Seattle Democratic Socialists of America

Last night, over one thousand people came together to march on Mayor Jenny Durkan’s mansion. Starting at Magnuson Park, where Charleena Lyles was murdered by the Seattle Police Department three years ago, we made our way through the rich Windermere neighborhood to Jenny’s mansion.

Jenny Durkan has not agreed to defund SPD by 50%—instead proposing an insulting 5% cut—so protesters, community organizations, and families impacted by police violence brought the demands right to her doorstep.

The march amplified both the demands of the Black-led movement and the demands of the family of Charleena Lyles. We demand: defund SPD by at least 50%, reallocate those funds to Black and brown communities, release all protesters without charges, and we demand justice for the families of those impacted by police violence. Cities must drop their lawsuits against King County’s inquest process, and the police who murdered Charleena Lyles must drop their lawsuits against the county.

Support the demands of the family of Charleena Lyles by joining their email campaign: tinyurl.com/DropYourLawsuit.

Read our latest dispatch from the frontlines: “March for Accountability Honors Charleena Lyles while Marching on the Mayor. Read it here.

You can also read here why we think the mayor’s 5% cut to the budget is bullshit. And if you’re wondering why we marched on the mayor during Pride? Read this piece about why last night’s march was a way to honor our queer and trans ancestors, written by our SDSA Queer & Feminist caucus.

Protesters make their way down the hill to Jenny’s mansion

WHAT’S NEXT?!

We aren’t stopping until these demands are met! Come join us this week at more events around the city. As always, check Slack for more updates!

Black Collective Voice presents Page Engage: Read It and Act

Friday, July 3rd at 6:30PM

Jimi Hendrix Park

This week highlights and discusses From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor!

Let’s Get Free! A Day of Action with King County Equity Now

Saturday, July 4th at 2PM

23rd & Union

And finally, mark your calendars for our July General Membership meeting, next Tuesday, July 7th at 7PM!

TURN IN YOUR TAX AMAZON SIGNATURES!

Throughout the uprising for Black lives, our members have been out every day collecting signatures for petitions to defund the SPD, for Mayor Durkan to resign, and to Tax Amazon for Green New Homes.

And we’re so close to taxing the 800 richest corporations! The Tax Amazon coalition, which DSA is a part of, has collected over 20,000 signatures, which puts us within reach of qualifying for the November ballot. Many of you received your ballot petitions in the mail: please mail or deliver your signed petitions to DSA's Green New Homes campaign in the next 24 hours.

Mail or deliver signed petitions today to Green New Homes: 4245 S Raymond St, Seattle, WA 98118.

The Seattle City Council is poised to vote on different proposals to tax big business within the next two weeks—and our coalition’s efforts to bring this to the ballot have greatly increased the pressure on the council to actually get it done. A majority of councilmembers have indicated they plan to vote for a tax of $200 million per year for housing for ten years, a proposal put forward by Councilmember Mosqueda. The Tax Amazon ballot initiative we are fighting for is stronger, with more far-reaching demands. But even so, the Mosqueda legislation is an important step forward. This is one step in our fight for a Green New Deal, a just transition to a carbon-neutral economy with a focus on communities of color and working-class people, and a jobs guarantee for all.

We have 6 more days to collect as many signatures as we can, to qualify for the ballot and to ramp up pressure on City Hall. Visit GreenNewHomes.org to get involved.

We’ll see you in the streets!

In solidarity,

Seattle DSA