Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance today released rankings of candidates running for office in races across Washington State. The rankings were created based on responses to a candidate questionnaire sent by BLMSKC and WBLMA.
Founded by Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County, the WBLMA is a new statewide collective of people and organizations using their voices, votes and power for the protection and liberation of Black Lives.
“We want to raise awareness of issues impacting Black Lives in local races across the state and of the critical importance of voting at the local level,” the BLMSKC board said. “We want people to know that we see them out protesting in the streets—and now it’s time to take our fight to the ballot box. This is our power. Our voice. Our vote.”
The questionnaire included six topics based on national, state and local BLM priorities, including racism as a public health crisis, defunding police and restoration of voting rights for those who are or have been incarcerated.
The rankings were released as part of a final push to get out the vote before the Nov. 3 election. In the days ahead, BLMSKC will be releasing video content with community leaders, influencers and allies talking about why they’re voting, the change they want to see and the importance of voting for Black lives.
“We have to tackle and dismantle the systems and laws that uphold white supremacy, and we have to challenge every elected, selected, appointed or anointed official to use their position—or the position they seek—to protect the prosperity of all constituencies,” the BLMSKC board said. “And that means Black Lives, too.”
