June, 2020
| The Snohomish County Branch of the NAACP stands against Police Brutality, which includes: the use of excessive force, and other discriminatory arrest and enforcement practices that selectively impact the lives of Black people in America. We stand with the Minneapolis Branch and other NAACP branches across the nation, as they struggle to hold police accountable in their communities. Around the world, people are incensed! They are appalled at the blatant disregard for Black lives in the US. Appalled that Black people can be brutally murdered by law enforcement officers in broad daylight, even while being recorded. The snuffing out of George Floyd’s life comes close on the heels of Ahmaud Arbery’s pursuit and brutal murder, as well as the unlawful entry into innocent Breonna Taylor’s home and subsequent murder. The list of Black people killed by the police in the past few years is unbelievably long. In the case of Floyd’s murder, the arrest of Officer Derek Chauvin still leaves three other officers unaccounted for, all of whom are just as complicit in killing Mr. Floyd. It is not enough. They also must be held to account for their actions. If it were not for cellphone footage of Floyd’s death, the perpetrators’ statement would be taken at face value, as has happened in the past. These cellphone cameras have also attested to white agitators who instigate violence during peaceful protests to vilify the voices of legitimate protesters. And these cameras have also captured rare instances in which law enforcement – in some cities – laid down their guns to join marches with the protesters. It is notable that across the US, some law enforcement agencies have spoken out against George Floyd’s murder. However, statements by the Snohomish County police department about George Floyd’s murder, and the prevalence of excessive force among local law enforcement – including the Bothell, Everett, Lynnwood, Edmonds, and Mukilteo Police Departments – are notably absent. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department has made no such statement. This lack of broad acknowledgment is unfortunate, because Snohomish County is not immune and has a long and troubled relationship with the African American community. Recently, a Sheriff’s deputy violently threw a Black nurse practitioner to the ground and jailed her for jaywalking. Sheriff Fortney response on Facebook observed that “while this may seem like a low level infraction, there is a safety and education component to it as well”. We argue that when it comes to the community, there is certainly a ‘safety and education component’ that the Sheriff’s office must abide by, as well. This, and other similar incidents, will be taken before Snohomish County and City Councils for accountability. Snohomish County is fast becoming a hotbed of white supremacist groups, like the Proud Boys. On May 31, 2020, armed white men with assault rifles roamed the City of Snohomish, drinking and brazenly displaying Confederate flags. Surely this incendiary behavior is a much greater threat to public safety than jaywalking. But where was the Sheriff in this instance? In the interest of protecting the public safety of ALL our citizens, the NAACP Snohomish County Branch looks to County and City Law Enforcement to adopt the following: * Create a Community Oversight and Accountability task force that reviews complaints of excessive force or misconduct by law enforcement. * Install dash and body cams, and mandate their use. Release and investigate community complaints about law enforcement, particularly those filed by members of minority communities and people of color. * Provide & require training that addresses how to recognize and manage systemic discrimination, how to overcome implicit biases, and crisis de-escalation. Civil rights issues continue to plague US society, even today, more than 60 years after peaceful protesters were attacked by law enforcement in Selma, AL. The recent brutal and unwarranted murders of our fellow Americans continue to remind us why “BLACK Lives Matter.” The safety and health of ALL our community members is our priority. The NAACP-SCB stands ready to assist and advocate for those who cannot. We look forward to your response and invite you to join us. |