>> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING
THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY HERE WHO WILL BE
SPEAKING.
I'LL GUFF YOU THE RUN OF SHOW
BUT WE WILL START WITH THE
REVEREND DR. LESLEY BROOKS TOP,
PASTOR OF NEW BEGINNINGS WHO
WILL START US OFF WITH A PRAYER
AND WITH SOME WORDS OF WISDOM.
THANK YOU, REVEREND BRAXTON.
>> MAYOR DURKAN TO EVERYONE
ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY, LET ME
PREFACE THIS PRAYER WITH THREE
POINTS.
NUMBER ONE, TODAY WE
EXPERIENCED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO
BROUGHT MUCH SHAME TO A NOBLE
PROFESSION, AND A RESOLUTE
DECISION WAS MADE THAT NO ONE
IS ABOVE THE LAW, AND JUSTICE
WINS, THEN GEORGE FLOYD WOULD
STILL BE ALIVE.
BUT AT LEAST AS A CONSOLATION
THERE WAS ACCOUNTABILITY.
SECONDLY LET US NOT CELEBRATE
THINGS FROM AFAR AND NEGLECT
THINGS THAT ARE NEAR.
WE HAVE LEGISLATION PENDING IN
THE WASHINGTON STATE ASSEMBLY
REGARDING NO-KNOCK WARRANTS,
REGARDING UNIFORM USE OF POLICE
FORCE, AND OTHER MATTERS THAT
ARE CRITICAL TO BRINGING
RESTRAINT AND DIGNITY TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN OUR STATE.
LET US BE MINDFUL OF THOSE
THINGS.
THIRDLY, WHILE WE CELEBRATE
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FORMER
OFFICER CHAUVIN IN THE MATTER
OF GEORGE FLOYD, RIGHT DOWN IN
TACOMA, WHERE I WAS RAISED,
THERE IS STILL THE MATTER OF
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE TACOMA
POLICE OFFICERS WHO KILLED
MANUEL ELLIS ON MARCH 3rd,
2020.
THE MATTER HAS BEEN BEFORE
STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE BOB FERGUSON SINCE
NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR ANDY
STILL, QUOTE UNQUOTE, IS
CONSIDERING ALL MATTERS.
JUSTICE DELAYED IS, IN EFFECT,
JUSTICE DENIED.
SO LET US NOT LAWED THINGS FROM
AFAR.
LET US JOIN MINNESOTA COMING
OUT OF THE DARKNESS AND HEADING
TOWARD THE LIGHT.
FINALLY I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE
NEAR AND FAR, LET HE IS EXHALE.
CELEBRATE IF YOU MUST, BUT LET
US DO IT WITH A SENSE OF
DIGNITY.
OUR CITY HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZED
ENOUGH.
WE'RE TRYING TO REBIRTH.
THERE'S NO REASON FOR ANYONE TO
BURN ANYTHING, TO LOOT ANYTHING
TO BE UNNECESSARILY
CONFRONTATIONAL.
LET TONIGHT BE THE BEGINNING OF
A BETTER WAY FORWARD TOGETHER.
AND IF WE CAN DO THAT, THEN
MAYBE THIS GOD AWFUL MOMENT CAN
BE A SEED TOWARD A HARVEST OF
JUSTICE AND REAL COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING POLICING PEOPLE.
WITH THAT, LET US PRAY.
GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS AND GOD
OF OUR SILENT TEARS, THE GOD
WHO HAS BROUGHT US THUS FAR
ALONG THE WAY, GOD WHO YOU BY
YOUR MIGHT HAS LED INTUSE THE
LIGHT, GOD KEEP US FOREVER IN
YOUR PATH, WE PRAY.
BY WHATEVER NAME WE KNOW YOU
AND FROM WHATEVER TRADITION WE
COME, AND EVEN IF, AS ATHEISTS
AND AGNOSTICS, THEY DON'T
BELIEVE ABE HIGHER BEING BUT
HAVE SOME SENSE OF GOODNESS,
TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE GOODNESS
AND MERCY.
AND SO WE PRAY TONIGHT, GOD,
THAT THIS MOMENT MIGHT BE AN
INVESTMENT IN AIMING AND
STRAINING AND GROPING AND
LEANING AND STRIDING TOWARD
BECOMING YET STILL A MORE
PERFECT UNION WHERE ALL PERSONS
ARE GIVEN EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER
THE LAW, EQUAL PROTECTION IN
THE LAW, NO ONE ABOVE THE LAW,
AND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
PERCEIVED AMONG MANY AS A NOBLE
CREED.
AND SO, GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR
TODAY'S POSSIBILITY.
AND WE PRAY YOUR PRESENCE ALL
OVER AMERICA TONIGHT.
WE PRAY FOR THIS MAYOR, THE
COUNCIL, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND
PEEL.
BE WITH US ALL, AND LET US ALL
BEHAVE OURSELVES IN SUCH A WAY
THAT MIGHT MAKE OTHERS THINK
THAT WE KNOW YOU OURSELVES.
AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND BRAXTON,
FOR THAT MOVING PRAYER AND
SENTIMENT FOR ALL OF US.
TODAY'S VERDICT HAS IMPACTED SO
MAINE OUR COMMUNITY AND ACROSS
OUR NATION.
MANY ARE GRIEVING WITH THE
TRAUMA AND PAIN NOT JUST FOR
GEORGE FLOYD BUT FOR SO MANY
LIVES LOST.
HERE WITH US TODAY WE HAVE
FAITH LEADERS, COMMUNITY
LEADERS, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS,
OUR CHIEF, ACCOUNTABILITY
PARTNERS AT THE OFFICE OF
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL,
AND THE COMMUNITY POLICE
COMMISSION.
I WANT TO THANK THE MANY
LEADERS HERE WHO HAVE
COLLECTIVELY BEEN ON THE FRONT
LINES WORKING TO IMPROVE
POLICING AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
INCLUDING CPC COMMISSION
REVEREND WALDEN WHO IS HERE,
ALSO CP C COMMISSIONER, AND
SHE'S ALSO WITH MOTHERS FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT WE ALSO
HAVE CPC COMMISSIONER THE
REVEREND PATRICIA HUNTER.
WE HAVE FROM THE CPC
COMMISSIONERS AND COCHAIRS
INCLUDING LA ROPE BAKER AND
AARON GOOD MAN.
WE HAVE BLACK LIVES MATTER,
MICHELLE MERIWETHER, EQUAL
RIGHTS, ANDREW MEYER BURG FROM
OPA, JOINED BY TWO COUNCIL
MEMBERS, LISA HERBOLD AND
COUNCILMEMBER GONZALEZ.
WE STAND HERE COLLECTIVELY ON
SO MANY WHO ARE NOT HERE.
