAT THEIR COMFORT
LEVEL IS WITH THE BARRICADE.
THE STRATEGIES, THE BALANCE
MIGHT BE OKAY IT IS OUR
PROTOCOL TO BE FIP.
SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE THREE
FEET.
BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHO
JUST SHOWS UP, PEOPLE ASSUME A
BARRICADE, IS WHERE YOU GO.
SEATTLE IS THE HOME OF GREAT
MUSIC OR LOOK HOW MANY CONCERTS
PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY GO TO THE
FRONT OF THE CONCERT AT THE
BARRICADE.
IT IS A NATURAL INTUITION.
THE BARRICADE WAS ALWAYS USABLE
BECAUSE POLICE GET NERVOUS.
THE THING IS, WHAT I WAS
SAYING, AS IF THEY ARE NERVOUS
AT THE BARRICADE, MAKE A DEEPER
BARRICADE.
IT IS EASIER FOR THE POLICE TO
STEP BACK TO MAKE THE ROOM TO
COMFORT THEMSELVES THAN IT IS
TO TELL A PROTESTER WITH 1000
PEOPLE, TO STEP BACK.
POLICE CAN MAKE A 10 FOOT
BARRICADE IF THEY WANTED.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE ON MONDAY.
AND, YOU SAW THE TAPE FOR
YOURSELF, YOU KNOW WHAT I AM
SAYING.
BEYOND THAT, THE REALITY, FOR A
SECOND AND IS TRYING TO TALK
FAST.
YOU KNOW WE PUT THE TAPE OUT
THERE.
LAST NIGHT, AND LAST NIGHT, MAN,
I SENSE MY GAS MASK HOME.
I WAS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO END
PEACEFULLY, ALL THE WAY TO
BROADWAY, UNTIL SOMEBODY THREW
A WATER BOTTLE.
AND MY FRIEND, THE FOOTAGE IS
OUT THERE.
THE QUESTION BEYOND THAT, ARE
THESE RESPONSES TOO MUCH.
ESPECIALLY WHEN I BROUGHT IT
FRIDAY, WHEN PEOPLE RAN THROUGH
THE CITY AND SATURDAY WHEN ALL
THESE PEOPLE VANDALIZING THE
CITY, WITH INSIGHTS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING?
IS WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING
HERE, PERSONAL, AND ALSO, I
WOULD HAVE TO SAY HERE, THE
STATE POLICE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN FOLLOWING MY FEED FOR
THREE OR FOUR DAYS COMMENCING
MAN, THE STATE POLICE IS REAL
AGGRESSIVE.
WE LEARNED ABOUT THE STATE
POLICE ON SATURDAY.
WE LEARNED ABOUT THEM ON
SATURDAY AND I KEEP SAYING IT.
MAN, THESE GUYS ARE VERY
AGGRESSIVE.
NOW YOU SEE THERE IS NOTHING
THERE IN THE SEATTLE TIMES,
ABOUT THE STATE POLICE.
I WILL SAY THIS, AND I WANT TO
SAY THIS, WITH THE POLICE,
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT
INSTANCES OF HUMANITY WITH THE
SEATTLE POLICE.
A LOT OF THEM, I'VE HAD TO HAVE
THEM STOP AND GIVE ME WATERS I
CAN KEEP UP.
BUT THERE IS AND SOME EXCELLENT
COMMUNICATORS WITHIN THE SPD.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU KNOW, THEY
ARE NOT OUT THERE.
SOMETIMES.
BUT YOU KNOW THERE BEEN
INSTANCES WHERE, THE GUYS ARE
ON THE JOB, THEY WILL COME AND
COMMUNICATE IN THE BEST WAY,
AND THEIR COMMUNICATION IN TURN
DEFUSES THE SITUATION.
THERE IS NOT A CONSISTENT LEVEL
OF DE-ESCALATION HERE, AND I DO
NOT THINK THERE IS A CONSISTENT
LEVEL OF COMPARING EVENTS LAW.
HOW CAN SATURDAY BE A RIOT AND
MONDAY BE A RIOT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, THERE
IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I DON'T HAVE A TIMER., I DON'T
KNOW WHERE I MET WITH MY
TONGUE, I WANTED TO MOVE
QUICKLY.
I CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK GIVEN THAT WE HAVE MORE
SPEAKERS AND I WANT TO LEAVE
SOME TIME FOR THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS ASKED QUESTIONS, IF WE
CAN MOVE ON THAT WOULD BE
GREAT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FIRSTHAND
ACCOUNT AND ALL OF THE
REPORTING YOU'RE DOING OUT
THERE.
NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON
THIS COMMITTEE.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE FACT
THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED
INCIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN TOO MANY PROTESTS
OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN REGULARLY, THAT SPD
COMES TO LIKE BLACK ORGANIZING,
BLACK PROTESTS WITH A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF AGGRESSION, RIOT
POLICE, PEPPER SPRAY,
CONSISTENTLY, REGARDLESS OF
WHAT KIND OF ACTION IT IS,
REGARDLESS OF HOW PEACEFUL IT
IS THAT IS WHAT WE ARE MET WITH
EACH TIME.
ON SATURDAY, I WAS, AND NO WAY
SURPRISED, THAT IS THE SPD I
KNOW.
IT IS ALSO CONCERNING THAT WE
ARE GETTING A FEW DIFFERENT
THINGS FROM CARMEN BEST, FROM
GOVERNOR INSLEE, AND FROM OUR
MAYOR.
A MAYOR WHO WAS ACTUALLY,
WORKING ON THE INVESTIGATION, IN
2011 AND 2012 THAT STATED THAT
OUR SPD HAS A SERIOUS, SERIOUS
ISSUEWITH EXCESSIVE FORCE,
SPECIFICALLY TOWARD BLACK AND
BROWN FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY.
FOR HER TO COME AT THE SAME
TIME, BE VERY KEENLY AWARE OF
WHAT THE SPD DOES, WHILE ALSO,
YOU KNOW, TREATING A SITUATION
IN WHICH WE ARE, OLD AND, IT IS
DEEPLY CONCERNING.
THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR INSLEE,
RELEASE THE NATIONAL GUARD ON
SATURDAY.
BUT STATED THAT, SPECIFICALLY,
THEY WOULD NOT BE ARMS, WHEN IN
FACT, I SAT WITH MY OWN EYES, I
HAVE FOOTAGE.
THEY WERE VERY MUCH ARMS.
THEY HAD GUNS, THEY HAD A TANK
IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY.
THOSE ARE JUST FACTS.
AND WE HAVE CARMEN BEST WHO HAS
BEEN POSTING AND LIKE
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND SPEWING
THESE LIES ABOUT THE SPD,
SAYING THAT NUMBER ONE, THE
INCIDENT THAT IS HAPPENING IN
MINNESOTA IS SO DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT HOW THE
CITY, SPD ITSELF HAS PROVED
ITSELF, THAT IT D ESCALADES,
THAT THE SPD HAS A TRACK RECORD
OF NOT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE,
WHICH IS FALSE.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE
SEEING, IT CONCERNS ME DEEPLY
THAT OUR LEADERSHIP IS
ACTUALLY, IS LYING TO ITS
PEOPLE, AND MAKING PEOPLE FEEL
COMFORTABLE, AND REALITY, WE
ARE IN A SERIOUS, THIS IS A
POLICE STATE.
WE HAVE SO MANY ISSUES GOING ON
IN THE CITY.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE SOCIAL
WORKERS THAT ARE WORKING WITH
HOMELESS PEOPLE, DURING COVID,
FRONT LINES, AND ARE STILL
STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR RENT.
WE HAVE SPD, THAT ARE, THEIR
YEARLY SALARY STARTS AT OVER
HUNDRED THOUSAND?
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
WHAT HAS SEATTLE PD DONE TO
SHOW THAT IT IS PROTECTING ITS
PEOPLE.
IN REALITY I LIVE IN RANIER
BEACH.
I SEE HUNDREDS OF COPS A MONTH.
WE ARE BEING OVER POLICED,
SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THE
COLOR OF OUR SKIN.
IT IS NOT SHOCKING.
IT IS REALLY SAD, THAT I AM
WATCHING A LOT OF YOUNG FOLKS,
WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO
COME TO A PROTEST BEFORE, WHO
ARE EXCITED ABOUT SPEAKING
THEIR MINDS, AND TALKING.
YOU KNOW, USING THEIR RIGHTS,
THESE ARE THE RIGHTS WE TALK
ABOUT AS AMERICANS.
YOU KNOW THE LAND OF THE THIRD,
FREE.
SIMPLY BY SHOWING UP TO SPEAK
THEIR MIND, THEY ARE BEING
ATTACKED.
THEY ARE BEING TEARGAS.
WE ALL ARE, AND THESE, THERE IS
SOMETHING SO CONCERNING THAT WE
ARE SO COMFORTABLE WITH THESE
CURFEWS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF A PROTEST, I GOT THE CURFEW
NOTIFICATION, AND MAYBE 5:12
WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CITY SURROUNDED BY RIOT POLICE.
NO BUSES, NO RIDESHARE
SERVICES, NOTE LIGHT RAIL, NO
WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CITY, AND
THE ENTIRE CITY HAS THE CURFEW.
COPS CAN FOLLOW YOU ANYWHERE IN
THE CITY, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN.
YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ALL THE WAY
TO MY HOME AND ARREST ME.
THAT IS SO ALARMING.
HOW IS THAT NOT FASCIST.
HOW IS IT NOT, I THINK WE HAVE
A CHANCE NOW, TO ACTIVELY
CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE CITY
DEALS WITH ITS POLICE.
AT FIRST, IT CANNOT BE
COMPLICIT.
IN THE VIOLENCE OF THE POLICE.
THIS JUST, THE SPD NEEDS TO BE
DEFUNDED.
THAT IS MY ARGUMENT, IMMENSELY,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, DOMINIQUE DAVIS.
>> THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US THIS
TIME.
I WILL BE VERY SHORT BECAUSE I
KNOW WE ARE SHORT ON TIME.
EVERYBODY IS PRETTY MUCH
COVERED EVERYTHING, AND THAT
YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS GET A GOOD
PICTURE WHAT IS GOING ON THESE
LAST FEW DAYS.
HAVE A TIMELINE FOR EVERYTHING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT A CALL
ON FRIDAY ABOUT FROM SOME OF MY
PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE
GROUNDS, HEY MAN, WE HAVE JUST
SEEN THESE VANS PULL UP, WITH A
BUNCH OF WHITE PEOPLE DRESSED
IN BLACK.
AND WHAT I MEAN.
THOSE ARE ANARCHIST OR
SOMETHING, NOW I DO NOT KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.
THEY JUST PULLED UP AND FOR
VANS, THEY MUST'VE CAME FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE OR SOMETHING YOU
KNOW.
I SAID LET ME KNOW WHAT
HAPPENS, AND I STARTED GETTING
VIDEO OF PEOPLE HEADING UP AND
CALLING ME.
HEY MAN, THEY ARE TEARING STUFF
UP.
THAT WAS WEIRD TO ME, TO GET A
CALL, BOW SOME VANS PULLING UP,
WITH PEOPLE DRESSED IN BLACK ON
FRIDAY NIGHT, SO, THAT JUST
TOLD ME THERE IS AN ORGANIZED
EFFORT.
SO, THAT IS ONE POINT I WANT TO
MAKE.
ANOTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE
WAS THE FACT THAT, I THINK
EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THE FOOTAGE
OF THE YOUNG WHITE KID THAT GOT
HIS HANDS ON THE AR 15.
HE WAS GETTING READY TO POSE
FOR A PICTURE IN THE MIDDLE OF
EVERYTHING, I THINK THAT WAS
SATURDAY.
HE WAS GETTING READY TO POSE
FOR A PICTURE IN THE MIDDLE OF
ALL OF THE STUFF GOING ON IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE RIOT.
A WHITE UNDERCOVER OFFICER, OR
PLAINCLOTHES OFFICER RUNS OFTEN
WITH HIS GUN PULLED OUT.
HE WAS ARMED TOO.
WITH ANOTHER AR 15 AROUND HER
SHOULDER.
HE RAN UP ON THE KID, AND
GRABBED THE GUN OUT OF THE KIDS
HAND.
TOLD THE KID GET OUT OF HERE.
AND DROPPED THE CLIP OUT OF THE
GUN AND ALL OF THAT TOOK CARE
OF THE SITUATION AND DIFFUSED
THE SITUATION.
THE FIRST THING THAT RAN
THROUGH MY HEAD, IS WHAT IF
THAT KID WAS BLACK.
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF
THAT KID HAD AN AR 15 WAS A
BLACK KID GETTING READY TO POSE
FOR A PICTURE WITH AN AR 15.
WOULD IT HAVE BEEN THE SAME
SITUATION, WOULD HAVE THE
POLICE OFFICER RAN UP ON THE
KID AND TOLD HIM TO GET OUT OF
HERE, SCRAM, BEAT IT.
IS THAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, YOU
KNOW?
I HAVE TO PUT IT OUT THERE LET
YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WE
ARE DEALING WITH, ON OUR DAILY
EXISTENCE LIVING IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA AND LIVING IN
THIS CITY.
I IMAGINE IF THAT WAS ONE OF
THE KIDS THAT I WORK WITH, ONE
OF THE YOUNG MEN I WORK WITH,
AND THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
ALL THIS CRAZINESS AND THEY GET
THEIR HANDS ON A GUN, WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM WHEN AN
OFFICER SEES THEM.
I DON'T LIKE SEEING YOUNG GIRLS
15-16 YEARS OLD BEING PEPPER
SPRAYED IN THE FACE.
I DON'T LIKE SEEING YOUNG
TEENAGERS BEING PUSHED AND
SHOVED AROUND BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
DON'T GET ME WRONG.
THESE ARE NOT JUST KIDS OF
COLOR, THESE ARE KIDS OF EVERY
COLOR, FROM EVERY HUE, AND
EVERY ETHNICITY.
I DON'T LIKE SEEING PEOPLE
TREATED UNFAIRLY, AT THE END OF
THE DAY IT BREAKS MY HEART TO
SEE KIDS THAT ARE OUT USING
THEIR VOICE BEING ACTIVISTS
STANDING UP AND SPEAKING FOR
THEIR RIGHTS, OF ALL PEOPLE,
AND THE PEOPLE THAT SEE THAT
AND ARE BEING TREATED BAD, THEN
THEY GET PUNISHED, PUSHED,
BEATEN AND PEPPER SPRAYED,
BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY
HAVE A RIGHT TO STAND UP FOR
THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD BE APPLAUDING THEM,
WE SHOULD BE LIFTING THEM UP,
WE SHOULD BE GIVING THEM
AWARDS, FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH
TO GO OUT AND STAND UP FOR
PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE SEEING
BEING TREATED WRONG.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE SHOVED,
PUSHED, PEPPER SPRAYED, IT
SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
THAT IS ALL YOU GOT TO SAY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE GOT
TO PUT THIS OUT TO SAY, I KNOW
A LOT OF REALLY GOOD POLICE
OFFICERS THAT SHOULD BE TAKING
THE LEAD ON ALL OF THIS.
WE SHOULD BE MILITARIZE OUR
POLICE FORCE.
THEY SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE
THEY'RE GOING TO WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.
THEY SHOULD WALK OUT IN THE
REGULAR UNIFORMS AND BEING
CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE, AND
HAVING ISSUES.
HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE
TRAUMA THAT IS BEING PUT ON THE
COMMUNITIES.
NOT OF ALL COLORS FROM
OVERSEEING AND WITNESSING.
BUT WE HAVE GOT OFFICERS THAT
ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.
AND WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT DO
THAT.
THEY SHOULD BE LEADING THIS
CHARGE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE
PEOPLE UP THERE MILITARIZE WITH
TANKS AND WEAPONS AND ALL OF
THAT.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE GOT TO SAY.
I CANNOT HEAR YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR LAST PANELIST, AND I WANT
TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
JOINED BY COUNCILMEMBER DAN
STROSS.
>> ALL, CAN I TALK NOW.
>> PLEASE DO, THANK YOU.
>> I REPRESENT GLOBAL LANDS,
AUNTS, I WAS OUT THERE, AND, I
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WITH
THE CONSENT DECREE, IT IS VERY
SHOCKING THAT YOU KNOW AFTER
WORK, I AM DRIVING, AND I JUST
SEE FOLKS, WALKING UP TO THE
BARRICADE, AND THEN, THE NEXT
THING I KNOW, THE POLICE ARE
PEPPER SPRING AND GASSING FOLKS
WITHOUT ANY SORT OF WARNING,
THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO
BE USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.
THESE ARE PEACEFUL FOLKS, WITH
THEIR HANDS UP, AND THIS IS
WHAT JENNY DURKAN ALLOWS.
IT WAS SHOCKING FOR HER TO SAY
THAT, THESE FOLKS ARE
PERPETUATING VIOLENCE AND
BLAMED IT ON WHITE MEN, BUT IT
JUST REMINDS ME OF HOW WHITE
WOMEN BLAME THEIR HUSBANDS AND
SHE IS ALSO COMPLICIT IN WHAT
THESE POLICE OFFICERS ARE
DOING.
POLICE ARE BEATING PEOPLE TO
THE GROUND, AND IN MY
EXPERIENCE, THIS IS BEEN REALLY
EXCESSIVE.
I'VE BEEN TO MANY PROTEST, AND
LED MANY THINGS FOR TO SEE YOU
ALL ARE GASSING CHILDREN, THEY
SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES.
IN A CITY WHERE YOU ALL HAVE
CANCELED A LOT OF COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS THAT HELP CHILDREN IN
NEED, THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS,
YOU KNOW THE BUDGET FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, OVER
$300,000, YET, YOU CANNOT EVEN
FIND SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK FOR THE CITY TO HAVE
PROPER HOUSING.
THEY ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK.
AGAIN, JENNY DURKAN SHOULD BE
ASHAMED OF HERSELF.
THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE CANNOT EVEN
AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
IT HAS BEEN REALLY INTENSE, TO
SEE THE WAY THAT YOU ARE
TREATING YOUTH.
IT WAS REALLY INTENSE TO WATCH
A CHILD, A 15-YEAR-OLD CHILD
PICK UP AN AR GUN, AND AR 15
GUN, AND ALL I THOUGHT ABOUT
WAS TO MARRY HER RIGHTS.
SHE WAS, HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED
FOR TOY GUN THAT HE HAD.
HE DID NOT EVEN GIVE A CHANCE.
IT SHOWS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO
SHOW SELF-RESTRAINT, BUT NOT
SELF-RESTRAINT FOR BLACK YOUTH.
THE CITY IS, UNABLE TO GET ALL
OF THE WEALTH THAT YOU WILL
HAVE, BECAUSE WHAT, WE ARE BLACK
, WE ARE UNDOCUMENTED, NON-
ENGLISH SPEAKERS, INCARCERATED
OR FORMERLY INCARCERATED, HOUSE
LIST, IT IS A SHAME THAT JENNY
DURKAN IS DOING SWEEPS IN THE
MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC AND
MAKING THE FOLKS NOT MEET THEIR
SHELTER NEEDS FOR THAT IS A
FACT.
THAT IS A SHAME.
YOU HAVE ALL OF THIS WEALTH, IT
IS JUST SHOCKING.
I REALLY THINK THAT WE SHOULD
DEFUND THE POLICE, SPREAD THAT
MONEY TO OTHER THINGS.
IT IS SHOCKING THAT OTHER
CITIES ARE ABLE TO HOUSE FOLKS
IN HOTELS, THERE ARE SO MANY
APARTMENT BUILDINGS, THAT ARE
OPEN, YET, HERE WE ARE, JUST,
SWEEPING AND MAKING THEM WALK
TO THEIR PLACE, AND NOT
REPLACING THEIR ITEMS.
IT IS JUST BEEN REALLY
SHOCKING.
I'M ALSO NOT SURPRISED, BECAUSE
THIS IS A POLICE STATE.
IT IS VERY SHOCKING THAT YOU
ALSO HAD A PROTEST, WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND THE
AMOUNT THE FOLKS WERE GIVEN A
PERMIT, AND YOU HAD POLICE NOT
SITTING THERE, AND FOCUSING ON
THEM, WELL PEOPLE ARE GETTING
FLASH BANGS, PEOPLE ARE GETTING
HIT WITH BICYCLES, YET, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE.
SO, I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND
HOW FOLKS ARE ABLE TO GET
PERMITS, AND ALL OF THESE
THINGS, AND ALL OF THESE
PRIVILEGES, YET WE ARE SITTING
HERE BEING BEAT WITH BATONS,
GETTING FOLLOWED.
LIKE DOMINIC SAID, LIKE THEY
SAID THERE WAS NO
TRANSPORTATION.
PEOPLE WERE FEARING FOR THEIR
LIFE.
GOT TO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID TO
GET PEOPLE OUT.
CITY WORKERS HAD TO USE THEIR
CITY BADGES, THAT IS WHAT I
HEARD TO MAKE SURE FOLKS WERE
ABLE TO GET OUT SAFELY.
THAT IS A SHAME.
YOU ARE PUTTING EVERYONE AT
RISK.
ALL YOU CARE, ALL THESE FOLKS,
ALL JENNY DURKAN SEEMS TO CARE
ABOUT IS HERSELF AND WHO IS
UNDERNEATH HER.
SHE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE
PEOPLE SHE EMPLOYS, THE
CHILDCARE FOLKS THAT SHE
EMPLOYS.
SHE LAID THEM ALL OFF, SO.
DEFUND THE POLICE, BLACK LIVES
MATTER, AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE
GOT TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU IVANA, I
APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR
TIME, ALL OF YOU WITH US.
I INVITE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
COUNCIL, TO PUT THEIR NAMES
INTO THE CHAT FUNCTION, TO LET
ME KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR
PANELISTS.
IN THE ALTERNATE, YOU COULD,
FOR THOSE OF YOU, I THINK YOU
HAVE MY PHONE NUMBER, YOU COULD
CERTAINLY TEXT ME, DIRECTLY.
AND I WILL GET YOU INTO THE
QUEUE.
I DO NOT SEE ANYBODY IN THE
CHAT SECTION, JUST YET.
SO, I THINK I'M GOING TO START
US OFF WITH A QUESTION, IF THAT
IS OKAY.
I WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTED TO
KNOW FROM EACH OF YOU, GIVEN
THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR HAS
ISSUED A CURFEW, THAT IS GOING
TO GO EVERY NIGHT BETWEEN
TONIGHT AND FRIDAY NIGHTS,
ENDING ON SATURDAY MORNING.
GIVEN THAT INITIALLY THIS
CURFEW, THERE IS BEEN AN
EXPRESSED DESIRE TO BALANCE THE
RIGHTS OF DEMONSTRATORS,
EXPRESSING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WITH THE
NEEDS OF THE CITY.
TO MAINTAIN, PEACE, AND SAFETY,
WOULD REALLY LOVE YOUR
PERSPECTIVE FROM BEING DOWN ON
THE GROUND, AND SOMETIMES INTO
THESE CURFEWS, I WATCHED A LOT
OF YOUR LIVE FEED LAST NIGHT.
WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROLE, THAT
CONTINUING CURFEWS HAVE ON THE
CITY MEETING WHAT IT STATED
GOALS ARE.
>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THE
CURFEW, IT MEANS NOTHING, IN A
SENSE, THAT IT IS LIKE, SO ONE,
YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONFLICTING
THINGS.
AMERICA YESTERDAY WAS LIKE
OKAY, YOU CAN PROTEST, BE
PEACEFUL, JUST DO NOT TEAR
ANYTHING UP.
AND IT WILL BE FINE.
THEN YOU HAVE THE POLICE OR
LIKE MAN, BECAUSE OF THIS
CURFEW, YOU NEED TO GO HOME.
IF THERE IS NO CURFEW, I DON'T
KNOW, VERY WELL, MIGHT FEEL
LIKE.
THEY MAY SIT THERE AND PROTEST,
BUT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS
THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, A LOT
OF TIMES, SEEMS LIKE THEY USE
THE CURFEW TO DO WHAT I GUESS
THE CURFEW IS SUPPOSED TO DO,
CLEAR THE STREETS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING.
THERE IS NOBODY WHO IS
STANDING, SOME OF YOU HAS BEEN
OUT THERE AND SEEING EVERYTHING.
THERE IS NOBODY REALLY STAYING
AT HOME, ALL IT DOES IS HURT A
LOT OF BUSINESSES, BECAUSE
THERE ARE A LOT OF RESTAURANTS
CLOSED, I SAW THEM CLOSE DOWN
THERE, AND, SO, AS FAR AS THE
PROTEST.
I DON'T REALLY SEE THE CURFEW
AS BEING EFFECTIVE.
I DO SEE IT AS A TOOL, IF THEY
NEED TO, GIVES THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AN OPPORTUNITY, TO
ENGAGE IF THEY SO NEED TO, AND
THEY CAN SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF
THE CURFEW.
>> THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY
REFLECTIONS ON THAT QUESTION?
OKAY.
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS?
SORRY.
COUNCILMEMBER MUSK EDDIE, YES
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
TIME TO TAKE THE STORIES TO MY
TO HAVE BEEN WATCHING A LOT OF
THE LADIES.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PUT
THEIR LIVES AT RISK.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO
SAY, HOW ANGRY WE ALL MUST BE,
TO RISK OUR LIVES NOT JUST
BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT BECAUSE
OF THE POLICE RESPONSE, TO TURN
OUT IN THE STREET, AND I THINK
IT SHOULD GO EXPLICITLY SAID,
THAT, THE ACTIONS THAT YOU ALL
HAVE BEEN REPORTING ON, AND
SHARED STORIES ON TODAY DEMAND
A RESPONSE, YOU HAVE PUT YOUR
LIVES AT RISK, PEOPLE HAVE PUT
THEIR LIVES AT RISK ON A DAILY
BASIS DURING A DEADLY PANDEMIC
TO CALL ATTENTION TO MASSIVE
INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE, AGAINST
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
MOSTLY I WANTED TO SAY THANK
YOU AND PUT YOUR STORIES IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE ONGOING PUBLIC
HEALTH PANDEMIC THAT IS KILLING
DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBERS OF
BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
YOUR TESTIMONY IS VERY
IMPORTANT, AND I WANT TO JUST
SAY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT
AND TO UNDERSCORE WHAT I THINK
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD HAS BEEN
SAYING.
NO ONE SHOULD BE GAS LIGHTING
THE STORIES, NO ONE SHOULD BE
DISCREDITING OR DISMISSING
THOSE STORIES TOLD BY THE FOLKS
ON THE FRONTLINE.
WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND WE CONTINUE
TO WANT TO ELEVATE THOSE
STORIES AND THOSE EXPERIENCES.
I APPRECIATE THAT THIS PANEL
WENT FIRST TODAY, AND YOU ALL
HAVE REALLY SHOWN, SHINED A
LIGHT ON THE TRUTH OF WHAT YOUR
EXPENSING ON THE FRONTLINE.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU IS A
WATER BOTTLE IS NOT A WEAPON.
A WATER BOTTLE IS NOT A WEAPON
AND SHOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED IN
TEARGAS, FLASH BANG, AND RUBBER
BULLETS LAST NIGHT.
WHAT I ALSO HEARD, FROM EARLIER
IN THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WAS
THIS IS ALSO NOT A UNIQUE
SITUATION, AND I WONDERED IF
THE SECOND PERSON WHO TESTIFIED
COULD SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE
TYPES OF HORSE THAT YOU SEE
HAPPEN WHEN BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE
PAST.
AND, SOME OF THE SITUATIONS YOU
HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED WHEN IT
COMES TO SORT OF THE DIFFERENCE
MAY BE IN THE WOMEN'S MARCH
VERSUS OTHER BLACK LIVES MATTER
MARCHES THAT YOU PARTICIPATED
IN.
ARE THERE OTHER STORIES YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT THE
DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF FORCE
YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.
>> I THINK I WAS NUMBER TWO.
I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS
THIS, IS THAT, SO I HAVE BEEN
COVERING, THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN
THAT IS BEEN CONSISTENT,
COVERING MAYDAY, 2016, THE
POLICE GIVE UP ALMOST 5 MILES
FROM WESTLAKE ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO SODA.
THEY PUSH THE PEOPLE OUT THERE,
ALL THE WAY TO SOTO.
SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO GO TO
JAIL, WHATEVER.
BUT THE POLICE IN A WELL-
CRAFTED STRATEGY, AND THEY WANT
TO PROTECT PROPERTY AND THE
PROTESTERS, AND REALLY GAVE UP
PLENTY OF MOVEMENT DOWNTOWN.
THAT IS WHAT I SAW FOUR YEARS
AGO.
THEY ALSO PULLED OUT THE FLASH
BANGS, THEY DID SOME OTHER
STUFF THEN, THERE AS WELL.
THERE WERE SOME OTHER MARCHES,
WHERE, THAT I HAVE SEEN, THE
ESCALATION LEVEL IS MUCH LOWER.
I JUST HAVE TO BE REAL,
INSINCERE, IS THAT WHEN YOU GET
PEOPLE, THAT ARE PROTESTING,
AGAINST THINGS AROUND SOCIAL
DISTANCE AND EQUITY, AND I'M
NOT A BIG SOCIAL JUSTICE GUY.
WITH PEOPLE, THE POLICE TAKE A
DIFFERENT POSTURE.
PEOPLE SEE MY REPORTING, WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT POSTURING.
IF THEY JUST HAVE THEIR SHORT
SLEEVE SHIRTS ON.
AND THOSE POSTURES INTERACT
WITH EACH OTHER.
THEY IMPACT EACH OTHER.
WHAT I AM SAYING, MAN, I HAVE
NEVER SEEN THIS AMOUNT OF FORCE.
I WOULD SAY THIS, LAST NIGHT,
BOTTLE THROWN, RUBBER BULLETS.
LET ME TELL YOU I GOT IT ON
TAPE, THE PROTESTERS RETURNS,
RECONSTITUTED THEIR LINE.
ONE OF THEM WAS A NURSE, HANDS
UP, DO NOT SHOOT.
THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES FROM
WHEN THE WATER BOTTLE WAS
THROWN.
LET'S PUT THAT OVER THERE.
THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, HANDS
UP, DO NOT SHOOT.
THEY GASSED THEM.
THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES, THAT IS
WHAT I AM SAYING.
I COULD NOT SPEAK ON THE FIRST
INCIDENT, I DID NOT SEE IT.
THREE TIMES, IT IS LIKE, YOU
KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING.
THREE TIMES EXCESSIVE GAS,
BEING HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
THAT IS WHAT I CAN SHOW.
IS THE DISPROPORTIONALITY OF
THE USE OF FORCE.
>> THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PANELISTS
WHO SPOKE FROM THEIR HEARTS AND
SPOKE FACTS ABOUT THE TRUTH OF
THE SITUATION.
I AM ALSO INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL
TO THE PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED IN
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I HOPE THAT
THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE NOT ABLE
TO TESTIFY, DURING THE START OF
THE MEETING WILL COME BACK AT
THE END OF THE MEETING, BECAUSE
ABSOLUTELY, I WANT TO HEAR FROM
YOU, I'M PRETTY SURE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU.
I ALSO WANTED TO LET ALL OF THE
ACTIVISTS OUT THERE KNOW, THAT,
MEMBERS FOR MY POLITICAL
ORGANIZATION ARE GOING TO BE
OTHER THAN THE PROTEST RIGHT
NOW, THERE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANTED TO THANK BROTHER
REYNOLD WHO HAD TO LEAVE, WHO
JUST TESTIFIED ON THIS PANEL,
JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
HE WAS WITH ME AT THE PRESS
CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, WHEN
WE HAD SPOKESPEOPLE FROM THE
COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE NAACP.
WHO HAD SAID, THAT WE CANNOT
ALLOW THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
ESTABLISHMENT TO LIFT THE
CONSENT DECREE.
AND I HAVE SOME MORE POINTS
ABOUT THAT BUT I WILL SAVE IT
FOR THE NEXT PANEL.
I JUST WANTED TO JUST
ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE POINTS
THAT ARE BEING MADE BY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
ONE IS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE
CONSENT DECREE, ALTHOUGH WE DO
NOT BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO BE
ENOUGH, WE WILL NEED FAR MORE
SUBSTANTIAL BEYOND THAT.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AMANDA
DOES COME FROM THE COMMUNITY TO
DEFUND THE POLICE BUDGET, AND
TO CUT THE POLICE BUDGET IN
HALF, I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE
KNOW JUST LIKE I DID IN THE
PRESS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING.
I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THAT
DEMAND, I WILL BE BRINGING THAT
AMENDMENT FORWARD DURING THE
BUDGET DISCUSSION, INVITE OTHER
COUNCILMEMBERS TO JOIN ME IN
THAT.
I ALSO THINK IT IS EXTREMELY
CRUCIAL, THAT, WE BAN THE CITY
AND THE CITY'S POLICE FROM
OBTAINING OR USING ANY TYPE OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS INCLUDING
TEARGAS, AND RUBBER BULLETS.
I WILL BE LOOKING INTO WHATEVER
LEGISLATIVE MEANS THAT ARE
POSSIBLE, TO BAN THE USE OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND RUBBER
BULLETS.
I WILL KEEP THE MOVEMENT
INFORMED, AND AGAIN, I AM HAPPY
TO WORK WITH ANY COUNCILMEMBER
WHO WANTS TO, WHO SHARES THAT
GOAL WITH ME, AND I'M SURE IT
IS SHARED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND, I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE
FOR THEIR COURAGE AND LAST BUT
NOT LEAST, THANKS JAKE FOR THE
INDEPENDENT MEDIA WORK THAT YOU
AND OTHERS HAVE DONE, WHICH IS
PROVIDED INCREDIBLE VIDEO
EVIDENCE ON HOW THE POLICE ARE
THE ONES, OFTEN INSTIGATING AND
NOT JUST INSTIGATING BUT
PARTICIPATING IN THE VIOLENCE
AND THEY SEEM TO COME PREPARED
TO INSTIGATE VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT.
WHAT ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS
LIKE TO ADDRESS THE PANEL?
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
>> THANK YOU.
SORRY I USED THE CHAT, BUT THAT
IS NOT ALWAYS AS EFFECTIVE AS
WE PLANNED.
I WANT TO ECHO EVERYONE'S
THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR JOINING
US, AND TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE
WAY THAT THIS CITY HAS REACTED
TO PEOPLE, MERELY TRYING TO
EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
I WAS ON A CPC CALL EARLIER
THIS MORNING, AND, HEARD MORE,
FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO
ARE OBVIOUSLY GRIEVING AND
TRAUMATIZED, AND OUTRAGED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT, ON THAT CALL,
THAT WE HEARD, ACTUALLY SEVERAL
TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS,
IS THAT, DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW
WE HAVE ROBUST ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEM, WE HAVE A ROBUST SYSTEM
IN PLACE FOR DEALING WITH
COMPLAINTS.
WE KNOW WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST
12,000 OF THEM THAT HAVE BEEN
MADE, IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
I THINK IT MISSES THE POINT,
THE BIGGER POINT, WHICH IS
THAT, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A
NEED TO REVIEW ANYTHING.
PEOPLE EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS, SHOULD NOT BE
PUT AT RISK, FOR DOING THAT.
THEY SHOULD NOT BE AT RISK OF
AN EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY
PUBLICLY FUNDED PUBLIC SERVANTS.
AND SO, I JUST WANT TO BE
REALLY CLEAR, THAT WE NEED TO
HAVE THE RIGHT FRAMING AND
PLANS AS WE ARE HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION.
I ALSO DO WANT TO ASK, DOM IF
YOU ARE STILL ON, COACH DON.
AND, WE HAVE ACTUALLY HEARD
SEVERAL TIMES, ABOUT THIS
ISSUE, OF VANS OF PEOPLE
SHOWING UP.
I HAD A CONSTITUENTS, MESSAGE
ME, THAT'S, SHE HAS A CLERGY
MEMBER, SHE WENT TO BEAR
WITNESS, TO WHAT IS HAPPENING,
AND, SHE SAW A VAN LOAD OF
PEOPLE SHOW UP, DRESSED IN
BLACK BULLETPROOF VESTS, AND,
AND SO, JUST WONDERING IF YOU
HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT,
WHERE THE VANS CAME FROM.
