Seattle, WA – 30 people in council chambers came together January 13, for a protest organized by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) to demand the Seattle city council strengthen its stance against ICE.

Members of the Seattle Alliance had presented the Seattle city council with a list of demands, including refusal of any and all cooperation with ICE, and an end to the Seattle Police Department's expanding surveillance system – invasive surveillance cameras which community members previously spoke out against due to the potential for them to be accessed by ICE if requested.

Public commenters spoke out in favor of the demands. Kevin Rosewood, a local educator stated “As a teacher, my main goal is keeping the kids I work with safe. When the council says we are a sanctuary city, I feel like that's just lip service when I see ICE coming and taking people from our communities,”

Rosewood continued, “I'm tired of living in fear that one day my classroom will be raided, and I want you to live up to the promise that Seattle is a sanctuary city.”

Protesters echoed the demands, chanting “We want safety, we'll tell you how! Defend our sanctuary city now!”

“To all of you who didn't sign on to our demands, I say: ‘What are you doing?’” said Jonathan Toledo, branch chair of the Seattle Alliance. “While our streets are being terrorized by ICE, we're hearing nothing from you. You sit up there and don't interact with the people who make up our communities. We want ICE out of Seattle, and if the next words after my comment aren't addressing this, we won't be happy.”

Chants of “ICE out of Seattle!” after this statement drowned out Council President Joy Hollingsworth's next words and forced the council to call a recess where a meeting was arranged.

Hollingsworth initially claimed that the council had reviewed the Alliance's demands. During the meeting it was revealed that only one progressive council member had actually read them, and as such they could not sign on to it. Protesters and community members then left the chambers chanting “We'll be back!”

#SeattleWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #SAARPR

Seattle, WA – On January 7, organizers with Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), Seattle Against War (SAW), and others held an emergency rally in front of the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building to protest the ICE murder of Minneapolis resident Renee Good which had occurred that same morning. The rally was held to answer the nationwide call to action from the Legalization 4 All Network and was organized within a matter of hours.

The event began as a press conference where SAARPR Branch Chair Jonathan Toledo laid out the four people’s demands: an immediate end to ICE raids in our cities; an immediate end to the mass deportations and terrorization of immigrant communities; full justice and accountability for the murder of Renee Nicole Good, and the immediate release of the name of the ICE agent who murdered her, along with the names of all ICE agents terrorizing communities across the country. Toledo continued, “They should not be able to hide! This is unacceptable! This needs to be stopped!”

The press conference quickly took on mass rally proportions as the crowd grew to 300 people. Other speakers spoke in solidarity with the demands. Many demanded full transparency not only of ICE agents but of Seattle PD, who murdered Jack Palelei and Christian Nelson within two months of each other just last year.

Ray Mitchell with Students for a Democratic Society at UW (SDS) spoke about the University of Washington, which “brands itself as a progressive university [but] has refused to do anything about ICE on campus. They told students that if they see ICE, the solution is to call the cops. When I spoke personally to UW President Robert Jones and told him international students on campus felt unsafe, he flat-out refused to make a statement to reassure them. Shame!”

Nolan Good, who spoke on behalf SAW stated, “When we see videos of armed vehicles rolling into neighborhoods, when we see Chinook helicopters fly across the sky, and when we see heavily armed foot soldiers murder people in broad daylight in front of cameras with complete impunity, we know that in Seattle and in Minneapolis and cities across the country, that the very same officers and agents that are killing the people of America on the streets are being trained by the people who are killing Palestinians.”

The growing size and energy of the crowd prompted the organizers to lead the group to take the streets of downtown Seattle and march, occupying the full breadth of the four-lane roads. At every turn, organizers led the crowd in chants of “Say her name! Renee Nicole Good!” Seattle PD blocked adjoining streets but kept their distance from the crowd, whose energy and determination far exceeded their own.

A member of Nidal, a Palestinian organization, echoed the fighting power of the people’s struggle, “When one of the occupation kills us through martyrdom, what we’ve seen today in Minneapolis, that doesn’t mean our movement dies, we keep fighting!” La lucha sigue!

#SeattleWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #InJusticeSystem #KillerICE #KIllerCops #SAW #SAARPR #SDS

Seattle, WA – Over 100 people gathered December 3, at 42nd Avenue S and S Othello Street to mourn and demand justice after Christian Hadley Nelson was shot and killed by as many as six Seattle Police officers at a busy intersection the previous afternoon.

The Seattle Police Department closed the streets and left Nelson’s body at the scene for over 12 hours, shocking neighbors and passersby. Authorities did not release Nelson’s name until December 5. By the time of the rally, community members were calling for the release of all details, including bodycam footage and the identities of the officers involved.

The rally, organized by local groups led by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), aimed to respond to community concerns over recurring police violence, particularly towards Black community members.

Speakers at the rally shared personal experiences and emphasized the need for collective action, uniting attendees around demands for accountability.

“The reason why they [SPD] do this is because these cops are out here to serve as an occupying force,” said Jonathan Toledo, branch chair of SAARPR.

Police said the man shot was allegedly holding a handgun, but neighbors challenge this narrative, showing community skepticism about the authorities' version of events.

A neighbor, who joined spontaneously on the mic, shared, “They killed a Black man, he was homeless, he had mental health issues, and he lived in the park in this neighborhood for a long time. And because he was poor, he was Black, he had mental health issues, his life didn’t matter.” They later continued, “The police serve the wealthy and those who have money and property.”

A worker from Cafe Red said, “A life has been taken. It was police violence.”

Another neighbor in the area, shared, “They do it so they can oppress the Black community.” He later added, “SPD Chief Shon Barnes once again lied and said the man had a gun and that police had no choice but to kill him, but we were talking to witnesses, and they said there weren’t any warnings; the cops escalated instead of de-escalating. That doesn't sound right. Not only did the cops kill this man, but they also endangered this entire neighborhood,” pointing to the nearby building where stray police bullets broke windows and even injured a civilian. Witnesses counted over 24 bullet casings at the scene.

This latest killing occurred only 90 days after federal oversight through the Consent Decree was lifted, closely following the killing of Jack Palelei.

The 2012 Settlement Agreement between Seattle and the U.S. Department of Justice, known as the “Consent Decree,” required city of Seattle to implement reforms to ensure police services comply with the Constitution, ensure public trust and promote confidence.

Emijah Smith, member of the community and a speaker at rally, said, “We have to address the issue here: a person’s life is now gone. A murder. The police were called because someone was having a concern. We don't know all the details, and we’re asking for the release of the details.” Smith later added, “Our people are dying, our people are suffering, and now y’all are too. Do not accept this. Call for action, hold them accountable, ask for the resources.”

The rally uplifted SAARPR’s call for a Community Police Accountability Council (ComPAC), already in practice in Chicago, highlighting the effectiveness of community organizing.

Other organizations, including Seattle Against War, attended the rally to support demands for transparency and justice: full release of bodycam footage, officer names and the victim’s identity.

Clio Jensen from Seattle Against War spoke told the crowd, “The country that we live in is violent, and it perpetuates violence overseas. The Seattle police department trained with the IDF. When George Floyd was killed in 2020 with a knee on his neck, where do you think Minneapolis Police officers learned that technique? By working with the IDF. By giving the IDF tools that the U.S. uses to oppress its own citizens, non-citizens, and to turn it against the Palestinian people who’ve lived more than 75 years of apartheid and a current genocide.”

The rally concluded around 7 p.m., with community members placing flowers and lighting candles in a moment of collective mourning and solidarity.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #SAARPR #NAARPR

Seattle, WA – On November 2, the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) held a press conference in response to an Seattle Police Department killing three days before. The press conference was held where the killing took place, by the intersection of 4th Avenue S and S Holgate Street.