EACH OF US BRINGS WITH US OUR
OWN WORDS AND OUR OWN WISDOM
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO HAPPY AND
FILLED WITH GRATITUDE THAT
THESE MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO JOIN
US TODAY.
TODAY IN MINNEAPOLIS 12 JURORS
AND OUR SYSTEM OF JUSTICE
CONFIRMED WHAT WE SAW WITH OUR
OWN EYES.
GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED, AND
DEREK CHAUVIN VIOLATED HIS MOST
SOLEMN DUTY TO PROTECT LIVES
AND UPHOLD THE LAW.
THE CRUEL AND DEGRADING MURDER
OF MR. FLOYD SHOOK OUR NATION.
BUT FOR TOO MANY BLACK
AMERICANS HIS MURDER WAS JUST A
REFLECTION OF THEIR REALITY.
LET THERE BE NO QUESTION,
GEORGE FLOYD SHOULD STILL BE
HERE.
AND OUR WORK FOR JUSTICE IS FAR
FROM DONE.
IN THE WEEKS SINCE THIS TRIAL,
IN FACT, DAUNTE WRIGHT WAS
STOPPED AND DIED AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE JUST MILES FROM WHERE
THE TRIAL WAS OCCURRING.
TRUE JUSTICE, TRUE JUSTICE
DEMANDS THAT WE ADMIT,
RECOGNIZE, AND WORK TO ADDRESS
THE RACIAL SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES
THAT HAVE LED TO THESE AND TOO
MANY TRAGEDIES.
TRUE JUSTICE, AS THE REVEREND
SAID, WOULD MEAN THAT GEORGE
FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR, ERIC
GARNER AND COUNTLESS OTHERS
WERE STILL WITH US.
WE MUST DEMAND BETTER FROM OUR
COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THIS
NATION.
BUT THE JURORS IN MINNEAPOLIS
DID RENDER A PORTION OF
JUSTICE, AND FOR THAT WE'RE
THANKFUL.
OUR COUNTRY MUST ACKNOWLEDGE
AND WORK TO DISMANTLE THE
REALITY OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
AND ITS INSIDIOUS IMPACTS ON
ALL A ASPECT OF OUR SOCIETY
INCLUDING POLICING.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE
MADE SYSTEMIC CHANGES IN
SEATTLE, INCLUDING NEW
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING AND
HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND COMMUNITIES OF
COLOR.
WE KNOW THAT LASTING CHANGE
COMES NOT JUST FROM REIMAGINING
THE ROLE OF POLICE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES, BUT FROM INVESTING
IN OUR COMMUNITIES FROM THE
GROUND UP.
TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY STARTS WITH
INVESTMENTS IN HIGH-QUALITY
CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING,
AND CREATING A PATHWAY FOR ALL
CHILDREN TO GOOD PAYING JOBS
AND A FUTURE WHERE THEY CAN BE
ANYTHING THEY WANT WHEN THEY
GROW UP.
NOT "IF" THEY GROW UP.
WE MUST REPLACE GENERATIONAL
TRAUMA AND INJUSTICE WITH
GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY AND
JUSTICE.
THIS WORK IS CRITICAL TO
CREATING A FUTURE, WHERE TRUE
COMMUNITY SAFETY IS A REALITY
FOR EVERYONE AND NOT JUST A
GOAL OR AN IDEAL.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THROUGH
A LOT OF PAIN AND GRIEF IN THIS
LAST YEAR.
IN THE COMING DAYS, MANY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL
PEACEFULLY COME TOGETHER TO
REMEMBER THE LIFE OF MR. FLOYD,
EXPRESS THEMSELVES, AND
EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY WITH ONE
ANOTHER T DETERMINE HOW WE
CONTINUE IN OUR QUEST FOR
JUSTICE.
TONIGHT OUR FAITH LEADERS AND
PEOPLE ACROSS THIS CITY WILL BE
HOLDING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN
A CITYWIDE MOMENT OF PRAYER AT
7:00 P.M.
AS ALWAYS, WE WILL DO ALL WE
CAN TO PROTECT THE CHERISHED
RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND EXPRESS
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
WE'LL ALSO MAINTAIN PUBLIC
SAFETY, PROTECT PEOPLE, AND
PROTECT THE SAFETY OF EVERY
COMMUNITY.
I'M NOW GOING TO HAND IT OVER
TO CHIEF DIAZ AND CHIEF
SCOGGINS WHO CAN PROVIDE AN
UPDATE ON PREPARATIONS THAT SPD
HAS TO FACILITATE SAFE AND
PEACEFUL GATHERINGS TODAY AND
IN THE COMING DAYS.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR THOSE
HEARTFELT WORDS.
I AND THE ENTIRE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT JOIN YOU AND THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN OUR
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING
INEQUITIES IN POLICING, THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND ACROSS
SOCIETY.
I KNOW -- APOLOGIZE, I'M GOING
TO HAVE TO MOVE THAT DOWN.
I KNOW IT IS A SOUL CRUSHING
MOMENT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO
WATCH WHAT WE ALL SAW ONE YEAR
AGO, FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT
ROAFNLTS PEOPLE OF COLOR IN
THIS COUNTRY SAW SOMETHING THEY
HAD SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN
AND WERE FEARFUL THE OUTCOME
WOULD BE THE SAME.
OTHERS WERE CONFRONTED WITH THE
REALITY OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN
POWER IS ABUSED.
IT SHOOK ANY CONFIDENCE THAT
THEY HAD.
I KNOW
>>> TODAY'S VERDICT IS AN
INDICATION THAT CHANGE IN
JUSTICE ARE POSSIBLE.
THE SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
HAS MADE AND WILL CONTINUE TO
MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO HOW
WE PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE
PEOPLES OF THIS CITY.
YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON ALL
WE DO, AFFIRMING THE HUMANITY
OF EVERY MEMBER OF THIS
COMMUNITY, THAT WE WILL WORK
TOGETHER TO BUILD AN EQUITABLE
AND FAIR MODEL OF PUBLIC SAFETY
THAT HELPS OUR COMMUNITIES
THRIVE.
AND THAT WE HAVE HEALTHY AND
EXPERTLY TRAINED MEMBERS OF THE
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
DELIVER THE SERVICE THE
COMMUNITY NEEDS IN A WAY THAT
WE EXPECT THEM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY WILL
FEEL THE NEED TO STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH EACH OTHER,
WITH THE FAMILY OF GEORGE
FLOYD, AND THE FAMILIES OF
THOSE WHO HAVE ALL BEEN KILLED
IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS AND IN
THE PAST YEARS.
I SUPPORT YOU.
THE SPD SUPPORTS YOU.
