Washington State Reps, Don’t be Washington’s Joe Manchin!

Official Daily Action for Monday, February 7, 2022:

Today’s action was adapted from our friends over at the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability.

Following the murder of George Floyd, the primary catalyst for the protests of 2020, most seemed to agree. In that moment, we all decided that enough was enough. We were outraged. Incredible organizations like EveryDayMarch, Black Action Coalition, and Decriminalize Seattle provided education to all willing to learn and helped channel our collective outrage into tangible goals achieved through legislation just last year.

The police use of force bills passed in 2021, particularly the laws addressing use of force and police tactics, targeted the disproportionate impact of policing on communities of color. These bills addressed real problems, grounded in current data. Just one year later, we are at risk of giving away last year’s historic gains primarily due to misinformation. There are two false narratives taking hold. One is that the uptick in crime is due to the changes in law from last year. The other is that these are just small tweaks in the law. These are just false. Most of last year’s laws haven’t even been fully implemented yet. It is not possible that the new laws are the reason for the uptick in crime. The trends were rising prior to the new laws. This is just a blatant attempt to scare people into giving back last year’s gains. Clarifying laws to clear confusion is a good thing, but the state shouldn’t overhaul laws because of a bad faith misinformation campaign that prioritizes fear over facts.

And just so we are clear, it’s the Democrats we need to pressure!

Tell Your Rep: Don’t be Washington State’s Joe Manchin!

The following three bills below must be defeated.

HB 2037 expands when officers can use force, endangering youth and people of color
HB 1788 allows hot pursuits for any offense, going against public safety best practices
SB 5919 rolls back the vehicular pursuit policies enacted last year, by allowing reasonable suspicion as the basis for a pursuit, and expands the use of physical force and waters down the protections put in place last year.

To advance, each bill must pass its house of origin by February 15th.

That means each bill will receive a floor vote in the next nine days!

We need to talk to every single legislator in Washington State to ensure not a single one of these bills becomes law.

ACTION: Email your legislators today!

Use this handy tool to find your state reps: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

Script

Dear [Name] I’m writing to express my support for the police accountability legislation passed last year and to let you know I expect my Reps to vote against HB 2037, HB 1788, and SB 5919. Please know that this will be one of the most important issues you vote on this session and will impact my ongoing support for you as a legislator. Short version, more people will die at the hands of police if this passes. Can I count on you to stand with the families impacted by this horror? Vote NO on HB 2037. Vote NO on HB 1788. Vote NO on SB 5919.
Sincerely,

Families impacted by police violence oppose rollback of 2021!

“The Legislature must keep its commitment to Washington families and reject these bills,” said Fred Thomas, whose son, Leonard, was killed by a Pierce County SWAT Team in 2013, while unarmed and holding his young son. “Throughout my life as a Black man, I have been regarded with suspicion. I have been stopped while driving, thrown up against the hood of a car, detained while walking, and arrested and put in a jail cell for entering my own yard. You cannot dismiss the reality of what Black people face everyday. These bills will reverse the precious progress we’ve made.”

“There is no justification for lowering the standard put into law in 2021,” said Sonia Joseph, whose son Giovonn was killed by Kent Police in 2017. “We went to the legislature in good faith and worked hard to get HB 1310 enacted. The legislature took a stand to improve the profession of policing. They made a commitment to Washington communities and families last year to reduce police violence. A calculated misinformation campaign has stoked fear and threatens to roll back that commitment. We won’t stand for it.”

Katrina Johnson, a cousin of Charleena Lyles, who was fatally shot in her apartment in June 2017 by Seattle police, said they had to show up to express support for the reforms previously approved. “We’re out here as impacted families to bring attention to the police reform bills that were passed last year. And the fact that legislators are trying to roll them back this year because of political pressure from law enforcement and their inability to want to change.”

Background:

Follow the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability

Facebook: https://facebook.com/wcforpa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wcforpa

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ka3gEzXQ4w29JHNjJahXQ

Web: https://washingtoncoalitionforpoliceaccountability.com/