The press conference comes as a response to the conflicted reporting by SPD. On the day of the killing, SPD reported that the officers involved shot the man, and that he was armed with an “edged weapon, potentially an axe.” Later in the evening, the King County Sheriff’s Office, which is responsible for the investigation, stated that the victim had a firearm, and that he “produced a firearm” during the shooting.

“Why is it that we only hear a day after this killing that the victim had a gun?” commented Jonathan Toledo, the branch chair of SAARPR. “Was it because they didn’t know about the gun because he didn’t pull it out? We would love to give SPD the benefit of the doubt, but we cannot, because they have proven themselves to be untrustworthy.”

The Seattle Police Department has a history of shooting Black or brown people for holding an “edged weapon.” Referring to the case of Terry Caver, a Black man killed in May 2020 under a minute after making contact with the police, Toledo continued, “This isn’t just Terry Caver and today. The history goes back decades. Herbert Hightower Jr., John T. Williams, Urban Seay – I have an issue with our Seattle Police Department having such a reputation for shooting and killing Black and brown people armed with kitchen knives that it’s considered suicide.”

SPD recently exited the Federal Consent Decree, established in 2012 after the police killing of John T. Williams, a Native American wood carver. Williams was holding a closed carving knife. Ian Birk, the officer who killed Williams, resigned one year later. Following an investigation by the Department of Justice, SPD was placed under a Consent Decree that required it to conform to constitutional policing practices.

In September 2025, after 13 years under the consent decree, Seattle successfully petitioned the court to lift the restrictions, citing a “comprehensive transformation,” and “one of the strongest accountability systems in the country.” Despite this, many of the same issues with SPD faced by people living in Seattle are still a reality today.

“We know they won't hold themselves accountable. We have many, many police officers with a long track record of shootings. The story being created is that they needed to subdue this person with a blade, but we need to see the footage, and know which officers were involved in the shooting. We deserve to know who is responsible.”

The Seattle Alliance is demanding that SPD immediately release the names of the officers involved, as well as all dashcam and body-worn video of the shooting.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #SAARPR #NAARPR

Seattle, WA – On Wednesday, October 8, the Seattle Public School Board voted 5-2 to reject bringing cops into Garfield High School halls and classrooms. The school board was considering assigning a Seattle Police Department officer to Garfield High School for a one-year pilot program.

The Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression organized with Seattle students and parents to demand no cops in classrooms. This was in reference to part of the proposal which included cops teaching students in classrooms about multiple topics, including students’ “legal rights when engaging with law enforcement.”

At the board meeting, Garfield High School parents spoke up powerfully against the proposal. Emijah Smith, a Black mother and Garfield alumna, said, “Families appreciate having them [cops] on the campus and around but don’t bring them into school when you know we are working on the prison pipeline. You know that’s the cause that’s going to send our kids to prison.”

Amanda Thornewell shared how “the school leaders [used] the police to stop my son from talking about swim team hazing.” She added, “this was the message that my son received from the SRO [school resource officer] and the Garfield leaders: we want you to stop talking. It’s not in your best interest. You will be expelled.”

The Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression branch chair Johnathan Toledo stated, “I’m directly opposed to this SEO pilot program because, as it stands, it does not let students, faculty and parents have control of what officer will be selected, and it doesn’t let students, faculty and parents to decide whether they want to continue or terminate the program.”

Toledo uplifted the demand for community control of the police, stating, “Don’t use the death of Amarr Murphy-Paine as an excuse to put cops in schools in direct contact with students and not give the students, faculty and parents to have any control over what they can and can’t do.”

This vote came after months of organizing and advocacy by the Seattle Alliance, including collaborating with the progressive pro-education Keep Your Promise Coalition, which includes the Seattle Student Union and Seattle Education Association, the Garfield Black Student Union, and Garfield parents, including members of the Garfield PTSA and Garfield parent Arron Murphy-Paine.

The school board’s rejection of this policy is a major political defeat for pro-police Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, both of whom strongly advocated for putting cops back into schools. In contrast with the limited scope of the proposal, Mayor Harrell has advocated for cops in up to four schools with as many as 15 officers.