WHERE DID YOU SEE THEM.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE
THERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE HEARD
SEVERAL TIMES, AND I THINK IT
IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF, AS WE TRY TO UNFOLD
WHAT HAPPENED.
TRY TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE
DETAILS ABOUT, WHAT THAT WAS
ABOUT.
>> I PERSONALLY WAS AN
EYEWITNESS, TO THIS EVENT, BUT
WHEN I GOT THE CALL, THE
INFORMATION I GOT, AS IF THEY
WERE UP AROUND THE BROADWAY
AREA, AND THAT, I THINK IT WAS
THREE OR FOUR VANS HAD PULLED
UP, ALL AT THE SAME TIME, AND
THEY WERE ALL GETTING OUT, THEY
WERE ALL DRESSED IN BLACK.
THEY HAD THEIR MASKS ON AND
EVERYTHING.
SOME OF MY HOMEBOYS THAT WERE
THERE SEEING THIS HIT ME UP,
THESE GUYS ARE TRIPPING, THEY
LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO
AND TEAR STUFF UP.
AND SO, THEY HAD SAID THEY WERE
ALL WHITE FOLKS.
IT WAS A BUNCH OF WHITE GUYS,
IN ALL BLACK.
THAT IS ALL I GOT.
BASICALLY, THE ONE THING ONE OF
MY GUYS SAID TO ME AS HE
THOUGHT THEY CAME UP FROM
PORTLAND, WAS WHAT ONE OF THE
GUYS SAID TO ME.
I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE ABOUT
THAT.
I AM GETTING ALL OF THE SECOND
HAND, I DID NOT WITNESS IT, I
DID NOT SEE IT.
SO DON'T TAKE ME TO COURT ON
THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, BUT
THAT IS THE INFORMATION I GOT.
IF YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU START
SEEING ALL OF THE STUFF THAT IS
HAPPENING, THERE WAS A LOT OF
GUYS IN BLACK DOING A LOT OF
STUFF, SO I DO NOT KNOW.
>> I DO NOT KNOW IF I CAN JUST
CHIME IN HERE QUICK.
BUT I DID SAY, WE'VE HAD TIME
TO REVIEW THIS FOOTAGE, IT IS A
NONSTOP, WHAT I DID SEE, ON
SATURDAY, BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS AT
THE FRONT WITH PEOPLE, SO WE
LOOK AT WHERE THE FOOTAGE, AND
WE TRY.
AS WELL, WE COME OVER THERE,
GET UP IN FRONT OF THE
BARRICADE, AND SAY SOMETHING,
THIS AND THAT.
THEN, JUST DISAPPEAR, KIND OF
LIKE RATTLING IT.
I DO NOT KNOW VANS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT.
BUT I HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHERE IT
IS JUST REALLY WEIRD.
THEY COME UP THERE, AND THEN,
GET UP THERE IN THE FRONT,
TRYING TO RILING EVERYBODY UP.
THEY COULD BE ORGANIZED, BUT
THAT IS WHAT I'M SEEING.
>> MAKE A QUICK NOTE FOR ALL
PANELISTS, WHEN YOU ARE
SPEAKING PLEASE TRY AND TURN
YOUR SOUND ON YOUR DEVICE OFF,
SO WE CANNOT HEAR THE PINGS
COMING THROUGH.
THANKS JAKE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBERS BEFORE WE MOVE
ON TO THE PANEL WITH THE POLICE
CHIEF AND, DEPUTY MAYOR AND
IRE CHIEF.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN, TO
EVERYBODY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD HEARD
ON SATURDAY, FROM A FEW FOLKS
WHO HAD REACHED OUT TO OTHER
OFFICERS THAT THEY KNOW, AND
THIS RELATES DOMINIQUE TO YOUR
EXAMPLE AS WELL.
AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM A FEW
FOLKS THAT THEY WERE VERY UPSET
THAT THEY WERE BEING ASKED TO
GO DOWNTOWN AND RIOT GEAR,
ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE TENSE
NATURE OF THE PROTEST ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT
THAT WAS THE ORDERS THEY HAD
GIVEN.
WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN
OATH OF OFFICE THAT IS TAKEN
FOR DUTY TO DISOBEY UNLAWFUL
ORDERS.
WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY
WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNATIONAL
SITUATIONS.
I'M WONDERING, DOMINIQUE.
COULD YOU COMMENT A LITTLE BIT
MORE ON ANNIE'S STORIES OR
EXAMPLES THAT YOU HAVE HEARD
FROM FOLKS WHO WERE CONCERNED
ABOUT BEING DEPLOYED IN THE WAY
THAT THEY WERE, OR THE TYPE OF,
SITUATIONS THEY WERE ASKED TO
BE PUT IN, OR ORDERS THEY WERE
GIVEN FROM SOME OF THE FOLKS
YOU MAY HAVE TALKED WITH AS
WELL.
>> HONESTLY I CANNOT REALLY
SPEAK TO THAT.
WHAT I CAN DO, IS SPEAK TO,
CONVERSATIONS I HAVE HAD WITH
OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND
OTHER CITIES.
OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON, WHERE,
YOU TALK ABOUT THE PSYCHE, THAT
GETTING GEARED UP AND DRESSED UP
INTO MILITARY GRADE, WARLIKE
OUTFITS, AND STEPPING OUT.
IN A DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL,
WHEN YOU STEP IN, THINKING I'M
GOING INTO WAR, RIGHT.
NOW YOU ARE DOING THIS, WHERE
YOU ARE FACING YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY SEES YOU
JUST LIKE THAT.
AND THAT HAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL
EFFECT OF SEEING THE OFFICERS,
SO YOU KNOW THERE IS A WHOLE
PSYCHOLOGICAL SITUATION GOING
ON.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH SPD, THAT
WOULD BE AWESOME.
IF COMMUNITY COULD SIT DOWN
WITH SPD, AND HEAR SOME OF
THOSE OFFICERS, HOW THEY FEEL
ABOUT GETTING DRESSED INTO THE
WARLIKE TACTICAL OUTFITS.
AND STEPPING OUT INTO THE
PROTEST WERE MOST OF THEM FEEL
THE SAME WAY AS THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE PROCESSING.
THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WRONG,
IT WAS A TRAGEDY.
NOW YOU STANDING THERE PUTTING
US AGAINST THEM AS A MESSAGE,
AND IT HITS IT 10 TIMES HARDER,
BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TANKS, NOW
YOU HAVE THE RESERVES, NOW YOU
HAVE ALL OF THESE WEAPONS ON
YOU, NOW YOU ARE DRESSED IN ALL
OF THIS GEAR.
NOW PEOPLE, IT DIVIDES US ANY,
EVEN MORE.
IF I WAS IN CHARGE OF PUTTING
OUR OFFICERS OUT INTO THE
MIDDLE OF THIS, I WOULD BE
PUTTING THEM OUT TO THE MIDDLE
OF THIS, TO SHOW COMPASSION,
AND EMPATHY, AND BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS.
THAT WOULD DIFFUSE EVERYTHING.
AND THEN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS,
THE COMMUNITY WOULD SIDE WITH
LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PEOPLE
START RIOTING.
THERE IS ONLY A SMALL PORTION
OF PEOPLE WRITING.
THE COMMUNITY WOULD LITERALLY
STOP THAT, BECAUSE THEY WOULD
FEEL A CONNECTION WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
THESE GUYS GET US, THEY GET
THEM, THEY KNOW WHY WE ARE OUT
HERE.
WE WANT JUSTICE, WE WANT
INEQUALITY.
PEOPLE ARE STARING, TEARING
STUFF UP.
YOU CAN SEE THE HANDFUL OF
PEOPLE TEARING STUFF UP, THE
COST MAYHEM, TEARGAS, RUBBER
BULLETS, EVERYBODY IS RUNNING
EVERYWHERE, YOU CANNOT
DISTINGUISH THE HANDFULS OF
POCKETS OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY
OPTED TO DO DAMAGE.
SO I HEAR YOU, I KIND OF WENT
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BUT I
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION, IF THAT WOULD BE
SET UP, WOULD BE MORE THAN
HAPPY TO SIT OUT AND HAVE A
CONVERSATION, HOW OFFICERS FEEL
WHEN THEY HAVE TO STEP OUT WITH
MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBERS SO WANT TO
BELIEVE YOU HAD ANOTHER QUICK
ITEM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ON THE CONSENT DECREE, I FORGOT
TO ADD AN IMPORTANT THING.
AS I WAS SAYING EARLIER, 35+
ORGANIZATIONS, AMONG THEM ARE
NAACP, ONE AMERICA, REAL CHANGE,
HAVE SIGNED A LETTER TOGETHER,
DEMANDING THAT THE MAYOR
WITHDRAW HER RECOMMENDATION FOR
LIFTING THE CONSENT DECREE, AND
MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE
SIGNED THAT AS WELL.
THEY SENT ALL COUNCILMEMBER
OFFICES, AND I AM REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR
RESPONSES, TO SEE IF YOU WILL
SIGN ONTO THAT WITH ME, THE
LETTER BASICALLY URGES THE
MAYOR, TO NOT FILE HER PETITION
FOR CONSENT DECREE, AND THAT IT
NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE, I'M
HAPPY TO SHARE THAT
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ALREADY LET
ME KNOW SHE IS SIGNING ONTO
THAT LETTER.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO RESPONSES
FROM OTHER COUNCIL OFFICES.
IF THERE ANY SUGGESTED CHANGES
YOU WANT TO MAKE TO THE LETTER,
I AM HAPPY TO LOOK AT THOSE.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR STAFF REACH
OUT TO MY STAFF.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THANK YOU.
TO YOU AND THE PANELISTS, I WAS
LATE TO THIS MEETING BECAUSE I
WAS WATCHING THE CPC MEETING.
IN TRANSITIONING HERE INTO THE
OFFICE.
I WAS LISTENING THROUGH OUR
COUNCIL LISTEN LINE THE ENTIRE
TIME.
ALSO, THANKS JAKE FOR YOUR
REPORTING.
I HAVE BEEN, I FEEL LIKE I KNOW
YOU VERY WELL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
LISTENING TO YOUR VOICE FOR A
COUPLE NIGHTS NOW.
I WAS UP WITH YOU UNTIL ABOUT
1:30 IN THE MORNING.
LAST NIGHT.
SO THANKS JAKE FOR YOUR
REPORTING.
WHAT IS CLEAR TO ME, IS THAT
THE PROPORTIONALITY OF
RESPONSE, IS NOT CONSISTENT
WITH THE AGGRESSION FROM PEOPLE
EXERCISING THEIR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
WHAT I SAW LAST NIGHT, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPA, AND
OIG AND THEIR INVESTIGATIONS
INTO THESE COMPLAINTS, BECAUSE
I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE A
PROCESS, AND I WANT TO SEE THE
PROCESS PLAY THROUGH WHAT I
PERSONALLY WITNESSED, WAS A DAY
OF PEACEFUL PROTEST.
A DAY OF PEACEFUL EXERCISING
THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS,
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING TO WRAP
UP, AUNTS, AND CHANTING YOU GO
HOME, WE GO HOME.
WHICH I HAVE TO SAY, YOUR
ANALYSIS ON DE-ESCALATION
TACTICS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
I WATCHED AS THIS CROWD WAS
BEGINNING, WAS DE-ESCALATING A
SITUATION, AND FOR, A VERY
SMALL PORTION OF THE GROUP, ON
THE FRINGE, ON THE EDGE OF THE
GROUP TO THROW WATER BOTTLES TO
HAVE THE RESPONSE AT THAT TIME
THE GAS, FLASH BANGS, PEPPER
SPRINGS, PEPPER SPRAYS.
I DON'T NEED AN INVESTIGATION
TO UNDERSTAND, THAT THAT IS OUT
OF BALANCE.
WE DO NOT NEED TO BE USING
MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS ON THE
PEOPLE OF OUR FAIR CITY.
THERE IS NOT A PLACE FOR
MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS ON OUR
STREETS, MUCH LIKE IN MY WORK,
AND TRYING TO REDUCE GUN
VIOLENCE, WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU
ADD MORE GUSTO SITUATION, THERE
IS A MORE, A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD
OF GUN VIOLENCE.
IT IS OF THE SAME HERE.
WE NEED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF
MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS THAT ARE
ON OUR STREETS, TO REDUCE THE
AMOUNT OF HARM THAT IS BEING
DONE TO PEOPLE, THE GAS SEEPS
INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES.
WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR
MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS ON OUR
STREETS.
MY OVERSIGHT, HAVING WATCHED
THE LIVE STREAMS OF COUNTLESS
PEOPLE WATCHING THOSE CAMERAS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY, CLEARLY
HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH.
SO, WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION
, AND DOMINIQUE, AND ANYONE
ELSE ON THE CALL, WHAT IS YOUR
RECOMMENDATION THAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE TODAY, TO DE-ESCALATE
TONIGHT.
WE DON'T HAVE MORE TIME, TO
REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF
MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS BEING
USED ON OUR STREETS.
WHAT DOES OUR CITY NEED TO DO
TODAY.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TODAY.
>> WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TODAY, IS
IF POLICE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
BARRICADING US SIX FEET.
ONE, THERE WAS NO KNOWN
DISTANCE BEFORE SATURDAY.
TWO, OR MONDAY.
THERE WAS NO DISTANCE.
YESTERDAY, AFTER A LOT OF
DISCUSSION BY THE PUBLIC, AND
MAYBE BY THE POLICE TO, THEY
PUT THEMSELVES SIX FEET BEHIND
THE BARRICADE.
YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE IN THE
BARRICADES, THAT IS THE FRONT
LINE.
FOR THEM, THEY CAN MOVE BACK
EVEN FURTHER BEHIND THE
BARRICADE.
IT IS EASIER TO MOVE 50
OFFICERS BACK, THEN IT IS
500,000 PEOPLE.
I THINK THE SEATTLE POLICE, IT
GIVES THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF LOW
ANXIETY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING.
AND THAT'S, TO BE HONEST WITH
YOU, THAT PROTEST WENT, IT WAS
ROCKING FOR A LONG TIME VERY
PEACEFULLY BECAUSE OF THE
DISTANCE, AND WE SHOWED ON THE
STREAM, THAT THAT SIX FOOT,
THAT WAS THERE ON MONDAY, EVEN
AN UMBRELLA, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
TOO FAR FROM THE OFFICER TO
EVEN GRAB THE UMBRELLA, RIGHT.
SO MAYBE SET UP SOMETHING, SO
THAT YOU SET UP A BARRICADE
THAT DOES NOT RAISE THEIR
ANXIETY.
THEIR ANXIETY IS REALLY, KIND
OF WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO.
IT IS THEM BEING HIGH ANXIETY
THAT A WATER BOTTLE CAN GET
THIS DISPROPORTIONATE RESPONSE.
THEY NEED MORE SPACE, THEY CAN
SEE A WATER BOTTLE COMING IN
THROUGH, I CANNOT SAY SOMEBODY
IS NOT GOING TO THROW
SOMETHING.
THE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE
PROTESTER, THAT IS ONE THING
RIGHT THERE.
BUT, THE BIGGEST THING, THE
SECOND THING, COULD BE BIGGER,
OR NOT, IS THAT YOU GUYS AS THE
CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF CHIT,
YOU GUYS NEED TO DETERMINE TODAY
WHAT KIND OF CITIES SEATTLE IS.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLING
ME, THERE IS ALL KINDS OF, THIS
IS GOING, IT IS UP TO YOU GUYS
RIGHT NOW, THE CITY COUNCIL,
THE MAYOR, THE CHIEF OF POLICE,
TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHAT
KIND OF CITIES SEATTLE IS GOING
TO BE.
IS THIS THE KIND OF CITY THAT
THIS GOES ON HERE, ON AND ON,
BECAUSE SOME CITIES ARE JUST
KNOWN FOR THAT.
THAT IS A TOUGH COUNTY, DO NOT
GO OVER THERE.
IF THAT IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE,
LET SEATTLE OWN IT.
IF THIS IS NOT WHAT SEATTLE IS
AND WHO SEATTLE IS, THEN YOU
GUYS NEED TO MAKE A
DETERMINATION AND COME TOGETHER
AS A CITY COUNCIL, AS A MAYOR,
AS A POLICE CHIEF, TO SAY THIS
IS NOT WHO WE ARE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A STEP UP,
ANOTHER THING I KNOW I'M LONG-
WINDED, I WILL STOP HERE.
THE STREET LEVEL IS A VACUUM OF
INVISIBLE LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE NOT SEEING IT.
WHEN CRISIS CREATES AN
OPPORTUNITY, IS AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR LEADERS TO STEP UP AND
SHINE BRIGHT.
PEOPLE ARE NOT SEEING THE
LEADERSHIP THERE.
AS FOR TODAY, SET UP A
BARRICADE DIFFERENT, BARRICADE
DISTANCE THAT MAKES THEM
COMFORTABLE, BRINGS DOWN THEIR
ANXIETY.
>> THIS IS A REALLY HELPFUL
SEGWAY, FOR US TO MOVE TO HEAR
FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND
HEAR FROM BOTH OUR POLICE AND
FIRE CHIEFS.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, THAT I
HEARD YOU LAST NIGHT, CALLING
FOR LEADERSHIP.
FROM MY HOME, IN WEST SEATTLE.
AND, I CONSIDERED COMING DOWN
TO JOIN YOU.
I DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TIME I
HAD TO DO SO.
IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THINGS WERE
WRAPPING UP BY THE TIME I GOT
ON.
BUT I WISH I HAD, AND IF THERE
IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ME
TO COME DOWN AND HELP, I WILL
DO SO.
I REALLY HONOR EVERYONE'S
COURAGE TODAY FOR JOINING US,
AND I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT EACH OF YOU ARE DOING
IN YOUR COMMUNITIES TO FIGHT
JUSTICE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE HARM TO
YOUR HEART, YOUR BODY, AND YOUR
SOUL.
FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF LIVING
AS A BLACK PERSON IN AMERICA.
I PLEDGE THAT THIS COMMITTEE
WILL CENTER YOUR EXPERIENCES AS
WE DETERMINE A PATH FORWARD,
TOWARDS POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THESE
PROTESTS MORE SAFE, WOULD BE
MORE, WE ACTUALLY NEED
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN
TERMS OF HOW THESE OFFICERS
THAT ARE SHOWN TO BE USING
EXCESSIVE FORCE ON PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS, WE NEED AN ACTUAL
UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE PEOPLE
WILL BE FIRED, THAT THERE WILL
BE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR
ACTIONS.
NOT VAGUE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT, WE
NEED ACTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY AS
FAR AS THAT GOES.
THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO
PUNISHMENT, AND IT IS ALLOWING
THE OFFICERS TO DO WHATEVER
THEY WANT.
THERE NEED TO BE CONSEQUENCES.
>> THANK YOU, WE DO HAVE OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS ON,
AFTER THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND
THE FIRE AND POLICE CHIEF TO
TALK ABOUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY
PROCESS.
AND, HOW THEY MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISCIPLINE.
AND A LITTLE BIT OF A STATUS
REPORTS, ON THE COMPLAINTS THEY
HAVE RECEIVED IT NOW, AND MAYBE
SOME CHANGES, FOR HOW THEY DO
THEIR INVESTIGATIONS IN A WAY
THAT INVOLVES COMMUNITY MORE.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE READ FROM
ITEM NUMBER TWO, INTO THE
RECORD.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, I MEANT
COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY.
THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN
IT IS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK
WITH EACH OTHER.
>> APPRECIATE THE CLARITY,
THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU DO NOT MIND, I JUST
WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT SHE
SAID AND SAY I REALLY AGREE
WITH WHAT SHE IS SAYING.
EXISTING STRUCTURES ARE NOT
BRINGING ACCOUNTABILITY, AND I
CANNOT AGREE MORE WITH WHAT SHE
SAID, WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT
COMMUNITY LED INVESTIGATION,
AND WE NEED CONSEQUENCES,
DISCIPLINING OR FIRING OF THE
OFFICERS INVOLVED.
>> I'M SORRY, THAT IS WHAT I
WAS MEANING TO EXPLAIN, WHEN,
BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THE CALLS
FOR A COMMUNITY DRIVEN
INVESTIGATION PROCESS, AND SO,
DIRECTOR ANDREW MEYER BERG IS
GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME IDEAS,
THAT HE HAS, THAT HE AND I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT TO CENTER
COMMUNITY, IN THAT
INVESTIGATION PROCESS.
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN WE
HAVE DONE BEFORE.
I REALLY DO HOPE, WE CAN MOVE
ON, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE ARE
NOT GOING TO HAVE THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE FOR THE FULL HOUR, THAT
WE HAVE SCHEDULED.
SO, ALEX, CAN YOU PLEASE READ
ITEM 2 INTO THE RECORD.
>> AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS RESPONSE
AND PRESENTATION OF TIMELINE OF
EVENTS.
>> THANK YOU, WE ARE JOINED BY
CHIEF CARMEN BEST, HAROLD
SCOGGINS , AND ANDRE MADEA.
OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY'S
RESPONSE TO DEMONSTRATIONS
PROTESTING THE MURDER OF GEORGE
FLOYD AND THE DEATH AND INJURY
OF BLACK PEOPLE AT THE HANDS OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR CITY
FOR GENERATIONS.
DOES NOT OBSCURE THE
RECOGNITION OF THE FIRST
RESPONDERS IN THESE CHALLENGING
TIMES.
COUNCILMEMBERS, OUR PANEL WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO OPINE ON
COMPLAINTS OF ACTIONS OF
INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU DO NOT
SPEAK ABOUT THE ACTIONS OF
INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS THAT YOU'RE
AWARE OF.
I'M ONLY MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
OF WHETHER OR NOT OUR PANEL
WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO
THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE
INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINTS.
AGAIN, MY REQUEST OF
COUNCILMEMBERS IS TO PLEASE
HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS FOR
PANELISTS UNTIL THE END OF ALL
OF THE PANEL PRESENTATIONS AND
THEN WE WILL TAKE YOUR
QUESTIONS.
FIRST WE WILL HEAR FROM SENIOR
DEPUTY MAYOR FONG.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND
COUNCILMEMBERS.
BEFORE I BEGIN WITH SOME BRIEF
REMARKS, I ALSO WANT TO THANK
YOUR PANEL THIS AFTERNOON, THIS
IS SOME VERY INFORMATIVE
PERSPECTIVES, AND VOICES THAT
NEED TO BE HEARD, AS PART OF
THIS CONVERSATION AND
DISCUSSION.
I WILL ALSO, MENTION AS YOU
HAVE, COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I
TOO LISTENED TO QUITE SOME TIME
TO HIS BROADCAST LAST NIGHT AND
FOUND IT ALSO ENLIGHTENING, AS
FAR AS OUR CONTINUED DIALOGUE
AROUND THIS ISSUE, SO THANK YOU
FOR THAT.
AGAIN, ALSO THANK YOU FOR
INVITING THE EXECUTIVE TO THE
COMMITTEE THIS AFTERNOON TO
DISCUSS EVENTS THAT HAVE
UNFOLDED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS.
I DO WANT TO START, BY JUST
ECHOING THE MAYOR'S REPEATED
REMARKS.
AND OF THOSE FROM MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY, THAT
THE MANY VOICES THAT ARE
DEMANDING REAL INSTITUTIONAL
AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE AROUND
RACISM IN EQUITIES AND
INJUSTICE, MUST BE HEARD.
RESIDENCE ACROSS SEATTLE,
CONTINUE TO GATHER, TO EXPRESS
THEIR FRUSTRATION, AND ANGER,
ABOUT THE UNJUST KILLING OF
GEORGE FLOYD.
IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO GATHER,
AND WE THINK THEM FOR SPEAKING
OUT.
AS A CITY, IT IS OUR DUTY AND
RESPONSIBILITY, TO PROTECT
THOSE PEACEFULLY PROTESTING, AS
THEY EXERCISE THEIR FREEDOMS.
SO, I WANT TO JUST ANCHOR OUR
CONVERSATION THIS AFTERNOON,
AND A COUPLE KEY PRIORITIES
THAT I KNOW THE COUNCIL AND THE
EXECUTIVES SHARE.
AND THAT IS, THAT WE ARE
COMMITTED TOGETHER TO
DISMANTLING THE SYSTEMIC
INEQUITIES AND INJUSTICES THAT
HAVE PERSISTED FOR SO LONG IN
OUR SOCIETY, AND CONTINUE
TODAY.
AND YES, THAT ABSOLUTELY
INCLUDES GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTS
AND INSTITUTIONS.
AND, WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED
TOGETHER TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND
ASSEMBLY.
AND, WE WILL PROTECT THE SAFETY
OF EVERYONE, DEMONSTRATORS, AND
OUR BROADER COMMUNITY.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
ON THIS POINT, I KNOW YOU WILL
BE HEARING FROM THEM LATER THIS
AFTERNOON, BUT I DEEPLY BELIEVE
THAT THE MANY YEARS OF HARD
WORK, BY SO MANY, INCLUDING THE
MAYOR AND MANY OF YOU TO CRAFT
SUCH A STRONG AND FAIR SYSTEM
OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OFFICER
CONDUCT, WILL BE TESTED.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE
SYSTEM WILL ENDURE.
I WOULD ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT THE
MAYOR HERSELF, HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL, IN HELPING TO
ENSURE THE STRONG CIVILIAN
OVERSIGHT COMPONENTS OF OUR
ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, BUT ALSO THE
INTEGRITY, AND THE INDEPENDENCE
OF THE OPA AND OIG, IN THEIR
INVESTIGATIVE AND OVERSIGHT
ROLES.
THE HALLMARK OF OUR SYSTEM, HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A WILLINGNESS, AND
AN OPENNESS, TO CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT.
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION IS
COMMITTED, TO THAT PRINCIPLE.
AS YOU HEARD EVEN FROM THE
MAYOR IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, WE
HAVE DISCUSSED FURTHER
EXAMINATION OF ISSUES, SUCH AS
BADGES AND BADGE NUMBERS, BUT
AS WELL AS, BODY CAMPS, AND
OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP,
AND I KNOW MANY MEMBERS OF THIS
COUNCIL, AND MANY MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY, AND THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATIONS, HAVE WORKED SO
HARD, TO ESTABLISH PROTOCOLS
AND PROCEDURES, FOUR.
GIVEN THE ISSUES THAT HAVE
ARISEN, THERE IS DEFINITELY AN
OPENNESS, AND EAGERNESS ON OUR
PARTS, THAT WE INVITE THE
COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY INTO THAT
CONVERSATION, ONCE AGAIN.
AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR DURKAN IS
ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SIGNERS OF
THE CONSENT DECREE NEARLY 10
YEARS AGO.
WHILE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE
AND WE ARE DEEPLY PROUD OF THE
PROGRESS AS SHE SAID YESTERDAY,
THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE, AND MORE VOICES
NEED TO BE HEARD FROM THE
COMMUNITY AS WE CENTER AROUND
THAT ENDEAVOR.
SO, I WILL CLOSE BRIEFLY, TODAY
WE ARE HERE TO TALK TO SOME OF
THE ACTIONS RELATED TO THE
CITY'S RESPONSE SINCE LAST
FRIDAY.
I WANT TO REINFORCE, THAT MUCH
OF THIS INFORMATION IS STILL
PRELIMINARY IN OUR OPERATIONS,
ARE STILL ONGOING, WITH THE
MANY DEDICATED CITY EMPLOYEES
AND PUBLIC SERVANTS DOWN IN THE
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, AS
WE SPEAK.
AS WITH ANY MAJOR INCIDENT, WE
WILL ULTIMATELY DEVELOP A FULL
AFTER ACTION REPORT, WHEN WE
CAN EVALUATE, ASSESS LESSONS
LEARNED, AND PURSUE CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT.
WE WELCOME THIS DIALOGUE WITH
THE COUNCIL.
TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF THAT
CONVERSATION, GOING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN OUR
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
OVER TO CHIEF BEST.
AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER CABINET
MEMBERS, FOR OUR PRESENTATION
THIS AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I THINK I AM AN MUTED.
>> I'M SORRY, CHAIR HERBOLD.
I CANNOT LISTEN TO THIS.
THIS IS JUST A CHARADE.
DID THE DEPUTY MAYOR SAY WE ARE
STRONG AND FAIR SYSTEM OF
ACCOUNTABILITY, IS HE AWARE
THAT 29 POLICE KILLINGS HAVE
HAPPENED SINCE 2011.
I WANT TO READ THE NAMES OF
THOSE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE NEED
TO KNOW THEIR NAMES, SAY THEIR
NAMES.
ERIC EVANS, MIKE CHEN.
HARRY FRANKIE LEE SENIOR.
JAMES DAVID ANDERSON.
JOE DOUGLAS WRITER.
LUNA G COLUCCI.
I'M SORRY FOR MY
MISPRONUNCIATIONS.
ANDREW JOSEPH LONG.
CODY WILLIS STAFFORD.
OSCAR AND WATER, AUSTIN JAMES
DARBY, LARRY ANDREW FLYNN,
STEPHEN PORTER JOHNSON.
SEAN MARK, RAYMOND, MICHAEL L
TAYLOR, TO MARRY US, KYLE GRAY,
JASON SIEVERS, DONNIE
RODRIGUEZ, RYAN SMITH, AND THE
29th PERSON IS AN UNIDENTIFIED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOMELESS MAN
IN MENTAL DISTRESS WHO WAS SHOT
FIVE TIMES IN QUEEN ANNE.
I'M REALLY SORRY, I AM
INCAPABLE OF LISTENING TO THE
CHARADE, WHERE THE POLICE CHIEF,
THE DEPUTY MAYORS, THE MAYOR'S
STAFF ARE GOING TO ACT LIKE,
THEY, HIS PRESENTATION TO ME
SOUNDED LIKE HE EXISTS ON A
DIFFERENT PLANET, THEN ALL OF
US.
AND, IT IS EXTREMELY
PROBLEMATIC, AND, I WOULD
REALLY URGE CHIEF BEST, YOU ARE
ABOUT TO SPEAK.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO SPEAK AS IF
YOU WERE ON THE SAME PLANET AS
THE REST OF US, AND THAT YOU
FEEL THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY ON
YOUR SHOULDERS, THAT I FEEL.
AND, TO GIVE SERIOUS ANSWERS AS
TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I WOULD REITERATE, THAT AT THE
END OF THE DAY, AND THIS IS TO
MEMBERS OF THE MOVEMENT THAT I
AM A PART OF.
I DO NOT EXPECT THE POLITICAL
ESTABLISHMENT, MAYOR DURKAN, OR
THE POLICE CHIEF, OR ANY OTHER
BUREAUCRATS TO ADDRESS THIS
CRISIS.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED MOST
IMMEDIATELY, AN INDEPENDENT
COMMUNITY LED INVESTIGATION OF
ALL OF THE PLACE OFFICERS TO
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE WHO ARE
RIGHT NOW OPPRESSING OUR
PROTESTERS, AND WE NEED THAT
INVESTIGATION TO LEAD TO
DISCIPLINING AND/OR FIRING.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF BEST, YOU
HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR PASSIONATE
WORDS, OF RESPECT TO THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE KILLED AT THE HANDS OF
OFFICERS.
AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING
SURE THAT, THERE IS A COMMUNITY
LED INVESTIGATION.
I ALSO WANT TO START BY
THANKING COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALES, CHAIRWOMAN HERBOLD,
AND OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY TO
CHAT WITH YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN,
PRESENTED.
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO SOME
OF THE PUBLIC CONCERNS AND
COMMENTS.
I UNDERSTAND, AS YOU ALL DO,
THAT THERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT
CONCERNS FROM BOTH
DEMONSTRATORS, PARTICIPANTS,
ABOUT THE POLICE RESPONSES, AND
ABOUT HOW WE ARE USING OUR
TACTICAL RESPONSES IN THESE
PARTICULAR SITUATIONS.
PARTICULARLY FROM THEM, THANK
YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTFUL
COMMENTS.
I WELCOME THE IDEA OF HAVING A
CONVERSATION, PARTICULARLY
ABOUT SOME OF THE STRESSES AND
PSYCHE THAT GO INTO OFFICERS
REPEATEDLY HAVING TO BE ON THE
FRONTLINES OF THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS, AS WELL AS THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED.
MANY OF HIM, MOST OF WHOM ARE
TRYING TO EXERCISE THEIR FREE
SPEECH, AND HAVE THEIR MESSAGE
CO-OPTED BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT
THERE, TO DO GOODWILL.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FROM ALL
OF YOU COUNCILMEMBERS.
FOR YOUR STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT
AND APPRECIATION FOR THE
ESSENTIAL FIRST RESPONDERS, WHO
HAVE WORKED COUNTLESS HOURS, IN
THIS TIME, AND RISK THEIR
SAFETY DURING THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY, THAT I HAVE,
WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR MANY
MANY DAYS.
IS WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS
WAS WRONG.
IT WAS TRAGIC, AND IT WAS
MURDER.
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, TO
HIT US ALL, AND A REAL DEEP,
AND UNIQUE WAY.
IT WAS SO TRAGIC TO WATCH A MAN
DIE, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AFTER
SEVERAL MINUTES, WHEN HE COULD
HAVE BEEN SAVED, AND NOBODY DID
ANYTHING TO INTERVENE.
I AGREE THAT THE ENTIRE JUSTICE
SYSTEM, REALLY ALL OF OUR
SYSTEMS, ARE GROUNDED IN A
RACIST PAST, THAT IS OFTEN, NOT
ONLY ANTI-COLOR BUT
SPECIFICALLY ANTI-BLACK.
IT PERPETUATES DISPARITY TODAY.
YES, I FEEL THE FRUSTRATION OF
THE PEOPLE OUT THERE MARCHING.
THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF TALK
FROM A LOT OF ELECTORS AND
OTHERS.
EVERYONE IS COVETABLE TALKING
BUT WHO IS COMFORTABLE TAKING
ACTION.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW, AS WE
NEED TO LISTEN, BEFORE WE
RESPOND.
IN SO MANY INSTANCES, NONE OF
IT TRANSLATING TO ACTION.
I AM TIRED OF WAITING.
OUR COMMUNITY IS TIRED OF
WAITING.
FROM MY FIRST BREATH OUT OF THE
WOMB, I WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN
FEMALE.
FROM MY VERY FIRST BREATH.
THAT IS WHO I AM FIRST AND
FOREMOST, BUT I AM ALSO THE
POLICE CHIEF, AND I HAVE
SINCERE RESPONSIBILITIES TO
MAKE SURE I AM PROTECTING THE
PUBLIC SAFETY.
EVERYBODY'S SAFETY.
WHILE I HEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT
IDEAS ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT BE
DONE, I AM WELCOME, AND OPEN TO
HEARING WAT YOU MIGHT HAVE,
THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT REAL
CHANGE.
AGAIN, WE ARE TIRED OF WAITING.
I AM PUSHING FOR THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO WORK
FORWARD, TO MOVE FORWARD, AND
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR
MANY YEARS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT
WORK, AS PART OF OUR CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT AND INNOVATION.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN,
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL AGREE,
THAT THERE IS MUCH WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE, TO REMOVE
RACISM, AND ASPERITY FROM THE
SYSTEMS.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL, ALSO
AGREE, THAT ASSAULTS, AND
LOOTING, AND DESTRUCTION ARE
NOT HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET
THAT WORK DONE.
YOU CANNOT TURN ON YOUR OWN
HOUSE, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN,
AND THINK YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE
CHANGE.
YOU HAVE TO BE ORGANIZING,
HEALING, AND PLANNING, TO MAKE
CHANGE.
AND YES, THERE WAS A SUBGROUP
OF PEOPLE, THAT WERE DOING JUST
THAT, TEARING DOWN OUR HOUSE
AND TEARING DOWN OUR DOWNTOWN
CORRIDOR.
IT WAS A LARGER GROUP THAN WE
HAVE EVER EXPENSED BEFORE.