WE ASK AND I ASKED THAT THESE
GATHERINGS BE SAFE AND
PEACEFUL.
WE CAN ALL ACKNOWLEDGE JUSTICE
. WE CAN DEMAND JUSTICE.
AND WE CAN DO BOTH BY
RESPECTING THE RIGHTS AND
SAFETY OF OTHERS.
WE WILL HAVE OFFICERS OUT,
CONTINGENCIES OF OFFICERS JUST
TO MAKE SURE STREETS ARE SAFE,
THAT COMMUNITY IS ARE SAFE, AND
WE WILL SUPPORT ANY LEVEL OF
FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF FREE
SPEECH.
IF THERE IS ACTS OF VIOLENCE,
WE WILL ADDRESS THOSE ACTS OF
VIOLENCE, BUT I ASKED FOR
PEACEFUL, CALM, AND I WILL TURN
IT OVER.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I AM THE CHIEF OF THE SEATTLE
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK OUR
MAYOR, OUR COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
BEING HERE, ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR BEING
HERE, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE CAROLYN RILEY PAIN
OF THE SEATTLE/KING KATHY
COUNTER OF THE NCAA P TO MAKE
SURE SHE IS ACKNOWLEDGED HE .
PERSONALLY, FOR ME, IT WAS A
DAY OF RELIEF AND A DAY OF
BELIEF, AND THAT VERDICT, THAT'S
WHAT RESONATED WITH ME AS A
PERSON, AS A BLACK MAN WHO HAS
SEEN MANY OF THESE SITUATIONS
NOT END WITH RELIEF OR BELIEF.
SO, IT IS RELIEF BECAUSE
HOPEFULLY, IT BRINGS CALM AND
PEACE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND
BELIEVE BECAUSE, HOPEFULLY, IT
RESTORES BELIEF IN OUR JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
SO TODAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT
AND CRITICAL MOMENT, AND YOU
KNOW, MANY OF THESE THINGS
HAPPENED OVER MY 55 YEARS THAT
HAVE NOT ALWAYS ENDED THIS WAY.
BUT I DO WANT THE COMMUNITY TO
KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDS
READY TO SUPPORT THIS
COMMUNITY.
IF YOU GET TOGETHER FOR
GATHERINGS OR MARCHES ARE
PROTEST, WE STAND READY TO
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AS THEY
EXPRESS THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS, WE DO WANT TO ASK A
COUPLE THINGS OF THE COMMUNITY.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE'RE
STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC, AND IF YOU GO OUT IN
LARGE GROUPS, PLEASE WEAR YOUR
FACE MASK AND BRING HAND
SANITIZER TO WASH HER HANDS AND
DO YOUR BEST TO MAINTAIN SAFE
DISTANCES.
BUT IF THESE EVENTS ARE
HAPPENING AND PEOPLE BECOME ILL
OR INJURED, WE'RE ASKING THE
COMMUNITY TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO
THE EDGES OF THE MARCHES ARE
PROTEST FOR GATHERINGS SO YOU
CAN GET OUT OF THE CROWD SO
WHEN YOU CALL 911, WE CAN
ACTUALLY LOCATE YOU AND FIND
YOU.
TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, WE HAVE
SEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY OVER THE
LAST WEEK OR SO WITH BOARDING
UP BUILDINGS AND DIFFERENT
THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, YOUR SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT IS ASKING A COUPLE
THINGS OF YOU.
MAKING SURE YOUR ADDRESSES ARE
STILL VISIBLE, SO IF WE HAVE TO
RESPOND, WE CAN ACTUALLY FIND
YOUR ADDRESS.
MAKING SURE YOUR STANDPIPES ARE
STILL EXPOSED SO IF THERE WAS
AN EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE, WE
COULD ACTUALLY ACCESS THOSE
STANDPIPES THERE.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT.
AND IF YOU HAVE DUMPSTERS OR
TRASH CANS ARE DIFFERENT THINGS
LIKE THAT, MAKING SURE THEY ARE
LOCKED OR TAKEN OUT OF THE
PUBLIC ACCESS WAYS SO PEOPLE
CAN'T GRAB THEM AND DO THINGS
WITH THEM.
SO THOSE ARE OUR ASKS OF THE
COMMUNITY, BUT YOU KNOW, TODAY
IS A DAY OF RELIEF AND BELIEF
FOR ME.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP
COUNCIL PRESIDENT LORENA
GONZALES.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
I WANT TO THANK MAYOR DURKAN
FOR BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER
TODAY IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT,
SOLEMN MOMENT, AND I ALSO WANT
TO JUST SAY HOW HUMBLED AND
HONORED I AM TO BE IN THE
PRESENCE OF SO MANY AMAZING
COMMUNITY LEADERS HERE IN THIS
ROOM THIS AFTERNOON.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE
ALL BEEN ABLE TO GATHER, SO I
WANT TO APPRECIATE THE MOMENT
OF BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER
TO SPEAK AS ONE CITY AND FAMILY
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS
VERDICT.
SEATTLE, LIKE THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY, HAS BEEN ANTICIPATING
THE JURY'S VERDICT IN THE
MURDER TRIAL OF GEORGE FLOYD.
FOR WEEKS, WE HAVE ALL TUNED
INTO THE TRIAL, SEEKING TO HOLD
FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE KILLING OF
MR. FLOYD, WHICH SPARKED A
GLOBAL RACIAL RECKONING AND THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOMENT HERE IN
SEATTLE AND BEYOND.
THE VERDICT, FINDING FORMER
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER
DEREK CHAUVIN GUILTY OF ALL
THREE CHARGES IS WELCOME NEWS,
BUT WE KNOW IT WILL NOT BRING
GEORGE FLOYD BACK TO HIS FAMILY.
AND WE KNOW THAT FAR TOO OFTEN,
POLICE KILLINGS OF BLACK,
BROWN, AND INDIGENOUS MEMBERS
OF OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE
RESULTED IN NO JUSTICE OR
SYSTEMIC CHANGE AT ALL.
INDEED, WE LIVE IN TWO
DIFFERENT AMERICAS.
WHERE OUR ACCESS TO COMMUNITY
SAFETY IS UNFORTUNATELY OFTEN
DETERMINED BY OUR SKIN COLOR.
THE STATUS QUO OF AMERICANS --
AMERICA'S CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
TO OFTEN FEELS DELIVER
MEANINGFUL JUSTICE TO BLACK,
INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR
COMMUNITIES.
THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IS
STILL PAINFUL FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THIS
CONVICTION, AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
MUST REMAIN COMMITTED TO JUSTICE
AND JUST SYSTEMS THAT MEET THE
NEEDS OF, NOT PERPETUATE THE IN
EQUITIES OF, BLACK AMERICANS IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
JUSTICE , OF COURSE IS NOT
ACHIEVED OR LOST IN A SINGLE
TRIAL.
