By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Not This Time — a coalition of parents, family and friends of victims of police violence — held a press conference introducing Initiative 940. Founded by Andre Taylor, the members of Not This time are all working diligently to hold law enforcement accountable and to put an end to the senseless killings of individuals, particularly unarmed Black victims, at the hands of police officers.
According to Taylor, the coalition has come together sacrificing their healing by sharing it with the public in the hopes of opening the minds and hearts of the people and work to bring about a change in the way law enforcement polices the citizens.
“I founded Not This Time so families of senseless police violence don’t have to do the heavy lifting,” said Taylor. “How can you grieve through the media and law enforcement probes, I am not going to sit around and let that happen.”
According to Not This Time, Initiative 940’s purpose is to raise the community’s awareness of the importance that legislation and policy can have in the fight for justice in a seemingly “just us” legal and law enforcement culture. Initiative 940 is asking the community to take into consideration looking at laws, legislation and policy in holding law enforcement to its creed of protect and serve.
Former United States Attorney under President Obama Jenny Anne Durkan shares, “we must make that promise to protect and serve a reality for families
According to the Washington Secretary of State documents, Initiative 940 was filed May 23, 2017. The legislations will make it mandatory for police officer to complete, nonviolent de-escalation and mental health training as well as first aid training.
According to proponents, the intent of the legislation is to provide officers with more decision making and de-escalation tools prior to using force, as it will mandate that officers engage and complete nonviolent de-escalation training. It will also be their responsibility to complete mental health training.
“I believe that it is good to march and it is good to rally, but unless we engage this system through policy and legislation, nothing will ever change,” says Taylor.
According to a database maintained by Killedbypolice.net, there have been 28 people killed by police in Washington State in 2017, there were 29 people killed by police in Washington State in 2016. It is apparent that we may surpass that number this year. Organizers believe that this fact alone should bring us all to the table to talk and work to change the culture of policing.
Marilyn Corvarubbias, the mother of Daniel Corvarubbias who was killed by police, believes that now is the time for the community to work together on this issue.
“We need to join hands and bring everyone together, because we are all in this together,” says Corvarubbias. “We need to fight this together, we need to stand with our brothers and sisters and move forward and do the right thing. This is a righteous fight.”
The members of Not This Time are asking all communities to support Initiative 940 when it appears on the ballot.