PEPLE HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT
CONSTITUTES A SMALL GROUP OR
LARGER.
ANYWHERE FROM 300-500 PEOPLE AT
CERTAIN TIMES WERE DOWNTOWN,
AND ON CAPITOL HILL, COMMITTING
PROPERTY DESTRUCTION.
WE CANNOT TOLERATE EVEN A SMALL
AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION.
OR A FEW ASSAULTS ON OFFICERS.
NO ONE'S JOB SHOULD REQUIRE
THEM TO TAKE BOTTLES OF FROZEN
WATER TO THE FACE.
I WOULD BRIEFLY GIVE A HIGH-
LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS OF
THE PAST FEW DAYS.
WE SHARED A DETAILED TIMELINE
OF ALL OF THE MAJOR EVENTS
SINCE FRIDAY, ON A PUBLIC POLICE
BLOTTER.
AND AS EACH TIMELINE SHOWS,
THAT IS HAVE BEEN BUSY, THEY'VE
BEEN DYNAMIC.
I WILL AGAIN REITERATE, THAT I
AM OPEN TO, AND CERTAINLY HAPPY
TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS OF
CONVERSATIONS, AND IF PEOPLE
HAVE SPECIFIC EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICES, THAT WE CAN UTILIZE,
THAT WILL MAINTAIN THE SAFETY
OF EVERYONE INVOLVED, I AM
ABSOLUTELY OPEN TO HEARING
ABOUT IT.
BEFORE I GO ON THE TIMELINE, I
DO WANT TO HIT ON A COUPLE OF
KEY AREAS.
I KNOW THERE BEEN CONCERN.
TO BOTH YOURSELVES AND THE
COMMUNITY.
FIRST OF ALL, THE MORNING VANS.
THERE ARE A LONG-STANDIN
TRADITION TO HONOR OFFICERS WHO
DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
IT IS NEVER COME UP AS AN ISSUE
BEFORE.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT UTILIZES
IT, AND OTHERS.
I UNDERSTAND NOW, THAT IS A
REAL CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY,
SO WE ARE LISTENING.
EVEN AS WE SPEAK WE ARE WORKING
ON POLICIES TO MAKE SURE WE CAN
IDENTIFY OFFICERS BY THEIR
SERIAL NUMBERS SO THAT PEOPLE
CAN HAVE THAT PROMINENTLY
DISPLAYED, AND THERE IS NO
ISSUE OF TRYING TO, THE
PERCEPTION OF TRYING TO HIDE
THE IDENTIFICATION.
I HAVE TO SAY THOUGH, THAT JUST
FOR CLARIFICATION'S SAKE, WE
HAVE ALWAYS WORE NAMETAGS WITH
OUR NAME SHOWING.
IT IS REQUIRED.
I WAS CRITICIZE MYSELF FOR
WEARING A MORNING BAND.
I KNOW MY NAME IS HERE, AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZE AND
KNOW ME FROM THE COMMUNITY.
SO, THAT IS JUST A PART OF
WEARING THESE BANDS.
WE WILL MAKE SURE WE REVISIT
THAT.
AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE TO BE
CONSISTENT, AND WE HAVE TO
LISTEN TO THE COMMUNIY.
BASED ON THE LAWS AND
REGULATIONS CRAFTED, TO MY
UNDERSTANDING BY THE ATL YOU,
AND SOME MEMBERS EVEN ON THE
CURRENT COUNCIL, WE ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO FILM THE LEGAL
EXPRESSION OF FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
IF THE COUNCIL HAS AGREEMENT
FROM THE ACLU AND THE COURTS,
AND THEY WANT US TO HAVE OUR
CAMERAS ON, EVEN IN THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS, WE WILL WORK TO
ENSURE THE TECHNOLOGY IS
AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.
WE WILL OPERATE UNDER YOUR
GUIDELINES AND YOUR
EXPECTATIONS.
FINALLY I KNOW THERE ARE MANY
CONCERNS ABOUT HOW WE DECIDE TO
EMPLOY GLASS WALLS, CROWD
MANAGEMENT, PEPPER SPRAY, THEY
HAVE IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT
HOW THAT MIGHT BE DONE.
AGAIN IF WE CAN FIND EVIDENCE-
BASED PRACTICES THAT WORK, WE
ARE VERY OPEN TO THAT, WE ARE
VERY OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION.
OUR CROWD MANAGEMENT POLICIES
THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW WERE
DEVELOPED UNDER THE WATCHFUL
EYE OF THE FEDERAL MONITOR.
THEY WERE APPROVED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE
FEDERAL COURT.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE POLICY
REVIEWED BY THE CPC.
THEY GAVE US THEIR EDITS, AND
WHILE NOT ALL OF THOSE EDITS
WERE ACCEPTED, MANY OF THEM
WERE.
THEY WILL BE REVIEWED BY ANDREW
MYERBERG.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND BY
THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
, LISA JUDGE.
EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE REVIEW OUR
POLICIES AND THIS WILL BE AN
IMPORTANT PART OF THAT REVIEW.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
ALL REVIEWED.
I KNOW YOU WILL HEAR FROM THOSE
PANELISTS LATER TO TALK ABOUT
WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO
AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO
REVIEW EVERYTHING.
ADDITIONALLY, I CAN TELL YOU
FOR THIS SERIES OF EVENTS, WE
ASKED THE SENATOR OF POLICING
EQUITY, IS HEADED BY THE, THIS
PERSON TO HELP US WITH THE
INDEPENDENT EVENTS.
TOGETHER WITH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL JUDGE, I'M CONFIDENT WE
WILL HAVE A MODEL POLICY FOR
ADDRESSING THESE TYPES OF
EVENTS.
SINCE I KNOW INSPECTOR GENERAL
JUDGE, I NO DOUBT WELCOMES YOU
LOOK WELCOME COMMUNITY INPUT
ONTO HOW THE REVIEW MOVES
FORWARD.
NOW I WILL JUST GIVE YOU A
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE RECENT
EVENTS THAT OCCURRED, THAT ARE
STILL OCCURRING.
WE HAVE TWO GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
TO BEGIN, ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE
HAD AN UNAFFECTED GROUP SHOW
UP, AND ASSEMBLE IN THE PARK.
THEY PICKED AN AREA THAT WAS
NOT TRADITIONAL STAGING AREA
FOR DEMONSTRATIONS, AND
OFFICERS ON THE SCENE QUICKLY
ASSESSED, THAT THINGS ARE
EVOLVING, AND BROUGHT IN
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, MANY OF
THEM PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HOME,
AND WE HAD TO CALL INTO DEAL
WITH THE HUNDRED AND 50, WHAT
APPEARED TO BE BLACK FOLKS WHO
SHOWED UP INTO THAT AREA.
ONCE WE WERE STAFF IT UP AND
TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, WE
WERE ABLE TO MANAGE THE SCENE.
IT WAS CLEAR FRIDAY NIGHT, THAT
THINGS FOR THESE PARTICULAR
SETS OF INCIDENTS ARE JUST
GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.
THERE WERE CLEAR ATTEMPTS TO
SPLIT OUR RESOURCES, NEW
INDIVIDUALS WERE BROUGHT IN BY
VEHICLES TO SUPPORT THAT, THOSE
THAT WERE ALREADY FIGHTING WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WAS NO WAY TO SAY.
IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A FIGHT.
I WAS SITTING IN HIS OFFICE AND
I CAN LOOK OUT MY WINDOW, AND
SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE
STREET.
OFFICERS WERE BEING PELTED WITH
ROCKS, BOTTLES, AND FECES.
THERE WERE ATTEMPTS TO BLIND
THE OFFICERS WITH THESE GREEN
COLORED LASER POINTERS THEY
WERE POINTING IN THEIR FACES.
THOSE ENGAGEMENTS CONTINUED FOR
SOME TIME INTO THE EVENING WITH
SOME LOOTING AND PROPERTY
DESTRUCTION AS WELL.
IN TOTAL THAT NIGHT WE MADE A
COUPLE OF ARRESTS THAT WERE
CONNECTED TO THE EVENT.
ON SATURDAY, WE PREPARED TO
COMMENT AND FACILITATE PEACEFUL
EXERCISE, FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS BY THOUSANDS, AND I MEAN
THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
STARTING AROUND NOON, RIGHT
HERE IN FRONT OF SPD
HEADQUARTERS, PEOPLE GATHERED.
THE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION WAS
ENDED BY THE ACTIONS, BY GROUPS
OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SOLE
PURPOSE AND CONSECRATING MAYHEM.
I HAVE GOT TO BE CLEAR, THERE
WERE SEVERAL, THOUSANDS, OF
FOLKS, WHO WERE REALLY JUST
EXERCISING THEIR ANGER, THEIR
RAGE, THE RIGHT TO MOURN, AND
TO GRIEVE, AND TO LAMENT THE
CURRENT RACIST SYSTEMS THAT ARE
IN PLACE.
THERE WERE ALSO PEOPLE WHO WERE
THERE TO REALLY ATTACK THE
OFFICERS.
WHILE WE ARE HEARING A LOT OF
CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT WHO
STARTED WHAT, WHEN, I HAVE
EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THE
DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY WILL DO
EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
WERE FOLLOWING OUR POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE IN
PLACE.
BUT OFFICERS, AGAIN WERE BEING
PELTED BY BOTTLES, MANY FILLED
WITH FROZEN WATER, AND RIGHT
BEFORE 2:00 P.M.
, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE SPD
HEADQUARTERS.
AT 2:40 P.M.
WE HAD THE FIRST OFFICER INJURED
, THAT REQUIRED A RESPONSE.
THE DISPERSAL WAS ORDERED AT
FIFTH AND PINE, 3:55 P.M., A
PATROL VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.
SO THESE THINGS, THESE EVENTS
WERE QUICKLY HAPPENING, AND
OFFICERS WERE IN THE MEANTIME
ASSAULTED MULTIPLE TIMES,
BEFORE THEY RESPONDED WITH
FORCE.
AS I DISCUSSED EARLIER, THAT IS
OUR BELIEF OF THAT SEQUENCE OF
EVENTS, AND WE WILL LOOK FOR
DIRECTOR ANDREW MYERBERG AS
DISCUSSED TO TALK ABOUT
EVERYTHING, EVERY COMPLAINT.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE REVIEWED.
OVERALL WE MADE 55 ARRESTS
THROUGHOUT SATURDAY AND INTO
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ON SUNDAY
MORNING, I DO NOT KNOW, IT JUST
MADE MY SOUL HURT.
THIS CITY THAT I LOVE AND I
KNOW ALL OF YOU LOVE, WAS IN
TATTERS.
I SAW WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE
AS AGONY ON THE FACES OF
BUSINESS OWNERS, AS THEY SWEPT
SWORDS OF GLASS, TOOK INVENTORY
OF WHAT WAS STOLEN.
IT WAS REALLY TRAGIC TO SEE,
BUT I ALSO SAW HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE HERE, HELPING, INCLUDING
PARENTS AND CHILDREN, AND
BUSINESS OWNERS AND FRIENDS, I
SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO
CAME IN FROM MARYSVILLE AND
OTHER PLACES.
JUST TO COME HELP OUT WITH THE
CLEANUP, AND SCRUB THE GRAFFITI
OFF OF THE BUILDINGS.
THAT WAS HEARTENING TO SEE.
WE HAD ANOTHER PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATION ON SUNDAY, BUT BY
4:00, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
BUT BOTTLES AND ROCKS ONCE
AGAIN BEING THROWN AT OFFICERS.
OVER THE COURSE OF A NIGHT WE
HAD ROCKS, BOTTLES, THINGS
THROWN AT THE OFFICERS.
WE HAD THEM SHOVED, PEPPER
SPRAYED, AND PUNCHED.
THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WE GIVE
MULTIPLE DISPERSAL ORDERS THAT
WERE IGNORED.
AND SUNDAY NIGHT WE MADE 21
ARRESTS.
ON MONDAY, WE FACILITATED,
AGAIN, ANOTHER VERY PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATION WITH THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE, FOR HOURS.
THEY HAD TO START, IT WAS
MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT.
BUT THE COMMANDERS THAT WERE ON
THE SCENE THERE.
WHAT WAS NOT SHOWN IN THE
VIDEO, THE CIRCLED AROUND
SOCIAL MEDIA, AS THERE WERE
MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS IN THAT
CROWD, WHO WERE WORKING TO
START A FIGHT.
AGAIN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, MANY
OF THEM THERE JUST WANTING TO
EXPRESS AND MOURN AND GRIEVE AND
MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THAT CROWD
WHO DID NOT HAVE THAT INTENT.
AT ONE POINT, AS THE CROWD WAS
PUSHING FORWARD TO SEARCH FOR A
DEFENSE LIVE, OFFICERS DID NOT
GIVE THE DISPERSAL ORDER
WARNING, AND, THEY JUST TOOK
THE NECESSARY STEPS TO HOLD THE
BEST LIGHT.
I HAVE DONE A THOROUGH REVIEW
OF OUR POLICIES IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE IN COMPLIANCE FOR MY
PERSPECTIVE, BUT CERTAINLY THAT
WILL BE REVIEWED, ONCE AGAIN, BY
ANDREW MYERBERG WHO IS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE A POLICE
ACCOUNT ABILITY.
MANY PEOPLE COME THERE.
TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
THEY WERE THROWING PROJECTILES
INCLUDING CHUNKS OF CONCRETE.
HE TOOK A CHUNK OF CONCRETE TO
THE EYE, IT MAY DAMAGE TO SITE
PERMANENTLY.
WE ARE NOT SURE AT THAT POINT.
WHILE FACILITATING THAT MARCH.
WE HAD A GROUP OF 200 OR SO, AT
UNIVERSITY VILLAGE WITH THE
CLEAR INTENT OF VANDALIZING THE
PROPERTY.
THE RAISING TACTICS TO JOIN US,
TO DRAW US AWAY, AND EVEN USING
A DRONE TO SURVEY ALL OF OUR
MOVEMENTS.
SOMETHING WE AS POLICE ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO DO EVEN IN AN
EMERGENCY LIKE THIS.
OVERALL ACROSS THE DAY, WE MADE
11 ARRESTS.
LAST NIGHT WE WERE STILL
COLLECTING ALL OF THE DETAILS,
BUT WE KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE
PEACEFUL PROTESTS FOR HOURS.
I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
AND TALK WITH SOME OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN
THAT MARCH.
I WENT DOWNTOWN TO THE
BEGINNING OF THE MARCH, SPOKE
TO THE OFFICERS, SPOKE TO MANY
OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
PARTICIPATING.
EVERYBODY HAD A MESSAGE OF
PEACE, AND ESPECIALLY
EXPRESSING THE SPEECH RIGHTS.
WE LATER MET WITH THEM, AT THE
EEOC.
I WAS WITH THE MAYOR AT THAT
TIME, AND WE SPOKE TO THE CROWD.
INTO THE NIGHT, IT WENT AWRY.
MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE
THERE, INITIALLY THAT SPOKE TO
US, WERE NOT THERE, WHEN SOME
OF THE VIOLENCE OCCURRED.
AT THAT NIGHT, WE MADE TWO
ARRESTS.
SO YES, MEANINGFUL CHANGE HAS
HAPPENED.
AT RIOTS.
THIS IS PRIDE MONTH.
STONEWALL WAS A RIOT LED BY
TRANS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING, AND
FIGHTING BACK.
IT HAS BEEN USED TO IGNITE
CHANGE THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
BUT, WHAT HAPPENED DURING MANY
RECENT EVENTS WAS NOT FIGHTING
BACK.
IT WAS ACTUALLY ATTACKING.
NOT EVERYBODY, NOT EVEN MOST
PEOPLE.
BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE ATTACKING.
AND THAT IS THE TRUTH.
IN HIS IGNITING PROPERTY JUST
FOR THE SAKE AND JOY OF
IGNITING PROPERTY.
ACROSS THE EVENTS WE MADE OVER
80 ARRESTS.
MOST WERE FOR BURBLING
HAPPENING DURING GLITTERING,
LOOTING.
OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE FOCUSING ON
PEOPLE ENGAGING IN CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON,
AND NO CAUSE, AND NO
JUSTIFICATION FOR AN OFFICER TO
PINPOINT PEOPLE WHO ARE
RESPECTFULLY PROTESTING.
MAYBE SOMETIMES NOT
RESPECTFULLY, BUT PROTESTING
AND DEMONSTRATING.
WE CANNOT HAVE PEOPLE
COMMITTING ACTS OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST THE PUBLIC OR AGAINST
THE OFFICER.
I WILL ADMIT TO YOU THAT
EVERYTHING HAS NOT GONE AS WE
HAVE PLANNED.
BUT I ALSO THINK, THE FIRST
úRESPONDERS HAVE DONE A PRETTY
GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT
THEY ARE AVAILABLE, AND THAT
THEY COME BACK NIGHT AFTER
NIGHT.
I IMAGINE THERE WILL BE MORE
TONIGHT, IN TAKING LOTS OF
BOTTLES.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING
CONSTANTLY SINCE FRIDAY NIGHT.
THEY TOOK PROJECTILES TO THE
FACE INTO THE BODY, AND THEY
WERE HIT WITH FIRE AXING WISHES
AND CONCRETE.
I HAVE TO REITERATE, NO ONE
SIGNS UP TO BE ASSAULTED.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT.
SO, WE ARE CONSIDERED EXPERTS
IN THIS FIELD.
BUT AGAIN, I WELCOME OTHERS ON
THIS CALL, WHO HAVE STATED THAT
THEY HAVE BETTER IDEAS AND
OPTIONS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO.
WE WOULD BE GLAD TO HEAR IT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN THE
MIDDLE OF TRYING TO HANDLE
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE ONGOING.
THIS WEEKEND SPECIFICALLY,
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT, THE
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS,
PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS WERE
MOVED ON LEFT PEOPLE WHO ARE
INTENT ON RIOTS.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD THAT BEFORE,
PARTICULARLY IN THIS STYLE.
I GET WHY IT IS HAPPENING.
PEOPLE ARE FED UP AND GETTING
TIRED OF SEEING BLACK MEN
KILLED, UNARMED POLICE OR
ANYONE ELSE.
INCLUDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
WHO CAN ACTUALLY KILL THEM AS
WELL.
YOU ARE TIRED OF IT.
TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING WE JUST
CANNOT HAVE OUR CITY TORN UP IN
THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS LEVEL OF
REACTION BEFORE.
IT IS ALMOST PALPABLE.
SO THE PRIORITY FOR ME, AND FOR
THE AGENCY IS ALWAYS GOING TO
BE PROTECTING LIFE AND
PROTECTING PROPERTY.
IF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BEGINS, WE
HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DEAL WITH
IT AND ADDRESS IT.
SO, I ACTUALLY IS COUNCILMEMBER
SO WANT READ THE NAMES OF MANY
WHO HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF
POLICE, WE GRIEVE FOR THEM TOO.
I KNOW YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT,
BUT WE ACTUALLY DO.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY TELL THAT
THE HANDS OF ANYBODY.
WE ALSO HAVE TO DO A JOB IN THE
CITY.
I WANT TO CONCLUDE BEFORE WE
TAKE QUESTIONS WHICH I
UNDERSTAND IS GOING TO HAPPEN
AT THE END OF THE PANEL, WITH
THE REMINDER THAT SOCIAL MEDIA,
IS SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT IS NOT NEWS.
THERE ARE NO EDITORS, PEOPLE
HAVE AGENDAS, THOSE THINGS THAT
ARE POSTED ARE THERE
PERSPECTIVES.
WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES,
THAT HALF-TRUTHS, AND HATE AND
PROPAGANDA HAVE FILLED SOCIAL
MEDIA NETWORKS FOR YEARS.
WHETHER IT IS ABOUT THE POLICE,
OR ABOUT ANY OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC
GROUP.
AN OFFICER WHO IS OUT THERE,
INVOLVED IN THIS, WAS THE
VICTIM OF THREATS FROM ALL
ACROSS THE NATION, AND COME TO
FIND OUT, YOU CAN TALK TO
DIRECTOR ANDREW MYERBERG, HE
WAS NOT INVOLVED.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT NEWS AND IT
IS NOT ALWAYS FACTUAL.
HAVE TO TAKE WHAT WE SEE THERE
WITH A GRAIN OF SALT UNTIL MORE
DETAILS CAN BE FERRETED OUT.
SO, WE JUST DO NOT WANT TO TAKE
THE WHOLE CLOCK WHEN WE HAVE A
SNIPPET OF VIDEO.
WE ARE HERE TO ADHERE TO OUR
PRINCIPLES, THAT MEANS WE WANT
TO WAIT FOR THE TRUTH, AND GET
THE WHOLE TRUTH.
AND, LET THE DETAILS AND THE
FACTS, TO LEAD US TO OUR
CONCLUSIONS.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU, I
THINK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
HAVE THESE MOMENTS HERE TO
SPEAK.
AND TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT,
SENTIMENTS, AND SOLIDARITY, AND
STANDING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
AGAINST WRONG, WHO ARE AGAINST
HATE, BUT IF YOU THINK THERE
ARE BETTER WAYS, FOR US TO
MANAGE THESE DEMONSTRATIONS, I
ABSOLUTELY LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING WHAT YOU HAVE.
WE WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW THE RULES
AND ORDINANCES PRESENTED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL.
ON THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO CHIEF HAROLD SCOGGINS
OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU, CHIEF BEST.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF
THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
GONZALEZ.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS
AFTERNOON, TO JUST GIVE YOU A
BRIEF OVERVIEW, OF THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE OF AND
WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND
ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL DAYS.
I THINK I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DID NOT START WITH, YOU KNOW MY
PERSONAL FEELINGS.
YOU KNOW MANY PEOPLE WERE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON,
AND, THIS DOES NOT HIT ANYONE
PROBABLY HARDER THAN ME.
I HAVE MANY OF THE SAME LIVED
EXPERIENCES, THAT MANY OF THE
CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU ARE
HEARING AROUND THE COMMUNITY
AND AROUND THE NATION, NOT
HEARSAY, I MEAN PERSONALLY.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE
HAPPENED TO ME, OR MEMBERS OF
MY FAMILY.
GROWING UP IN LOS ANGELES,
EXPERIENCED MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS.
MY TIME HERE, EXPERIENCED MANY
DIFFERENT THINGS.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I HAVE ONLY
BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS, AND
EXPERIENCED MANY DIFFERENT
THINGS.
SO I DO UNDERSTAND.
I HAVE A PERSONAL CONCERN, FOR
CHANGE AND GROWTH AND JUSTICE,
AND ALL OF THESE FRONTS, YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT FOR EDUCATION
FOR HEALTHCARE, FOR HOUSING.
FOR JOBS, FOR EMPLOYMENT.
ALL OF THOSE ARE VERY REAL TO
ME.
THEREFORE VERY REAL KIDS, AND
TWO VERY REAL GRANDKIDS, THEIR
FUTURE IS IMPORTANT.
TO THE CHANGES THAT WE MAKE,
AND MAKING THEM IN THE RIGHT
WAY.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR
AND CHIEF BEST FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN WORKING
EXTREMELY HARD.
IT WOULD BE GOOD, IF WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
THEY HAVE BEEN HERE AROUND THE
CLOCK, WORKING EXTREMELY HARD,
TRYING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY,
NOT JUST THE PAST SEVEN DAYS.
CLEARLY THE PAST 90 DAYS HAS
BEEN NONSTOP, YOUR TEAM HAS
BEEN WORKING HARD FOR THIS
COMMUNITY.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW
THAT.
AS WE WALKED INTO THIS PROTEST,
THIS WEEKEND, MANY OF THE
REMEMBRANCES FOR THE PERSON WHO
PASSED AWAY, WE HAD SIMPLE
GOALS IN THE SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
OUR GOAL, WAS TO SUPPORT THE
PROTEST, WHILE CONTINUING TO
SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD TO DO THAT IN A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE KNEW THE CROWDS WERE GOING
TO BE LARGE.
AS WITH ALL PROTESTS, THEY'RE
GOING TO BE TRIPS AND FALLS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND THE
NATION MADE THIS A BIT
DIFFERENT.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE
HAD APPROPRIATE RESOURCES, TO
DEAL WITH ANY MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES OR FIRE EMERGENCIES.
AS ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN AROUND
THE NATION THERE BEEN MANY
FIRES BURNING.
WE DID NOT WANT TO GET CAUGHT
SHORT.
WE DID A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE STAFFED UP ADDITIONAL FIRE
ENGINES ON SATURDAY, WE STAFFED
UP FIVE ADDITIONAL FIRE ENGINES
AND STRATEGICALLY LOCATED THEM
AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE, WHAT WE KNEW WAS, WE
WERE GOING TO HAVE THE NORMAL
FIRE CALLS, TO COME IN AND ON
SATURDAY WE HAD PROBABLY 200 TO
250 WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
BEING A STRUCTURE FIRE ON
CAPITOL HILL, AND ANOTHER
STRUCTURE FILE, FIRE IN
SEATTLE.
HAVING THE EXTRA RESOURCES
HELPED.
AS THE EVENTS ESCALATED ON
SATURDAY AND THE FIRE STARTED
GROWING AROUND THE COMMUNITY,
OUR GOAL IS TO GET IN THERE,
AND PUT THE FIRES OUT.
IF IT WAS A TRASHCAN FIRE,
VEHICLE FIRE, WE DID NOT WANT
THAT FIRE TRANSITIONING FROM A
STRUCTURE TO A BUILDING.
THAT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT FOR
US.
WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE
CHALLENGING TO GET IN THERE,
WHICH IS WHY WE HAD A LOT OF
HELP, AND A LOT OF UNITS.
I DO WANT TO THANK THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR
PROVIDING US ESCORTS, AND
GETTING US A WAY TO GET IN
THERE AND PUT THOSE FIRES OUT.
SOME OF THEM REIGNITED, AND WE
GOT BACK IN THERE AND PUT THEM
OUT AGAIN.
ON SATURDAY, WE HAD A TOTAL OF
33 CALLS, THAT WERE RELATED IN
AND AROUND THE PROTEST.
EIGHT OF THOSE WERE VEHICLE
FIRES, THAT YOU SAW.
AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS DID AN
AMAZING JOB AND WORKING AROUND
THE CLOCK.
AS WE MOVED INTO SUNDAY, ALSO,
WITH SATURDAY, AS THINGS
ESCALATED, WE DID CALL FOR
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
WE CALLED FOR OUR NEIGHBORS TO
COME AND HELP US, JUST IN CASE
ONE OF THESE LARGE BUILDINGS
GOT GOING IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD
ENOUGH HELP TO REALLY ATTACK
THOSE FIRES.
OUR KING COUNTY NEIGHBOR SENT
ADDITIONAL ENGINES TO HELP.
WE HAD A PLAN THAT WAS MOVING
FORWARD WITH THE STATE
MOBILIZATION IN CASE LARGER
STRUCTURES GOT GOING, AND WE
HAD A NUMBER OF THEM GOING.
THAT WAS SATURDAY, MOVING INTO
SUNDAY.
ONCE AGAIN, WE STOOD UP OUR
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CENTER, AND
WE STAFFED ADDITIONAL ENGINES
FOR SUNDAY.
WHEN A TOTAL OF 22 RESPONSES IN
AND AROUND THE PROTEST AREA.
AND THEN MOVING INTO MONDAY,
THE SAME FORMAT CONTINUED, WE
HAD 18 RESPONSES, IN AND AROUND
THE PROTEST AREA, AND I BELIEVE
MONDAY WAS THE UNIVERSITY
VILLAGE.
SO WE HAVE SEPARATION.
WE HAD LARGE GEOGRAPHICAL
SEPARATION AT THAT POINT.
SO WE STRATEGICALLY RELOCATED
OUR RESOURCES AROUND THERE,
JUST IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENED
AROUND UNIVERSITY VILLAGE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD
ENOUGH RESOURCES IN A CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO PUT THOSE FIRES
OUT OR FOR MEDICALLY RELATED
RESPONSES.
WE DID HAVE A MEDICALLY RELATED
RESPONSE THAT WAS REALLY
SIGNIFICANT AND I'M GLAD WE
WERE CLOSE, TO GET THE PERSON
HELP, THAT REALLY NEEDED HELP.
AND THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT.
LAST NIGHT, OUR UNITS ONCE
AGAIN MONITORED THE GROUPS THAT
WERE MOVING AROUND, AND WE WERE
READY, AND WE HAD NINE
RESPONSES BETWEEN YESTERDAY,
AND INTO THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT.
OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING
EXTREMELY HARD, AND I DO WANT
TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY
HAVE BEEN GOING NONSTOP FOR A
VERY LONG TIME.
NOT JUST THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.
WE HAVE NOT TELEWORK, WE HAVE
NOT DONE ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE RESPONDED TO MORE
EMERGENCIES THAT HAVE PROBABLY
BEEN MORE FRIGHTENING THAN MANY
OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE RESPONDED
TO IN THEIR CAREERS, BECAUSE
THERE WAS AN UNSEEN PANDEMIC
AND THEY WERE AFRAID OF WHAT
THEY WERE TAKING HOME TO THEIR
FAMILIES.
WE HAVE BEEN GOING STEADY FOR A
VERY LONG TIME, AND I DO WANT
TO COMMEND THEM, BECAUSE THEY
HAVE BEEN WORKING EXTREMELY
HARD.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE, AND I WILL
PASS IT ON.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF SCOGGINS.
DOCTOR.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER, AM
THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF NEIGHBORHOODS.
THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK REGARDING OUR ONGOING
COMMUNITY RESPONSE AND
ENGAGEMENT RESPONSE NOT ONLY IN
THE PAST WEEKEND AND PAST WEEK.
BUT ALSO LARGELY THROUGH THE
COVID 19 RESPONSE.
AS YOU CAN SEE INTO OUR
COMMUNITIES, AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR WHO ARE BEING
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THIS PANDEMIC.
FIRST I WANTED TO ALSO SHARE
WITH YOU BOTH MY PERSONAL AND
DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO
CENTERING RECENT EQUITY IN OUR
WORK.
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, IN
THE ONGOING MURDERS OF SO MANY
OTHERS AS WELL AS THE CONSTANT
WEAPONIZATION OF WHITE
SUPREMACY AND ANTI-BLACKNESS
HAVE US ALL OF THE CITY STAFF
AND A DEEP SENSE OF HURT,
HELPLESSNESS, AND ANGER, WITH
ANGER AND GRIEF.
AS A TEAM, WE ARE FOCUSED ON
TWO NORTHSTAR GOALS.
THE FIRST IS TO PUT THAT IN THE
CENTER OF ALL OF OUR DECISIONS.
AND THE SECOND IS TO INVEST IN
THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES TO
FORGE THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS.
THEY GUIDE OUR WORKDAY TODAY.
THEY GUIDE US TO THE PANDEMIC
AND THEY GUIDED US OVER THE
WEEKEND.
I WANT TO BRIEFLY JUST SHARE AND
LEFT A PARTICULARLY A PROGRAM
CALLED THE COMMUNITY LIAISON
PROGRAM, MANY OF YOU WERE AWARE,
COMMUNITY LIAISONS ARE EMBEDDED
COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM A
VARIETY OF IMMIGRANT AND
REFUGEE COMMITTEES, COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR, SENIORS, YES, PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES, ALL WHO
PROVIDE A RANGE OF SUPPORT TO
CITY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING
TRANSLATION, INTERPRETATION,
AND POLICY SUPPORT.
I AM THANKFUL TO THESE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS BECAUSE WHEN
WE ASK THEM AND CALL THEM OVER
THE WEEKEND TO HELP US, THEY
CAME.
EVEN AS THEY WERE RESPONDING IN
DEALING WITH THEIR OWN GRIEF.
THEIR INDIVIDUAL GRIEF AND THAT
OF THEIR FAMILIES.
THE COMMUNITY LIAISONS, MADE IN
LANGUAGE VIDEOS, TO SHARE
INFORMATION OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.
AND, IMMEDIATELY TRANSLATED
THESE INTO SEVEN LANGUAGES.
ALL OF THESE VIDEOS CAN BE
FOUND ON YOUTUBE AND ARE
ACTIVELY BEING SHARED BY THE
COMMUNITY LIAISON TEAM.
WE ALSO TRANSLATED CURFEW
INFORMATION INTO ADDITIONAL
LANGUAGES, AND THOSE ARE
AVAILABLE ON OUR BLOG.
WE DID THIS LARGELY WITHIN THE
SAME DAY.
THANK YOU TO THOSE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
THIS RESPONSE IS IN ADDITION TO
THE ONGOING WORK THAT WE ARE
DOING WITH COVID-19.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS
THAT WE ARE CENTERING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WITHIN
THAT ENGAGEMENT AT THE
DIRECTION OF MAYOR DURKAN AND
AT THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES.
IT IS CHANGE THE WAY WE HAVE
ENGAGED, CHANGE THE WAY WE
ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES IN THIS
CRISIS AS WELL.
IT HAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR OUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND HOW
COMMUNITY CAN BE EXPERIENCING
DIGITAL DISENGAGEMENT AND A
DIGITAL DIVIDE DURING THIS TIME.
DURING THE WEEKEND, AND OVER
THE LAST WEEK, WE HAVE REACHED
OUT TO 600 ORGANIZATIONS TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
CURFEW IN THE CITY'S RESPONSE.
WE ARE CONTINUING PERSONAL
OUTREACH, AND ANSWERING
COMMUNITY QUESTIONS.
AS YOU HEARD YESTERDAY, THE
MAYOR, AND THE CHIEFS COMMITTED
TO A MEETING WITH THE ACTIVISTS
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING LATER
TODAY.
WE WILL ALSO BE ORGANIZING
ADDITIONAL MEETINGS WITH
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY LEADERS
AND ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH
SOME OF MY CABINET COLLEAGUES
IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
DURING THIS TIME, THERE WERE
ALSO SEVERAL VOLUNTARY CLEANUP
EFFORTS FOR YOU HEARD THE CHIEF
REFERENCE SOME OF THEM.
AND ALSO CITY STAFF AND CITY
LED EFFORTS.
THAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO, JUST
QUICKLY.
BOTH ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, OR
WERE UNDERWAY, IN THE WESTLAKE
AREA, THE RETAIL CORE, AND THE
CID AND LITTLE SAIGON.
A TEAM LED BY FAS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC
UTILITIES, DEPARTMENT
TRANSPORTATION, PARKS, OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND
ASSISTED BY THE PORT OF SEATTLE
AND SEATTLE BUILDING TRADES.
THEY DID MOBILIZE A TEAM TO
CLEAN UP GLASS AND ADDRESS
BROKEN WINDOWS, AS WELL AS
ADDRESS PREVENTATIVE BOARDING
AT THE REQUEST OF BUSINESSES.
SPECIFICALLY AND LITTLE SAIGON
AND THE NATIONAL DISTRICT AREA.
AND THE RETAIL CORE, WE HAVE
OVER TWO DOZEN SITES THAT WERE
ADDRESSED.
THEY BEGAN AND WORKED ON
PREVENTATIVE BOARDING, AND
LITTLE SAIGON, AND THE CID.
TO DATE WE HAVE ADDRESSED OVER
130 ADDRESSES.
WITH 30 THAT ARE STILL IN
PROGRESS, AND APPROXIMATELY 50-
60 PEOPLE PER SHIFT.
THANKS TO TO THOSE CREWS AND TO
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THE
VOLUNTEERS THAT SHOWED UP FOR
THIS WORK.
THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR
LETTING ME HAVE A FEW MOMENTS
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
I PRESENT YOU TAKING SOME TIME
TO SHARE WITH US THIS IMPORTANT
WORK OF FOLKS IN YOUR
DEPARTMENT AND THROUGHOUT THE
COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT, I HAVE GOT SOME
FOLKS IN THE QUEUE, IT LOOKS
LIKE I HAVE GOT COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS AND IN THE QUEUE,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA.
WE WILL START THERE.
I JUST WANT TO FLAG THAT
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS'S QUESTIONS
ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS IT
RELATES TO ORDERS TO DISPERSE.
USE OF FORCE.