TRUE JUSTICE WILL ONLY BE WON
WHEN BIPOC OUR SAFE FROM
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM TO
PREVENT FAIR AND EQUAL ACCESS
TO SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY, AND
PROSPERITY.
AS OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEGAN
TO PROCESS AND REACT TO THIS
CONVICTION, I URGE AS ALL TO
PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE AND TO
REFRAIN FROM VIOLENCE AND
DESTRUCTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
LET'S HOLD EACH OTHER IN
COMMUNITY, PROTECT EACH OTHER,
EXPRESS OUR SENTIMENTS HERE,
BUT REFRAIN FROM VIOLENCE AND
DESTRUCTION.
AGAIN, I HOPE THAT FOLKS WILL
PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATE IF THAT
IS WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO, AND
I APPRECIATE CHIEF SCOGGINS AND
CHIEF DIAZ BEING WITH US TO
EXPLAIN HOW THEY ARE PREPARING
TO MAKE SURE TO PROTECT
PEOPLE'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO HAND TO PULL YOU
OVER TO REVEREND HARRIET
WALDEN, WHO HAS BEEN A LONGTIME
ADVOCATE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS REVEREND WALDEN.
THIS IS A 30 YEAR ODYSSEY.
30 YEARS AGO, RODNEY KING, THE
FIRST TIME A CAMERA WAS USED,
AND WE DID NOT GET THE JUSTICE
FOR RODNEY KING, AND ALL THE
OTHER TIMES THE CAMERA WAS
USED, PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE THE
COURAGE TO PHOTOGRAPH POLICE
BRUTALITY AND PUT IT OUT IN
PUBLIC SO PEOPLE COULD SEE
THAT.
BUT TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.
A GOOD DAY FOR JUSTICE IN
AMERICA.
IT IS A GOOD DAY FOR THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, WHO
CARRIED THE COLLECTIVE SORROW
IN OUR SYSTEM, IN OUR BODY, IN
OUR BONES.
SOMEONE MENTIONED ONE OF THE
FLOYD FAMILY MEMBERS WAS SO
GRACIOUS TODAY TO REMEMBER THE
FIRST ONE.
HE MENTIONED EMMETT TILL.
I WAS NINE YEARS OLD.
I SAW EMMETT TILL'S PICTURE IN
THE "JET MAGAZINE."
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
COLLECTIVE SORROW WE CARRY, AND
LAST WEEK WAS HARD FOR AFRICAN-
AMERICANS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE,
SO TODAY, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, THE VERDICT WAS THE
RIGHT VERDICT.
IT WAS A RIGHTEOUS VERDICT.
IT WAS A NECESSARY VERDICT.
IT WAS A VERDICT NECESSARY TO
MAKE AMERICA RIGHT AGAIN, TO
SAY "WE CAN CALL FOR JUSTICE
FOR EVERYBODY.
WE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY
WORK FOR US.
WE HAVE A RIGHT.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO A POLICE
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO ACTUALLY SEE
AND HAVE A STATEMENT ABOUT OUR
EMPLOYEES.
" WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEY
WORK FOR US.
WE PAY THEIR WAGES, AND IT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD THEM
ACCOUNTABLE, AND A WHOLE
GENERATION HAS GONE OF ALL THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED
IN AMERICA BY THE HANDS OF
POLICE . EVERYWHERE ELSE ,
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE
MURDERED, AND THE MURDERS
CONTINUE, SO THIS IS A GOOD
DAY.
LET'S TAKE THIS DAY AND SEE HOW
WE CAN WRITE AMERICA.
HOW WE CAN SAY, YES, LIVE UP TO
THOSE WORDS IN THE
CONSTITUTION, AND WE, AS
AFRICAN AMERICANS, THE
DESCENDENTS OF ENSLAVED HUMANS
. WE HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN
MOST WHITE PEOPLE, WE HAVE BEEN
HERE LONGER THAN THE CIVIL WAR.
THAT IS HOW LONG WE HAVE BEEN
HERE, AND YOU CHECK THAT OUT,
AND NOW, IT IS TIME.
IT IS TIME FOR A NEW BEGINNING
. MR. FLOYD'S MOTHER CAME, AND
SHE ANSWERED , "WHENEVER A
MOTHER CALLS, WHENEVER CHILDREN
CALL THE MOTHER, NO MATTER HOW
OLD THE MOTHER IS OR HOW YOUNG
THE MOTHER IS, AND MOTHER ALWAYS
GETS UP TO SEE WHAT HER
CHILDREN CALL."
MR. FLOYD CALLED OUT FOR HIS
MOTHER. SHE CAME AND GOT HER
SON.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HIS KNEE
MIGHT'VE BEEN ON HIS NECK IF HE
HAD NOT DIED AT NINE MINUTES
AND SOME SECONDS, SO TODAY,
THEY ARE REJOICING ON THE OTHER
SIDE, AND THEY ARE TOGETHER,
AND THIS IS A GOOD DAY FOR
JUSTICE IN AMERICA.
THANK YOU, AND I AM GOING TO
CALL UP THE CULTURE OF THE
COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION,
MR. RON BAKER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS LARONNE BAKER, AND
I AM ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE POLICE COMMISSION.
TODAY IS NOT A MOMENT OF
CELEBRATION.
IT IS THE BEST OUTCOME THAT
COULD HAVE COME FROM A HORRIBLE
SITUATION, AND CENTURIES OF
VIOLENCE POLICING OF BLACK AND
BROWN BODIES AND COMMUNITIES.
THE CONVICTION WILL NOT BRING
GEORGE FLOYD BACK, NOR WILL IT
BRING BACK SEATTLE COMMUNITY
MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY
POLICE VIOLENCE.
WHAT THIS IS, THOUGH, IS A
MOMENT AN OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST
FOR MINNEAPOLIS, BUT FOR
SEATTLE AND EVERY COMMUNITY
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
TO REASSESS AND SCRUTINIZE LAW
ENFORCEMENT'S USE OF FORCE, AND
HOW WE HOLD POLICE ACCOUNTABLE
WHEN THEY KILL COMMUNITY
MEMBERS.
IT IS ALSO THE TIME TO CENTER
THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE IN
REDEFINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
HOW WE APPROACH PUBLIC SAFETY
AND DEVELOPING POLICING
PRACTICES AND POLICIES THAT ARE
CONSISTENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S
VISION REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE COMMITTEE POLICE COMMISSION
LOOKS FOR TO DOING THIS WORK IN
A MEANINGFUL WAY WITH THE CITY
OF SEATTLE AND THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO DAYS OF MORE JUSTICE
COMING UP.
