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Racial Justice

The authors of the Declaration of Independence outlined a bold vision for America: a nation in which all people would be free and equal. Yet the forced removal of indigenous peoples and the enslavement of those of African descent marked the beginnings of a system of racial injustice from which our country has yet to break free. Despite important gains made by civil rights activism, the school-to-prison pipeline, mass incarceration, and racial profiling and bias in policing are but a few of the racist injustices that mark the distance between America’s reality and the dream we seek to achieve: liberty and justice for everybody.

Resources

City of Seattle’s Denial of Juneteenth Event Permit Unconstitutional

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, June 10, 2021
The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department’s denial of CHOP Art’s permit application based on the content of the event violates a central tenet of the First Amendment, according to the letter sent Thursday from ACLU-WA and PDA.
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 Will body cameras help end police violence? 

Published: 
Monday, June 7, 2021
A comprehensive review of 70 empirical studies of body-worn cameras found that body cameras have not had statistically significant or consistent effects in decreasing police use of force. While some studies suggest that body cameras may offer benefits, others show either no impact or even possible negative effects.
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Statement on Ruling in SAFE v. City of Selah case

News Release, Published: 
Monday, June 7, 2021
A federal court has temporarily blocked the city of Selah, Washington from enforcing three provisions of its municipal code, after finding that the Selah Alliance for Equality (SAFE) would likely succeed in proving its claims that the provisions are unconstitutional as currently written.
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Spokane Family Demands Equitable Changes After Two Black Middle School Students Were Asked to Clean Cotton for Social Studies Lesson

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
On May 3, Emzayia and Zyeshauwne said their fifth-period social studies teacher took out a box of raw cotton and told the class they were going to do a “fun” activity to see who could clean cotton the fastest.
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Police Oversight in Spokane, Washington

Published: 
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
This post describes the various models of civilian oversight and the duties of the OPO and OPOC in Spokane. It also explores the barriers these agencies face in carrying out their role as well as the progress they’ve made, and articulates the hopeful path that lies ahead.
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Victory: Thurston County Superior Court Rules Washington Driver’s License Suspension Law Unconstitutional for Individuals Who Cannot Afford to Pay Fines for Moving Violations

News Release, Published: 
Monday, May 3, 2021
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson ruled that Washington’s law authorizing automatic and mandatory license suspensions for unpaid moving violation fines without meaningful evaluation of the driver’s ability to pay the fine violates the state constitution’s right to due process.
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Police Accountability and Inquests in King County: Representing families calling for a fair and transparent process

Published: 
Thursday, April 22, 2021
To date, this blog series has focused largely on upstream efforts to transform policing, reduce or prevent its harms, and create public safety for all. This blog post examines endeavors to make more robust the inquest process, a tool for holding police accountable and obtaining justice for bereaved families after police harm has already been done.
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ACLU Statement on Derek Chauvin Guilty Verdict

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Statements from ACLU of Washington, ACLU of Minnesota and ACLU National regarding the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin's trial.
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