AND, I WOULD REALLY HOPE THAT
THE RESPONSES THAT WE GET FROM
CHIEF BEST ARE NOT JUST DO, WE
WILL LOOK INTO THAT, LOOKING
BACKWARDS.
BUT THAT YOU HELPED FOLLOW THE
LINE OF QUESTIONING, AND WHERE
IT TAKES US, FOR MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK SOME OF COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS IS QUESTIONS ARE REALLY
ABOUT HOW WE CAN START DOING
THINGS DIFFERENTLY NOW, NOT
JUST ASSESSING WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MADAM
CHAIR.
I WANT TO START AT THE TOP,
CHIEF BEST AND THE REST OF THE
PANELISTS HERE, THANK FOR BEING
HERE.
I WANT TO PREFACE THIS LINE OF
QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD QUEUED UP, BY
ACKNOWLEDGING I AM NOT A LIKELY
CANDIDATE FOR THIS LINE OF
QUESTIONING BASED ON MY
BACKGROUND IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND BASED ON THE FACT THAT I AM
FRIENDS WITH MANY POLICE
OFFICERS, MY BEST FRIEND
GROWING UP, THOUGH I WAS THE
BEST FRIEND AT HIS WEDDING, IS
A POLICE OFFICER.
I BELIEVE THAT POLICING CAN BE
DONE CONSTITUTIONALLY, AND IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
BUT, I WANTED A LINE OF
QUESTIONING HERE, I THINK THAT
CAN ONLY HAPPEN, IF WE DO
FOLLOW THE RULES.
AND FOLLOW THE RULES IN REAL
TIME, AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE
RULES THAT ARE SO PROUD OF THAT
ARE SHAPED BY YEARS OF BEING IN
OUR CONSENT DECREE, ARE RULES
THAT SHOULD BE SHAPING BEHAVIOR
IN REAL TIME, NOT SOMETHING TO
SET UP ACCOUNTABILITY LATER,
AND THAT IS WHAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD JUST TOUCHED ON.
I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE
CLOUD, CROWD CONTROL RULES.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME OF
THE INCIDENTS, AND I KNOW THERE
IS NOTHING THAT UPSETS POLICE
MORE, THEN MONDAY MORNING
QUARTERBACK TACTICS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I DO I
DELAY, OR CAVALIERLY, TO ENTER
INTO THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING.
I THINK THESE RULES THAT MATTER
MOST, WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
PRESENT, TO PROTECT FIRST
AMENDMENT EVENT CENTER
ACTIVITIES.
I'M GOING TO JUMP INTO THIS
LINE OF QUESTIONING.
THEY ARE MOSTLY GOING TO
PERTAIN TO MONDAY NIGHTS EVENTS.
I DO JUST WANT TO FLAG FOR
EVERYBODY, THAT IS VIEWING AT
HOME.
I AM NOT SINGLING OUT MONDAY
NIGHTS EVENTS, PURELY TO
SUGGEST THAT THOSE ARE THE ONLY
EVENTS THAT ARE CONCERNING OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS.
I'M NOT DOING THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO PARTICULARLY
DRILLING, BECAUSE IT IS ONE WE
HAVE SOME OF THE MOST
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXAMPLES, OF THE
USE OF SOME OF OUR CROWD
CONTROL RULES, AND I WANT TO
PREFACE THIS BY PRESENTING, A
VIDEO THAT WAS MADE, AND WE
WILL PLAY IT MUTED.
BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO
PREFACE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
VIEWING AT HOME, WE ARE ON A
LIVE STREAM, THERE IS, IT IS A
FAIRLY GRAPHIC VIDEO.
I DO JUST WANT TO GIVE A
WARNING TO THE VIEWING PUBLIC.
I WOULD ASK OF THE CHAIRS
INDULGENCE WE PLAY THIS VIDEO
BRIEFLY BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH
THE LINE OF QUESTION.
>> I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT
THIS, THANK YOU.
>> I WILL PLAY THIS MUTED AS I
SAID.
SO IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND
PLAY THE VIDEO.
>> THANK YOU FOR PLAYING THAT,
JOSEPH.
I KNOW THAT IS A DIFFICULT
THING FOR EVERYBODY, HERE TO
WATCH.
FIRST, AS A FOUNDATIONAL
QUESTION, BEFORE I GET INTO THE
REST OF THEM.
I JUST WANT TO ASK, HAVE YOU
REVIEWED THAT VIDEO, PREVIOUSLY?
>> COUNCILMEMBER, LEWIS.
THANK YOU.
I HAVE SEEN, MAYBE NOT THAT
SPECIFIC VIDEO BUT MANY
VERSIONS OF THE VIDEO AND THE
INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON
MONDAY.
IN THE CLASH BETWEEN OFFICERS
AND SOME OF THE PROTESTERS,
THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF
FOLKS, WHO HAVE ISSUED CONCERNS
AND COMPLAINTS IN THIS REGARD.
SO I'VE HEARD IT FROM A NUMBER
OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
IT IS ALREADY BEING REVIEWED BY
THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIRECTOR
MYERBERG.
THERE ARE VARIOUS VERSIONS
ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED, WE WANT TO
GET TO THE FACTS OF EVERY PIECE
OF THIS, AND AS HE SAID IT IS
VERY DISTURBING.
NO ONE WANTS TO SEE PEPPER
SPRAY, OR TEARGAS OR ANYTHING
ELSE BEING DEPLOYED.
AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK
THERE'S PROBABLY UNDERLYING
ISSUES AS TO WHY THAT OCCURRED,
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE.
>> CHIEF, IF I MAY SPEAK TO
THAT A LITTLE BIT, FURTHER DOWN
THE LINE.
I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANT TO JUMP INTO IT, BECAUSE,
THESE ARE ONGOING
DEMONSTRATIONS.
I DO NOT WANT US TO WAIT, ALL
THE WAY UNTIL THE FINAL FORMAL
REVIEW.
I WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE
ELEMENTS OF WHAT WE SEE HERE.
I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE DOING
THIS IF IT WAS JUST WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN HERE.
THE FACT IT HAS BEEN
COMMISERATED, AND IT HAS BEEN
RELAYED TO ME, BY, DOZENS OF
FRIENDS, WHO WERE PRESENT, WHO
WITNESSED THIS, WHO ARE READILY
CONCERNED.
IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A RIOT
BY THE INCIDENT COMMAND.
WANT TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT
OF A DEFINITION OF THAT.
WE HAVE A DEFINITION OF
PLACEMENT OVERRIDE.
IT IS 14 POINT 09098.
CAUSING INJURY TO ANY PERSON OR
SUBSTANTIAL HARM TO PROPERTY.
SO, THE FIRST QUESTION I WANT
TO SAY, IS THE RESPONSE CALLED
FOR, IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT
THAT ELEMENT IS PRESENT, RIGHT.
IF THE CROWD IS TO BE ORDERED
TO DISPERSE.
FIRST I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND
CORRECT ON THAT, AM I CORRECT?
>> YES, AS HE READ IT YOU ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THE BEING A FORMER CITY
ATTORNEY, YOU KNOW THAT AS WELL
AS ANYBODY THAT YES, THAT IS
CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
GOING ONTO THE NEXT SESSION,
BEFORE YOU ORDER THE CROWD TO
DISPERSE, THE INCIDENT
COMMANDER THAT IS IN CHARGE
CONSIDERS LESS RESTRICTIVE
MEANS OF CROWD MANAGEMENT THEN
CONSIDERING TELLING THE CROWD
TO DISPERSE.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> THEY CONSIDER LESS
RESTRICTIVE MEANS OF CROWD
MANAGEMENT THEN GIVING THE
ORDER TO DISPERSE.
>> WE TRY TO USE THE LEAST
INVASIVE FORCE BEFORE WE ISSUE
A DISPERSAL ORDER.
>> RIGHT, SO I GUESS MY
QUESTION IS, AND MAYBE THIS IS
A PREMATURE QUESTION FOR THE
REVIEW, BUT FROM REVIEWING THE
TAPES, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT
HAPPENED ON SATURDAY NIGHT IN
DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, WILL BE THE
FIRST TO SAY, THAT WAS A RIOT.
THAT WAS OUT OF CONTROL, THERE
WERE VEHICLES THAT WERE
BURNING, THERE WERE BUILDINGS
BEING LOOTED.
IT SEEMED THAT, THE EVENTS WE
JUST SAW ON TAPE, AND FROM WHAT
I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER FOLKS
WHO ARE PRESENTLY THERE, WHO
WERE CHANTING, ACTUALLY
IRONICALLY WE DO NOT SEE NO
RIOT HERE, PLEASE TAKE OFF YOUR
RIOT GEAR, I'M HAVING A HARD
TIME SEEING HOW THAT COULD BE
LABELED A RIOT.
>> OKAY COUNCILMEMBER, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
WITH HER BASIS OF KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT THE LAW, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS WE WILL BE REVIEWING, IS
IF IN FACT THERE WAS A RIOT,
ALL OF THOSE TENANTS WILL BE
LOOKED AT, AGAIN, BY OFFICERS
OF POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF THERE IS A DISPUTE ABOUT IF
IN FACT THERE WAS A RIOT, OR
WHAT OCCURRED FIRST, I AM SURE
THAT DIRECTOR MEYER WILL BE
LOOKING AT THE CAMERA, VIDEO
COLLECTED FROM THE AREA,
POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND A
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE,
ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT AFFECT
THE ACTIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT.
AGREED, IT SHOULD ALL BE LOOKED
INTO, BUT NOT FOR ME TO ANSWER
AT THIS VERY MOMENT, BECAUSE
I'M NOT THE EXPERT THAT IS
GOING TO BE LOOK AT THE POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY PART OF THIS.
>> RIGHT, I GUESS, TO BUILD ON
THAT, TOO.
WE PLAYED THE VIDEO MUTED, BUT
EVEN PLAYING THE VIDEO WITH THE
SOUND, AND THE VIDEO FROM
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ANGLES THAT
HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FROM OTHER
PEOPLE.
THERE WAS NOT, ONCE THE
DETERMINATION WAS MADE AN ORDER
TO DISPERSE.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, TO THE
DEPARTMENT LACKS THE MEANS TO
PROVIDE AN ORDER TO DISPERSE?
>> IN SOME CASES, THAT IS THE
CASE, WHEN, SMC AS YOU KNOW IS
PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT, WHEN IT IS
FEASIBLE, TO DO SO.
SO IF THE PEOPLE ON SCENE, THE
COMMANDER ON SCENE FEELS LIKE
IT IS NOT VISIBLE AT THAT TIME
FOR A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT
CONDITIONS, THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY THEY WILL NOT GIVE
AN ORDER TO DISPERSE.
AGAIN, ALL OF THAT WILL BE
LOOKED AT, REVIEWED.
I KNOW THAT COUNCILMEMBER
HERBOLD IN PARTICULAR WHO I
GREATLY RESPECT HER THOUGHTS
AND OPINIONS ON THESE MATTERS
WANTS TO LOOK FORWARD.
WE HAVE TO SORT OF LOOK BACK AT
THE INCIDENT BEFORE WE CAN
ANSWER FORWARD HOW WE MIGHT
MOVE IN A DIFFERENT OR BETTER
DIRECTION IF ONE IS WARRANTED.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
MY CONCERN IS I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT I'M HEARING TODAY, TO
DRILL IN SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED SO FAR AND WHAT
IS AN ONGOING ROUND OF
DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CITY.
I AM LEANING ON SOME OF THESE
POINTS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE
HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF DAYS, THE DIFFERENE BETWEEN
A RIOT AND RIOTER.
SATURDAY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN
SEATTLE AS I ALLUDED EARLIER
WAS A RIOT.
WE SAW IT ON TV, WE SAW WHAT
HAPPENED.
BUT, IF AN ASSEMBLY LIKE THE
ONE THAT WAS THERE ON MONDAY,
WHICH WAS OVERWHELMINGLY BY ALL
ACCOUNTS PEACEFUL, INCLUDED A
COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO WERE BEING
DISRUPTIVE, WHO WERE, BY SOME
ACCOUNTS THROWING STUFF AT THE
POLICE LINE, I DON'T WANT US TO
BE IN A POSITION WHERE, WE
DON'T HAVE ANY MEANS OF DE-
ESCALATING THE CONFRONTATION
WITH A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS,
SO THAT THOSE COUPLE OF
INDIVIDUALS CAN IN TURN VETO
THE DEMONSTRATION OF, HUNDREDS
OF PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT I HAD IN
THE DEMONSTRATION WHO WERE
FRIENDS OF MINE, WHO WERE
ASSISTED TO ATTORNEY GENERAL,
THEY WERE NOT RIOTERS.
RIGHT, THEY WERE THERE TO
PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE.
AND, THEY WERE NOT TOLD TO
DISPERSE AND THEY WERE HIT WITH
TEAR GAS AND FLASH BANG
GRENADES.
IT IS JUST A MATTER, THAT THE
TACTICS THAT ARE BEING USED AND
ARE STARTING TO PRESENT AND
THERE WAS AN EDITORIAL IN THE
NEW YORK TIMES ABOUT THIS
TODAY.
THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO
FREE EXPRESSION AND ASSEMBLY.
CITIES HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BE
MAINTAINING.
IF WE CAN ALLOW A FEW PEOPLE TO
ROUND UP THE PEACEFUL
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMONSTRATION,
TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE
DEPLOYING WEAPONS TO BREAK IT
UP, WE ARE FAILING OUR
OBLIGATION AS A CITY TO ALLOW
PEOPLE TO EXERCISE A
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO FREE
EXPRESSION AND DEMONSTRATION.
THAT WAS MY THE SPEECH I GUESS
THE QUESTION.
IT LEADS ME TO THE NEXT
QUESTION ABOUT COMMAND AND
CONTROL OF THE WEAPONS THAT WE
HAVE IN THE FIELD.
SO I WANT TO START WITH A
COUPLE OF FOUNDATIONAL
QUESTIONS, SO OC SPRAY,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS PEPPER SPRAY.
LESSER LETHAL AUTHORIZED FOR
CROWD CONTROL.
AS OUR GLASS BALLS.
IS THAT THE SAME THING AS A
FLASH BRING, FLASH BANG GRENADE.
>> YES, IT CAN BE.
>> THE MANUAL AGAIN, UNDER THIS
DIRECTIVE, THEY CAN ONLY BE
USED AT THE DIRECTION OF THE
INCIDENT COMMANDER UNLESS ARE
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THE BETTER
PRESIDENT.
PRESENT.
UNDER THE MANUAL.
>> YES, SIR.
>> DOES CONDITIONS, THERE HAS
TO BE, SOMEONE CAN USE THOSE
FOR SELF-DEFENSE IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES, AN OFFICER CAN,
IF THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE LIFE
SAFETY EMERGENCY.
BUT EVEN THEN, PERSONNEL SHOULD
A PLOY, AVOID DEPLOYING THOSE.
PER THE MANUAL.
SO IN FACT, AND UNDER SECTION,
YOU KNOW UNDER THE SECTION THAT
I ENUMERATED EARLIER, SET OUT
EARLIER.
AN OFFICER CAN USE THAT SPRAY
FOR THE SELF-DEFENSE OF THE
FENCE OF THE PUBLIC ARE THERE
REQUIRED TO VERBALLY WARN THE
PERSON THAT THOUGH SPRAY WILL
BE USED.
EVEN IN THE CASES OF CROWD
CONTROL.
WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF
TIME FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE
WARNING.
THIS IS IDEALLY IF THEY CAN
LIMIT THE COLLATERAL EXPOSURE.
THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED.
SO, PART OF MY CONCERN, AND THE
REASON I BRING THAT LINE OF
QUESTIONING UP, IS THAT, WHAT
I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF
FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN THE
PAST WHO ARE DAMAGED, HAVE BEEN
POLITICALLY ACTIVE, OR NOT
SENSING THE TAUNTS AND THE SORT
OF GIVE AND TAKE OF THE NORMAL
RULES OF PROTEST, WHO ARE BEING
OBSERVED, THEY'RE NOT
ANTICIPATING POLICE ESCALATION,
THEY'RE NOT ANTICIPATING THIS
USE OF FORCE, IN A WAY, THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN IN TYPICALLY
SITUATED DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE
PAST IN SEATTLE.
I AM BRINGING THAT UP, BECAUSE
I WANT, IF THESE ARE GOING TO
BE ONGOING DEMONSTRATIONS, I
WANT THE TEMPLE OF THESE
DEMONSTRATIONS TO REFLECT THE
LEVEL OF ESCALATION OF FORCE,
THAT PROTESTERS IN THE CITY ARE
PRONE TO ACCEPT OVER TIME, AND
ONE THAT HONESTLY IN THE PAST,
THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD
VERY GOOD REPUTATION OF
IMPLEMENT.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF YOU
HAVE ANY RESPONSE TO THAT
OBSERVATION FROM FOLKS THAT WE
ALL OF US ON THE COUNSELOR
GETTING FROM PEOPLE, THAT ARE
SURPRISED, FRANKLY, ACTUALLY,
BY THIS USE OF FORCE AT THEIR
EXTRINSIC AT THIS DEMONSTRATION.
>> THINK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
THE FORCES MUST BE USED TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.
INCLUDING LIFE AND PROPERTY OF
THE OFFICERS.
I KNOW THERE WILL BE A THOROUGH
REVIEW.
WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR KNOWLEDGE,
AND HONESTLY THEY HAVE STATED,
WHAT THE POLICY OF THE MISCIBLE
CODE PRESENT.
AND, OUR OBLIGATION IS TO
FOLLOW THOSE, AND IF IN FACT,
THEY'RE NOT BEING FOLLOWED, WE
FULLY EXPECT, THAT WE WILL MAKE
THE MIDTERM ADJUSTMENT.
THEY NEED TO BE MADE FOR THOSE
ISSUES.
I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE, IN
LIGHT OF THE EVENT ON MONDAY
NIGHT, WE FELT LIKE, POSSIBLY
NEEDED TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL, I
BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THEY
MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE
COMMENTS TO COUNCIL, AN
ADDITIONAL LINE THERE,
BARRICADE, THAT CREATES A
LITTLE BIT MORE DISTANCE,
BETWEEN OFFICERS AND THE CROWD,
SO THERE IS A LITTLE MORE TIME
TO DETERMINE IF IN FACT, THERE
IS A NEED TO DISPERSE, OR NEED
TO REACT WITH ANY SORT OF
MUNITIONS.
AGAIN, ALL OF THAT WILL BE
REVIEWED, WE DID TAKE AN
IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENT TO THAT,
WE DID NOT RENT, WANT TO REPEAT
THAT.
I ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYTHING
WILL BE LOOKED AT, THE INJURY
TO THE OFFICERS, AND THE ROCKS
AND BOTTLES BEING TAKEN.
I DO NOT HAVE A CLEAR
PERSPECTIVE.
IT DEPENDS ON WHICH ACCOUNT FOR
TAKING INTO, WHETHER IT IS ONE
OR 20.
I THINK ALL OF THAT INFORMATION
FROM OUR CAMERAS, FROM CAMERAS
AT THE SCENE, AND FROM OTHER
PERSPECTIVES WILL HAVE TO BE
REVIEWED, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE UNDERSTANDING CLEARLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
AGAIN IF ANYTHING HAPPENED THAT
IS OUTSIDE EITHER OUR POLICY OF
1400 OR THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT IS
FOLLOWED UP ON.
WE DID TAKE SOME IMMEDIATE
ACTIONS ON WHAT WE SAW.
>> I WOULD SAY, BECAUSE I HAVE
SEEN ALSO SUBLIMINALLY FOOTAGE
OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENED LAST
NIGHT.
AND, THE THING THAT STOOD OUT
TO ME, AS I DID SEE VIDEO,
BECAUSE NO ONE IS DISPUTING,
THAT THERE IS A VIDEO LAST
NIGHT OF FOLKS THROWING THINGS
AT THE POLICE LINE.
THAT IS SOMETHING, THAT I DON'T
ABIDE BY, AND I HATE TO SEE,
AND, I DON'T LIKE VIOLENCE
AGAINST ANYBODY, INCLUDING, OUR
UNIFORMED OFFICERS.
AND, ONE OF THE VIDEOS I SAW,
THAT I DID SEE, THE CROWD,
EVICTING SOMEONE, THAT WAS
THROWING THINGS AT THE POLICE
LINE.
I ONLY HEARD FROM HIM EARLIER,
AND I CAN PERSONALLY ATTEST
úTHIS, TOO.
THERE ARE GREAT COMMUNICATORS
THAT ARE IN THE EAST PRECINCT
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I GUESS MY CONCERN, IS THAT,
EVEN WITH THAT, THERE IS STILL
A LITTLE BIT OF THE PRIMITIVE
TEARGAS, LAST NIGHT.
AND, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE EXHAUSTING ALL OF
THE EFFORTS THAT WE CAN AS A
DEPARTMENT, TO EFFECTIVELY DE-
ESCALATE THESE SITUATIONS.
AND, THE USE OF TEARGAS, IN THE
STREET AND RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS, HAS BEEN SPOKEN
TO BY MY COLLEAGUES, BEFORE.
DURING THESE DEMONSTRATIONS, IS
JUST SOMETHING THAT, IT IS
REALLY HARD FOR ME TO SEE.
>> WE HAVE GOT TO WRAP THIS UP.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS LINE
OF QUESTIONING, IT IS SO
IMPORTANT.
CHIEF BEST, I REALLY THINK THAT
THE WORDS, IF FEASIBLE ARE
BEING IF, MISUSED.
I THINK WE NEED YOUR INCIDENT
COMMANDERS GIVING DIRECTION TO
OFFICERS ON THE STREET, AND
WHAT, IF FEASIBLE MEANS, AND,
WHAT KIND OF, INJURY THEY NEED
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND
OTHERS FROM.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WATER BOTTLES AND
FROZEN WATER BOTTLES.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, THE
POTENTIAL TO HARM.
I HAVE NEVER, IN 25 YEARS OF
PERSONALLY PROTESTING IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE EXPERIENCED
SUCH AN INDISCRIMINATE USE OF
TEARGAS, PEPPER SPRAY, AND
FLASH BOMBS, AGAINST PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG,
WITH SO LITTLE EFFORT, TO DE-
ESCALATE, TO NEGOTIATE WITH
PROTESTERS, TO UTILIZE
PEACEKEEPERS WERE WILLING TO
HELP YOU, AND, AND REALLY, TO
FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS ON THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING WRONG.
I KNOW, THERE IS A
DEMONSTRATION, COMING DOWN TO
CITY HALL, I THINK PRETTY MUCH
AS WE SPEAK.
AND I KNOW THE CHIEFS WANT TO
GET OFF THIS CALL, I DO WANT
TO, I COMMITTED TO COUNCIL
MEMBER SAWANT AND COUNCILMEMBER
MOSQUEDA TO GET THEIR QUESTIONS
OUT.
I'M NOT GOING TO EXPECT YOU TO
ANSWER THEM, I DO EXPECT THAT
YOU HAVE STAYED A HALF AN HOUR
LONGER, THEN WE HAD ASKED.
BUT, I DO ALSO WANT TO RESPECT
MY COLLEAGUES AND ALLOW THEM TO
GET THEIR QUESTIONS OUT.
>> IF I CAN JUMP IN REAL QUICK
AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE CLOSING
COMMENTS YOU CLEVERLY
INTERPRETED PART OF MY CLOSING
REMARKS, AND I WILL LET IT
STAND THERE, SINCE YOU DID IT
SO ABLY, AND TO MOVE ON, I DO
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING
MY QUESTIONS, AND HOPE WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER ON THIS, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SAWANT.
>> I WANTED TO SAY, FIRST OF
ALL, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES HAS
AGREED TO SIGN ON TO THE
COUNCIL SIGN-ON LETTER THAT I
INTRODUCED ON THE CONSENT
DECREE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
THAT, I WANT TO SAY I REALLY
APPRECIATE COUNCILMEMBER
MORALES HAVING SIGNED ONTO IT.
I DO THINK IT IS TOO BAD THE
MAYOR IS NOT HERE.
I HAD QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF BEST,
AND TO DR. MANTILLA.
I AM FINE, THE RESPONSES COME
LATER, THAT IS TOTALLY FINE, BUT
I WANT, I SECOND YOU IN URGING
THE OFFICIALS HERE, TO GIVE
ACTUAL RESPONSES.
AND IF YOU SEND THEM IN WRITTEN
FORM, THAT IS FINE, WE SHOULD
HAVE A FOLLOW-UP MEETING AS
WELL.
>> [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
>> I DO THINK IT IS EXTREMELY
UNFORTUNATE THAT YOU CONTINUE
TO USE THIS IDEA THAT SOME
PEOPLE IN THIS "LOOKING TO
START A FIGHT" AND MAKING A
FALSE EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN
PORTIONS OF THE STATE, IN FULLY
FLEDGED RIOT GEAR, AND YOU
KNOW, TO GUESS CANISTERS
EQUATING THAT TO JUST ORDINARY
PEOPLE, WHO ARE ANGRY, AND THEY
MAY BE SHOUTING, BUT THOSE TWO
THINGS ARE COMPLETELY, NOT IN
ANY IN THE SAME REALM AS WELL.
AND TO SAY THAT SOME WHITE MEN
OR SOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO
START A FIGHT, AS YOU AND THE
MAYOR HAVE REPEATEDLY DONE, I
AM NOT CHERRY PICKING ONE QUOTE
FROM YOU.
I AM WATCHING DETAILED PRESS
CONFERENCES THAT YOU AND MAYOR
DUNCAN HAVE DONE, AND
REPEATEDLY, YOU BOTH HAVE SAID
THIS, YOU KNOW, IN DIFFERENT
WORDS, THAT THERE ARE SOME
BACKED, BAD ACTORS.
AND IT'S REALLY GUESS LIGHTING.
BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE IS DO
YOU NEED, YOUR OFFICERS, AND
YOUR COMMANDERS, DO YOU AND DO
YOU, AS POLICE CHIEF, DO YOU
NEED A RULE, SORRY, TO TELL YOU
THT THE POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD
NOT ORCHESTRATE DELIBERATE
VIOLENCE?
DO YOU NEED A RULE TO TELL YOU
THAT YOUR OFFICER SHOULD NOT
GRAB A DEMONSTRATOR, ALL THE
DEMONSTRATOR IS DOING, AND
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THAT, IS,
ANIMATEDLY SPEAKING OUT, SO DO
YOU NEED A ROW?
I AM NOT BEING FACETIOUS, I AM
ACTUALLY ASKING YOU, DO YOU
NEED A RULE TO TELL YOU THE
OFFICER SHOULD NOT BE GRABBING
DEBORAH?
BECAUSE THE OUR UMBRELLAS ARE
THE FOR PROTECTION, AND WHAT
EXACTLY HAPPENED, WHICH WAS THE
SPRAYING OF TEAR GAS.
DO YOU NEED A RULE TO SAY
UMBRELLAS SHOULD NOT BE GRABBED
AND WRESTLED AWAY FROM THE
PROTESTER AND DESTROYED IN THE
PROCESS?
AND THEN, AS SOON AS THAT
HAPPENS, ANOTHER OFFICER SPRAYS
THAT PERSON WHO IS NO LONGER
WITH PROTECTION?
SPRAYS ARE WITH MACE?
AND THE NEXT SECONDS THE ENTIRE
LINE OF OFFICERS BEGIN SPRAYING
THE PEACEFUL CROWD WITH MACE?
DO YOU NEED A RULE TO SAY THAT
THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN?
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, WHAT IS
THE CONSEQUENCE, IF THE OPA
ROLES THAT SOMETHING IS NOT
CONSIDERED A RIGHT?
I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS FROM
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, BUT TO ME,
WAS TO HAUL IT HIGHLIGHT WHY
THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE, AND
WE NEED A COMMUNITY LED
INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE WHAT IF
SOMETHING IS NOT RULED A RIGHT?
IS GOING TO BE WHATEVER
VIOLENCE WAS USED WAS JUST BY?
MY NEXT QUESTION, QUOTING YOU,
HE SAID, WE SHOULD NOT BELIEVE
WHAT'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THERE ARE HALF-TRUTHS, HEAT,
AND PROPAGANDA, THIS IS FROM
YOU.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT OVER 12,000
COMPLAINTS TO THE OFFICE OF
ORDINARY PEOPLE IN SEATTLE,
MANY OF THEM, PARENTS WITH
CHILDREN, THAT IS ALL HALF-
TRUTHS, HEAT AND PROPERTY AND?
WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU REFERRING
TO, WHEN YOU SAY A HALF-TRUTHS,
HATE AND PROPAGANDA?
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ON
CAPITOL HILL WHO REPORTED TO ME
AND OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT
EVEN WHEN THEY SHUT THE WINDOWS
LAST NIGHT THEY COULD NOT THE
PARTICLES THAT WERE IN THE AIR
OUT OF THE ROOMS, AND THAT
BABIES AND CHILDREN AND ELDERLY
WERE AFFECTED?
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT
TO SHARE A PHOTO, THREE PHOTOS
FROM MY SCREEN.
I AM GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN
NOW. AND THIS IS ALSO A
QUESTION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT, I CAN
HEAR PEOPLE COMING.
SO I AM REALLY TRYING TO BE
RESPECTFUL OF THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT MISSION THAT THE
CHIEFS HAVE TO DO.
>> BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THESE ARE THREE PHOTOS.
THE FIRST PHOTO IS OF THE
LITTLE GIRL, WHO WAS MACED ON
MAY 30th.
A SECOND PHOTO IS OF JESSE,
MACED WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH
HIS FAMILY, ON JANUARY 19th.
2015.
AND THIS IS BILLY, ACCU PIED
WHEN OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THIS DID
NOT HAPPEN ON CHIEFS BEST
WATCH, BUT HAPPENED, WATCH SO
MY QUESTION IS DO YOU SEE A
PATTERN HERE?
AND DO YOU SEE A SERIOUS
PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED?
>> THANK YOU.
OKAY.
I WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ANSWER.
I CAN CATEGORICALLY SAY I HAVE
NEVER CALLED OUT WHITEMAN EVER.
I JUST DON'T SPEAK THAT WAY,
AND I HAVE NEVER CALLED ANYBODY
OUT AS A WHITE MAN.
IF, BY RULES, HUMAN LAWS, WE
WILL FOLLOW COUNCILMEMBER
SAWANT, ANY LAWS PUT IN PLACE,
AND ANY LAW THAT YOU HAVE, NO
WE ARE OBLIGATED TO RESPOND TO
IT AND FOLLOW IT.
THE OPA WILL INVESTIGATE, IF WE
FIND IT WAS NOT FOR SOME REASON
, FINDS IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY A
RIOT AND DID NOT FIT THE
DEFINITION, OR DECIDED TO
FUTURE CHANGE THE DEFINITION,
WE WILL FOLLOW BY THOSE RULES
AS WELL.
WHAT I SAID WAS, I DON'T TELL
PEOPLE WHAT TO BELIEVE IN.
THAT'S NOT MY JOB, AND NOT MY
PLACE.
I SIMPLE HE STATED SOCIAL MEDIA
IS NOT NEWS, SO YOU CAN TAKE
THAT AND DO WITH IT WHAT YOU
CHOOSE, BUT I WOULD NEVER BE SO
ARROGANT AS TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT
TO BELIEVE.
AND, WHAT I WILL ALSO SAY, THAT
IN THE INCIDENT WITH THE
YOUNGER GIRL WHO WAS PEPPER
SPRAYED, NOW YOU WILL BE ABLE
TO TALK TO THE DIRECTOR DIRECTLY
AFTER THIS, IS MY
UNDERSTANDING, AND HE CAN TELL
YOU THE PERSON IDENTIFIED, THE
OFFICER IDENTIFIED, WAS NOT THE
OFFICER INVOLVED, THAT THERE IS
STILL ONGOING INVESTIGATION AS
TO WHAT DID OCCUR.
AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO LET THE
FACTS LEAD US TO THE TRUTH.
AND SO I THANK YOU, AND I MEAN
THAT SINCERELY.
FOR YOUR OPINIONS, AND YOUR
THOUGHTS, ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE
FORWARD.
AND IF WE CAN WORK WITH ANYBODY
, TO THE COUNCIL, OR OTHERS,
MANY FOLKS WHO CAME AND SPOKE
TODAY BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO DO
SO.
SO THANK YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER EMMA CHAIR
HERBOLD, I
>> I WAS FIRST IN LINE, I HAVE
A FEW,
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP IN
WRITING ON THE QUESTIONS AS
WELL.
>> I MENTIONED THAT BEFORE,
ABSOLUTELY. I
RESPECT THE REQUESTS OF THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO ASK
QUESTIONS AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND
THAT OUR GUESTS MAY NEED TO
FOLLOW UP WITH ANSWERS
AFTERWARDS.
COUNCILMEMBER --
>> MAY I STATE MY COMMENTS, SO
THAT IT CAN BE PART OF THE
RECORD OF THIS HEARING? I DO
HOPE THAT, AS THE CHIEF AND
OTHERS DEPLOY TO APPARENTLY
ADDRESS THE CROWD THAT'S COMING
TO SEATTLE HALL, THAT THEY DO
IT IN A SAFE MANNER, THAT
ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO EXERCISE
THEIR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.
MADAM CHAIR, IF I COULD HAVE
THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, JUST TO
SAY SOME COMMENTS, AND THEN THE
QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE,
POTENTIALLY, THE EXECUTIVE
FOLLOW-UP IN WRITING, IF THAT'S
POSSIBLE --
>> COULD YOU START WITH A
QUESTION?
AND AND WITH YOUR COMMENTS FOR
THEY CAN HEAR THE QUESTIONS AND
LEAVE AND YOU CAN GET YOUR
COMMENTS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD?
>> YEAH ABSOLUTELY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO THE -- REQUEST WAS MADE
FOR US TO OFFER EVIDENCE-BASED
SOLUTIONS, AND THAT THE
DEPARTMENT AND THE EXECUTIVE
WOULD BE ALL EARS, IF WE HAD
EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO
OFFER.
I OFFER THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ACT PASSED AND ENDED, SIX DAYS
OF RIOTS, WHEN ACTION WAS
TAKEN.
AND SO, MY QUESTIONS FOR THE
EXECUTIVE ARE, GIVEN THAT WE
HEARD FROM THE CHIEF, THAT SHE
IS TIRED AND HER FOLKS ARE
TIRED, WE ARE ASKING FOLKS TO
ACT.
WE ARE SAYING, INSTEAD OF
WAITING THE MONTH THAT IT WILL
TAKE IN ORDER FOR THE
INVESTIGATIONS TO HAPPEN, AS
WE'VE HEARD FROM THE DIRECTOR
AND OTHERS, WE WANT THERE TO BE
ACTION NOW.
SO, MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WILL
YOU STOP USING TEAR GAS, TODAY?
BECAUSE, WHEN YOU DEPLOY TEARGAS
IN DENSE NEIGHBORHOODS, PEOPLE
ARE HARMED.
THE FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE, THE
PEOPLE ON THE STREET, AND
FRANKLY, IT IS PART OF THE
REASON PEOPLE CONTINUE TO COME
OUT TO THE STREET, DAY TODAY,
BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT EXCESSIVE
USE OF FORCE, AND THE USE OF
TEARGAS.
SO, MY QUESTION IS, WILL YOU
STOP USING TEAR GAS?
I WILL WAIT FOR THAT IN
WRITING.
I WILL GO TO MY SECOND
QUESTION.
WILL YOU STOP USING FLASH BANG
DEVICES, LIKE THE ONE WE SAW IN
THE VIDEO JUST SHOWN BY
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, AND THE
ONES WE HAVE SEEN REPEATEDLY
ONLINE.
WILL YOU STOP USING THOSE
DEVICES, AS THEY ARE CAUSING
HARM, BODILY HARM, TO PEOPLE
WHO EITHER TO PEACEFULLY
PROTEST.
HARM TO REPORTERS WHO HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO COVER THIS AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
WILL YOU STOP USING THOSE FLASH
BANG DEVICES?
HEARING NO ANSWER, I WILL GO TO
THE NEXT QUESTION.