THANK YOU.
AND I WILL INTRODUCE
SEATTLE/KING COUNTY BLACK LIVES
MATTER -- EXCUSE ME, BLACK
LIVES MATTER SEATTLE/KING
COUNTY'S DEAUNTE MENTOR.
>> TODAY, WE WATCHED JUSTICE
HAPPENED, BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE IMPACTS OF OUR COMMUNITY,
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE STILL ARE MOURNING THE DEATH
OF SHAWN FEWER, WHO WAS
MURDERED IN FRONT OF -- WITH
HIS BABY IN HIS HAND WITH
POLICE . WE STILL NEED
ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE SPACES OF
OUR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, WHO
MAY INVEST MONEY INTO BUILDING
POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE NORTH
END, BUT NOT INVESTING IN THE
SPACES OF HOLDING OUR POLICE
ACCOUNTABLE.
I STAND HERE, STANDING FOR
THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
ARE ASKING FOR THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY, AND YES.
COMMUNITY, PLEASE BE SAFE, BUT
DON'T STOP.
DON'T LET THIS BE THE THING
THAT STOPS YOU AND HAVING THE
CONVERSATION, BUT HOLDING CITY
COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES
ACCOUNTABLE.
OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, SUCH AS
MYSELF, ACCOUNTABLE, AND I
COULD KEEP ON GOING, BUT MY
HANDS ARE SHAKING, SO I WILL
STOP NOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME
TO THANK ONE OF MY MENTORS IN
THIS SPACE AND INTRODUCE HER TO
THE STAGE.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING.
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, LEADERS.
HOW MANY PRESS CONFERENCES DO
WE HAVE TO HAVE?
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO
SAY THE SAME THING?
WE ARE HEARTENED BY THE VERDICT
TODAY. HOPEFULLY, IT'S GOING TO
BRING SOME PEACE TO THE FAMILY,
SOME CALM TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT
SEATTLE, KING COUNTY?
WE HAVE A LOT AND A LONG WAY TO
GO.
THIS IS NO TIME TO CELEBRATE.
YES, WE ARE HAPPY FOR THE FAMILY
AND FOR THAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE
THAT COMMUNITY IS GOING THROUGH
A LOT. IT TELLS YOU SOMETHING
ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
YOU WHEN YOU HAVE -- WHEN YOU
ARE IN COURT, GETTING READY TO
HAVE A VERDICT, PEOPLE ARE
PROTESTING, AND 10 MILES AWAY,
ANOTHER MAN, BLACK MAN, GETS
SHOT.
THIS IS NO TIME FOR CELEBRATION
. THIS IS A TIME FOR ACTION. WE
WANT TO HAVE OUR PEOPLE, THE
PEOPLE, EVERYBODY'S NAME,
YOU'VE HEARD THEM.
WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET THEIR
NAMES BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO
FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
THEM, TO HOLD OURSELVES
ACCOUNTABLE AS A COMMUNITY AS
WELL AS THE POLICE. REVEREND
WALTON SAID THEY WORK FOR US.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE AN EMPLOYER,
THEN YOU HAVE SOME
RESPONSIBILITY ALSO.
AND SO, AS THE EMPLOYERS, WE AS
A COMMUNITY MUST HOLD OURSELVES
UP ALSO, BUT WE CANNOT HAVE
ANOTHER BLACK PERSON DIE.
I WANT TO SAY BLACK MAN, BUT I
DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO DIE, BUT
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
WE HAVE TO DO THE LAWS. IT IS
ONE THING TO GET OUT AND WHAT
HAPPENS IS WE MARCH, WE TEAR UP
EVERYTHING AROUND US, AND
EVERYBODY RUNS AND GETS IN A
ROOM AND STARTS TALKING ABOUT,
"OH MY GOODNESS.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"
BUSINESSES GET UPSET BECAUSE
THEIR BUSINESSES ARE RUINED.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TO START DOING
IS PASSING LAWS THAT IMPACT
SYSTEMIC RACISM.
WE HAVE TO PUT PEOPLE IN PLACES
THAT MAKE DECISIONS, THAT HAVE
A COMPASSIONATE HEART, THAT
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
IN SERVICE AND TO WORK FOR.
THEN, WE CAN START MOVING ON.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO. BECAUSE WE
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO, WE MUST START TODAY. WE
CANNOT WAIT TILL TOMORROW
BECAUSE TOMORROW, THE PRESS
WILL BE GONE, ONE OR TWO WILL
SHOW UP TO COVER THE BLACK
COMMUNITY AND WHAT IS GOING ON.
MAKE A COMMITMENT TODAY, EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF US, BEFORE WE
LEAVE THIS ROOM. WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO TO MAKE IT BETTER?
DON'T EXPECT SOMEBODY ELSE TO
DO IT.
DON'T SAY, "WHERE IS THE AND A
CP?"
ASK YOURSELF, WHAT CAN I DO TO
HELP THE NAACP?
DON'T SAY, "OH, THAT IS THEM."
NO, IT IS NOT THEM.
IT IS US BECAUSE IT IS US THAT
IS IN THIS TOGETHER.
SO I THANK THE MAYOR FOR HAVING
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME FOR
US, TIMED TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY TO TRY TO HEAL
OURSELVES BECAUSE WE ARE
HURTING JUST AS MUCH AS THE
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE HURTING, WE
HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO HEAL, SO
SEATTLE/KING COUNTY?
LET'S GET BUSY.
LET'S MAKE THIS A POSITIVE
IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, AND
LET'S WORK TOGETHER.
>> OH, BOY.
IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE ON THIS
IMPORTANT DAY.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
WE HAVE ALL BEEN TOGETHER, AND
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH MY
SEATTLE FAMILY.
IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE LESS THAN
A YEAR SINCE GEORGE FLOYD'S
MURDER WAS TELEVISED AROUND THE
WORLD. HIS DEATH RAISED THE
CONSCIOUSNESS OF AN ENTIRE
POPULATION TO THE REALITIES OF
VIOLENCE AND DEATH FACED BY
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY WHEN THEY COME INTO
CONTACT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THOSE WHO WATCHED AND PROTESTED
HIS MURDER IN THE MURDERS OF
COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR
Y LAW ENFORCEMENT BOTH BEFORE
AND AFTER HAVE CREATED A RACIAL
RECKONING AND A CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT OF GLOBAL PROPORTIONS
TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL SEE,
FEEL, AND INSIST THAT BLACK
LIVES MATTER.
GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER AT THE
HANDS OF A POLICE OFFICER WILL
IN PERPETUITY SERVE AS THE
FLASHPOINT FOR A PAINFUL,
DRAMATIC, AND VERY, VERY
NECESSARY SHIFT IN THE WAY THAT
THE CITY AND THE NATION HAVE
ALLOWED INSTITUTIONALIZED
RACISM TO DRIVE.