In her comments before her vote, Board Director Michelle Sarju advocated for Black kids and said, “We are not standing on equal ground. [There is] too much data that says having a police officer in a school creates more disproportionality, not less.”

While Seattle still needs to increase investment in school staff and community organizations that are doing effective violence prevention and justice work, this vote was a positive step in the right direction and a victory for the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #HighSchool #SAARPR

Seattle, WA – On Wednesday, September 17, the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) hosted a rally with the demands of “No Cops in Classrooms! Community Control of the Police!” just before the meeting of the Seattle School Board at the Stanford Education Center. The board was set to deliberate on whether the pilot SEO – “Student Emphasis Officer,” comparable to “Student Resource Officer” — program would move forward at Garfield High School.

This was a program that had already been overwhelmingly rejected by 20,000 signatories in 2020 when a petition to get cops out of schools was organized by Black and brown organizers at FEEST, WA-BLOC, and Black Minds Matter. In 2020, the school board unanimously voted to remove cops in schools. The board at that time included current members Brandon Hersey and Liza Rankin.

There are significant reasons for students to feel unsafe with Seattle Police Department officers. As Rie Guerrero from Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA) and a member of FRSO noted, “SPD had the highest-known number of police officers participate in the January 6, 2021 coup attempt of any police department in the nation, over even LAPD and NYPD,” adding, “the SPD has been under federal oversight since 2012 for using ‘unconstitutional force in one-fifth of all incidents’ which was only lifted last week.”

The Seattle Police Department has earned its federal oversight through many high-profile cases of police killings. Ray Mitchell from Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression stated, “These aren’t people we can trust around our kids, at least the way it is right now. We have no way as a community to trust that we have any control over what the police in this city do.”

The president of the Garfield Black Students Union noted, “It’s not safe to just have these officers on the grounds. In order to have them on the grounds, they have to be held to the utmost standards.”

Aaron Murphy-Paine, whose son Amarr Murphy-Paine was shot and killed outside Garfield High School while trying to break up a fight at lunchtime, spoke passionately to the need for centering of student perspective and voices, stating, “Who’s talking to [students] and asking what do they need? No one is asking them what they need. Everyone is making decisions for them as they see fit.”

Gesturing towards those gathered for the rally, Murphy-Paine said, “Us standing together here is letting them know that the community needs to be part of those decisions that are made by the police department, by the city of Seattle, by the Seattle School Board.”

Representatives from the Seattle Students Union (SSU) spoke to the issue of funding being diverted from schools to cops. Miles Hagopian from Franklin High School said, “Just as important as it is to get rid of police from schools, we need to replace those with people who care about students like mental health counselors, and academic support, and more funding in our schools. But the city, time and time again, refuses to pay up.” Here, he was speaking to the Families Education Preschool Promise (FEPP) levy, a $619 million package that was approved by voters in November 2018. The city of Seattle has failed to approve implementation for half that package.

Leo Palit-Baimonte, the president of SSU, also reiterated what many studies have shown: that having student resource officers on campus does not reduce gun violence or shootings. Increased SROs increased the number of drug and weapon-related offenses, as well as students funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline.

Continuing the story of diverted resources from earlier speakers, a speaker from Anakbayan South Seattle, a student organization focusing on demilitarizing schools said, “Students have been demanding culturally relevant education, but ethnic studies keep getting cut to balance the budget. With the new lunch schedule, students have to give up the time to run clubs, to celebrate culture, and build community. And after sacrificing all of this, what resources do our youth get in return? Heightened police presence, the threat of ICE raids, and more predatory military recruiters.”

Rilan Springer, a former student and now a graduate from Garfield High School, powerfully summed it up, stating, “We have not implemented anything for the students. The students have nothing to work with. It’s their voices that need to be heard, but it’s adults that need to support us, and that hasn’t been happening.” In contrast to the Seattle School Board’s proposed pilot program — which would place an armed officer in the classroom and would also require upturning an existing moratorium on weapons on campus — they made a clear distinction: “We want an SRO outside of the building, but we want community control over that SRO.”