WILL YOU STOP DEPLOYING RUBBER
BULLETS?
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC PERMIT IS IN
CHARGE OF ANY OF THE FOLKS WHO
BECOME, COME IN THROUGH THE
MEMORANDUM THAT WE HAVE FOR
ADDITIONAL ALLIES, OR I SHOULD
SAY ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT,
WHETHER THAT IS A STATE PATROL
OR NATIONAL GUARD. IF THE CITY
OF SEATTLE MAINTAINS DIRECTION
AND CONTROL OVER THOSE
OFFICERS, WHO ARE COMING INTO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, WILL BE
ORDER COME FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE TO STOP USING RUBBER
BULLETS?
HEARING NO ANSWER, I WILL GO ON
TO THE NEXT.
WILL YOU STOP ARRESTING PEOPLE?
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A
DEADLY PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO DE-DENSIFY JAILS AND
SHELTERS.
AND ANY ARRESTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING, RIGHT NOW, OR
PUTTING PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY OF
BEING EXPOSED TO COVID-19.
WILL YOU STOP ARRESTING PEOPLE,
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE
PEOPLE EXPOSED TO COVID-19?
HEARING NO ANSWER.
GOING TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
INSTEAD OF WAITING A MONTH FOR
THE INVESTIGATIONS TO HAPPEN,
WILL YOU IMMEDIATELY TAKE
ACTION TO FIRE THE OFFICERS AND
PROVIDE SOME DISCIPLINE FOR
THOSE, WHO WE KNOW HAVE BEEN
ACTING INAPPROPRIATELY, OR
ILLEGALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE
SEEN ACTION IN FLORIDA, AN
OFFICER WAS SUSPENDED FOR
PUSHING A WOMAN OVER.
IN ATLANTA, TWO OFFICERS WERE
FIRED FOR THEIR EXCESSIVE USE
OF FORCE.
IN DENVER, A POLICE OFFICER WAS
FIRED FOR SAYING LET'S START A
RIOT.
WHEN I AM LOOKING AT A DISPATCH
POST FROM YESTERDAY, NOTING
THAT THERE WAS AN OFFICER THAT
SAID, SHOOT THEM ALL.
WILL THERE BE ACTION TAKEN ON
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE KNOW
WHAT THEIR BADGE NUMBERS ARE AN
IMMEDIATE ACTION, SO WE DON'T
HAVE TO WAIT FOR INVESTIGATION?
HEARING NO ANSWER.
WILL YOU REVISIT THE DE-
ESCALATION STRATEGIES THAT I
THINK COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS WAS
DIRECTLY ASKING ABOUT, SO WE
DON'T SEE THESE ACTIONS
DEPLOYED TONIGHT, TOMORROW, AND
OVER THE NEXT X NUMBER OF DAYS
OR WEEKS?
FINALLY, WILL YOU DO ALL OF THE
ABOVE, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
BEGIN TO REBUILD TRUST IN OUR
COMMUNITY?
PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO COME
OUT TO THE STREET AS THEY
SHOULD, TO PROTEST AGAINST THIS
TYPE OF FORCE.
IF WE SHOW THAT THERE IS GOING
TO BE A DIFFERENCE IN STRATEGY,
THEN PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO SEE
THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A
CHANGE IN THEIR PROTESTING
CALLS FOR ACTION ARE BEING
HEARD.
THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY
CLEAR IN THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE
AS WE HAVE GATHERED, WE ARE
INTERESTED IN REDEPLOYING
RESOURCES.
AS YOU SAW FROM MY BLOG POST
YESTERDAY, WE WANT TO FOLLOW
THROUGH ON THE COMMITMENTS THAT
MANY HAVE TALKED ABOUT, SO THAT
THE FIRST PERSON YOU CALL WHEN,
THAT WHEN YOU CALL 911, YOU GET
A RESOURCE FOR DENTAL HEALTH OR
TRYING TO CALL FOR HELP IN YOUR
OWN HOME, THAT IT IS NOT MET
WITH FORCE, THAT INSTEAD WE HAVE
POLICING SOLUTIONS AND COMMUNITY
-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
SO, WILL YOU DO ALL OF THE
ABOVE, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY
SEE PEACE COME BACK AND FOR
PEOPLE'S WORDS AND ACTIONS TO
BE FOLLOWED THROUGH?
ASKING FOR DIFFERENT TACT IT,
DEMILITARIZATION OF THE
PULLEYS, AND ASKING FOR PEOPLE
TO HEAR THEIR CALLS FOR LESS
PEOPLE TO DIE.
WITH THAT I JUST WANT TO THANK
THE CHIEF FOR HIS WORK, I KNOW
THERE WAS A LOT OF FOLKS WHO
PUT THEIR SELF OUT THERE, TO
PUT OUT FIRES, AND I THINK THAT
WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF
RESPECT FOR ALL THE MEMBERS DO
TO PUT OUT LITTLE FIRES AND TO
BE THE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND AS
I DID A RIGHT AROUND WITH YOU
OR MEMBERS A FEW YEARS AGO, WE
KNOW YOU'RE RESPONDING DAILY TO
FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE HOUSING OR
MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE ROLE
THAT YOU HAVE HAD IN THE LAST
FEW DAYS WITH ME, MAKING SURE
WOUNDS ARE TENDED TO AND FIRES
ARE LITERALLY PUT OUT, AND I
KNOW THIS HAS BEEN IN A
SITUATION DURING A DEADLY GLOBAL
PANDEMIC, WHERE OTHERS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN AT RISK.
SO I DON'T WANT THAT TO GO
UNSAID.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, I
THINK YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> I AM SORRY THAT WE ARE
HAVING TO CUT THIS, THIS REALLY
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION SHORT.
I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED
TO ASK AS WELL, AND REALLY,
SORRY.
AND WE'LL PLEDGE TO GET ANOTHER
ONE OF THE CONVERSATION GOING
WITH THE CHIEF TO FOLLOW UP ON
THE MANY QUESTIONS THAT WE
STILL HAVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO ITEM
3. WOULD IT PLEASE BE READ AS
INTO THE RECORD?
>> ITEM 3. SEATTLE CIVILIAN LED
POLICE ACCOUNT REALLY
ACCOUNTABILITY DISCUSSION, 30
MINUTES.
>> THANK YOU MAC, ALEX.
NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
ORGANIZATIONS, BEEN IN PLACE
SINCE 2017.
WELL HERE FIRST FROM LEADERS OF
THE COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION.
KNOWN AS THE CPC, THEY PROVIDE
COMMUNITY ON IMPLEMENTING POLICY
. THE CPC LISTENS TO AND
AMPLIFIES COMMON GROUND AROUND
COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY
POLICING IN SEATTLE.
THEY CHAMPION LEASING PRACTICES,
CENTERED IN JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
AFTER THAT WE'LL HEAR FROM
ANDREW MEYER BERG, THE DIRECTOR
OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, OR OPA.
THEY INVESTIGATE CASES OF
EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT.
IF YOU HAVE A CASE THAT YOU
WITNESSED DURING THE
DEMONSTRATIONS, YOU CAN EMAIL
THAT INFORMATION AND LINKS TO
ANY VIDEO, AT OPA@SEATTLE.COM.
WE WILL THEN HEAR FROM THE
POLICE OFFICE OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
THEY RECEIVE FORMS TO THE
FEDERAL DECREE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO
OUR CPC COCHAIRS, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY NAME, I AM ONE OF THE, I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
INVITATION AS YOU SPEAK HERE ON
BEHALF OF THE CBC TODAY, AND I
WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TO TESTIFY
TODAY TO THEIR OWN PAIN AND
SUFFERING TODAY THAT THEY HAVE
SUFFERED NOT OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL DAYS ONLY, BUT OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL GENERATIONS, THAT
THEY CONTINUE TO ACT IN WAYS OF
COURAGE THAT I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, BUT FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO DON'T, THE
CPC IS ONE OF THREE CIVILIAN LED
CONTINUITY BODIES IN THE CITY,
BY THE OPA BEING ONE OF THE
OTHER TWO.
IT IS A VOICE IN THE PULLEYS
REFORM PROCESS.
WE HAVE A BROAD RANGE OF
EXPERTISE, AND WE TRACE OUR
ROOTS TO AGAINST POLICE
MISCONDUCT AND THE POWER OF
COMMUNITY GROUPS WHO DEMAND
CHANGE.
FOR CONTEXT, IN 2010, A POLICE
OFFICER, SHOT AND KILLED,
WILLIAMS, IT WAS ONE OF MANY
INCIDENTS INVOLVING EXCESSIVE
USE OF FORCE DURING THAT SAME
TIME.
BECAUSE OF THAT VIOLENCE AND
MISCONDUCT, 35 COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS CAME TOGETHER AND
REQUESTED THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION'S DOJ TO
INVESTIGATE. IT LED TO FEDERAL
OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT UNDER THE DECREE
WHICH IS ALSO WHAT CREATED THE
CPC.
I SAY ALL THIS TO ALSO HONOR
THE FACT THAT COMMUNITY HAS
BEEN ASKING FOR FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGE FOR MANY YEARS, AND YET
POLICE MISCONDUCT, REGIONAL
BIAS, AND EXCESSIVE USE OF
FORCE, ARE NOT PROBLEMS AS MUCH
AS WE SEE NOW.
IN FACT, THEY ARE POTENTLY
IMPACTING OUR BLACK
COMMUNITIES, AT THIS VERY
MOMENT.
THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD,
AND THE TYPES OF SYSTEMS THAT
ENABLED THAT KILLING, ARE OF
COURSE NOT JUST AN ISSUE IN
MINNEAPOLIS, THEY ARE PROBLEMS
EVERYWHERE, IN THIS NATION,
INCLUDING HERE IN SEATTLE, AS
WE ARE CURRENTLY WITNESSING.
THE POLICE RESPONSE TO THE
ONGOING PROTESTS SHOW THERE IS
STILL MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.
THE CPC IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING
MANY OF THE STORIES, VIDEOS,
AND PICTURES THAT CONTINUE TO
BE POSTED.
ADDITIONALLY, AS ONE MIGHT
EXPECT, WE HAVE RECEIVED A
GREAT DEAL OF PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND THAT PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE
POSTED TO OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL
TO REVIEW.
CPC COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF
MEMBERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE
BEEN ATTENDING THE PURPOSE, AND
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN
DISHEARTENED WHAT WE HAVE SEEN,
AND PROTESTS AGAINST POLICE
VIOLENCE HAVE OF COURSE BEEN
MET WITH ADDITIONAL POLICE
VIOLENCE.
INDEED, NO OFFICERS CAN BE
HEARD SAYING KILL THEM, BUT,
HIT THEM HARD.
WE HEARD THE DEEP PAIN AND GRIEF
THAT IS FELT BY OUR BLACK
COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN
PARTICULAR.
THEY HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING
POLICE VIOLENCE
MULTIGENERATIONAL HE, WHEN
PEOPLE ARE TIRED.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE, AND IT HAS
NOT YET BEEN COMING.
I KNOW ANDREW MARBURG WILL
SPEAK ABOUT THIS IN A BIT, BUT
IT'S OVERWHELMING TO THINK ABOUT
OPA RECEIVING 12,000 COMPLAINTS.
AND I AM SURE THAT THAT NUMBER
IS BUILDING BY THE DAY.
WE HAVE HAD TO SIT WITH THAT
NUMBER FOR A WHILE, AS WE HEAR
THESE NUMBERS COME IN, AND AS
WE HEAR SOME OF THESE STORIES
COME IN.
AS INDIVIDUALS CONTINUE TO
PROTEST, WE, AT THE CPC, STAND
READY NOW, AS WE HAVE ALWAYS
DONE, TO WORK CONSTANTLY WITH
OUR PARTNERS AT OIG, AND AT
OPA, TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC
PROBLEMS WE SEAL, AND REAL
SOLUTIONS.
THEY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING,
BECAUSE THE SITUATION WAS
PREDICTABLE. WE HAVE SEEN IT
BEFORE, THIS IS WHAT LED THE
CPC TO ITS RECOMMENDATION ABOUT
REFORMING POLICING AND PROTESTS
IN 2015.
AFTER THE BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS IN SEATTLE.
IN 2016, WE AGAIN URGED SEATTLE
POLICE TO STOP USING EXCESSIVE
FORCE DURING PROTESTS.
JOURNALISTS, AND POLICE
OFFICERS WERE INJURED OR IT
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE
UNHEEDED, AS WELL AS CALLS
ABOUT THE USE OF HARD GEAR AND
RIOT GEAR THAT SO MANY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ALSO
USING TODAY. I
LOOKED BACK AT THOSE LETTERS
FROM 2015 AND 2016, AND IT WAS
STRIKING TO ME THAT WE COULD,
WE COULD EASILY REISSUE THOSE
LETTERS TODAY.
SADLY, THAT'S THE CASE AND WE
ARE SEEING THE SAME ALBUMS WE
SAW BACK THEN, INCLUDING THE
VARIOUS INJURIES RESULTING FROM
THE UTILIZATION. IN SOME WAYS,
WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING, AND I
KNOW IT HAS BEEN RAISED SEVERAL
TIMES DURING THIS CONVERSATION,
IS THE DISREGARD FOR SOME OF
THE ROLES ALTOGETHER.
THE CPC WORKED WITH SPD TO
PERFORM POLICIES AROUND CROWD
MANAGEMENT.
THOSE POLICIES, AS YOU KNOW,
REQUIRE OFFICERS TO GIVE ORDERS
TO DISPERSE, ARE FEASIBLE, AND
THAT DEFINITION NEEDS TO BE
ADDRESSED.
BEFORE USING BLAST BALLS,
PEPPER SPRAY, OR TEARGAS.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, FROM THE
FIRST ACCOUNTS WE HAVE
REVIEWED, THAT POLICY APPEARS
TO HAVE BEEN DISREGARDED.
THROUGH ALL OF THIS, THE
COMMUNITY'S CONFIDENCE THE
POLICE, WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGING
IN THIS CONTEXT, WILL BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE FACED IN OUR CIVILIAN
LED ACCOUNT ABILITY SYSTEM, BUT
THREE YEARS AGO, THIS WEEK, WE
WORKED TOGETHER TO UNANIMOUSLY
PASS THE ACCOUNT ABILITY
LEGISLATION, AND OF COURSE
SINCE THEN, MANY IMPORTANT
GROUPS SHOW POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE BEEN ROLLED
BACK BY NEGOTIATORS.
THIS IS ALL HAPPENING JUST WEEKS
, AND THIS HAS COME AFTER THIS
HEARING, JUST WEEKS AFTER THE
CITY FILED A MOTION IN FEDERAL
COURT, ARGUING THAT THE BULK OF
THE DECREE SHOULD BE TERMINATED.
IN FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF THE
DEPARTMENT GREATLY REDUCED.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME, I SUBMIT,
FOR US TO BE. STRESS BETWEEN
THE COMMUNITIES REACHED NEW
LOWS, PUBLIC TRUST IN A CENTRAL
PURPOSE TO BEGIN WITH.
THE CITY IS ALSO REQUESTING
THIS DESPITE REPEATEDLY MISSING
DEADLINES ISSUED TO WORK WITH
THE CPC, WHO ADDRESS WEAKNESSES
IN THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
SYSTEMS.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE COURT
PROVIDED THAT ORDER, GAVE THAT
ORDER MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO
NOW, AND THE CITY HAS YET TO
DELIVER UPON THE COURT ORDER
AND RESPOND TO THE ORDER.
THE CPC IS SCHEDULED TO FILE A
BRIEF THIS COMING TUESDAY TO
VIEW THE IN RESPONSE TO THE
PORTIONS OF THE DISSENT DECREE,
AND AS WE GO ABOUT THAT
PROCESS, THE EVENTS THAT LAID
OUT DURING THIS CRISIS ARE IN
FRONT OF MY.
I WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE
CONTINUE TO WANT TO BE ENGAGED
AND WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO HEAR
FROM OUR COMMUNITIES, AND WE
CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED TO
STAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE
ACCOUNTABILITY ENTITIES, IN
ORDER TO ASSURE THAT THE PAIN
AND GRIEF THAT IS BEING
EXPERIENCED BY OUR COMMUNITY
MEMBERS IS LESSENED DRAMATICALLY
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR MARBURG?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM AN, THE DIRECTOR OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I WANT TO THANK THE SUBTLE
COUNSEL FOR HAVING ALL OF US
HERE TODAY I ALSO WANT TO THANK
THE COMMUNITY EXPERTS ARE
THERE, WE VERY MUCH VALUE THE
INPUT AND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING
ON THE STREET, I WANTED TO
PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE
NUMBERS THAT WE ARE SEEING
RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE RECEIVED NOW ABOUT
15,000 COMPLAINTS, AND THE
NUMBERS KEEP GOING UP.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE
COMPLAINTS, AS I THINK YOU HAVE
SEEN, AND I TOLD VARIOUS MEDIA
OUTLETS CONCERNING THE PEPPER
SPRAYING OF THE YOUNGER GIRL.
WE ARE ISOLATING OTHER
INCIDENTS AS WELL AS
OVERARCHING ISSUES THAT MAY
HAVE OCCURRED, EITHER THROUGH
THE USE OF TEARGAS OR FLASH
BANGS.
IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH
DURING THIS PROCEEDING.
THE MONDAY NIGHT DISPERSAL FROM
CAPITOL HILL, AND THE USE OF
FLASH BANGS AND TEARGAS, WE
WILL BE LOOKING AT THAT INCIDENT
IN ITS ENTIRETY.
AS THINGS COME UP, WE WILL BE
LOOKING AT THOSE ISSUES AS
WELL.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 14 SEPARATE
INVESTIGATIONS, EACH HAS BEEN
GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. WHAT WE
ARE DOING, IS WE ARE TRYING TO
BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE,
AND I KNOW THAT'S A BIG
BUZZWORD THAT EVERYONE USES.
BUT, WE ARE ACTIVELY POSTING ON
OUR TWITTER, NOT JUST GENERAL
INFORMATION, BUT WE ARE GOING
TO BE POSTING EXACTLY WHAT WE
ARE GOING TO BE POSTING IN
THESE CASES.
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR TIMELINE,
WHEN WE ARE INTERVIEWING
PEOPLE.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE LIMITATIONS
BASED ON WHAT WE CAN RELEASE,
ACCORDING TO LAWS, BUT WE WILL
RELEASE AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY
CAN.
WHEN THE FINDINGS ARE ISSUED WE
WILL THEN RESENT ON THE
FINDINGS, WHETHER IT IS COURT
COUNSEL, BEFORE THE COMMUNITY,
AND EXPLAIN EVERYTHING WE HAVE
DONE AND WHY.
IT'S CRUCIAL TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE
ARE DOING, AS LEADERS AND
ACCOUNT ABILITY PARTNERS.
AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING
THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN
THE PAST WITH FAMILIES AND
OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.
WHAT I WANT TO BE CAREFUL TO
NOTE, AND SOMETHING THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT, AND LISA JUDGE
AND I HAVE TALKED AT LENGTH, IS
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK
THAT AN OPIATE INVESTIGATION
COULD BE FOR WHAT IS AILING AS
AS A SOCIETY.
FOR WHAT IS AILING JUST AS A
SYSTEM.
FOR OPA EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ON
THE TABLE.
WE NEED TO REEVALUATE TOP TO
BOTTOM THE WAY POLICE HANDLE
PROTESTS.
YOU KNOW, OPA IS NOT WE ARE
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
COMMUNITY, THAT THE COMMUNITY'S
INTERESTS -- YOU KNOW IF IN THE
WISDOM OF THE COUNCIL, YOU FEEL
LIKE THERE IS ANOTHER WAY, OR
WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPLEMENT OR
INCREASE VISIBILITY TO MAKE IT
MORE COMMUNITY CENTRIC, WE ARE
OPEN TO THAT.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A
SENSE OF URGENCY THAT I KNOW
THE ACCOUNTABLE TO PARTNERS
FEEL.
THAT EVERYONE IN MY OFFICE
FEELS.
THAT ME HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN
COMMUNITY, AND TALKING TO MANY
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY BUT WE
ARE COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING
THESE INVESTIGATIONS,
ETHICALLY, OBJECTIVELY, AND IN
A TIMELY FASHION.
AND I KNOW THAT EVEN TWO MONTHS,
EVEN 30 DAYS IS TOO LONG FOR
PEOPLE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I CAN'T
GET AROUND THAT.
WE ARE REQUIRED, BY CONTRACT,
TO TAKE CERTAIN STEPS OVER WHAT
WE CAN INVESTIGATE.
BUT WE ARE DOING THINGS AS
QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, AND
WHILE DOING SO, THIRDLY, WE ARE
DEDICATING 100 PERCENT OF OUR
RESOURCES TO THIS, AND THAT IS
NOT AN EXAGGERATION.
100% OF OUR RESOURCES.
TOLD OTHER INVESTIGATIONS, AT
LEAST MOVING FORWARD, AND WE
WILL REVISIT.
WE WILL BE FOCUSING ENTIRELY ON
THESE CASES.
SO, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE
CONCERNS ABOUT EVEN OPA AND
EVERY SYSTEM.
THE FACT IS THESE SYSTEMS ARE
FLAWED, EVERY SYSTEM IS FLAWED.
WE ARE OPERATING IN A FLOODED
SYSTEM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO DO
OUR BEST, AS HUMAN BEINGS, AND
AS PEOPLE WITHIN THAT SYSTEM,
TO DO THE WRITING.
SO, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE ANY
MORE DETAIL IN INVESTIGATIONS,
TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE
COUNCIL, WHATEVER I CAN DO TO
BE HELPFUL, AND OF COURSE NOT
JUST TODAY, TODAY IS NOT THE
ANSWER, IT IS TOMORROW, THE
NEXT DAY, THE NEXT THREE
MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT,
AND WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN
TO GET THERE.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO
INSPECTOR GENERAL JUDGE, I DO
WANT TO EXPRESS MY HOPE,
DIRECTOR ANDREW MYERBERG , THAT
YOU CAN WORK WITH THE CBC IN
FLUSHING OUT THIS IDEA OF A
COMMUNITY DRIVEN INVESTIGATION
PROCESS, WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS
SORT OF AUTHORIZING THE
COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH A
LIST OF WITNESSES THAT YOU
CONSIDER INTERVIEWING.
ANOTHER IDEA THAT HAS BEEN
BROUGHT TO ME IS THE IDEA OF ON
OPA'S ONLINE WEBSITE, CREATING
AN OPEN WALL FOR PEOPLE TO
WHETHER OR NOT YOU END UP
INTERVIEWING THEM AT ALL, THEY
CAN STILL SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCES, OR THEIR OPINIONS.
BUT I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER
TO REALLY FIGURE OUT, AS WE
OFTEN SAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU
MENTIONED, TRANSPARENCY,
CENTERING COMMUNITY VOICES IS
ANOTHER ONE, AND I WANT TO DO
WHAT WE CAN DO TO TRY AND MAKE
THAT REAL.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, COUNCIL
MEMBER.
WE ARE, AND LIKE WHEN I SPOKE
ON THE IMPERFECT SYSTEM THAT WE
ARE IN, IT'S NOT JUST THAT
THERE IS NO SYSTEM, I MEAN WHEN
THIS ACCOUNT ABILITY WAS PASSED
IN 2017, THERE WAS OURS, AND
HUNDREDS OF HOURS, IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF RESEARCH
THAT WENT INTO IT, TO TRY TO
CREATE A SYSTEM THAT WAS A
NATIONAL MODEL.
AND WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB,
BUT EVEN THE SYSTEM THAT WE ARE
SEEING RIGHT NOW, IT'S HAS
SHORTCOMINGS, BECAUSE EVERY
SYSTEM DOES.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OUT THERE
TO ADDRESS SOME OF THEM, TO
ADDRESS NEEDS, SOME OF THOSE,
OR WHAT YOU MENTIONED,
COUNCILMEMBER, OF COURSE THE WE
ARE LIMITED WITH WHAT WE CAN
DO, SIMPLY BY LABOR LAW.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I WILL BE
HONEST, IT'S NOT JUST OPA THAT
I THINK BELIEVES SOMETHING
NEEDS TO CHANGE, AND OBVIOUSLY
THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY DOES,
BUT I THINK THE UNIONS
CERTAINLY HAVE EXPRESSED
WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE
HOWEVER HEY CAN IN THESE
INVESTIGATIONS.
AGAIN ALL THESE THINGS, WILL
THEY FIX WHAT'S GOING ON?
I DO NOT KNOW, BUT WE HAVE TO
TRY.
AND AGAIN WE ARE OPEN TO
WHATEVER SUGGESTIONS ARE OUT
THERE. THROUGHOUT MY 10 YEARS
AS THE DIRECTOR, I'VE COMMITTED
TO WORKING WITH CPC.
I THINK THEY WILL ATTEST THAT I
HAVE NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM
QUESTIONS AT THEIR MEETINGS. I
RESPECT THEM IMMENSELY.
I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO HEAR FROM
THEM, AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THEY
WILL HAVE A LOT TO ADD TO THIS
PROCESS, AND THEY ALREADY HAVE.
>> GENERAL JUDGE?
PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD, I WOULD
LIKE TO BEGIN MY REMARKS BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE TRAGEDY THAT
HAS BROUGHT US TO THE TABLE
TODAY.
THE HORRIFIC KILLING OF GEORGE
FLOYD AT THE HANDS OF POLICE
OFFICERS IN MINNEAPOLIS, IT HAS
REALLY BROKEN OPEN A DAM OF
EMOTION THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING,
AND FOR INSTITUTIONS, FOR
CENTURIES, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE
PROFOUND PAIN AND RELIVE THE
TRAUMA THIS EVENT IS CAUSING
MANY MEMBERS OF OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES.
AND, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT
OTHER MEMBERS OF MY OFFICE HERE
THIS DEEP CALL FOR SYSTEMIC
CHANGE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO APPRECIATE
AND THANK MY ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS HERE TODAY, THE CPC HAS
TRULY, AND ALSO OPA HAS BEEN A
GREAT PARTNER FOR OIG, AND I
THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT WE DO
ANYTHING MEANINGFUL AND
IMPACTFUL IS BY WORKING
TOGETHER.
SO, I DO APPRECIATE YOU.
AND I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE OF
THE OPPORTUNITY THE YOUTH
PROVIDE TO HEAR FROM THE
COMMUNITY PANEL.
I THOUGHT THAT SALISBURY AND
DOMINIQUE DAVIS REALLY HAD SOME
INSIGHTFUL OBSERVATIONS, AND
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR SPD.
I AM TAKING IN ALL OF THE
COMMENTS HERE, COUNCIL MEMBERS,
YOU ARE RAISING GREAT QUESTIONS
THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED.
I'M TAKING NOTE, LIKE ANDREW
AND MY STAFF, IT IS ALL HANDS
ON DECK AS WELL.
TRYING TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND
WHAT A REVIEW OF THIS SITUATION
LOOKS LIKE, MOVING FORWARD.
SO, JUST BRIEFLY, OIG IS
PROVIDING OVERSIGHT OF BOTH THE
SEATTLE POLICE TO PERMIT AND BE
OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
UNDER HAS MENTIONED HE IS
TAKING IN EXCESS OF 12,000
COMPLAINTS READ MY OFFICE HAS
ALSO BEEN A CONDUIT FOR
COMPLAINTS, AND WE ARE TAKING
THOSE IN.
THE INDIVIDUAL ALLEGATIONS TO
DIRECTOR MYERBERG AND HANDLING
THOSE THAT ARE DEALING WITH
SYSTEMIC ISSUES IN MY OFFICE.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO
REVIEW AND CERTIFY EVERY OPA
INVESTIGATION, SO WE'LL HAVE A
ROLE IN QUALITY ASSURANCE WITH
ANDREW MYERBERG'S INVESTIGATION
AS WELL.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS MOMENT IS A
MOMENT THAT MUST BE SEIZED, AND
RECOGNIZED AS A POWDER, A POWER
CATALYST FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE.
IT'S BUILDING ON THIS MOMENT,
OIG IS COMMENCING TO CREATE A
REVIEW OF THE RESPONSE TO THESE
MASS DEMONSTRATIONS, TO
IDENTIFY AREAS FOR SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENT.
SO AS WE ENVISION REVIEW, WE
SEEK TO FIND THE SYSTEMIC ROUTE
OF PROBLEMS WITH THE GOAL OF
NOT REPEATING THOSE MISTAKES IN
THE FUTURE.
AND IT SEEMS, AS MUCH EFFORT
HAS GONE INTO IT IN THE PAST,
THESE THINGS SEEM TO BE
HAPPENING AGAIN, SO THERE HAS
GOT TO BE A WAY TO GO AT IT AND
MAKE THIS CHANGE HAPPEN.
IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT ANY KIND
OF REVIEW MUST BEGIN WITH THE
COMMUNITY CENTERED PROCESS TO
INCORPORATE COMMUNITY CONCERNS,
QUESTIONS, AND IT'S GOT TO
INFORM THE WORK THAT OIG DOES
IN THIS REGARD.
HEARING THE VOICE OF COMMUNITY
IS BOTH AN ONGOING CHARGE IN MY
OFFICE, AND AN ONGOING
CHALLENGE.
COMMUNITY MUST BE INVOLVED TO
MAKE THIS WORK.
TO BE RELEVANT, TO BE A
SPONSOR, AND TO BE IMPACTFUL.
SO, MY OFFICE HAS BEEN REACHING
OUT TO CPC AND OPA, AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS, SUCH AS ACLU, TO
TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A PROCESS,
THAT CAN BE AS INCLUSIVE TO THE
COMMUNITY CENTER, AS WE CAN
MAKE IT.
SO, CHANGE ESSENTIALLY IS LONG
OVERDUE, IT'S COMING, WITH OR
WITHOUT US.
SO, THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL, AS THE ACCOUNTABILITY
AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR SYSTEMIC
OVERSIGHT OF SPD, AND THE
OFFICE OF POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY, WANTS TO BE A
PART OF THAT CHANGE.
POLICING IS AN INSTITUTION AND
HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
AND I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING
ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY AND SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO THAT
WORK HERE IN SEATTLE.
SOMETHING THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE STARTING TO WORK ON A
PROCESS RIGHT NOW, IT IS
PROBABLY GOING TO BE PHASED, SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE A COMMUNITY
VOICE -- THAT INFORMS OUR WORK
AND SOME DEEP DIVE AUDITS INTO
ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY THE WORK.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO UPDATE
YOU, AS WE COME TO A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS
PROCESS LOOKS LIKE, AND I WOULD
LOVE ANY INPUT SUGGESTIONS,
CRITIQUES, THAT ANYONE MIGHT
HAVE THAT WOULD HELP DEVELOP
HOW WE INFORM THE PROCESS.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE ON MUTE,
COUNCILMEMBER.
>> THINK THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST WANT TO SEE, I SEE
COUNCILMEMBER, DO YOU WANT TO
GO?
YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> IT IS FROM BEFORE, HOWEVER
IF WE ARE FINISHED HEARING
INITIAL COMMENTS FROM OUR
PANELISTS, HAPPY TO JUMP IN
WHENEVER.
>> PLEASE.
>> SURE.
SO, I WANT TO START BY THANKING
MY CONSTITUENTS.
I RECEIVED OVER 1000 EMAILS
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS
FROM CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT
4. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO CONTACT MY OFFICE.
THEY HAVE EXPRESSED GRIEF,
OUTRAGE, ASKED TOUGH QUESTIONS
ABOUT POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY --
I'VE READ ALL THESE EMAILS,
PERSONALLY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
PRESIDENT GONZALEZ, AND CHAIR
HERBOLD FOR HAPPENING TODAY.
AND FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
LEADERS FOR BEING HERE, AND THE
PANELISTS, WHO WERE GIVING
THEIR EYE WHEN IT COMES TO US.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I JUST
WANT -- IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO SAY THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER.
AND COMING FROM A PRIVILEGED
WHITE MAN, I REALIZE THIS CAN
RING HOLLOW, AND PEOPLE WANT
ACTIONS, NOT JUST WORDS.
I JOIN, JOINED THE PEACEFUL
MARCH THIS WEEKEND, TO DECRY
THE WRONGFUL KILLING OF GEORGE
FLOYD, AND THE HISTORY OF
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
MONDAY NIGHT, AFTER CITY
COUNCIL MEETING, I OBSERVED FOR
SEVERAL HOURS THE RESTRAINT
EXERCISED BY SEATTLE POLICE
OFFICERS FROM THE NORTH
PRECINCT, WHO KEPT THINGS AS
PEACEFUL AS POSSIBLE, WITH
ANOTHER PROTEST IN NORTHEAST
SEATTLE.
NOW I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE
OFFICERS FOR THAT, FOR THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM.
I ALSO, HOWEVER, WATCHED THESE
DEEPLY DISTURBING VIDEO FOOTAGES
OF THE RESPONSE FROM SOME
OFFICERS TO THE PROTESTERS
DOWNTOWN.
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS SHARED ONE
OF THOSE.
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT SHARED
SOME DISTURBING PHOTOS.
AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE
TODAY.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY
ASKED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS I
HAVE RECEIVED FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS.
THIS CIVILIAN LED OFFICE POLICE
ACCOUT ABILITY HAS ALREADY
ACKNOWLEDGED IN A FORMAL
STATEMENT TODAY, THEY ARE
LOOKING INTO SEVERAL OF THESE
DISTURBING ISSUES, WHY THE
BADGES WERE COVERED, WIDEBODY
CAMERAS WERE TURNED OFF OR
CAPPED OFF MY WIFE POLICE
RIFLES WERE STOLEN, WHY CROWDS
WERE DISPERSED BY OFFICERS BY
SOME OFFICERS USING DISTURBING
TOPICS THAT MADE THINGS WORSE.
THEY RANGE FROM PEOPLE WHO
HIGHLY VALUE OUR PROFESSIONAL
POLICE OFFICERS TO THOSE WHO
HAVE HAD NEGATIVE EXPENSES WITH
THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT THEY ALL WANT TO KNOW
WHETHER THIS SYSTEM WE HAVE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSIONER
AND OFFICE OF INSPECTOR
GENERAL, THE OFFICE OF LEASE
ACCOUNT ABILITY, CAN REALLY
MAKE SURE THAT ANY OFFICERS
ENGAGED IN MISCONDUCT,
INCLUDING USE OF FORCE, CAN
REMAIN IN PLACE FOR LONGER,
WHETHER THE NEW LABOR CONTRACT
WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS WILL
FINALLY INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL
POLICE REFORMS.
AND WHETHER CITY MEMBERS
SITTING HERE TODAY WILL
THOROUGHLY EXAMINE HOW WE
ALLOCATE OUR BUDGET TO ENSURE
WE DO NO FURTHER HARM. I DO
WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON AN ISSUE
ON THE BADGES. THE CHIEF
DISCUSSED BRIEFLY, BUT I'M
HOPING THAT SHE IMPLEMENTS
THIS, IMMEDIATELY, WHERE THE
DARK TAPE TO WARN OTHER OFFICERS
IS AFFIXED IN A MANNER THAT
DOES NOT COVER UP THEIR NAME
AND BADGE NUMBER, I THINK THAT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURFEW
THAT IS BEEN EXTENDED ALL THE
WAY TO JUNE 6th, I BELIEVE.
I AM HOPING THE COUNCIL
CONSIDERS DISCUSSING THAT
FURTHER.
I ALSO WILL SUBMIT MORE
QUESTIONS TO GERMAN HERBOLD
ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE
INJURED, ABOUT HOW MANY ARRESTS
WERE MADE, OTHER PEOPLE IN JAIL
RIGHT NOW WHO DID NOT
PHYSICALLY HARM OTHER PERSONS,
I WILL SEND THESE ON TO GERMAN
HERBOLD .
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALES,, PRESIDENT GONZALES.
>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS MY
COLLEAGUES AND THE
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS.
I OF COURSE UNFORTUNATELY WAS
UNABLE TO ASK MY QUESTIONS OF
THE CHIEF, WHO WAS HERE BEFORE
HAND, AND HOPED TO BE ABLE TO.
