Black-led Organizations Across The State Launch Coalition To Combat Police Violence

Today, a group of thirty-eight Black-led organizations, and 300 individuals across the state of Washington have joined forces to launch Washington for Black Lives (W4BL), a new coalition to combat police violence in communities throughout the state.

The coalition — which includes the Washington Census Alliance, Equal Rights Washington, Political Destiny, the Carl Maxey Center, the NAACP – Tacoma Branch, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, The Noble Foundation, the Federal Way Black Collective, and the Spokane Ministerial Alliance — is organizing statewide in a collective effort to increase investments in Black and Brown communities; defunding of police and prisons; and to demilitarization of local and state police.

Organizers say that it is time to take the necessary steps to stop statewide investments that perpetuate the school-to-prison pipeline and invest resources in our community that improve the quality of life in the African American community and promote job growth and economic development.

“This unique collaborative effort of Black-led organizations committed to effecting change across the state for Black and Brown communities is much needed,” says Jacquelyn Harris, leader with Political Destiny. “By joining forces to use our power and our voice, we can implement positive change in our communities from policing to economic development.”

W4BL’s initial demands include a call for politicians and political candidates to return campaign contributions from police unions.

According to W4BL, over the last six years, police unions have made donations to Washington state political campaigns totaling over $720,000. The ReturnToZero campaign is an effort to address how police unions wield political influence in discussions of public safety. The coalition is demanding that elected officials return donations to the Black community by donating to bail funds or Black-led organizations.

“Today, our law enforcement system echoes that hierarchy of human value,” says Kamau Chege, Director of Washington Census Alliance. “Bloated police and prison budgets, disproportionate use of force on Black folks, all while Black and Brown communities are hollowed out economically, is evidence that the system doesn’t value our lives. But that’s exactly what Washington for Black Lives is going to tackle.”

Washington for Black Lives was formed by Black member organizations of the Washington Census Alliance in an effort to ensure that a successful 2020 Census not only leads not only to funding for Washington State, but to funding that’s invested in community rather than militarized law enforcement.

The founding member organizations noted that many coalitions in Washington are centered in the Puget Sound area and lack holistic representation from across the state.

“Political attention in our state is often focused on the greater Seattle area. But there are strong and experienced groups fighting for racial justice in every corner of Washington—and all of our voices are needed to make real change,” said Monisha Harrell, Chair of Equal Rights Washington. “The national Black-led movement that gained momentum in June has shown us that we are stronger in coalition.

Pastor Walter Kendricks of Morning Star Baptist of Spokane and President of Ministerial Fellowship of Spokane says that he is excited about the potential impact that the group can have on African Americans and African American communities across the state.

“I am excited when considering the positive changes that can be enacted to the current political, economic and criminal justice systems in Washington through this grassroots effort,” says Kendricks. “This organization is seeking actual, positive change—statewide. I am thrilled that so many groups have joined together as one, working towards the goal of an equitable society for all.”