Seattle Democratic Socialists of America

Seattle City Council is poised to vote on their final 2021 budget in one week on November 23rd. As it stands, they are proposing a 17% cut to the Seattle Police Department’s budget. Reflecting the huge pressure from the Black Lives Matter movement, the City Council has been forced to reverse course after years of increasing the police budget. But their proposal falls far short of the movement’s demand to cut the budget by 50% and reinvest in Black communities.

We’re coming together to demand that the City Council fulfills their pledge to defund SPD by 50%. Our Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus and district groups have hosted two incredible town halls with Councilmembers Tammy Morales and Lisa Herbold to make sure they fulfill their pledge. You can watch them here and here.

Tonight, join us for an online teach-in on defunding SPD and reinvesting in community with community organizer and activist Nikkita Oliver, activist and educator Jesse Hagopian, and Democratic Socialists of America activist Ramy Khalil.

Defund SPD & Re-invest in Community Teach-In

With Nikkita Oliver and Jesse Hagopian

Monday, November 16 from 6 - 8 PM

Facebook event here

RSVP here

WE DEMAND COVID-19 RELIEF FOR THE WORKING CLASS

At every level, our government and systems are failing people as the COVID-19 pandemic spirals out of control. With cases rising exponentially in the US, the Federal government should pass a stimulus bill to pay people in non-essential businesses to stay home, expand unemployment for those unable to work, and provide real safety protection for essential workers, including PPE, expanded sick time, and hazard pay.

Instead, the Senate's most recent accomplishment is a resolution congratulating the Dodgers and the Lakers on their championships.

Here in Washington, the Democratic Governor Jay Inslee announced a new lockdown order that starts today. But he has yet to extend his eviction moratorium, which ends December 31, and cancel rent. Local governments could commandeer empty hotel rooms for unhoused people to shelter with dignity. Inslee could pass expanded unemployment insurance for the state, so that people are financially able to stay home and not search for work. He could pay small businesses to remain closed and pay workers to stay home.

Instead, Democratic state and local officials say these things are too difficult, too expensive. But it's not too difficult or expensive to spend billions of dollars statewide on the racist criminal punishment system, or to provide billions in corporate tax giveaways. Despite efforts on the city level to defund the SPD here in Seattle, Washington State’s budget has yet to be under such scrutiny.

In this time of crisis, it’s clear that our elected politicians represent big business, not working or marginalized communities. We can’t rely on them. Instead, we need to build socialist and workers movements to demand COVID-19 relief for working people.

There are many ways to be involved in building a world that works for all of us. Check out some other ways to join us this week below.

In solidarity,

Seattle DSA

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