TO SEND THOSE QUESTIONS ALONG
RELATED TO MANY OF THESE ISSUES.
SO I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET
CLEAR RESPONSES TO MANY OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE.
I TOO WANTED TO THANK OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS FOR
BEING SUCH GOOD PARTNERS TO ME
FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AS WE
HAVE ENDEAVORED TO REALLY DIG
INTO THESE ISSUES, AND TO WORK,
COLLABORATIVELY, ON THE ISSUE
THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THE
COMMUNITY CAN TRUST WHEN THERE
ARE INCIDENCES THAT NEED TO BE
INVESTIGATED, AND CERTAINLY
THERE ARE MANY IN THIS CASE
THAT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED,
AND THEY RECOGNIZE IT IS A TEST
OF THE SYSTEM.
I WANTED TO JUST REALLY QUICKLY
ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES
AROUND THE CONSENT AGREE AND
WORK WE HAVE LEFT TO DO.
THIS MORNING I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE
SEATTLE TIMES AND INDICATED MY
SUPPORT FOR WITHDRAWAL OF THE
MOTION OF, OF THE CONSENT TO
PRE-MOTION THAT WAS FILED BY
CITY ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT, IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE
HAVE CERTAINLY RECEIVED A LOT
MORE INFORMATION THAT IS
RELEVANT TO THE ISSUES RELATED
TO WHERE WE ARE AT, IN TERMS OF
OUR PROGRESS WITH THE CONSENT
TO CREATE AND WE HAVE MANY NEW
SETS OF FACTS NOW THAT ARE
RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION, SO
THAT DISCUSSION, AND I THINK
THE LAST FIVE DAYS HAVE SHOWN
US THAT AS A RELATES TO OUR USE
OF FORCE POLICIES, WE MAY NOT
BE READY TO GO IT ALONE WITHOUT
THE COURT SUPERVISION, AND
WITHOUT THE ONGOING ASSESSMENT
OF HOW WE ARE PUTTING INTO
PRACTICE OUR USE OF FORCE
POLICIES.
SO, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO
SUPPORT THE EFFORTS AROUND
MAKING SURE THAT HAPPENS, AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLY ABOUT
THE MOTION TO HAVE THE CONSENT
TERMINATED, AND LOOKING FORWARD
TO HEARING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT
HERE SHORTLY, SO I JUST WANT TO
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO BE
OPEN TO HOW THE DECREE PLAYS
INTO THESE BROADER
ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES, OF COURSE
. I THINK DIRECTOR MYERBERG
PUT IT VERY WELL, THE STRESS IN
ISSUES AND TRUST THAT ARE AT
PLAY HERE, SIMILARLY A CONSENT
DECREE IS NOT GOING TO SAVE OUR
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, SORT OF
BUREAUCRATIC, TECHNICAL LEGAL
CASE IS NOT WHAT IS GOING TO
HELP WITH HEALING AND UNITY,
AND WITH PREVENTING THE
WRONGFUL KILLING OF BLACK
AMERICANS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO I REALLY WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I APPRECIATE
YOUR ONGOING EFFORTS IN THIS
PROCESS.
AND I WANTED TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY BROADLY TO JUST ASK
THE COMMISSIONER A QUESTION
ABOUT THE SYSTEM.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, AND THIS
WAS PREDATED.
SO WHEN I SAY WE I MEAN THE
INSTITUTION. WE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY IN 2017 TO WORK ON
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE
IDENTIFIED WHERE AROUND THAT
ADVERSITY, ANNIVERSARY HERE
TODAY.
I WANT TO JUST ASK YOU
POINTEDLY, WHETHER THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION HAS
CHANGED ITS POSITION OR
THINKING AROUND THE STRUCTURE
OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM,
AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
WE HAVE HEARD SOME FOLKS
SUGGEST THAT WE NEED TO
RADICALLY MODIFY THE POLICE
SYSTEM.
AND WE HEAR OTHERS SAY WE NEED
THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM AS IT
WAS DESIGNED IN THE 2017
ORDINANCE, SO I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY,
FROM THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION TO GIVE US A BETTER
SENSE OF HOW THE CPC IS
THINKING ABOUT THOSE SPECTRUMS,
AS IT RELATES TO THE STRUCTURE
OF OUR EXISTING POLICE SYSTEM.
IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE
QUESTION AND GIVING ME AN
OPPORTUNITY.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE POSITION
HAS CHANGED.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE CLEAR
DIFFICULTIES FOR US ALL IS THAT
THE PROMISE OF THE 2017 ACCOUNT
ABILITY LEGISLATION HAS NEVER
REALLY BEEN REALIZED.
BUT THERE IS A STRUCTURE WITHIN
THE LEGISLATION, WHICH COMPILES
FOR VARIOUS KINDS OF
FLEXIBILITIES, IN WAYS WE CAN
ACHIEVE COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THAT WE CAN
DO THAT WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF
ORDINANCE.
BUT AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME, YOU
KNOW I THINK THE PLACE WE HAVE
BEEN AND WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
CONSISTENTLY, IS THAT WE WANT
TO REALIZE THE ACTUAL PROMISE
OF THE 2017, AND WE HAVE NOT
BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT YET.
SO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE I
DO THAT, HE THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO HEAR.
I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN
SUGGESTIONS THAT WE ABANDONED,
THE STRUCTURE THAT WAS
RECOMMENDED AND ENDORSED BY THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
AND THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN
PROCESS, THE INFORMED THE
IDEALS THAT WE MEMORIALIZED IN
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE IN 2017.
AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
I THINK ME, THE PUBLIC, AND MY
COLLEAGUES TO HEAR THAT THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION HAS
NOT SHIFTED ON HOW IT'S
CURRENTLY STRUCTURED FROM A
STRUCTURAL PERSPECTIVE, RIGHT?
AND THEN I THINK WHAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT TO ME IS ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE POLICE
CONTRACT DID YOU KNOW, NOT
MEMORIALIZE EVERYTHING WE
ENVISIONED IN THE 27 POLICE 2017
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
ORDINANCE.
NOW, AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO
STRENGTHEN OUR PROCESSES AROUND
HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THE
NUMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, WHO
ART REPRESENTATIVES OF LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY HEAR FROM
COMMUNITY, EITHER FROM
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION
WITH THE POLICE COMMISSION AND
IN TANDEM WITH THE CPC, TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND
FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT OUR CHARGE IS
. WHEN WE GO INTO THE LABOR
RELATIONS POLICY COMMITTEE
MEETINGS, AND WHAT AND HOW WE
CAN LIFT UP SOME OF THOSE
ISSUES, AND I'M GOING TO MAKE
SOME COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE ARE
RESHAPING OUR PROCESS, BUT I
WANT TO AGAIN GIVE YOU,
COMMISSIONER, AN OPPORTUNITY TO
TALK ABOUT OR THE OPPORTUNITIES
MAY BE AS A RELATES TO THAT
COORDINATION OF WORK AS WE, AS
THE CITY COUNCIL BEGIN TO THINK
IN STRUCTURE, OUR INTERNAL
PROCESSES TO ACHIEVE WHAT WAS
PROMISED IN THE 2017 POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE, WHICH
I STILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO
TRYING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THESE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I THINK FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE,
YES, THE ACCOUNTABILITY
STRUCTURE WITHIN THE ORDINANCE
IS A STRUCTURE THAT CAN BE
UTILIZED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE
SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT
THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT
HAS BEEN LAID OUT.
IT CAN RESULT IN SUSTAINABLE
POLICY CHANGE, BUT THEN THE
STRUCTURES THAT WE ARE
CONSIDERING AND EXAMINING, AND
MANY OF WHICH WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT TODAY.
WITH RESPECT TO, WITH RESPECT
TO BARGAINING, I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE DESIGN TO HAVE
THE CPC INVOLVED.
IT IS OUR DESIRE ALSO, WE HAVE
INVOICED FOR THE CP C TO BE
INVOLVED.
I KNOW THERE ARE THOUGHTS ABOUT
THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH CPC
CAN DO SO, AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE
VARIOUS DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT
WHAT MAKES SENSE.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, OF
COURSE, WE WANT SOMEONE WHO IS
WELL VERSED WITH POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WELL VERSED WITHIN A HISTORY OF
POLICING IN SEATTLE.
WELL VERSED WITH LABOR ISSUES.
WE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE WHO IS
TECHNICALLY SAVVY, WHO CAN
REPRESENT ALL OF THOSE POINTS
OF VIEW AND DO THAT IN FIDELITY
TO A COMMUNITY AND THE VOICES
OF COMMUNITY, TO THOSE THAT
HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE FOR MANY
YEARS NOW, BUT CERTAINLY THOSE
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THE
LAST SEVERAL DAYS.
AND IF A PERSON LIKE THAT IS
SOMEONE THE COUNCIL ADMITS INTO
THE PROCESS, THEN WE CAN STILL
MAINTAIN, MEET THE PROCESS OF
THE 2017 ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTICIPATION, WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE BARGAINING
PROCESS, AND WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT THOSE
DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE
CONTRACTS. I WOULD SAY FROM THE
CPC'S PERSPECTIVE, THOSE ARE
OUR DESIRES WITH THE PERSON WHO
WOULD BE INVOLVED IN PLAYING
THAT ROLE FOR YOU, AND HOPEFULLY
IN ASSISTANCE TO YOU ALL, SO
THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THE BEST
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES HERE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, AND
AGAIN, YOU KNOW WHEN, WHEN THE
CHAIR ASKED ME TO, I WILL SORT
OF DESCRIBE WHAT NEXT STEPS ARE
GOING TO BE, IN THAT REGARD,
THAT HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY ALL
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE
COMMISSIONER, AND THE OTHER
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS THAT
WANTED TO AGAIN, HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THAT AS
PART OF THE PANEL.
I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE
QUESTIONS FOR THE OTHER
PANELISTS, IF I MIGHT, CHAIR
HERBOLD?
OKAY, SO THIS ONE IS FOR
INSPECTOR GENERAL JUDGE, YOU
KNOW, I KNOW YOU WERE LISTENING
TO THE COMMUNITY PANEL AND I
APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING AND
TAKING NOTES.
AND I'M SURE YOU HEARD
SOMETHING THAT I HEARD, WHICH
WAS THAT SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS
BELIEVE THAT, THAT BLACK
ORGANIZED, OR BLACK-LED
PROTESTS ARE TREATED TACTICALLY
. TECHNICALLY TREATED
DIFFERENTLY BY THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT THAN REGULAR
ORGANIZED PROTEST.
SO I WAS WONDERING, WHETHER AS
PART OF YOUR ANNUAL WORK PLAN,
WHICH, YOU KNOW YOU TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION AT THE END OF THE
PREVIOUS YEAR, AND, AND, BUT I
KNOW IT'S AN INTERIM PROCESS,
WHETHER IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO
FRAME AND AUDIT AND EVALUATE
THE TACTICS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY BEEN UTILIZED IN
BLACK ORGANIZED VERSUS NON-
BLACK ORGANIZED PROTESTS.
>> YES THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION OR IT. THIS ISSUE HAS
COME UP IN COMPLAINTS TO OUR
OFFICE FROM OTHER PEOPLE, BUT
IT'S BEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF
POLITICAL SPECTRUM, THAT THERE
IS A DIFFERENTIAL DISPARITY IN
TREATMENT OF PROTESTS IN LEFT
ORGANIZED PROTESTS VERSUS RIGHT
WING ORGANIZED PROTESTS.
AND THAT MAY VERY WELL BE
WRITTEN INTO OUR WORK PLAN AS A
NEAR HORIZON PROJECT TO LOOK AT
MASS DEMONSTRATION RESPONSE FOR
DISPARITY.
AND SO MY, I FULLY INTEND TO
WORK THAT INTO THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECT, THAT THERE IS NO
REASON TO PUT IT OFF WHEN
CLEARLY IT'S AN ISSUE HERE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW THAT
THERE'S THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
QUESTION, WHICH IS SORT OF,
WHAT IS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF
THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND I
THINK MY QUESTION IS, I THINK
THE NUANCE BEING RAISED IS JUST
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, WHICH IS, I
SUPPOSE THAT THE SUBJECT OF
BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS
COULD BE CONSTRUED AS POLITICAL
SPECTRUM.
BUT, BUT REALLY IT'S SORT OF
THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
YOU, WHO IS ORGANIZING IT, AND
SO, I JUST, I JUST THINK IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
LISTEN TO THAT, THAT CONCERN,
THAT WHEN IT IS A NON-BLACK
ORGANIZED OR LED PROTEST, THAT
SOMEHOW THAT THAT, THAT THE
TACTICS IN THE FIELD BEING USED
ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT THAN
IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I HEAR THAT.
IT HAD COME UP IN THAT OTHER
CONTEXT, BUT CLEARLY THE
CONTEXT OF RACE AND FINANCIAL,
AND SEPARATE TREATMENT BASED ON
RACE AND PARTICULARLY LAC-
ORGANIZED PROTESTS, WILL BE A
FOCUS OF ANY ANALYSIS THAT WE
DO.
>> GREAT.
AND IN TERMS, AND I THINK THIS
IS A QUESTION FOR ANY OF THE
PANELISTS, BUT IN PARTICULAR FOR
YOU, INSPECTOR GENERAL JUDGE,
AND ANY OF THE OTHER EXPERTS.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO PINE ON
THE USAGE OF THESE DEVICES IN
THESE SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW,
INSTANCES OF THESE CASES AND
COMPLAINTS PEERED BUT, FROM A
BEST DISSES PERSPECTIVE, MY
UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TEARGAS
FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN BANNED BY
THE CONVENTION AS A TOOL THAT
IS USED FOR DISPERSAL.
AND OF COURSE THIS CAME TO A
HEAD, WHEN WE SAW THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION WAS USING
TEARGAS AT THE SOUTHERN
U.S./MEXICO BORDER, ON
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO
WERE SEEKING ASYLUM IN OUR
PORT.
SO, IS, AS IT RELATES TO
AMERICAN POLICING, WHERE DO WE
STAND, IN TERMS OF THE USE OF
TEARGAS IN CROWD MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES? AND, DO ANY OF YOU
HAVE AN OPINION NOW, AS TO THE
APPROPRIATENESS OF USING
TEARGAS EVER FOR PURPOSES OF
CROWD MANAGEMENT?
>> YEAH CAN I JUST MAKE SURE
THAT I AM VERY CLEAR IN MY
UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUESTION.
ARE YOU DIFFERENTIATING TEARGAS
OR CS GAS AND OC SPRAY?
>> I AM.
I AM NOT REFERRING --
>> OKAY GREAT.
OKAY GREAT.
>> I AM SPECIFICALLY REFERRING
TO WHAT IS COLLOQUIALLY
REFERRED TO AS TEARGAS.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION CLEARLY.
>> THAT WAS NOT A AGENT USED,
AND I THINK IT SPEAKS TO
BROADER TACTICS AT ALL, IN
CROWDS WHERE THERE ARE LARGELY
PEACEFUL PROTESTS, AND WHEN I
SAY PEACEFUL PROTEST, THAT DOES
NOT MEAN THERE IS ANGER OR NOT
SHOUTING.
IT MEANS THERE IS NOT SORTS OF
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY GOING ON.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO
THAT.
I THINK IN MY EXPENSE, AND I
HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH PROTESTS
THAT TURNED INTO RIGHT
SITUATIONS, THAT WE FINALLY
CAME TO AN UNDERSTANDING THAT
PUTTING OFFICERS OUT THERE, WHO
ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED IN THE
COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE GOING
TO BE ENGAGING WITH IN,
INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION WITH
THOSE, THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT
THERE PROTESTING.
AND PEOPLE WHO PROTECTING, WITH
PUTTING THEM OUT THERE INTO
FORMS THAT LOOKED EVEN
SOMETIMES LIKE NORMAL CLOTHING,
POLO SHIRTS OR THINGS THAT
WEREN'T MILITARISTIC AND THAT
TO THE EXTENT YOU PUT OFFICERS
OUT IN A SITUATION THAT INVITES
CONFRONTATION, WHAT YOU TEND TO
GET HIS CONFRONTATION.
SO, I THINK ALL OF THESE
QUESTIONS ABOUT MUNITIONS ARE
EFFECTIVE, WHETHER EVEN
APPROPRIATE TACTICS, ALL OF
THAT WOULD BE THINGS THAT I
WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT AND THAT
ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS THE
COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE ANSWERS
TO.
>> AND I DO THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US FROM A
FOUNDATIONAL QUESTION TO LOOK AT
ALL OF THE TACTICS BEING USED
HERE, BUT IN HER TUTOR, THE
CHEMICAL WEAPONS THAT ARE BEING
DEPLOYED IT AND I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT
THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION, COMMUNITY, HAS
STATED, WHICH IS THAT CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, LIKE TEARGAS, SHOULD
ABSOLUTELY NOT BE USED.
AND SO, I AM CONCERNED THAT WE
ARE DEVIATING FROM THOSE HUMAN
RIGHTS CONDITIONS, AND THAT WE
NEED TO TERMINATE THE USE OF
THOSE TYPES OF AGENTS AND I
WOULD LOOK TO YOU ALL AS
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN
HELPING US SHEPHERD THROUGH
POLICY THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR
THAT TO OCCUR.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GET MY
STAFF IN GETTING SOME TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE FOR YOU IN THE
IMMEDIATE TERM.
>> THAT, I WOULD THINK, WOULD
BE EXTREMELY USEFUL AND HELP YOU
, HELPFUL.
WE DID HEAR THE CHIEF SEEMINGLY
STATE THAT SHE WANTED TO HEAR
WHAT IDEAS WITHOUT WOULD-BE
ALTERNATIVES, AND SO THIS WOULD
BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
PROVIDE HER WITH THOSE
ALTERNATIVES TO SEE IF SHE DOES
MORE.
>> I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO GO BACK ON ONE OF THE
COMMUNITY PRESENTERS.
AND I THINK IT WAS MAYBE MR.
DAVIS, WHO TALKED ABOUT NOTICE,
GIVING THE CROWD NOTICE AND
WARNING AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING,
AND TO POTENTIALLY MAKE OTHER
CHOICES, IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
I THINK THAT'S ALSO GOING TO BE
A LARGE ISSUE HERE IN MOVING
FORWARD.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY EASY
THING FOR SPD TO RECTIFY TO
ENSURE THERE IS APPROPRIATE
NOTICE BEING GIVEN BEFORE
DEPLOYMENT OF ANY KIND OF
MUNITIONS, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
FOLKS TO GET OUT OF THERE OR TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES.
>> AND JUST ONE LAST QUESTION.
>> SURE.
>> WE ARE, VISA, DEALING WITH
THIS IN REAL TIME.
AND MANY OF US IN THIS
COMMITTEE HEARING ARE SEEING
VIDEOS AND REPORTS OF HIGHLY
CONCERNING THINGS AND QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHETHER THE FORCE IS
PROPORTIONAL TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY
OPERATING IN FIELD.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE SYSTEM
THAT NEEDS TO BE OR SHOULD BE
CHANGED, NOW, IMMEDIATELY, TO
ALLOW FOR EITHER YOU, INSPECTOR
GENERAL JUDGE, OR YOU, DIRECTOR
MYERBERG , OR THE COMMUNITY
POLICE COMMISSION, TO BE ABLE
TO EFFECTIVELY, IN REAL TIME,
SAY XYZ TACTIC MUST END AND IT
MUST AND NOW, FOR THE FOLLOWING
REASONS --
>> I THINK BOTH DIRECTOR
MYERBERG'S OFFICE HAS
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ISSUE, BUT
THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE
ORDINANCE, AS WELL INTENDED AND
WELL-CRAFTED AS IT IS, DOESN'T
GIVE US NECESSITY IN CERTAIN
AREAS, THIS BEING ONE OF THOSE,
WE COULD CERTAINLY CONVENE, A
GROUP BASED ON, I THINK WE HAVE
ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED
RIGHT NOW, HAVING A NUMBER OF
THESE SESSIONS OBSERVED ON MY
OWN, OPERATIONS, AND THAT THE
COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE
SITUATION RIGHT NOW, I THINK
THAT THE PARTNERS COULD
CERTAINLY CONVENE AND WORK TO
COME UP WITH SOME IMMEDIATE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN COMMUNITY
AROUND COUNSEL, THAT IS JUST
ONE THING I THINK IS ON THE
TABLE, RIGHT NOW I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN WHAT MY PARTNERS
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
>> I WOULD CONCUR.
I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER,
THE JURISDICTION IS MORE OMITTED
AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON
INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS AND NOT THE
OVERALL SYSTEMIC POLICIES AND
PRACTICES OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE THE
ABILITY TO ISSUE WHAT ARE
CALLED MANAGEMENT ACTION
RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH ARE
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, AS A
GENERAL MATTER, THEY OCCUR OVER
FULL INVESTIGATION, BUT I DON'T
THINK THERE IS ANYTHING THAT
WOULD PREVENT US FROM WORKING
TOGETHER, WITH THAT SYSTEMIC
REVIEW, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER
WITH PARTNERS TO DEVELOP
IMMEDIATE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> I CONCUR.
WE HAVE RECEIVED DURING OUR
MEETING, RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL
OF PUBLIC COMMENT, AS WELL,
THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON
DISTILLING DOWN AS WELL, SO I
CONCUR. I THINK WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS
IN ORDER TO ISSUE AGENCY,
ESPECIALLY BASED ON WHAT WE
RECEIVED.
>> YEAH AND --
>> THE REAL-TIME NATURE OF
RECOMMENDATIONS IS IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT I'M
GETTING AT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, SORT
OF, YOU KNOW, IN REAL TIME, YOU
KNOW, BASED ON THE LAST FOUR
DAYS, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE PROP
UP OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM
PARTNERS TO BE NIMBLE AND MOVE
FAST, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO
SAY LOOK THE LAST FIVE DAYS OF
THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN LEAD
US TO SAY THAT THESE TYPES OF
PRACTICES, THESE SHOULD NO
LONGER BE DEPLOYED IN THE FIELD
, OR THERE WILL BE A RISK OF
YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT
CONSEQUENCE TO THE CITY, RIGHT?
AND SO I AM HOPING THERE WILL
BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL
TO BE THAT NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE,
AND AGAIN IT'S NOT PASSING
JUDGMENT ON SPECIFIC INCIDENTS.
IT IS THE FEELING WHAT I THINK
IS THE BEAUTIFUL PROMISE OF
THIS ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM,
WHICH IS BEING ABLE TO FAST AND
NIMBLE ENOUGH TO, TO EXPRESS
FROM YOUR INDEPENDENT
PERSPECTIVES, WHEN THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS, AND THEY
ARE GOING DOWN THE WRONG PATH.
WHEN SPD IS GOING DOWN THE
WRONG PATH IT'S MY EXPECTATION
AND MY DESIRE, THAT EACH OF YOU
FEEL LIKE YOU ARE EMPOWERED AND
INDEPENDENT ENOUGH, AND STRONG
ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO USE YOUR
VOICES TO THROW UP THE FLAG AND
SAY, THIS IS NOT CORRECT AND
NEEDS TO CEASE.
AND THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU
ARE PREJUDGING THINGS.
IT MEANS YOU ARE ANTICIPATING
THAT THINGS COULD GET WORSE.
AND WE NEED YOU ALL IN OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM TO HELP
US WITH THAT EXERCISE AS A
SUBJECT MATTER.
>> YEAH, I REALLY AGREE,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
THAT THE EMBRACING OF OUR
ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS THAT
THEIR POTENTIAL TO NOT JUST PASS
JUDGMENT AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THINGS THAT
HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST, BUT
TO HELP US AS A CITY MITIGATE
MOVING FORWARD IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, AND WE HAVE URGENCY,
AND MOMENTUM TO PROPEL US
FORWARD IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
AND I REALLY THINK THAT IS
CRITICAL, SO THAT WE CAN GET
THE CONFIDENCE OF THE
COMMUNITY, THAT WE AREN'T JUST
USING NICE WORDS, AND WE EXPECT
TO GET A REPORT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PUT THEM ON
THE SHELF.
I KNOW COUNCILMEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBER SAWANT HAD
ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION, AS DID
COUNCIL MEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA.
>> CHAIR HERBOLD, I THINK THEY
HAVE ALLUDED TO THIS, WAS, NOT
SO MUCH THE PROCESS, SO MY
QUESTION IS HOW CAN THE OPA
INVESTIGATION PROCESS RESULT IN
SEQUENCES FOR THE OFFICERS WHO
INFLICTED VIOLENCE AGAINST
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, GIVEN
THAT THE PROCESS USES SEATTLE
POLICE SO TO DO THE INTERVIEWS
AND GATHER THE EVIDENCE?
>> SO, I WILL ADDRESS THAT IN A
COUPLE WAYS.
FIRST, OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE A
HYBRID MODEL BETWEEN CIVILIAN
AND SWORN. IT'S NOT ALL SWORN
INVESTIGATORS WORKING ON THESE
CASES.
IN FACT PEPPER SPRAY CASES
ASSIGNED TO OUR INVESTIGATOR,
SO, WE, EVEN THAT BEING SAID WE
ARE SWORN INVESTIGATORS ALL
REPORTING TO CIVILIANS, AS YOU
KNOW I HAVE A CIVILIAN DEPUTY
DIRECTOR INVESTIGATIONS,
ANOTHER CIVILIAN INTERMEDIATE
SUPERVISORS OF INVESTIGATIONS,
ALL OF WHOM HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN PUBLIC OVERSIGHT, ALL OF
WHOM ARE REVIEWING THESE CASES.
WE ARE COMMITTED AND THUS ONE
STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO THAT
CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP AND ARE
COMMITTED TO UNCOVERING
EVIDENCE.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO PULL WHATEVER
VIDEO WE CAN FIND. THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE TOO HIGH, THERE IS
NOTHING TOO HIGH, IF THAT WAS
THE APPLICATION.
ALL OUR INFORMATION IS
TRANSPARENT.
EVERY SINGLE DOCUMENT WE CAN
PRODUCE CAN BE REPRODUCED
PUBLICLY.
SO I BELIEVE IN THE STUFF THAT
WORKS AT OPA, WHETHER CIVILIAN
OR SWORN, AND THAT WAS A MODEL
CREATED BY CITY COUNCIL AND
OTHERS TO CREATE A HYBRID MODEL
WORKING TOGETHER.
AND JUST LIKE THE CPC
COMMISSIONERS, BOTH CIVILIAN
AND SWORN, IT WORKS OKAY TOO.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE WE WILL BE
ABLE TO UNCOVER EVIDENC, AND
THAT THE INVESTIGATORS WILL DO
THEIR BEST TO MAKE SURE WHERE
THINGS WENT WRONG, WE IDENTIFY
THOSE AND CALL THEM OUT.
>> I KNOW I SAID, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS MADE ME AS I SKIPPED
OVER HIM, I'M SO SORRY.
GOING TO TURN OVER TO SOME OF
HER STRESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I WANT TO FIRST ANNOUNCE TO
FOLKS, FOR ANYBODY WHO IS
VIEWING THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS
ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS
WITHDRAWING THE MOTION TO
DISMISS THE FILING ON THE
CONSENT TO THREE, SO THAT IS
SORT OF BREAKING NEWS, THAT IS
VERY TIMELY AND CONSISTENT WITH
PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS, GIVEN THEY
ARE A NEW SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES
TO CONSIDER AS IT RELATES TO
MANY OF THE ISSUES PREADDRESSED.
COUNSEL NUMBER STRESS.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR HERBOLD,
AND THINK YOU TO OPA, THANK YOU,
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WORK FOR
US TO DO TO ENSURE
ACCOUNTABILITY IS CREATED FOR
OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AND I WILL
BE DIRECT WITHOUT PRESENT
ALREADY PART OF OUR
GOVERNMENTS, I WOULD BE SO
LOST, AND I WOULD BE VERY UPSET
WITH WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
I AM REASSURED BY YOUR
PRESENCE, AND I KNOW THERE IS
MORE TO DO.
MY QUESTION IS FOR THE SECOND
PANEL THAT CAME BEFORE YOU.
I AM GOING TO READ THEM INTO
THE RECORD FOR THEM TO BE
REFLECTED ON THE RECORD, AND MY
QUESTIONS WILL BE EMAILED TO
THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF.
AND SO, MY QUESTIONS REALLY ARE
UNDERSTANDING WHY AND HOW WE
HAVE PUT THIS CURFEW IN PLACE
BEYOND THE WEEKEND, WHAT
PURPOSE DOES IT SERVE, AND HOW
EFFECTIVE HAS IT BEEN?
A QUESTION, SUBQUESTION TO THAT
IS WHAT METRICS NEED TO BE
OBTAINED FOR THE CURFEW TO BE
REMOVED?
I AGREE WITH THE CHIEF THAT WE
CANNOT ALLOW FOR ACTS OF
AGGRESSION TO BE MADE PUBLIC OR
OFFICERS, NO ONE SHOULD BE ON
THE RECEIVING END'S OF ROCKS,
BOTTLES, OR FECES.
AND WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING, IT
IS CLEAR TO ME FROM THE LAST
TWO DAYS, THE MILITARY GRADE
WEAPONS ARE NOT A PARTIAL
RESPONSE TO ROCKS, BOTTLES, OR
FECES.
MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS DO NOT
ASSIST IN DE-ESCALATION, AND SO
MY QUESTIONS ARE DIRECTLY, CAN
YOU ENSURE TO THE DEPUTY MAYOR
AND TO THE CHIEF, CAN YOU ENSURE
YOUR GAS AND FLASH BANG
GRENADES WILL NOT BE USED?
WHAT NEEDS TO OCCUR TO ENSURE
THE USE OF TEAR GAS AND A FLASH
BANG GRENADES ENDS?
WE SAW SIX FOOT BASE, DE-
ESCALATING BETWEEN MONDAY AND
TUESDAY.
WHAT ADDITIONAL STEPS WERE TAKEN
FOR TODAY AND THE REMAINDER OF
THE WEEK TO CONTINUE DE-
ESCALATION?
AND I AGREE WITH THE CHIEF
ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, I AM ASKING
HER TO JOIN HER AND HER
OFFICERS THIS EVENING SO I MAY
HAVE AN UNFILTERED EXPERIENCE,
AND I AM ASKING WHAT TIME AND
PLACE SHOULD I JOIN?
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, AND I
WILL BE VERY CLEAR AT THE END
OF THIS, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO
USE MILITARY GRADE WEAPONS
AGAINST THE RESIDENCE BACK OF
OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT DOES NOT
DE-ESCALATE WHAT IS CURRENTLY
AN ESCALATED SITUATION.
WE MUST STOP USING TEAR GAS AND
FLASH BANG'S IMMEDIATELY.
THIS CURFEW SHOULD BE LIFTED
TODAY, THE CURFEW, THE USE OF
TEAR GAS AND THE USE OF FLASH
BANG GRENADES ARE UNNECESSARILY
ESCALATING TENSIONS IN OUR CITY.
ALSO LEFT MY PHONE NUMBER FOR
CONTACTING ME.
SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THAT
MOMENT FOR THE RECORD TO FLEX.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME HAVE
TIME.
>> THANK YOU COUNSEL NUMBER
STRESS.
REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS THAT I SHARE.
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
TO BELIEVE IT WAS DIRECTOR
MYERBERG, YOU POSTED
CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE OFFICER
WHO HAD, FOLKS ASSUMED HE WAS
THE ONE WHO HAD TEAR GASSED THE
CHILD, AND I KNOW THERE WAS
SOME VERIFICATION THERE IT WAS
NOT THAT OFFICER, THANKS FOR
POSTING THE CLARIFICATION.
I THOUGHT, I WONDER WHAT WOULD
HAVE HELPED US IDENTIFY THE
RIGHT OFFICER, PROBABLY THE
BADGE NUMBER.
AND SO I THINK THAT IS JUST A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE NEED
THOSE BADGE NUMBERS SHOWING
NOW. I
UNDERSTAND AS OF THIS
AFTERNOON, THOSE BADGE NUMBERS
ARE STILL NOT BEING SHOWN.
SO I APPRECIATE THE
CLARIFICATION ON WHO IS GOING
TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT
ACTION WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE
RIGHT OFFICER.
BUT I THINK WE STILL HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH BADGE NUMBERS NOT
BEING SHOWN.
AND I WANT TO PUT IT OUT FOR
YOU TO COMMENT ON, GETTING
CLARIFICATION OR ISSUING
RECOMMENDATIONS ON GETTING
THOSE BADGE NUMBERS SHOWN,
ASAP, EVEN THOUGH THANK YOU
ADAM CHAIR, HAS BEEN WORKING
HOW TO PUSH THE MAYORS AND
EXECUTIVE PD TO SHOW BADGE
NUMBERS AND USE OTHER STRATEGIES
, WE STILL HAVE BADGE NUMBERS
THAT ARE NOT BEING SHOWN
TONIGHT, AND YESTERDAY THE
MAYOR'S COMMENT WAS IT IS NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT BUT
WHEN QUITE LITERALLY I THINK
TAPE CAN BE REMOVED OVERNIGHT.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO
SHOW THEY CAN BE SHOWN
OVERNIGHT.
I WANT TO BUILD OFF OF THE
QUESTION THAT I BELIEVE WAS
JUST ASKED BY ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES A MOMENT AGO.
WE I HAVE OFFICERS LISTED IN
OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE BEEN
REPRIMANDED ALREADY FOR A
REPREHENSIBLE BEHAVIOR, THAT
INCLUDES FT.
LAUDERDALE FLORIDA, DENVER,
COLORADO, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, OR
OFFICERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
SUSPENDED OR FIRED BECAUSE OF
ACTIONS TAKEN ON CAMERA WERE
RECORDED ON CAMERA, AND I
APPRECIATE THE ROBUST PROCESS
WE HAVE BUILT INTO THE
LEGISLATION AND DUE DILIGENCE
TO GO THROUGH THE ANALYSIS
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS
WE HAVE RECEIVED.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S
ANYTHING WE CAN DO ANYMORE
EXPEDITED FASHION, ESPECIALLY
FOR SOME OF THE MORE EGREGIOUS
COMPLAINTS THAT WERE CAUGHT ON
CAMERA TO DO THE INVESTIGATION,
AND OR TO ISSUE RECOMMENDATION
THICKLY SO THAT THERE IS
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE
ACTIONS, AND MADAM CHAIR, MY
LAST QUESTION BUILDS OFF THE
QUESTION THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT
ASKED LAST IN HER LINE OF
INQUIRY, I AM ASKING YOU TO, I
AM ASKING YOU, TODAY, ISSUE
GUIDANCE OR YOUR RECOMMENDATION
FOR STOPPING THE USE OF TEAR
GAS, FLASH BANGS, AND RUBBER
BULLETS.
AT A BARE MINIMUM, THESE ARE
THE THREE THINGS I ASK OF THE
CHIEF BEFORE SHE HAD TO LEAVE,
THE DEPUTY WAS ON THE LINE AND
DID NOT ANSWER.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A
SITUATION, WHERE SOMETIMES
THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WE MIGHT
NEED TO ISOLATE BECAUSE OF
POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW,
DANGEROUS OR VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
THAT HAS BEEN REFERENCED BY THE
CHIEF, THERE ARE STRATEGIES, DE-
ESCALATION STRATEGIES THAT WE
HAVE ASKED FOR THE OFFICERS TO
DEPLOY THAT INCLUDES ISOLATING
INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE
PROBLEMATIC AND WHEN WE HEARD
THE RESPONSE FOR MONDAY AND
TUESDAY'S FLASH BANG'S, RUBBER
BULLETS, AND TEAR GAS BEING
USED BECAUSE THERE WAS "A FEW
INDIVIDUALS, OR WHEN INDIVIDUAL
IN THE CROWD, WHO IS
POTENTIALY STARTING A FIGHT OR
RUSHING FORWARD."
THEY NEED TO ISOLATE THE
INDIVIDUAL, NOT USED TEAR GAS,
RUBBER BULLETS, AND FLASH BANGS
ON THE ENTIRE CROWD.