TRUE JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD
WILL NOT BE ATTAINED WITH THIS
VERDICT.
NO VERDICT WILL RESTORE GEORGE
FLOYD'S LIFE. NO VERDICT WILL
HEAL THE FEELINGS OF
POWERLESSNESS IN THE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHO WE ALL WATCHED
COURAGEOUSLY TO EVERYTHING THAT
THEY COULD DO AS BYSTANDERS TO
STOP THE LOSS OF LIFE CAUSED BY
THE ADULT AUTHORITY FIGURES
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
NO VERDICT CAN REPLACE THE LOVE
MR. FLOYD GAVE TO HIS FAMILY
AND FRIENDS, AND NO VERDICT CAN
MAKE UP FOR THE COUNTLESS
VERDICTS THAT CAME BEFORE, WHEN
BLACK MEN AND WOMEN WERE KILLED
BY POLICE, AND THEIR KILLERS DO
NOT FACE JUSTICE.
I CALL FOR ANY DEMONSTRATIONS
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO BE
PEACEFUL AND NONVIOLENT IN A
WAY THAT HONORS BOTH MR.
FLOYD'S NAME AND THE MOVEMENT'S
LEGACY AS CHANGE AGENTS FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION.
I CALL FOR THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO NOT INTERFERE
WITH PEACEFUL PROTESTS, AND
ADHERE TO THE NEW SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT CROWD
MANAGEMENT POLICIES PROMULGATED
BY CHIEF DIAZ THAT INCLUDE
REDUCING PRESENCE WENT SAFE AND
FEASIBLE, PROVIDING MEDIA LEGAL
OBSERVERS AND PROTEST MEDICS
SAFE AVENUES TO CARRY OUT THE
IMPORTANT ROLES, DE-ESCALATION,
COMMUNICATION, AND ISOLATING
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TAKING
UNLAWFUL ACTIONS AND OTHERWISE
LAWFUL CROWDS.
IT IS LONG PAST TIME THAT WE
ADDRESS THE RACIAL INJUSTICE
AND SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS WITH
POLICING AND LEGAL SYSTEM. WE,
AT THIS TIME IN THIS COUNTRY,
MUST FIND A WAY TO CHANNEL THE
DEMANDS OF PROTEST AND POLICY
THAT BUILDS TRUE COMMUNITY
SAFETY. TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT
REQUIRES US TO BE STEADFAST IN
THAT COMMITMENT. AND I WANT TO
SAY A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT IS IN
MY HEART RIGHT NOW . WATCHING
THE FAMILY OF GEORGE FLOYD
WITH ALL THE GRACE OF THEIR
HEARTS AND LOSS EXPRESS THEIR
GRATITUDE TODAY REALLY HURT MY
HEART. IT HURT MY HEART BECAUSE
I WANT THIS COUNTRY AND I WANT
OUR CITY TO BE A PLACE WHERE
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL
FOR A VERDICT, BUT INSTEAD, YOU
EXPECT TO BE HEARD BY POLICE
WHEN A BLACK MAN, A BLACK WOMAN
, A CHILD SAYS THEY CAN'T BREED
OR HOLD THEIR HANDS UP AND
SHOWS THEY DO NOT HAVE A WEAPON
OR COMMUNITY MEMBER IS SEEKING
HELP IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
THAT SHOULD BE THE EXPECTATION
OF OUR CITY AND OUR NATION, AND
THAT IS THE CALL FOR JUSTICE
TODAY.
THANK YOU.
MAYOR DURKAN?
>> THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
AS WE CALLED PEOPLE TOGETHER ON
SHORT NOTICE AND UNTIL I SAW
WAS HERE, I HAD NOT MENTIONED
CAROLYN RILEY PAYNE, WHO
HERSELF WAS NOT JUST IN A ROLE
FOR NAACP BUT IN SEATTLE, HAS
BEEN SUCH A FORCE FOR JUSTICE
AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND VICTORIA
BEACH, WHO'S ALSO ABLE TO JOIN
US AND I DID NOT SEE IT UNTIL I
SAW HER.
SHE HAS DONE A WHOLE RANGE OF
THINGS IN SERVICE OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO ECHO HOW
FAR WE HAVE TO GO AND HOW IT IS
TRUE THAT, WHILE THERE WAS A
VERDICT THAT WAS RIGHT, THAT IS
THE LOWEST BAR FOR JUSTICE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID, I
SAW GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS,
INCLUDING THE FORMER JOHN LEWIS
TRYING TO GET ACROSS A BRIDGE,
AND THEY WERE STOPPED.
WE HAVE SO FAR TO GO, BUT WE
KNOW WE HAVE TO GO, AND WE CAN
ONLY DO IT COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER
WITH THE VOICES WE HAVE BEHIND
US, BUT THE VOICES THAT HAVE
BEEN IN THE STREETS HERE AND
ACROSS THE NATION, SO WE ARE
THANKFUL FOR THIS MEASURE OF
JUSTICE, BUT WE CANNOT GIVE UP
OUR QUEST FOR JUSTICE. AND WITH
THAT, IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS
FOR ME OR ANY OTHER MEMBERS
HAVE SPOKEN HERE. MR.
SALISBURY?
>> FIRST QUESTION IS FOR CHIEF
DIAZ.
CHIEF DIAZ, AS SOMEONE WHO CAME
TO THE STREETS ALMOST ONE YEAR
AGO WHERE PEOPLE WERE HORRIFIED
BY THIS MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD
AND WHO WAS OUT THERE IN THE
SEATTLE PROTESTS AND, YOU KNOW,
AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, AS
WELL AS PROTESTERS, AS WELL AS
RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS THE
PEOPLE IMPACTED WHO LIVED ON
CAPITOL HILL, AS WELL AS THE
HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE IMPACTED THROUGH
VICARIOUS TRAUMA THROUGH
WATCHING THESE STREETS, WE CAME
TO THE STREETS IN GEORGE
FLOYD'S NAME.
TODAY, THERE HAS BEEN A
VERDICT.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
MOST ONE YEAR LATER, WHAT IS
SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
COMMITMENT?
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM THE
SEATTLE PROTEST AND HIS
INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF POLICE
DEPARTMENT VIOLENCE?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HAVE
HIT EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN THE IMPACT
THAT WE FELT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER.
WE CANNOT STAND ON WHAT WE HAVE
DONE.
WHILE WE HAVE MADE SOME VERY
BIG INROADS IN THE YEARS IN
WORKING WITH REVEREND WALDEN ON
A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHANGES
THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, WE'VE
GOT TO DO MORE.
