The following action is adapted from Color Of Change (nocashfromcops.org):

“Breonna Taylor and George Floyd’s deaths have sparked righteous outrage across the United States and the world, with millions taking the streets to protest the unjust treatment of Black people at the hands of the police. While the majority of the country, including non-governmental leaders and politicians of all party affiliations, have denounced these killings, there’s one outlier: police unions.

“Workers have a fundamental right to organize and use their collective power to ensure fair treatment and compensation. Police unions are different in that they perpetuate harm by protecting violent police officers and creating barriers to officer accountability and policy change.

“Elected officials have a responsibility to hold police accountable for the ongoing violence and abuses of power against Black people. In doing so, they must act independently from police unions and others determined to stand in the way of common sense solutions that keep communities safe.”

Action: Email your elected officials to ask them to pledge to reject donations from the Fraternal Order of Police and local police unions.

Please note: Rep. Pramila Jayapal has already taken the pledge, so please thank her instead. If you don’t have time to finish the list, start with the local attorneys and prosecutors at the top:

State & Local:

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes: [email protected]

Attorney General Bob Ferguson: [email protected]

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg: [email protected]

King County Executive Dow Constantine – [email protected]

Mayor Jenny Durkan – [email protected]

Your three city council members: https://www.seattle.gov/council/meet-the-council/find-your-district-and-councilmembers or [email protected]

Governor Jay Inslee: https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/send-gov-inslee-e-message

Federal officials:

Rep. Pramila Jayapal: https://jayapal.house.gov/contact/ (thank her)

Rep. Adam Smith: https://adamsmith.house.gov/contact/

Sen. Maria Cantwell: https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form

Sen. Patty Murray: https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

Sample Script:

Dear [Elected Offiical],

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent who stands against police brutality and white supremacy. I am urging you to stand on the right side of history: refuse to take any political donations from police unions or sheriff associations and donate any contributions you have taken in the last year to Black-led community-strengthening initiatives.

The continued violence against Black, Brown, and Native communities at the hands of ‘law enforcement’ is disgraceful. Police unions are in the business of defending the most consistent murderers and abusers of the Black community, creating obstructions to justice for the families and loved ones.

Stand with your community today.

[Your name]

Background:

Police unions gear up for lobbying battles: https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/502557-police-unions-face-lobbying-fights-at-all-levels-of-government

Elected Official Pledge: https://nocashfromcops.org/

Color of Change Petition: https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/cut-ties-fop

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Event Reminder: Adam Smith town hall TODAY, Saturday, 6/20, 3pm. @Stephan Cox (Washington State Indivisible Podcast) will ask questions focusing on racial equity, police reform, military use against protesters, COVID recovery, and what comes after Trump. Register at bit.ly/AdamSmith_TownHall