WE HAVE SEEN IT TWICE.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THE DEPARTMENT
OF THESE WEAPONS OF WAR, WERE
USED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AS WELL,
AND I THINK THAT IT IS
DISPUTABLE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT
, I THINK THAT THEY WERE NOT
WARRANTED.
I THINK THERE WERE DEFINITELY
SITUATIONS THAT WERE DANGEROUS,
INCLUDING BROKEN WINDOWS AND
CARS ON FIRE, BUT THE STORIES
WE HEARD REPEATEDLY WERE PEOPLE
WHO WERE REALLY JUST TRYING TO
GET DOWNTOWN TO EXPRESS THEIR
SUPPORT FOR THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER MOVEMENT, AND MOURNING
ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
BEEN KILLED AND EXPERTS
EXCESSIVE VIOLENCE AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE, AND THEY WERE NOT
ABLE TO GET DOWNTOWN EITHER.
I THINK NOT JUST SINGLING OUT
MONDAY AND TUESDAY'S ACTIONS,
BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU ON THIS
THIRD QUESTION TO TELL US,
IMMEDIATELY, AS THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WAS URGING, AND I
DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN THE
PRESIDENTS MOUTH, IF THERE
COULD BE RECOMMENDATION TO STOP
USING FLASH BANGS, TEAR GAS,
AND RUBBER BULLETS.
THANK YOU, THOSE ARE MY
QUESTIONS.
>> AND BEFORE YOU ANSWER THAT,
I DO WANT TO FLAG AGAIN, THAT
WE DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION
FROM 2015 AND 2016 FROM THE CPC
FOR THESE DISCONTINUATION OF
THE USE OF FLASH BALLS.
SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO
RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE WORK
THAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR FROM
THE OPA AND OIG ON THEIR
THOUGHTS, BUT I THINK IT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO HONOR THE
WORK THAT OUR CPC HAS DONE ON
TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS,
BECAUSE OF TWO DIFFERENT
INCIDENCES, AND SO I DON'T WANT
TO CONTINUE A PATTERN OF NOT
ACTING ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS,
ALSO, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE
BIT ABOUT THE MORNING, I DO
WANT TO FLAG THAT I HAVE SEEN
PHOTOS OF TODAY WEARING A
MORNING BAND OVER HER BADGE
NUMBER, AND I AM VERY VERY
DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE I LEAVE
SHE CAN SHOW LEADERSHIP BY
SIMPLY MOVING THE LOCATION OF
THAT BAND. I
UNDERSTAND THE POLICE POLICY
SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE
CENTER. I
AM GOING TO, I AM WORKING ON
LEGISLATION, RIGHT NOW TO MARY
THE TRADITION OF MOURNING BANDS
WITH OUR EXISTING LOT ABOUT THE
PROHIBITION ON COVERING NAMES
TO EXTEND THAT PROHIBITION TO
COVER BADGE NUMBERS, BUT TO
ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUATION OF
THE PLACEMENT OF MOURNING BANDS
ON BADGES, BUT JUST IN A WAY
THAT DOES NOT COVER BADGE
NUMBERS.
SO I WILL LEAVE THAT THERE,
THANK YOU.
>> SO AT THIS TIME --
>> COUNCIL MEMBER?
I SEE YOU HAVE A QUESTION, I AM
GOING TO LET OUR ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS RESPOND TO
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA'S
QUESTIONS FIRST.
>> YOUR REGARD TO THE
JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN
IMMEDIATE ACTION AND WHY THAT
IS NOT DONE HERE, SO, I JUST
WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT, AND I
THINK YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS,
FROM OPA'S PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN
RECOMMENDED DISCIPLINE AFTER A
FULL INVESTIGATION.
WE HAVE NO AUTHORITIES,
STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE TO PUT
ANY OFFICER ON LEAVE.
THE CHIEF DOES HAS THE RIGHT TO
DO SO, WHERE SHE CAN PUT
OFFICERS ON PAID LEAVE, OR SHE
CAN, IN THE INTEREST OF
JUSTICE, TAKE OUT THEIR
DISCIPLINARY ACTION, BUT WE,
WITH REGARDS TO THE TIMING, AND
I THINK I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE
IN MY INITIAL COMMENTS.
WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THESE INVESTIGATIONS, WITH
ALL DUE HASTE.
I DO NOT WANT TO, OBVIOUSLY I
WANT THEM TO BE THOROUGH, BUT
WE ARE HEARING, LOUD AND CLEAR,
BUT WE CANNOT WAIT SIX MONTHS
FOR THESE TO RESOLVE.
AGAIN THAT IS WHY WE ARE TRYING
TO REALLOCATE RESOURCES TO
ALLOW US TO DO THE
INVESTIGATIONS IN A TIMELY
FASHION.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN INDICATING
WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SAYING
WHY CAN'T YOU DO IT IN 15 DAYS?
WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE THEM
REASONS WHY, AND IT CANNOT
SATISFY ALL PEOPLE, AND WE CAN
UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WE ARE
DOING OUR BEST TO MOVE FORWARD
WHILE UNDERSTANDING DUE PROCESS
, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO
BALANCE BOTH OF THESE THINGS
TOGETHER.
EXERCISING THE AUTHORITY WE
HAVE TO EXERCISE.
>> TRACTOR?
DIRECTOR?
JUST A FOLLOW-UP.
>> SURE.
>> SORRY, I HEAR A ECHO, I
THINK THAT IS FAIR, YOU HAVE
LIMITED RESOURCES, WE WANT
THERE TO BE THOROUGH
INVESTIGATIONS, CAN YOU GET THE
VERY LEAST FOR I WOULD SAY THE
20 OR SO MOST EGREGIOUS VIDEOS
THAT WE HAVE SEEN, AT LEAST
REQUEST, THAT THOSE OFFICERS
NOT BE ON THE FRONT LINE TO
RESPOND TO PROTESTS RIGHT NOW?
IS THAT A REQUEST WE CAN PUT IN
TO THE CHIEF'S OFFICE, THAT SHE
WOULD THEN HAVE IN FRONT OF HER
TO RESPOND TO, SO THAT THOSE
OFFICERS, WHO ARE POTENTIALLY
KNEELING ON PEOPLE, PUNCHING
PEOPLE, SPRING CHILDREN IN THE
FACE WITH TEAR GAS, ELDERLY OR
DISABLED PEOPLE, AS WE SAW ON
CAMERA THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO
HAVE DONE THAT, AND IF YOU KNOW
WHO THEY ARE AND ARE DOING AN
INVESTIGATION, CAN THOSE
INDIVIDUALS BE REQUESTED TO
REMAIN OFF OF THE FRONT LINE
WHILE YOUR INVESTIGATION
CONTINUES?
>> IT IS CERTAINLY A REQUEST
THAT CAN BE MADE OF THE CHIEF,
AND THE CHIEF HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO TAKE ACTION, IF SHE SO
CHOOSES, BUT IT IS SOLELY AT THE
SCRATCHING OF THE CHIEF OF
POLICE.
>> AND IT IS NOT WITHIN OPA'S
AUTHORITY TO REQUEST THE CHIEF
CONSIDERING THAT?
>> WELL THE INVESTIGATION
CONTINUE?
>> NO.
>> OKAY THANK YOU.
>> ONE OTHER NOTE,
COUNCILMEMBER.
YOU HAD MENTIONED EARLIER
TODAY, ABOUT THE COMMENTS THAT
WAS MADE ON RADIO, ON DISPATCH,
ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
NOTE WAS, I WAS UNAWARE OF IT
UNTIL YOU BROUGHT IT UP SO
THANK YOU FOR THAT, WE WILL PUT
OUT A POSTING TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW WHAT THE CASE NUMBER IS,
SO PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST FOR FOLKS, THE THREE
QUESTIONS WERE THE USE OF, THE
BLACK TAPE TO COVER THE POLICE
NUMBERS, SUSPENSIONS ARE
FIRING, AND ANSWERING THAT, AND
THE MORE IMMEDIATE DIRECTIVE OR
REQUEST THAT WE STOP USING
THESE WEAPONS OF WAR.
>> CHAIR? CAN I CUT IN?
>> YES PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, THIS IS A RELATED QUESTION
TO WHAT.
>> I BELIEVE THE COCHAIR WAS
ABOUT TO RESPOND, I DO NOT WANT
TO INTERRUPT YOU, I JUST WANT
TO MAKE SURE --
>> I CAN WAIT, IF YOU HAVE A
RELATED QUESTION, AND THEN
RESPOND.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT
IS OUR INTENTION, THIS WAS ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP
DURING THE MEETING EARLIER FOR
US TO FOR US TO RESEND THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAD
MADE, AS COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD
MADE, AS PART OF A NEW SET OF
RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL, AS WE
, SO THOSE ARE OF COURSE
RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE WERE THINKING
ABOUT ISSUING.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOREL IS?
>> THANK YOU.
SO, YEAH, SO MY QUESTION IS
RELATED TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER
MOSQUEDA WAS ASKING.
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE --
WHERE ALL OF THIS MILITARY
GRADE AGREEMENT IS COMING FROM.
SO, I KNOW THAT THE 1032 PROGRAM
HAD BEEN SUSPENDED FOR A WHILE,
BUT THE PROGRAM ALLOWS, PUSHES
OUT SURPLUS MILITARY GEAR TO
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, YOU
KNOW MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
TRUMP SORT OF REENERGIZED THE
PROGRAM.
WHEN I WAS LOOKING UP ON OUR
STATE WEBSITE, WHICH
JURISDICTIONS PARTICIPATE,
SEATTLE WAS NOT ON THE LIST, AS
OF A COUPLE YEARS AGO, SO I AM
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, WHERE
THIS EQUIPMENT IS COMING FROM,
AND HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON IT.
AND WHAT IS OUR EXISTING
INVENTORY, AND I GUESS MORE
IMPORTANTLY, FOR WHATEVER
EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN USED OVER
THE LAST WEEK, OR HOW DO WE
ENSURE THAT WE DON'T REPLACE IT?
SO, THOSE MIGHT BE QUESTIONS
FOR THE PREVIOUS PANEL, I AM
úSURE WE WILL DISCUSS IT IN THE
UP COMING BUDGET CONVERSATIONS,
BUT I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
WHERE THIS GEAR IS COMING FROM.
>> TO ANY OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE
INSIGHT ON THAT?
ALL RIGHT, WELL WE WILL FLAG
IT, FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE
BUDGET CHAIRS AGREEMENT, WITHIN
THE CONTEXT OF BUDGET, AND I
WILL WORK ON CEMENTING IT
THROUGH CENTRAL STAFF, AS A
BUDGETING QUESTION.
SO, IF FOLKS ARE OKAY, BECAUSE
WE DO STILL HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT
30 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT, I WOULD LOVE TO WRAP
UP THIS PORTION. I WOULD LIKE
TO DISCUSS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
GONZALEZ, OH, SORRY.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY.
>> YES, INSPECTED JUDGE.
>> YES, I WANTED TO MENTION ONE
THING.
WE HAD A EMAIL BOX CREATED FOR
COMMENTS AND INPUT ON THAT
REVIEW PROCESS, THE EMAIL
ADDRESS IS , CENTINELEVENT ,
ANY SORT OF QUESTIONS AND
INPUT, COMMENTS, OR ANYTHING ON
THE REVIEW PROCESS THAT WE ARE
CREATING.
>> AND IS THERE INFORMATION ON
YOUR WEBSITE, ABOUT THE
FRAMEWORK OF THE REVIEW
PROCESS, IF SOMETHING IS THERE
FOR PEOPLE TO COMMENT ON?
>> WE HAVE A VERY DRAFTY
FRAMEWORK, BUT WE ARE HOPING TO
USE COMMUNITY INPUT TO --
>> I MEAN THE MAJORITY OF THE
PUBLIC,
>> WE DO, WE HAVE INFORMATION
ABOUT THAT PROCESS, AND WE WILL
PUT UP INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT
WE ARE HOPING TO ACHIEVE HERE,
SO FOLKS WILL HAVE SOME
GUIDANCE, THANK YOU.
>> IF I CAN PIGGYBACK ON THAT
VERY QUICKLY.
WE ARE ALSO HOOKING FOR AS MUCH
INFORMATION WHILE EXPECTING THE
TRAUMA THESE INCIDENTS HAVE
CAUSED PEOPLE.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR DIRECT
WITNESSES THAT SAW APPLICATIONS
OF FORCE.
WE VERY MUCH WOULD LIKE TO
SPEAK TO THE FAMILY OF THE
YOUNG GIRL THAT WAS MADE VICTIM
OF PEPPER SPRAY.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT WITNESSES
FOR US TO INTERVIEW.
WE OBVIOUSLY RESPECT IT'S UP TO
THEM WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT
TO PARTICIPATE AND COOPERATE
WITH US, BUT OUR INTERVIEWS, WE
WILL DO OUR BEST TO RESPECT
WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH, AND THE
TRAUMA SHE HAS INCURRED,
PARTICULARLY HER FAMILY TOO.
BUT ANY DIRECT WITNESSES,
PLEASE LET US KNOW, YOU CAN
EMAIL US AT OPA@SEATTLE.GOV,
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS
SOMEONE ON PUBLIC COMMENT WAS A
WITNESS TO THAT.
INSPECTOR GENERAL JUDGE?
>> IF I COULD ADD SOMETHING TO
COUNCILMEMBER MOREL IT IS, WE
HAVE STAFF LOOKING AT THE ISSUE,
THE CITY OF SEATTLE LEGISLATION
THAT RESTRICTED IN SOME WAY THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THAT MUNITION,
BUT WE WILL PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SO, I HAD DISCUSSED WITH
PRESIDENT GONZALES MY INTEREST
IN TURNING OVER QUESTIONS OF
THIS PARTICULAR PANEL TO HER AS
THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR SHE CAN
SPEAK TO THE COMMITMENT TO
CONTINUOUS CHANGE TOWARDS
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY WITH HER
LEADERSHIP, PASSING THE 2017
HISTORIC ACCOUNT ABILITY
ORDINANCE, BUT EVEN MORE
IMPORTANTLY AS CURRENT CHAIR OF
THE LABOR RELATIONS POLICY
COMMITTEE, SHE CAN SPEAK TO
GETTING IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF
THAT ORDINANCE LOST IN THE LAST
POLICE FIELD CONTRACT.
AND I THINK SHE WANTS TO SHARE
SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORK
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN THAT
AREA.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR
HERBOLD.
I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR
NOT SHOWING VIDEO AND JUST
HAVING AUDIO, BUT REALITIES OF
TELECOMMUTING.
I AM NURSING MY 5-MONTH-OLD, SO
I FIGURED NOT EVERYBODY NEEDED
TO SEE THAT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE
UNDERSTANDING FROM THE GENERAL
PUBLIC.
AS I McCRAY, MAKE MY REMARKS
WITH JUST A PICTURE UP THANK YOU
, CHAIR HERBOLD FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE
COMMITTEE AND THE MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC ON THIS PARTICULAR
POINT. OF COURSE, WE CAN ALL
REMEMBER THE LAST ROUND OF
BARGAINING WITH THE POLICE
OFFICERS GUILD, AND I THINK
IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT MANY OF
US FELT THAT THE CONTRACT THAT
WAS PUT BEFORE US WAS CERTAINLY
IMPERFECT, AND DID NOT DELIVER
ON THE FULL PROMISE OF THE 2017
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
THAT SO MANY OF US WORKED, YOU
KNOW, HUNDREDS OF HOURS ON TO
NEGOTIATE AND TO, AND TO
LEGISLATE AND PUT BEFORE THE
COUNCIL FOR A FULL VOTE. AND
THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLICATE
REASONS ABOUT WHY THAT HAPPENED
. I WILL JUST SAY THAT I AM NOT
GOING TO GO INTO ALL OF THOSE
AND REHASH THE HISTORY, BUT I
WILL SAY THAT YOU KNOW, WE
HAVING NEW OPPORTUNITY TO US AS
IT RELATES TO ISSUES, THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT
WITH REGARD TO HOW THE CITY
APPROACHES ITS LABORING
NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNIONS, AND I
AM LOOKING FORWARD TO STRUCTURE
CONVERSATION ON THE COUNCIL SIDE
THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE CENTERING COMMUNITY
VOICES IN OUR DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS.
WE WILL, WE WILL DO THAT IN
CONJUNCTION WITH RECOGNIZING
THAT WE HAVE A GOOD-FAITH
OBLIGATION TO COMPLY WITH OUR
STATE LABOR LAWS AND CITY LABOR
LAWS AND NOTHING THAT WE PLAN
TO DO WELL CUT AGAINST OUR
COMMITMENTS TO BEING A PROLABOR
UNION CITY. BUT I WILL SHARE
WITH FOLKS, MYSELF,
COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA,
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS , AND
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES, WE ARE
COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE
HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE WHERE
WE ARE WELL INFORMED , WHERE WE
ARE COMMUNITY INFORMED, AND
WHERE WE WILL MAKE DECISIONS
WITH THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE
TECHNICAL ADVISER TO BE ABLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND
THAT WE IMPACT THE CHOICES THAT
ARE BEFORE US, IN THAT CONTEXT,
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAKING THE
BEST CHOICES AVAILABLE TO US AS
WE CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE
ADDITIONAL PORTIONS OF THE
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
INTO THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT.
WE WILL HAVE A SELECT LABOR
COMMITTEE PROCESS, WHERE MY
COLLEAGUES AND I WILL BE ABLE
TO CONVENE AND HAVE THESE
DISCUSSIONS.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO INVITE
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
COMMUNITY AND POLICE COMMISSION
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH US
ABOUT WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE IN
BEING ABLE TO ADVANCE THE
PRINCIPLES OF THE 2017 POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE, AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO
STRUCTURE PROCESS THAT WILL
TRULY MEANINGFULLY ALLOW
COUNCILMEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERTISE
OF COMMUNITY OF DIRECTOR
MARBURG AND INSPECTOR JUDGE, AS
WE LOOK AT THE COMPLEXITIES OF
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM, AND
HOW WE CAN BETTER REPRESENT
THOSE PRINCIPLES IN THE PROMISE
OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY ORDINANCE
IN OUR NEXT LABOR CONTRACT, SO,
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL
HEAD OVER TO THE CHAIR, THANK
YOU.
>> YOU ARE ON MUTE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I AM
GOING TO MOVE BACK INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HUNG ON TO GIVE PUBLIC
COMMENT, AND I WOULD LIKE US TO
HEAR FROM THOSE FOLKS.
AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE
TO JOIN ME, I APPRECIATE IT.
THE LOOK COMMENT PERIOD, AGAIN,
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY
OUT THERE, WHO HAS REGISTERED
AND WAITED FOR US TO REACH THIS
POINT IN THE AGENDA.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC
COMMENT FOR, I'M GOING TO SET
IT FOR 30 MINUTES, WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING WE MAY NEED TO
EXTEND IT, AND PUBLIC COMMENT
IS GOING TO BE REDUCED FROM TWO
MINUTES FROM THE FIRST SESSION
TO ONE MINUTE PER PERSON,
MOVING FORWARD.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, A
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED FOR 30 MINUTES.
HEARING NO OBJECTION.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS
EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 30
MINUTES.
AGAIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL BE MODERATED IN THE SAME
WAY, AND I WILL KEEP CALLING ON
SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER OF
REGISTRATION.
THE ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL
REMAIN OPEN UNTIL THE
CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD.
AND THE RULES APPLY TO PART ONE
OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
WILL ALSO APPLY TO THIS ONE,
MOVING FORWARD, WITH THE
EXTENSION OF COURSE THAT THE
TIME LIMIT IS NOW ONE MINUTE,
YOU WILL STILL RECEIVE A 10
SECOND WARNING TO WRAP UP
COMMENTS.
SPEAKERS MICROPHONE IT WILL BE
MUTED AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED PUBLIC COMMENT TIME.
AND SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO BEGIN
COMMENT BY STATING NAME YOUR IT
AND, JUST MOVING OVER TO THE
NAMES -- WE, I THINK WHAT WE
WILL DO, IS WE WILL START WITH
HALO SERGEANT, SPEAKER NUMBER
24.
>> HI, MY NAME IS KAYLA
SERGEANT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO
ADD MY VOICE TO THE MANY, FOR
SO LONG, THE UNITED STATES HAS
NEEDED TO COMPLETELY TAKE APART
OUR RACIST, UNJUST, AND VIOLENT
POLICE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM AND REBUILD THEM AND
REIMAGINE THEM, AND THAT
PROCESS REALLY HAS TWO START
HERE ON A LOCAL LEVEL, COMING
FROM LEADERS LIKE YOU.
SO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE
PROTESTERS, LISTEN TO THE
ACTIVISTS, LISTEN TO EVERYONE
COMMENTING TODAY, AND REALLY
TAKE ACTION ON IT, ANYWAY,
THANK YOU. I
SECEDE MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, KAYLA.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER LISTED IS
LET'S SEE, AUBREY MARCUS
JOHNSON.
>> HI, YOU, MY NAME IS AUBREY
MARKS JOHNSON, AND I WANT TO
SAY THANKS TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AND I AM ACTUALLY NOW MORE
ALARMED AFTER WATCHING THE CITY
COUNCIL MEETING AND
PRESENTATIONS, IT REALLY SEEMS
úTO ME WE ARE PAYING TAXES TO
ESSENTIALLY PAY FOR AN OUTSIDE
MERCENARY FORCE.
80% OF POLICE OFFICERS DON'T
LIVE IN SEATTLE, THEY HAVE NO
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
COMMUNITIES THEY ARE POLICING,
AND NOW WE ARE HEARING
ESSENTIALLY THE ONLY PERSON WHO
CAN DISCIPLINE THEM IS THE
POLICE CHIEF, WHO IS CLEARLY
NOT ACTING IN THIS CASE.
SHE IS OUT THERE WITH BLACK
TAPE OVER HER BADGE RIGHT NOW,
I JUST HEARD.
AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND NONE
OF THE 30 OFFICERS EVEN KNOW
WHERE ANY OF THIS INCREMENT IS
COMING FROM, IS NOW BEING
STOLEN OFF OF THE BACKS OF
POLICE CARS.
I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, DESTINY EVERS,
PLEASE.
DESTINY?
>> YES, HI.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS
SPACE. I HAD SUBMITTED COMMENTS
EARLIER TODAY, SO I WILL REFER
TO THOSE.
BUT I MOSTLY WANTED TO OBSERVE
ON THE FACT THAT THIS MEETING
AT NOON STARTED OFF SO WELL,
AND THEN IT BECAME VERY CLEAR,
LISTEN TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF
THERE IS ZERO DRIVE TO DO ANY
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE.
AND IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO COME
FROM OUR SEATTLE LEADERSHIP, IT
IS GOING TO COME FROM THIS
COUNSEL.
SO, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE
THAT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU
DECIDE HOW TO GO FORWARD, AND I
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU, DESTINY.
NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS BRADEN
LEAGUE, PLEASE READ IT BRADEN?
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS BRADEN.
I'M FROM CALIFORNIA AND WITH THE
TECH A COMPANY.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR A
FEW YEARS.
THE PROTESTS ON SATURDAY
AFTERNOON WAS PEACEFUL UP TO
THE MOMENT IT WAS NOT.
NEXT THING I KNOW, IS I WAS
PEPPER SPRAYED.
AND THROUGHOUT THAT WEEK LONG
STATE OF EMERGENCY I NEVER FELT
AS I DID ON SATURDAY.
I AM CALLING WITH EVERYTHING
THE POLICE ARE CALLED FOR,
BETTER HANDLED BY SOCIAL
RECORDS.
W ARE EXPERIENCING AN
EMPLOYMENT, WE SHOULD HIRE AND
TRAIN SOCIAL WORKERS.
WE SHOULD ALSO CONTACT PEOPLE,
LIKE ME, MORE.
I YIELD MY TEMPERED
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JONATHAN
WHITE.
>> HI.
HI, GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS JONATHAN WHITE, I'M
A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 4,
URGING THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER
DEEP POLICE REFORMS. FIRST
THERE SHOULD BE AN INTENSIVE
CULTURE REFORM, NOT ONLY FOR
TRAINING BUT ALSO THROUGH
CREATING POLICE ACCOUNTING,
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD, REACHING
BEYOND JUST RECOMMENDATION.
SO AUTHORITY BY PEACE I MEAN,
LIKE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE STAFF
WHO WON'T PRIORITIZE THE
CONCERNS BEING RAISED BY SO
MANY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE SECOND IS THE COUNCIL
SHOULD VOTE FOR A CUT FROM THE
$363 MILLION ALREADY BUDGETED
FOR SPEEDY IN ORDER TO
DEMILITARIZED SPD AS WELL AS TO
ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL CAUSED BY
COVID-19.
I BELIEVE THE CITY'S MONEY
COULD BE BETTER SPENT IN
PREVENTATIVE POLICIES, TO
ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND
HOUSING, AS WELL AS IMPROVING
THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF
THE LOW INCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS KENZIE SHAW.
>> KENZIE SHAW, CAPITOL HILL
RESIDENCE.
I AM DISGUSTED AND ASHAMED AT
THE MAYOR, AND ATTENDANCE ON
THE PROTEST ON SATURDAY THEY
ALL SHOULD BE NOT ABLE TO SLEEP
AT NIGHT OVER THEIR ACTIONS.
I SPENT ALL DAY KNEELING AND
PROTESTING IN THE RAIN, ABOUT
ALL 100%, PEACEFUL.
I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES SPD
OFFICERS ESCALATE AND INSIGHT
VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFUL
PROTEST, INCLUDING CHILDREN.
I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A WORD
THAT WOULD SUM UP MY PAIN FOR
THOSE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
BUT I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF
SEATTLE SPD DON'T CARE ABOUT
BLACK LIVES, AND THAT IS VERY
VERY CLEAR TO US.
SO, SHOW US THAT YOU ACTUALLY
CARE THAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE,
LAY DOWN YOUR BIO WEAPONS AND
WALK WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ISAAC MALCOLM.
>> HI, THIS, HELLO, THIS IS
ISAAC MALONE.
I THINK I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
MOST PEOPLE IS THAT THE POLICE
STOP USING TEAR GAS, ESPECIALLY
DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT
AFFECTS RESPIRATORY FUNCTIONS.
PLUS, I MEAN WE ARE ALL
DEMONSTRATING AGAINST POLICE
BRUTALITY THAT LED TO THE
SUFFOCATION OF A BLACK MAN.
IT IS HYPOCRITICAL THEY
CONTRIBUTE TO A HUGE PROBLEM
THAT IS STILL ONGOING WHICH IS
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR BLACK
COMMUNITY IS ABOUT TWO TIMES
MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DEATH THAN
WHAT COMMUNITIES DUE TO COVID-
19.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND
HOW TEARGAS CAN REALLY INCLUDE
THAT IT INCREASES THE SPREAD.
I HAVE ALSO SENT AN EMAIL TO
CITY COUNCIL ON THAT.
ALSO, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN
THE POLICE CONTRACT THAT ALLOWS
FOR THE USE OF TEARGAS OR FLASH
BANGS, SO THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED
INTO THAT THEY ARE BREACHING
CONTRACT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS HOWARD
GAIL.
>> HI, HOWARD GAIL FROM I THINK
IT IS OBSCENE TO KEEP PEOPLE
WAITING FIVE HOURS AND CUT
THEIR TIME TO ONE MINUTE.
WE KEEP ON HEARING FROM CITY
LEADERS THAT WE HAVE A TRUST
WORTHY AND RENOWNED SYSTEM OF
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YET
FAMILIES ARE SHOWING,
RODRIGUEZ, RANDY SMITH, AND THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN KILLED
LAST WEEK WOULD DISAGREE.
FUNDAMENTAL, IS BEING DISHONEST
WHEN HE SAYS THERE WILL BE
CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIONS.
THERE IS ONE INVESTIGATOR OUT
OF 13, AND THEY COULD ONLY
INVESTIGATE THINGS THAT MIGHT
NOT RESULT IN THE TERMINATION
OF AN OFFICER.
THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SYSTEM
OF ACCOUNTABILITY. FINALLY IT'S
NOT FLASH BANG DEVICES THAT ARE
USED, THEY ARE BLAST BALLS,
FORMER DANGEROUS, THEY BLEW
SOMEONE'S FACE OFF FOUR YEARS
AGO.
STOP USING THESE BE MORE HONEST
ABOUT WHAT THIS SYSTEM, WITH
THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM IS.
>> THANK YOU, HOWARD.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE IS
HELEN GILBERT.
>> HI, I AM HELEN GILBERT, AND
I'M SPEAKING TODAY FOR RADICAL
WOMEN AND FREEDOM SOCIALIST
PARTY, I AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS
HAVE BEEN TO ALMOST EVERY
DEMONSTRATION IN THE LAST TWO
DAYS, AND ON SATURDAY, SO THOSE
HUNDREDS OF POLICE LINED UP
LIKE SOLDIERS, GEARED UP AND
READY TO ATTACK. THEY DENIED
PEOPLE THEIR FREE SPEECH
RIGHTS, THEY COULD NOT GET
THROUGH THE RALLY, AND THEY
HARASSED AND BRUTALIZED PEOPLE
WHO WERE EXERCISING THEIR
SPEECH AND JUSTIFIABLE RIGHTS
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
I WAS AT WTO AND MANY
PATRICIANS BEFORE AND AFTER
MANY FOWL POLICE MURDERS, AND
IT JUST GETS WORSE.
THE ONLY THING THAT WILL MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IS ELECTIVE CIVILIAN
REVIEW WITH POWER INVESTIGATE,
DISCIPLINE, PRESS CHARGES, AND
FIRE OFFENDING OFFICERS.
THE U.S. IS FOUNDED ON RACISM
AND CAPITALIST HAVE CONTINUED
TO MAKE INNERMOST PROFITS FROM
RACISM.
THOSE WHO SUFFER THE MOST ARE
ALSO DYING FROM THE CORONAVIRUS
AND EXPENSING THE MOST AT THE
HANDS OF POLICE AND THE MOST
POVERTY.
>> THANK YOU.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE HAVE LISTED
HERE IS PAUL KING.
>> I AM PAUL KANG, I WOULD LIKE
TO ADDRESS THE POLICE BRUTALITY
I WITNESSED FIRST HAND IN
RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS.
MANY IN KOREA, LABELED AS
AGITATORS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS
ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY,
AND KEY DECISION-MAKERS FROM
THOSE WHO MADE THE RESPONSE TO
THOSE COMPLACENCY ALLOWED IT TO
TRANSPIRE WERE LATER CONVICTED
OF HIGH TREASON, BECAUSE THEY
BETRAYED A DUTY TO THEIR
COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY THAT
TRANSCENDED THE UNJUST LAWS OF
THEIR SOCIETY.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE
TO ASK YOU IF YOU BELIEVE YOU
ARE CURRENTLY STANDING ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
I HAVE SEEN BLACK VANS ROLLING
DOWN BROADWAY, SHOTS BEING
FIRED AT MY FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS, AND SHOTS USED ON
PROTESTERS. I WILL REMAIN IN
THE STREETS WITH MY COMMUNITY,
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH MY
NEIGHBORS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS,
UNTIL I HEAR AN ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION.
THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER?
>> HELLO, I THINK IT'S
RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT ANY
KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP OR
OVERSIGHT CAN BE DONE BY A
WHITE PERSON WHEN THEY HAVE
PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE UNABLE
TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ANY OVERSIGHT COMMUNITY NEEDS
TO BE RUN BY A PERSON OF COLOR,
ESPECIALLY A BLACK PERSON.
IN ADDITION, NEEDS TO STOP
ACTING LIKE IT DOES NOT HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO CHANGE RIGHT
NOW.
ABUNDANCE OF HOPE, CENTER IS A
NONPROFIT RUN BY A FAMILY OF
BLACK WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN
OPERATING IN SEATTLE FOR A FEW
YEARS, PROVIDED FUNDING BY THE
CITY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING TREATMENT AND
OPERATIONS FOR OUR HOMELESS AND
TRANSIENT YOUTH IN THE CITY.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN AFFECTED
BEFORE ALL OF THIS.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE BLACK
LEADERS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
ABUNDANCE, SEATTLE WASHINGTON,
LOOK THEM UP, FUND THEM.
GET IT DONE!
>> THINK LIKE YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JP DINERO.
>> HI, THERE, THANKS, JP
DINERO, I AM DEEPLY HORRIFIED
BY THE SEATTLE POLICE RESPONSE
TO THIS CRISIS IN THE ABSOLUTE
FAILURE OF OUR LEADERSHIP FROM
ELECTED OFFICIALS, AT THE START
OF PRIDE MONTH WITH THE,
TEARGAS FIRED BY A FORCE
COMPLETELY LACKING EMPATHY, IT
IS MORE THAN JUST DISGUSTING
AND MORE THAN A DISGRACE.
BLASTING A RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THESE
CHEMICALS AS THE CITY PREPARED
FOR ANY DAMAGES OCCURRED?
THERE IS A FAILURE OF ELECTED
OFFICIALS TO HOLD THE OFFICIALS
ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR
ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEES AND
REVIEW BOARDS, BUT HOW CAN
BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE HELP US
IN THE PRESENT MOMENT?
THANK YOU, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MEGAN NIHON
.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS MEGAN, I LIVE IN
CAPITOL HILLS NEAR SEATTLE YOU.
I'M A SCIENTIST. I WAS THINKING
ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE IN OUR
CITY, AND I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE
MEETING THIS MORNING AND I HAVE
SEEN SO MANY EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE
WORKING SO HARD TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE, BUT THIS MEETING
AND THAT MEETING, IT'LL AND
OVERSIGHT IT DOES NOT HAVE
ENOUGH, NEARLY ENOUGH POWER TO
HOLD OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS CURFEW IS A VIOLATION OF
ALL OF OUR RIGHTS AND SERVES NO
PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO CURB
LAWFUL ACTION.
IN LISTENING TO THE POLICE
CHIEF THIS WHOLE MORNING, IT IS
INSULTING TO OUR INTELLIGENCE.
IT IS A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR
OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
AND I CAN BELIEVE THIS IS THE
THING THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE.
I HATE THESE OFFICERS AND THEY
NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABILITY
FOR HIDING THEIR BADGES.
AND, AND I SUPPORT THE CALLS TO
DEFUND THE POLICE, BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT GOES FAR ENOUGH.
>> THANK YOU, OUR NEXT SPEAKER
IS CLIFTON GORDON.
>> HI, CLIFTON GORDON, I AM
DISGUSTED WE ARE ASKING FOR
CITIZENS TO BE PERFECT, BECAUSE
AS SOON AS AN UMBRELLA HANGS
OVER A BARRICADE, WE ARE SEEING
RUBBER BULLETS AND MORE.
DE-ESCALATION EFFORTS, AND ALL
WE HAVE SEEN IS BRUTAL
ESCALATION.
WE HAVE SIX OFFICERS ASSAULTING
ONE WITH A TRUMPET LAST NIGHT,
SO I SUPPOSE WE CAN ADD
TRUMPETS TO THE LIST OF WEAPONS.
WE ARE CALLING FOR CHANGE
INCLUDING DEFUND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL
REMEMBER THOSE WHO STAND WITH
US AGAINST MURDERING AND
SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION OF BLACK
PEOPLE, AND WE WILL REMEMBER
THOSE WHO ARE OFFERED NOTHING
BUT PLATITUDE.
STOP USING TEARGAS, THANK YOU.
>> HI, THERE, I AM A SOCIAL
WORKER, AND I HAVE ATTENDED
POTESTS IN BOTH SEATTLE AND
OLYMPIA AND HAVE BEEN ASKED,
PEPPER SPRAY, AND HAD MY
PHONE'S BEEN RATTLED, MY POINT
IS IF YOUR ACTIONS, IF PEOPLE
STAND WITH YOU, ALSO I WAS LEFT
SPEECHLESS BY SOLIS AND
DISINGENUOUS OR MARKS.
THE EXCUSES WERE HAUNTINGLY
SOCIOPATHIC, AND TO JUST USE
CIRCULAR LOGIC TO RE-JUSTIFY
THE USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE,
VOID OF CONCERN FOLKS HAVE BEEN
SHARING ABOUT UP TO THAT POINT.
