Hello T&J Community,
In light of the news about the death and unjust handling of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, our hearts are burdened. It is unfathomable to think that a young man can be gunned down while going for a jog, yet this is as much a reality in 2020 as it would have been in 1920. The belief that life is valuable is not a shared foundation in our country, a country that at its foundation was built on the belief that white bodies are more valuable than black or brown bodies. So we lament and grieve with the Arbery family. We also ask that you would take the time to assess how you can best respond to this tragedy: through learning about our country's history of white supremacy, advocating for justice to be brought in this case, and acting in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who live in fear for the simple fact that they have black and brown skin.
Below, there are different links that can take you to articles and action items for learning, advocating and acting. Not all of the material is directly related to Ahmaud Arbery, but rather the larger systems of injustice that are evident in our country.
LEARN
Learn, grieve, and act in response to the news of Ahmaud Arbery's death on February 23rd that did not result in the arrest and charging of the men involved until May 7th.
Racial disparities in healthcare that have always existed, are evident in the impact that COVID-19 is having on communities of color. Read this: "King County has big racial disparities in coronavirus cases and deaths". For further understanding of why this is happening, google "fundamental causes of racial disparities" and take a deep dive into this history.
Homelessness in Seattle continues to be a challenge, for both those experiencing it and the government to know how to best respond. How is the city meeting this challenge? Here are a couple of articles to read: "Coronavirus pushed Seattle to treat homelessness differently: Will those changes last?" and "Seattle officials clear Ballard encampment"
How are our Native Tribes handling the pandemic? A few articles were recently in the Seattle Times: "Makah tribe fights coronavirus with self-reliance and extreme isolation", "Lummi Nation has its first coronavirus cases in weeks"
ADVOCATE
Demand justice for Ahmaud Arbery. Visit #RunWithMaud to sign the petition and make calls to elected officials to demand that hate crime charges be brought, and that an independent special council would be selected for this case.
Advocate with the Native American community to receive federal funding needed to meet economic, health, and social concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read this article as a place to start.
Release individuals being held in jail awaiting trial. Northwest Community Bail Fund is asking you to contact your city, state and county executives to support our call for the immediate release of all pre-trial non-violent detainees from all King County and WA state detention facilities, a halt to new arrests and bookings and wealth based detention, and the release of other vulnerable jailed neighbors based on health risk.
Governor Jay Inslee: 360-902-4111/email
County Executive Dow Constantine: (206) 263-9600/ email
Seattle City Attorney Dan Satterberg: 206-477-1200/ email
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin: 206-684-4000/ email
SPD Chief Carmen Best: 206-625-5011/ email
For information on contacting State legislators, click here.
For Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier click here.
For Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers emailWhat to say:
Hi, my name is _____, and I am a Washington resident who is concerned about the impact of Coronavirus on people who are detained. We are calling for the immediate release of all non-violent pretrial detainees as well as detainees with at-risk health conditions. We further call for a moratorium on new arrests, bookings and cash bail for all crimes that do not have immediate impact on public safety. Public safety includes those we choose to lock up in close quarters.
Can we count on you to prevent detained people from dying during this pandemic by taking these actions?
ACT
Join Union in attending the Poor People’s Campaign March on June 20, 2020 in a virtual march that will be the largest digital and social media gathering of poor and low-wealth people, moral and religious leaders, advocates, and people of conscience in the nation's history. A global pandemic is exposing even more the already existing crisis of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. On June 20, the 140 million poor and low-income people across the nation will be heard!
Make an extra meal for families at Compass House, or unite with a friend or another family and make 40 sack lunches that can be distributed to Immanuel Community Services, Lake Union Village, or Street Youth Ministries. Contact Adrienne if you would like to serve in this way.
Look at the list of other ways to engage that is attached to this email!
Thank you, friends! The only way to get through this is to stick together.
With love and gratitude.
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Truth & Justice Studio MISSION STATEMENT :: Truth & Justice creates space to educate and mobilize people by lifting up marginalized voices as catalyst for social change. We are a community within Union Church in Seattle, WA.