WE'VE GOT TO MEET THE
EXPECTATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY,
AND I WORKED IN COMMUNITY. I
HAVE BEEN THERE WITH A LOT OF
MEMBER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE
MAKE CHANGE INTERNALLY.
I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD
, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO
HOLD OUR DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE
ND CONTINUE TO MAKING SURE
THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY
CHANGING, EVEN HOW WE RESPOND
TO PROTEST.
WE HAVE SEEN A MASSIVE CHANGE
IN THE WAY HOW WE ARE ACTUALLY
GOING TO RESPOND AND HOW WE'RE
GOING TO DEAL WITH IT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HONOR
PEOPLE'S FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
I CANNOT LET THE CITY BURN AS
WELL, SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE
IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE'RE GOING
TO DO BETTER.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL. WE WANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING
BETTER SO WE DO NOT HAVE AN
OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING THAT
TAKES A LIFE UNEXPECTEDLY,
TRAGICALLY, AND THAT IS WHAT I
AM GOING TO STRIVE FOR.
AND I KNOW IT MIGHT NOT FIX THE
ISSUES RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT IS
WHAT I AM GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
FOR YOU.
MAYOR DURKAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT POLICING HERE AND A
LOT OF TIMES THE CONVERSATION
GOES AWAY FROM SEATTLE.
WE HEAR OF COURSE, GEORGE
FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR, THAT WE
DON'T OFTEN HEAR CHARLENA AND
JOHN.
IT HAS BEEN SAID HERE TWICE BY
TWO DIFFERENT BEAKERS, THAT THE
POLICE WORK FOR US, BUT A LOT
OF TIMES, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS
CONTRACT. WHAT IS YOUR
COMMITMENT? YES, PLEASE GET A
FAIR CONTRACT, BUT THE CITIZENS
OF SEATTLE GET A FAIRER
CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE.
>> IT'S A 100 % COMMITMENT.
I THINK YOU KNOW, MR.
SALISBURY, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUES
FOR DECADES.
NOT AS LONG AS YOUR MOM , BUT
IT TAKES TIME, AND AS THE FIRST
CITIZENS OBSERVER TO SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT SPORT, I SAT
IN ON EVERY SINGLE POLICE
SHOOTING.
THAT LED TO CHANGES.
THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN TO
INCREMENTAL. WE NEED TO INSIST
NOT JUST HERE, BUT IN OLYMPIA.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD HOPED THIS
YEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD
PASS A LAW THAT GAVE THE
ARBITRATION THAT LED TO THE
REINSTATEMENT OF BAD POLICE
OFFICERS 50% OF THE TIME ACROSS
THIS NATION.
THIS IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO HOLD OUR
POLICE ACCOUNTABLE, AND IT'S
NOT JUST COMING FROM CITY HALL.
WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS
ACCOUNTABILITY COMING FROM
OTHERS AND OTHERS WHO SAID, "WE
WON'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE."
FROM THE VOICES IN THE STREET
TO THE MEDIA COVERING IT, I
BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE HAD A
DIFFERENT VERDICT IN
MINNEAPOLIS IF A YOUNG GIRL
HADN'T HAD THE COURAGE TO FILM
IT AND POST IT.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY
POLICE OFFICER IN THE COUNTRY
IS WEARING A BODY CAM EVERY
TIME.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE MEDIA HAS
ACCESS.
WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IT'S UP TO
LEAD TO MORE ACCOUNTABILITY,
BUT IT HAS TO COME FROM EVERY
ASPECT.
WE ARE SETTING THE PARAMETERS
NOW FOR THE SEATTLE POLICE
CONTRACT.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY
FOR THE FIRST TIME. IS CPA, THE
OIG WILL BE IN THE ROOM TO SET
PARAMETERS AND SPEAK TO
COMMUNITY, AND WE HOPE WE WILL
HAVE A CONTRACT THAT CONTINUES
TO IMPROVE ON ACCOUNTABILITY.
THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHIEF
DIAZ.
>> PERFECT.
[ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER PROGRESS
, SPECIFICALLY ON HOW, YOU
KNOW, ONE COULD SHIFT [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ].
>> . I THINK, HONESTLY, THERE
ARE COUPLE AREAS WE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSING AND WORKING ON A
VARIETY OF ISSUES.
NUMBER ONE CRISIS RESPONSE IS
OBVIOUSLY AT THE FOREFRONT OF
IT.
OUR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE
TAPPED.
IT TAKES SIX MONTHS FOR A CHILD
TO GET MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
SHOULD THEY NEED THEM, AND
MAKING A QUICK TRANSITION TO A
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION TO
BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK IS
REALLY -- WE HAVE TO TAKE TIME
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT
RIGHT, SO AS WE START TO WORK
TOWARDS TRANSITIONING SOME OF
THAT WORK, IT MIGHT BE A
PROCESS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
OVERNIGHT.
I THINK THERE'S ALREADY WORKING
THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY THAT HAS
DONE AND THAT WE CREATED SOME
INVESTMENT AND OUTREACH.
IT CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE THAT.
THE MAYOR IS IN SUPPORT OF
THAT, SO YOU'VE SEEN LESS
OFFICES BEING PRESENT AND
ENGAGED IN THAT WORK, SO I
THINK THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT
WE'RE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND
EVALUATING WHERE WE CAN
ACTUALLY GET COMMUNITY
INVESTMENTS, AND THERE'S ALSO
PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE
PARTNER AND CREATE AN ABILITY
TO RESPOND, TO EVEN HOW WE
ADDRESS VIOLENCE WHEN IT COMES
TO SHOOTINGS AND YOUTH BEING
SHOT AND KILLED.
THAT IS WHERE SOMETIMES A
PARTNERSHIP COULD, YOU KNOW,
OCCUR, WHERE WE MIGHT END UP
HANDLING THE INVESTIGATIVE
SIDE, THE CRIMINAL SIDE, BUT
HOW DO WE CREATE THOSE
INVESTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE
DON'T HAVE RETALIATORY
SHOOTINGS OR OTHER ADDITIONAL
VIOLENCE THAT MIGHT STEM FROM
THAT, AND THAT WORK IS ONGOING.
AN ONGOING PROCESS.
>> HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND [
INAUDIBLE QUESTION ]
>> WE CONSTANTLY ASK FOR CPC,
OIG, OPA, A VARIETY OF
DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE BEST PRACTICES AND HOW
WE RESPOND TO CRIME MANAGEMENT
SITUATIONS, AND THERE ARE SOME
THINGS WE CAN DO AND SOME
THINGS THAT SOMETIMES, WHETHER
IT IS LEGAL OR SOMETIMES THE
TACTICAL SIDE OF IT MIGHT NOT BE
ABLE TO BE APPLIED, SO THAT
WE'RE VALUING EVERY ASPECT OF
THAT.