>> THIS PERSON SHOULD NOT HAVE
POWER IN OUR SOCIETY.
ALSO IT WAS A NICE TOUCH TO
ADOPT FAKE NEWS AND PRETTY
WORDS TO CLARIFY THAT TO
CHALLENGE HER IS ILLEGITIMATE.
THIS ARROGANCE MUST BE
ANNIHILATED WITH SWEEPING
CHANGE.
PLEASE TAKE AWAY THEIR TOOLS OF
WAR.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, ZACH.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY.
I AM A RESIDENT AND HERE TO
TESTIFY FOR REFORM OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE INVESTIGATION AND SHOW A
PATTERN OF BIAS, AND CONTRACT
IN THIS ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
THE CITY HAD APPROVED PLENTY
INCLUDING PROCESS THROUGH WHICH
OFFICERS CAN DISCIPLINE.
MAYOR DURKAN HAS ENCOURAGED, I
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO
FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY TO ENSURE OUR
COMMUNITIES ARE SAFE.
WE ARE SENDING MORE THAN TWICE
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THE
POLICE THEN WE DO HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES.
IT MAKES FOR A POORLY AND
NEGLECTED FUNDS.
I URGE YOU TO REDIRECT FUNDS TO
WHICH INDIGENOUS LEADERS HAVE
INDICATED MANY TIMES.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JENNIFER
GOSAR
>> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS
JENNIFER, TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL TO FOCUS ONLY ON THE
PROTEST RESPONSE IS TO MISS THE
OPPORTUNITY OF EXAMINING
EGREGIOUS POLICE CONDUCT.
THE SAME PATTERN HAPPENS TIME
AND TIME AND AGAIN WHEN SOMEONE
IS KILLED.
THE OFFICERS HAVE TIME TO DE-
ESCALATE THE SITUATION IN ALL
LEADING UP TO THE FATAL MOMENT.
HOW REFRESHING.
IN REAL TIME, I BELIEVE SPD
WOULD FIND SUPPORT INSIDE.
I ASK WHAT RESULTS WILL SHOW
SEATTLE PUBLIC, I AM ASKING
CELL COUNT CITY COUNCIL, WHO
ARE WE TO, COUNT ON YOUR
JUDGMENT FOR GETTING AS YOU
HAVE DISCARDED CONCERNS FROM
CPC?
I THINK THIS IS SUCH A DEEP
ISSUE, MAYBE THE OPTIONS ARE A
BETTER CHOICE.
HERE AND ACROSS THE NATION
MAKES FOR THE DEFINITION OF
PANDEMIC.
>> THANK YOU OUR NEXT SPEAKER,
DEVON MALONE.
>> HI, THANK YOU, MY NAME IS
DEVON MALONE, I LIVE ON THE
SEATTLE SOUTHSIDE OF DISTRICT
TWO.
I WAS HERE AT THE PROTEST, AND
MY THOUGHTS, I DON'T THINK OF
MYSELF AS A PROTESTER, I'M NOT
AN ACTIVIST AND DID NOT EXPECT
A CONFRONTATION WITH POLICE.
THE CROWD SEEMED TO BE NORMAL
PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AGES 6
THROUGH 65.
ONCE WE ARRIVED AT
HEADQUARTERS, I FELT THEY HAD A
PLAN TO WRAP UP.
BICYCLE POLICE, THEN A GROUP OF
SMALL CARS AND SIRENS, NEXT THE
ENTIRE GROUP PUT TOGETHER PUT ON
GAS MASKS.
IT WAS A CLEAR INTENT TO
INTIMIDATE A PEACEFUL CROWD.
I SAW NO PROVOCATION AND SAW
POLICE FIRE BLAST BALLS AND
USING TEARGAS, THEY WERE
ATTACKING PROTESTERS.
ONLY A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT, BUT
I AM SADDENED AND DISHEARTENED
THAT THE ISSUE OF POLICE
COVERING THEIR BADGE NUMBERS.
I LOST A LOT OF RESPECT AND
TRUST FOR POLICE HERE IN THE
LAST FEW DAYS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS JACOB FARLEY,
PLEASE.
>> YES, MY NAME IS JACOB
FARLEY, IT IS ABSURD AND
INSULTING THAT THE POLICE
IDENTIFY COVERING BADGES FOR
ANY REASON.
BUT ESPECIALLY OUT OF CLAIMED
RESPECT FOR THE DEAD, ALL WHILE
DENYING THAT RESPECT TO
THOUSANDS OF CITIZENS BEING
GASSED AS THEY ATTEMPT TO MOURN
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
ACTIONS, SECEDER POSITION AS
MAYOR, AND REFORM.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER?
>> PETER CABINETS.
THIS IS PETER.
I LIVE IN THE SEATTLE SIXTH
DISTRICT, AND I WANT TO SAY
OTHERS HAVE EXHAUSTIVELY
EXPRESSED THE ISSUES OVER THE
PAST FEW DAYS.
TO THE EMPTY STATEMENTS FROM
MAYOR DURKAN, WE FOUND THE CITY
ATTORNEY IS SENDING THE ORDER
TO REMOVE THE CONSENT, TO BUILD
ON THAT, I WOULD LIKE IN NO
CERTAIN TERMS FOR THE MAYOR TO
STATE THEY WILL NOT BE SEEKING
REMOVAL WITH THE CURRENT
ELECTION CYCLE.
BEYOND THAT I WOULD LIKE THEM
TO COMMIT NOT MOVING FORWARD
WITOUT THE EXPRESS CONCERN
WITHOUT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE
FUTURE.
I THINK I FOCUS MY REMAINING
TIME ON TO SAVE TIME, THAT WAS
THE LANGUAGE INCLUDED, HOWEVER
I FIND THE LANGUAGE TO BE
DAMAGING WITH THE CIVILIAN
OVERSIGHT AND ENSURE ALL
FUNCTIONS REMAIN WITHIN THE
HANDS OF THE POLICE THEMSELVES.
SECTION E.1C, 3.5 POINT SEE,
SECTION 4.2.8 , SECTION 3.6
POINT K , --
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAMANTHA
SCHAEFER.
>> HI, THERE.
THIS IS SAMANTHA SCHAEFER, I
LIVE IN BEACON HILLS.
I WANT TO ECHO EARLIER COMMENT,
THAT I HAVE BEEN WATCHING AND
LISTENING TO THIS ENTIRE
MEETING, AND THE CHIEF AND
MAYOR ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE
DEMANDS OF PROTESTERS, TOTALLY.
AND IT IS CLEAR THEIR GOALS OF
REFORM ARE BABY STEPS IN A
DIRECTION THAT IS NOWHERE EVEN
CLOSE TO ABOLISHING THE POLICE
STATE A BULGING PRISONS, DUTY
FUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
FUNDING HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND
NOT RESTING OFFICERS, THEIR
GOALS SEEM ENTIRELY UNRELATED
AND COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH
WITH EVERYTHING THAT PROTESTERS
ARE DOING, AND I ENCOURAGE THEM
AND EVERYONE HERE LISTENING TO
LISTEN TO HOW ALMOST EVERY
SINGLE PERSON CALLING IN HAS HAD
TO CRY THEIR ACTION AND SAYING
WE NEED TO DEFUND SEATTLE
POLICE.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, I YIELD.
>> THANK YOU.
SIDNEY KING, PLEASE.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS SYDNEY CHANG, I AM A
JUNIOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY.
AS A STUDENT ENTERING THE
HEALTHCARE FIELD, I AM
REFERRING TO THE TREATMENT AND
HIM REQUESTING TO DEFUND THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW.
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING SINCE
12:00, I HAVE LISTENED TO THIS
FOR FIVE HOURS, SPD HAS SHOWN
IS IS NOT CAPABLE OF PROTECTING
THE PEOPLE IT HAS SWORN TO
PROTECT.
I DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING TO A
PROTEST OUT OF FEAR THE POLICE
WILL HURT ME.
NOT VANDALS OR PROTESTERS,
POLICE.
IT NEEDS LEADERSHIP AND ACTION
NOW.
THANK YOU, BLACK LIVES MATTER,
AND I YIELD THE REST OF MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER IS
JEN.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JOHN.
I WANT YOU TO WAKE UP.
I KNOW YOU SNOOZE THROUGH THESE
THINGS, YOU CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE,
LOOK AROUND YOU.
WHAT YOU HAVE IN COMMON WITH
DONALD TRUMP AND SADDAM
HUSSEIN?
AND ADOLF HITLER?
YOU ARE USING CHEMICALS AGAINST
YOUR OWN PEOPLE.
YOU ARE ON THE HOT SEAT.
YOU WILL KNOW WE WILL NO LONGER
STAND IN COMPLACENCY.
WE WERE, I WANT YOU TO FUND
SOCIAL WORKERS AND FUND
HEALTHCARE INSTEAD, AND I WANT
YOU TO ENFORCE COMMUNITY
POLICING NOT IN CRUISERS.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO GIVE US OUR
TIME, TWO MINUTES IS VERY VERY
LITTLE, AND MANY OF THESE
PREPARED REMARKS ARE BEING CUT
SHORT.
LACK LIVES MATTER.
SPEAK SPEAKER
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS
ALEXANDER ALLEN.
>> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE CAN THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA ALLEN, I
AM WASHINGTON TONY AND BORN AND
RAISED, I'VE CALLED SEATTLE
HOME FOR MANY YEARS I HAVE
WORKED ON CITY COUNCIL AND AM
HERE TO URGE YOU TO DO
EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO
STOP THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEFERMENT FROM USING BLAST
BALLS, TEARGAS, FLASH BANGS AND
RUBBER BULLETS ON PROTESTERS.
IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PROTESTERS
MEETING THIS WEEK, INCLUDING MY
MOTHER WHO IS AT CITY HALL
RIGHT NOW, ALSO IN THE FUTURE,
THAT YOUR BUDGETING DECISIONS
AND UNION NEW GOSHEN
NEGOTIATIONS.
USING TOOLS THAT WE HAVE
PROVIDED THEM IT'S JUST NOT
GOOD ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO TAKE AWAY THE
MILITARIZED EQUIPMENT THAT
ALLOWS THEM TO HURT CIVILIANS
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IMMEDIATELY!
AND THEN REINVENT THOSE
RESOURCES INTO COMMUNITY
SERVICES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS
SINCE NOON, I KNOW MANY OF YOU
HAVE THE SAME IDEAS, BUT WE
NEED MORE.
THE SEATTLE PD CANNOT BE
COUNTED ON TO DO THIS, SO WE
NEED TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE
DAVIES.
>> HI, CATHERINE DAVIES FROM
DISTRICT 1. I AM CALLING
BECAUSE I WAS AT THE PROTESTS
ON SATURDAY, AT 10 CENTURY.
I SAW ONE BOTTLE BROWN, THROWN
BEFORE POLICE THROUGH FLASH
BANGS AT US, TEARGAS, WITHOUT,
THERE WAS NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE
FOR THEM TO BE COMING AT US,
LIKE THEY WERE AT WAR WITH US!
DEFUND THE POLICE, OR CAN,
RESIGN!
WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT
, THEY ARE BEING FUNDED BY US,
IT IS BANANAS.
WE DO NOT INVEST IN CHILDREN,
AND IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE
CITIZENS.
THIS HAS TO STOP!
WE WON'T HAVE IT!
WE WON'T CONTINUE TO PROTEST,
NUMBER TEARGAS NUMBER FLASH
BANGS, POLICE NEED TO BE
DEMILITARIZED, NOW.
THANK YOU.
I WILL YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, CATHERINE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA.
>> MY NAME IS AMANDA, I AM IN
DISTRICT FOR HERE TO COMMENT ON
THREE ITEMS.
FIRST THE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON
THE WITHDRAWN MOTION, THE NEED
TO REDUCE POLICE FUNDING AND
UPCOMING BUDGET, AND THIRD
MEETING TO REINVEST SOURCES AND
ALTERNATIVES BY SOCIAL WORKERS
INTO SOCIAL PROGRAMS.
JUST THIS SHOWS HOW IMMATURE IT
REALLY WAS.
THE CITY HAS CONTINUED TO CLAIM
SPD IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN
RESPONSE TRAINING. IGNORANT OF
THE REALITIES THAT POLICE
FORCES IN OUR COUNTRY, FIRST
SUPERIORITY TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS
TRANSPARENTLY HOLLOW VICTORY.
WE SEE ON A DAILY ASUS THE
POLICE, SEATTLE HAS ACHIEVED
THE BARE MINIMUM FOR POLICING
AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS A
APPROACH TO COMMUNITY SAFETY.
WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT POLICE AND
SUBSEQUENT ENFORCEMENTS OF JIM
CROW LAWS.
FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY, WE NEED
FOUNDATIONS OF OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND TAKE ACTION TO
THESE PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIMI IS A
MALL.
>> HI, MY NAME THAT, HI MY NAME
IS MIMI, I AM A BEAUTICIAN,
DRAG PERFORMER, AND NIGHTLIFE
PERSONALITY HERE IN SEATTLE, I
AM A TRANS-WOMAN.
I HAVE TO SAY THE DANGER
LEADERSHIP FROM ANYTHING HAS
BEEN PROGRESSIVE, IT'S
REPREHENSIBLE AND INHUMANE.
FURTHERMORE, THE CHIEF
BLATANTLY LYING ALL DAY, SAYING
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO HAS
BEEN ESCALATING THE VIOLENCE,
IT'S DISGUSTING.
THESE ARE BEING STREAMED ALL
OVER THE WORLD, 50,000 WATCHED
LAST NIGHT AS SPD WENT OUT OF
THEIR WAY IN ESCALATING THE
SITUATION AND LOOKING FOR WAYS
TO JUSTIFY THE USE OF EXCESSIVE
FORCE HEARD AND THEY SHOULD BE
ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES, ONLY A
WHITE WOMAN LIKE HER, AGAINST
POLICE BRUTALITY, 50 YEARS AGO.
SPENDING THE FIRST DAYS OF
PRIDE MONTH TEAR GASSING --
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK UP TO
SPEAKER 32, BECAUSE I SEE
SPEAKER 32 HAS COME BACK. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
HEATHER?
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI.
AND FROM DISTRICT 4, CAPITOL
HILL.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS
CANCEL SESSION FOR THE PAST
COUPLE HOURS TODAY.
I AM SO ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED
WITH CARMEN, SHAME ON HER,
CURRENT BEST SOUNDED SO HOLLOW
AND DISINGENUOUS TODAY, AND I
AM SORRY THAT SEATTLE LIFE AS
NOTE IS VIDEO EVIDENCE OF SPD
ENTICING VIOLENCE AND USING
TACTICS OUTLAWED UNDER THE
GENEVA CONVENTION.
HERMAN, YOU ARE FULL OF SHAME
ON YOU, AND SHE NEEDS TO BE
FIRED.
SPD HAS TURNED THEIR KNEES ONTO
NEXT, TEAR GASSING SEATTLE,
INCLUDING ONES NOT EVEN ON THE
STREETS.
>> THANK YOU, NEXT SPEAKER IS
MEGAN PERKOWSKI.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS EGGEN, I AM AN
AUTISTIC WOMAN AND HAVE BEEN A
DISABILITY RIGHTS WORKER. I
FOUND A OFFICER WITH A
MUSTACHE, GINGERLY GRINNING
WHILE ANOTHER
>> NOT THE BEST, LISTEN TO YOUR
CONSTITUENTS.
DEFUND THE SPD NOW.
I WAS AT THE EMERGENCY INTO THE
RESPONSE YEARS AGO.
WHY A YOUNG PREGNANT BLACK
WOMAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH BY
POLICE IN HER HOME WHEN SHE
CALLED TO REPORT A BURGLARY IN
HER HOME.
LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND
RESPONDED WE HAVE THE MOST
ELECTIVE AND RIGOROUSLY TRAINED
POLICE IN THE NATION.
I WOULD SAY WHAT MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN , REFERRED TO THE BABY
AS A BLACK ADULT, ANYWAY THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW GEORGE FLOYD'S NAME TODAY.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, ELECT BLACK
WOMEN --
>> THANK YOU, MEGAN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANDREW
GOLDEN.
>> MY NAME IS ANDREW GOLDEN.
I LIVE IN BALLARD.
I AM CALLING TO EXPRESS MY
DISGUST AND DISAPPOINTMENT
ABOUT THE ACCEPTABLE USE OF
FORCE ON PROTESTERS THIS WEEK.
MULTIPLE VIDEO SHOWS POLICE
UNLEASHING FORCES ON PEACEFUL
PROTESTERS. IT IS MAKING ITS
WAY INTO PEOPLE'S HOME.
THIS IS COMPLETELY UN-
ACCEPTABLE, AND THE USE OF DEAR
MS., TEARGAS, RUBBER BULLETS --
WHO IS THIS PROTECTING?
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN, YOU SHOULD
HOLD THESE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE,
I AM TIRED OF YOU SEEING YOU
COVER THESE COPS.
STOP GASSING SEATTLEITES.
CITY COUNCIL PLEASE HOLD THE
MAYOR AND POLICE ACCOUNTABLE
AND TAKE ACTION.
DEFUND THE POLICE IN THE BUDGET
CYCLE AND REFUND THOSE SOURCES
ELSEWHERE.
I SUPPORT THE DEMAND TO DEFUND
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
FREE PROTESTERS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I REALLY I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HI.
I AM MARIA VALENTINE.
POLICE DEPARTMENTS USE OF RIGHT
CONTROL AGENTS, TEARGAS, AND
PEPPER SPRAY, WHICH IMPACT THE
RESPITE SYSTEM, IS VERY
CONCERNING.
THE CDC STATES EXPOSURE TO
RIGHT CONTROL AGENTS MAY CAUSE
SEVERE EFFECTS TO RESPIRATORY
FAILURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN
DEATH.
THESE AGENTS MAY ALSO CAUSE
MORE SERIOUS COMPETITIONS FROM
COVID-19.
EQUALLY CONCERNING IS THE USE
OF KINETIC IMPACT PROJECTILES,
RUBBER BULLETS.
RESEARCH FOUND GIVEN THEIR
INHERENT INACCURACY POTENTIAL
FOR MISUSE AND ASSOCIATION
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SEVERE
INJURY DISABILITY AND THEFT,
NOT APPROPRIATE WEAPONS FOR USE
IN CROWD CONTROL SETTINGS.
DO THESE SPECIFIC MESSAGE
UPHOLD OUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH
AND SAFETY GIVEN THE DATA
PROVIDED ABOUT THEM?
BY THE LOOK HEALTH EXPERTS?
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROYCE LEE.
>> ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER.
FIRST OF ALL, LACK LIVES
MATTER, SECOND OF ALL, ONE
WEARING BODY CAMS MANDATORY AND
HARD PENALTIES FOR TURNING OFF
ONE'S BODY KIM.
MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR FORCES,
IT WAS APPALLING TO HEAR THAT
Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY
, TAXPAYER MONEY, WAS BEING
USED FOR THAT EQUIPMENT.
CUT MONEY FOR SPD AND THE DATE,
REDIRECT THOSE FUNDS.
DON'T HALF-AND-HALF BECAUSE
THERE IS A LOVE CORRUPTION, AND
THE VERY FORCES THAT ARE DOING
THE CORRUPTING INVESTIGATE
THEMSELVES.
BY TRANSPARENCY FOR ROUNDTABLE
DISCUSSIONS, THERE WAS NO
ADVERTISEMENT FOR A COMMUNITY
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION, SO NOT A
LOT OF PEOPLE KNEW HER TUNED
IN.
AND FINALLY PROTECT FROM,
ESPECIALLY WHERE YOU ENACTED A
CURFEW.
THANK YOU I YIELD MY TIME.
>> NEXT SPEAKER.
>> HI, MY NAME IS DAN CORDELL,
I AM A BALLER RESIDENT, I HAVE
LIVED IN SEATTLE FOR 14 YEARS.
ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE SPD.
ARE WE REALLY PRETENDING THEY
WERE EVER OUT THERE AS
PEACEKEEPERS?
LET'S FACE IT, THEY ARE THE
COUNTER PROTESTERS, PROTESTERS
ARE AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY,
AND THEY ARE RESPONDING BY
ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS, USING
POLICE BRUTALITY AND
OVERWHELMING EXPORT FORCE TO
ATTACK CROWDS.
THIS IS A SELF-FULFILLING SELF-
FULFILLING PROPHECY.
THEY ARE DOING THIS OR ARE
UNBELIEVABLY STUPID.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
IS BEYOND REFORM.
THEY HAVE SHOWN BEYOND A SHADOW
OF A DOUBT THIS PAST WEEK.
ALL THAT REFORMS IS IGNORANCE
TO DELIVER REAL CHANGE.
DESPITE EVERY SINGLE ONE, TOOTH
AND NAIL.
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN , SHE MUST
RESIGN IN SHAME.
HER BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN SHAMEFUL.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, BLACK TRANS
LIVES MATTER.
THANK YOU.
>> I AM SEEING ANOTHER WHO HAS
RETURNED TO THE MEETING,
SPEAKER NUMBER 40.
>> HI.
>> HELLO.
WELCOME.
>> HI.
HI.
IN FULL RIOT GEAR, COPS.
THROWING TEARGAS AND FLASH
BANGS INTO A CROWD OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE OF PROTESTERS,
PUTTING THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD
UNDER ATTACK.
CHEMICALS SEEPING INTO PEOPLE'S
LUNGS, BECAUSE THERE SCARED OF
A UMBRELLA OR WATER BOTTLE?
THESE ARE FULL RIOT GEAR.
THEY ARE COPS, COWARDS, AND
SUBS.
THEY ARE NOT PROTECTING ANYONE.
WE DON'T NEED COWARD COPS, WE
DON'T NEED TO MILITARIZE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GO TO WAR
WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
THE ONLY THING MAYOR JENNY
DURKAN HAS SHOWN US IS LIES.
WE NEED CHANGE.
THE POLICE NEED TO BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
STARTING WITH TURNING ON THEIR
BODY CAMERAS.
REVEALING THEIR BADGE NUMBERS,
AND THROWING AWAY THE CHEMICAL
WEAPONS.
WE NEED TO AND THE CURFEWS
IMMEDIATELY.
DEFUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR HEALTH
AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM GOING UP TO SPEAKER 72,
THAT WOULD BE KELLS LUND.
>> I AM HERE.
I'M JUST CALLING AS A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 5. I
WANT TO ECHO THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZERS AND DEFUNDING OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
REDIRECTING FUNDS TO HUMANE
SERVICES, INCLUDING FREE PUBLIC
TRANSIT DURING THIS TIME.
I WANTED TO ECHO CALLS FOR
SEATTLE CITY, PROTESTERS, AND I
ALSO WANTED TO ASK THE CITY
COUNCIL, TO HOLD THE EXECUTIVE
OFFICE ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUDING
THE REMOVAL OF THE MAYOR FROM
OFFICE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO HOLD THE
PEOPLE IN CHARGE ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU AND BLACK LIVES
MATTER.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER, SONNET PHILLIPS?
>> MY NAME IS SONNET SOPHOMORE
PHILLIPS, A RESIDENT OF
DISTRICT 2, AND I WOULD LIKE TO
LEND MY VOICE TO MY FELLOW
CITIZENS AND OUR DEMAND FOR
POLICE REFORM, THE DEFUNDING OF
SPD, AND RE-MOVING OF THOSE
FUNDS TO PEACEFUL PROGRAMS.
I SAW EXCESSIVE FORCE AGAINST
BLACK PROTESTERS.
FLASH BANG GRENADES AND TEARGAS,
DEPLOYED UPON CITIZENS, AND A
LARGE PERCENTAGE OF WHOM WERE
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
I SAW MYSELF TRAPPED HAVING TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH TEARGAS TO MY
OWN HOME.
I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY FROM THE
OFFICERS.
ON TUESDAY, MAYOR JENNY DURKAN
JOKED ABOUT NOT WANTING TO
SOUND LIKE A MOM.
WHY NOT?
MOTHERS CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY
OF THEIR CHILDREN.
MAYORS CARRIER, CARRY ABOUT THE
SAFETY OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
I AM DISINGENUOUS BY THE LACK
OF CARE SHOWN BY OUR MAYOR.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CALEB.
>> CALEB ARE YOU AROUND?
>> YES CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, I AM CALEB, FIRST I
WANT TO ADDRESS I AM WHITE, SO
I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO UPLIFT
THE VOICES AND STRUGGLES OF
PEOPLE OF COLOR IN MY
COMMUNITY.
WHEN I WAS MARCHING ON SUNDAY
IN WESTLAKE, WE WERE FOLLOWING
THE FLOW OF POLICE AS THEY WERE
DIRECTING US.
THEY BOXED US IN AND STARTED TO
THROW TEARGAS, AND FLASH
GRENADES AT US, WHEN WE WERE
BEING ETIRELY PEACEFUL.
I WAS IN THE CPC MEETING
EARLIER TODAY, AND THE OFFICER
IN THE MEETING STATED THEY GIVE
THREE WARNINGS OVER A
LOUDSPEAKER BEFORE EMPLOYING
THE TACTICS.
WE DID NOT GET SUCH A WARNING.
THE CHIEF, AS A CAREER PERSON,
I FIND IT DISGUSTING THAT YOU
WOULD APPROPRIATE STONEWALLING
TO, LIGHTING FOR A REASON AND
IMPLYING ANYONE WRITING NOW
DOES NOT HAVE A MAYOR TO BE, A
REASON TO BE ANGRY.
THE MAYOR NEEDS TO MAKE
PALPABLE CHANGE TODAY!
THIS MILITARIZED OFFICERS ARE
SHAMEFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE
DEFUNDED AND ABOLISHED.
BLACK LIVES MATTER, I YIELD MY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER -- NEXT
SPEAKER, I THOUGHT I SAW
SOMEONE ELSE -- LET'S GO TO BJ
LAST.
>> MY NAME IS BJ LAST, I WAS
HORRIFIED BY THE MAYOR AND
CHIEF BEST SEEING SPD'S VIOLENT
RESPONSE TO THE PEACEFUL PROTEST
THAT SHOWS ALL THE REFORM
ISSUES IN THE PAST HAVE NOT
WORKED.
LIKE WE CANNOT GET THE POLICE
TO UNCOVER THEIR BADGES?
THE CITY CAN ENACT A CURFEW,
BUT WE CAN'T GET OUR POLICE WHO
ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR US TO
UNCOVER THEIR BADGE NUMBERS?
THE ONLY THING WE CAN
APPARENTLY DO QUICKLY IS
WITHDRAW FROM E DEGREE THAT DID
NOT GO FAR ENOUGH OR HAS NOT
DONE ANYTHING.
I REALLY WANT TO, WE NEED TO
DEFUND THEM NOW, WHAT IS
HAPPENING IS NOT WORKING, AND
WE NEED TO USE THE MONEY TO FUND
COMMITTEE-BASED HEALTH AND
SAFETY.
AND THE MAYOR AND CHIEF NEED TO
RESIGN AFTER ALL THE SUFFERING
THEY HAVE INFLICTED UPON THEIR
PEOPLE.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SPEAKER 65?
>> HI, MY NAME IS JACQUES, I
LIVE IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE, I
WANTED TO ECHO SOME MORE OF THE
OBSERVATIONS AND PROTESTING
INDIVIDUALS WHO CALLED IN.
I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE BARRICADE
THAT WAS IN THAT VIDEO SHORTLY
BEFORE EVERYTHING, SHORTLY
BEFORE THAT VIDEO BEGAN.
AND BEFORE THAT HAPPENED,
BECAUSE I WAS FACE-TO-FACE WITH
A LINE OF OFFICERS HOLDING
BATONS, AND IN FULL RIOT GEAR,
AND LOOKING AT US WITH SMIRKS
AND BLANK FACES.
AND THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT
STANDING IN FRONT OF A LINE OF
PEOPLE WHO CLEARLY DO NOT CARE
ABOUT YOUR SAFETY, SEEING AS AN
ENEMY, WHEN YOU ARE COMPLETELY
UNARMED.
AND DOING NOTHING TO START THEM
UP.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABHORRENT
THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, AND IT
NEEDS TO STOP RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU, IMMEDIATELY.
>> THINK LIKE YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
PARKER MEAD IS THE NEXT
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
FIRST OF ALL, NOT ONLY IS FEAR
BEING STOPPED, BUT OUR
PRESIDENT IS CONTINUALLY
SHOWING DISREGARD FOR OUR
SAFETY.
REFORM NEEDS TO HAPPEN, NOW!
I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOSING
CONFIDENCE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT
EVERY DAY.
IT IS CLEAR THE CHIEF AND MAYOR
DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF
THE PEOPLE.
SHE ONLY CARED ABOUT PEOPLE
THROWING WATER BOTTLES AT
POLICE, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY
RIDICULOUS.
MANY OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN IN
SUPPORT OF PROTESTERS, BUT THIS
IS NOT ENOUGH.
CITIZENS ARE STEPPING OUT OF
HOMES ONTO THE STREETS TO FACE
OFF AGAINST MILITARIZED POLICE
TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS, WHICH
IS WHAT WE DO NOT NEED TO BE
DOING.
THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED
TO DO FOR US.
AND YET.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME I
APPRECIATE IT.
HAVE A GOOD DAY, HE APPEARED
>> THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA WILCOX.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY OUTRAGE BY
THE SEATTLE POLICE DURING THESE
PEACEFUL PROTESTS.
I WAS THERE.
PEOPLE WERE JUST STANDING AND
ACTIVELY SPEAKING THEIR VOICES,
WITHOUT THE INTENT OF
DESTRUCTION OR HARM.
A WATER BOTTLE IS NO EXCUSE FOR
GAS AND A CURFEW IS AN ACTIVE
ATTEMPT TO CURB OUR FREE SPEECH.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT
FOR DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND
ALSO RESTRUCTURING OUR CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM TO INCLUDE
COMMUNITY CENTERED POLICING AND
JUSTICE ALTERNATIVES.
ALL FUNDS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED
TO SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
THAT WE CAN STOP CRMINALIZING,
AND ONLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT
ALSO THE ILL AND POOR.
THANK YOU.
I SUBMIT MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT SPEAKER IS LET'S SEE HERE,
DANE STOKLEY.
>> HI.
MY NAME IS DANE, I AM A
CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT 7. I'M
COMING TO YOU BOTH AS A
CONCERNED CITIZEN AND A
PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS SPENT THE
ENTIRETY OF MY CAREER WORKING
IN NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE EGREGIOUS FORCE AGAINST
UNARMED CIVILIANS I HAVE
WITNESSED IS GROSS AND
APPALLING.
THIS BEHAVIOR IS WHAT I EXPECT
FROM AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES, NOT
A DEMOCRACY.
THE SEATTLE CHIEF POLICE, AND
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN, AND DEMAND
THE RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF AND
THE MAYOR.
PROHIBITION OF TEARGAS, RIGOROUS
REVIEW, AND LEGISLATION TO
ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
RIGHT NOW I'M EMBARRASSED TO BE
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GREAT
CITY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, BLACK
LIVES MATTER, I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
JENNIFER?
>> I'M SORRY, I THINK I SPOKE,
BUT I CAN SPEAK AGAIN.
>> OH NO.
THAT'S OKAY.
WE'LL GO TO JACKSON AKITA,
THANK YOU, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> THAT'S OKAY.
>> JACKSON AQUINO?
>> I AM A CONSTITUENT OF
DISTRICT SEVEN, I ATTENDED THE
PROTEST ON SATURDAY AND HAVE
FOLLOWED CLOSELY THE EVENTS OF
EACH NIGHT SINCE.
IT IS CLEAR FROM PHOTOS AND
VIDEO, ANYONE WITH EYES CAN SEE
THE COPS ARE IN FACT THE
INSTIGATORS OF VIOLENCE.
I MYSELF WAS GASSED BY THEM, I
WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO REACH THE
PEACEFUL EVENT I WAS TRYING TO
GET TO.
WE WERE CLOSED OFF AND NOT
ALLOWED TO GET TO THE EVENT, I
SAW PEOPLE PEPPER SPRAYED FOR
NO REASON BY COPS.
NO ONE WAS TRYING TO BE RELEVANT
UNTIL THE INSTIGATED.
I URGE THE COUNCIL, A RADIO RATE
, I REITERATE PASSIONATELY TO
BAN TEARGAS, RUBBER BULLETS.
AND SHAME ON MAYOR JENNY DURKAN
AND POLICE CHIEF BEST , SORRY
I'M EMOTIONAL.
SHAME ON THEM FOR THEIR HOLLOW
RESPONSES.
I URGE THEM TO RESIGN.
THEY ARE NOT DOING THEIR DUTY
AND NOT CARING ABOUT OUR WELL-
BEING AS CONSTITUENTS.
I YIELD MY TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO
JENNIFER'S WHO HAVE LAST NAMES
THAT SOUND SIMILAR.
I AM LOOKING FOR 113, JENNIFER
CASA?
THE JENNIFER HAD ALREADY SPOKEN
WAS JENNIFER GOSS OR.
JENNIFER CASA, IT LOOKS LIKE
SHE LEFT, THOUGH.
SO SORRY.
THE LAST PERSON THAT I HAVE
THAT IS PRESENT IS MATT YOUNG.
>> HI, I AM CALLING BECAUSE I
AM SADDENED AND ASHAMED.
THE POLICE, PROTECTING US,
ATTACKING CIVILIANS IN PEACEFUL
WORK.
WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW
DAYS, THE POLICE ARE NOT
SERVING US.
IT IS NOT IMPLICITLY GRANTED.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND THEIR
BELIEFS STATED, THE GOVERNMENT
ONLY EXISTS WITH THE CONSENT OF
THE GOVERNED.
WITHOUT THIS CONSENT, OUR
POLICE ARE THUGS.
YOU HAVE FAILED US SO FAR.
THE SPRAY EVENT OF THE GIRL,
THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE
DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, THEY ARE
ATTACKING US.
WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND CHANGE!
WE DEMAND SAFETY AND RESPECT.
WE DEMAND YOU AND YOUR POLICE
STOP ATTACKING THOSE OF US WHO
WISH TO EXERCISE OUR GOD-GIVEN
RIGHT TOPROTEST.
OUR CHIEF MUST RESIGN, AND OUR
OFFICERS MUST BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE.
I YIELD.
>> THINK LIKE YOU.
THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS OUR LAST
SIGNED UP SPEAKER, IT LOOKS
LIKE JENNIFER CASA HAS
RETURNED.
JENNIFER CASA, SPEAKER -- 115.
>> IT IS ACTUALLY XHOSA, BUT
EVERYONE MAKES THAT MISTAKE.
I WANT TO SPEAK ON ONE OF THE
RESIDENTS ON CAPITOL HILL, WHO
HAS BEEN GETTING TEAR GASSED,
NIGHTLY, BY THE POLICE, SIMPLY
BECAUSE WE LIVE UP HERE, AND
THEY FEEL IT IS INAPPROPRIATE
ACTION TO USE TEARGAS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
NEIGHBORHOOD TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE
, PROTESTERS.
>> THIS HAS GONE WAY OVERBOARD.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS OUR LAST SPEAKER I
APPRECIATE PEOPLE'S PATIENTS.
I AM HEARING FROM ANY ONE AND
I'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE.
MANY OF YOU HAVE STAYED THROUGH
THE WHOLE MEETING.
DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A
CLOSING COMMENT?
I THINK EVERYONE SHARING THEIR
EXPERIENCES AND IDEAS TODAY, I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HUNDREDS
OF EMAILS THAT MY OFFICE HAS
RECEIVED.
MANY HAVE SHARED YOUR THOUGHTS
ABOUT REFORMS AND THE FIRSTHAND
EXPERIENCES.
AND PROTESTING OVER THE LAST
WEEK.
YOUR IDEAS, I APPRECIATE YOUR
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFERS
EXPERIENCES OF THOSE THAT ARE
IMPACTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE,
TODAY'S COMMITTEE MIDDIE
MEETING WAS A CHANCE TO
RESPOND.
THANK YOU AGAIN, WE ARE
ADJOURNED.