THAT COULD EVOLVE AND CHANGE AS
WE GO THROUGH A SPECIFIC POLICY
WHEN IT COMES TO USE OF FORCE,
HOW WE RESPOND, AND HOW WE
DEPLOY MAYBE A CROWD MANAGEMENT
TOOL.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE
ARE CONSTANTLY EVALUATING RIGHT
NOW.
>> I WAS HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF
A HARD TIME HEARING YOUR
QUESTION, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING
IS YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT THE
SPD'S FLOCK OF INCORPORATING
ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT CPC'S
POSITION IS.
WE TRY TO GET INPUT AND POLICY
ANALYSTS RECOMMENDING OVER THE
YEARS FOR MANY CHANGES THAT SPD
COULD HAVE TO THEIR POLICIES
AND PRACTICES, INCLUDING
RECENTLY PROVIDING INPUT ON USE
OF FORCE POLICIES AND
PREVIOUSLY PROVIDING INPUT ON
CROWD CONTROL POLICIES.
TOMORROW, WE ARE ACTUALLY
LAUNCHING A RECOMMENDATION
TRUCKER THAT WILL BE OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC SO THAT THE PUBLIC
CAN ACTUALLY SEE ALL THE
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE
MADE, WHAT SPD -- WHICH ONCE
SPD HAS IMPLEMENTED ON, WHICH
ONCE SAID THEY WILL NOT DO, AND
WHICH ONES THEY HAVE NOT
COMMITTED TO TAKING ACTION ON
FOR FURTHER TRANSPARENCY
BETWEEN WHAT MAY BE A
DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT
COMMUNITY EXPECTS WHEN IT COMES
TO POLICING AND WHAT SPD IS
CURRENTLY DOING OR HOW THEY
HAVE RESPONDED TO
RECOMMENDATIONS.
. WE ARE STAFFED UP IN OUR
POLICY TEAM FOR THE FIRST TIME,
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
MORE ROBUST AND THOROUGH
DISCUSSION WITH SPD GOING
FORWARD.
>> I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP MR.
SALISBURY'S QUESTION.
THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE WE DO IN THE CITY AS WE
HAVE PUT IN PLACE A ROBUST
SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITH
OAP, OIG, AND THE CPC.
WE HAVE TO TRUST THEM AND FUND
THEM AND GIVE THEM THE JOB THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND I THINK
WE SAW IN THIS LAST YEAR, WAYS
WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE AS A CITY
TO BUILD THAT RESOURCE, BUT
ALSO IN WAYS THEY WERE ABLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, EARLY ON IN THE
PROTESTS WHEN THE USE OF TEAR
GAS WAS QUESTIONS, I
IMMEDIATELY ASKED THE OIG AND
OPA TO DO A REVIEW AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS
CLEAR THAT THE FORCE WE SAW WAS
DISPROPORTIONATE, AND WE HAD TO
DO BETTER.
I THINK ALL THE SYSTEMS HAVE TO
WORK TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE TO
BUILD THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO
BE IN POWER TO DO THEIR WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
CHRIS?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY A FOLLOW-UP FOR
GPS, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD.
>> THIS IS MY KIND OF PRESS
CONFERENCE.
>> BASED ON WHAT I HEARD FROM
THE MAYOR AND FROM REVEREND,
OBVIOUSLY, REFORM IN SEATTLE IS
ONE THING.
>> ACTUALLY, MANY IN THE
PROPOSAL TAX BILL HAVE ALREADY
BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WHETHER IT'S
NO KNOCK WARRANTS, CHOKE HOLDS,
NECK HOLDS, ET CETERA. WE HAVE
ALREADY CHANGED ALL OF THOSE
TACTICS, AND IT'S ALL
INCORPORATED IN OUR POLICIES,
SO, IF THEY DO MAKE SOME
TRANSITIONS AT THE STATE LEVEL,
MUCH OF IT IS STUFF THAT WE'RE
CURRENTLY ALREADY DOING, AND WE
DO EVALUATE OUR POLICY IN
REGARDS OF PURSUITS. IT'S
ACTUALLY ALIVE WITH THE
PROPOSALS, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
CURRENTLY TRYING TO STRIVE FOR,
MAKING SURE THAT WE SEE THE
EVOLUTION OF POLICING AND WHERE
WE NEED TO ADJUST AND HOW DO WE
ADJUST QUICKLY.
SO, YES.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRAINING ON A
LOT OF THOSE POLICIES.
UPDATING HOW WE RESPOND IN THE
ESCALATION AND MAKING SURE WE
CONTINUOUSLY -- ACTUALLY, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP
BECAUSE OF ONE OF THE OFFICER
INVOLVED SHOOTINGS IN
MINNESOTA, THEIR USE OF TASERS.
WE CONSTANTLY TRAIN ON THAT.
WE HAVE TRAINED IN THE LAST
QUARTER OF 2020.
WE'RE TRAINING IN THE NEXT TWO
MONTHS, AND WE WORK THROUGH ALL
THOSE THINGS TO ENSURE WE DON'T
HAVE ACCIDENTS.
OR ANY OTHER ISSUES THAT COULD
OCCUR.
SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR
OFFICERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO
CONSTANTLY AND CONTINUOUSLY
TRAIN BECAUSE MANY OF OUR
SKILLS COULD BE PERISHABLE AND
CAN BE PERISHABLE, SO WE NEED
TO CONSTANTLY GET PEOPLE UP TO
SPEED TO MAKING SURE WE DO
ESCALATE EVERY SITUATION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON
SHORT SCHEDULES AND A DIFFICULT
TIME. I CAN'T CLOSE ANY MOMENT
WITH THE PRESS WITHOUT SAYING
WE ARE STILL DEEP IN A PANDEMIC.
AND EVEN WITH THIS GOOD WEATHER
AND MORE PEOPLE GETTING
VACCINATIONS, WE ARE STARTING
TO SEE AN UPTICK.
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT KING
COUNTY COULD PASS THE THRESHOLD
WOULD REACQUIRE US TO GO
BACKWARDS, AND NO ONE WANTS TO
DO THAT.
EVEN IF YOU ARE VACCINATED,
PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE WHEN YOU
CAN.
DON'T HAVE GATHERINGS WITH
PEOPLE. BUT TONIGHT, AT 7:00, I
HOPE EVERYONE TAKES A MOMENT
NOT ONLY TO PAUSE AND THINK
ABOUT GEORGE FLOYD AND HIS
FAMILY, BUT REFLECT ON HOW WE
AS A CITY CAN DO BETTER AND
CONTINUE IN OUR QUEST FOR
JUSTICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HAVE A GOOD EVENING.