At the Seattle School Board meeting that followed this rally, the board unanimously voted to postpone the School Engagement Officer pilot program and said they would call a special board meeting to discuss the idea.

What the communities impacted most by these decisions are demanding is clear: in order for there to be just solutions that center the safety and well-being of students, their voices need to be an essential part of the solution, including how resources are spent. With community control of the police, they will finally have agency over who is meant to be protecting them, and true accountability should they not measure up.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #SAARPR #HighSchool

Seattle, WA – On March 16, a crowd of around 40 activists, organizers and community members marched around the King County prosecutor’s office. In February, King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion’s office declined to file charges against Seattle police officer Kevin Dave, who over a year ago struck and killed a student at a crosswalk with his car.

Kevin Dave, an officer previously fired from the Tucson Police Department, was responding to a non-fatal overdose call on January 23, 2023 when he killed 23-year-old Northeastern grad student Jaahnavi Kandula. Dave was going 74 miles per hour—nearly three times the speed limit of 25—without his siren on when he sped through the crosswalk, colliding with Kandula, who was crossing at the time. Body cam footage was later released showing Daniel Auderer, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, making jokes about the incident and saying to SPOG President Mike Solan that Kandula’s life had “limited value”. After over a year of silence from the city, Prosecuting Attorney Manion declared “insufficient evidence” to file charges.

The protest, organized by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), rallied in a neighboring park, featured speakers from the Seattle Alliance, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the University of Washington’s Progressive Student Union, For the People 206, and the International League of People’s Struggles. On all sides of the building and on the steps rang out chants of “Convict Kevin Dave,” “Jail killer cops!” and “Community control now!”

Rob Engel of SAARPR said, “This isn't over. Freedom is a constant struggle! If this is really over and we can't do anything about it, then I guess I'm stupid because I'm not gonna give up and we're not gonna give up because we have no choice but to fight.”

The speaker from Progressive Student Union, Mathieu Chabaud, said “The state wants us to think that we are going to be defeated by them, and they want us to be scared. If we shrink back, if we back down from our demand, then we are letting them win.”

A member of For the People 206 said “We have to make these numbers show up, and that means having these conversations, just as we talk about Palestine, and everything else. It’s not when it is trending, it’s not when it’s trending, It’s every day!”

Nikhil Lonberg, a member of Resist U.S. Led War, spoke about the surveillance systems being used to repress our communities, and the need for us to prepare for future fights, stating, “So we know we have to expand, right? We need to be organizing every day. We have to be organizing relentlessly, talking to our communities, talking to our neighbors, building strong organizations that are tackling these issues and waging fighting campaigns.”

Although charges were not filed against Dave, he is slated to face a disciplinary hearing sometime in April. Activists with the Seattle Alliance intend to continue pressuring the city to take action against him. Their demands include firing at the bare minimum, and a reopening of the case.

#SeattleWA #SAARPR #JusticeforJaahnavi #ConvictKevinDave #JailKillerCops #CommunityControlNow #PoliceBrutality #Feature

Seattle, WA — On Friday, February 23, the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held an emergency rally in front of Seattle's West Precinct police station. Two days before, the office of King County prosecutor Leesa Manion announced that they had decided not to prosecute SPD officer Kevin Dave who, over a year ago, struck and killed 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula with his patrol car while she was walking through a crosswalk.

Officer Dave faced no consequences in the year leading up to the prosecutor's decision, and this latest update from the prosecutor's office indicates that there would be no consequences going forward.

A large crowd of community members turned out to protest the decision despite short notice and cold weather. Astrid Bee, speaking on behalf of the Seattle Alliance (SAARPR), said “Jaahnavi's life was taken not by fate, but by the reckless actions of Officer Dave, a figure entrusted with upholding the law.” Bee emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “No badge or uniform should shield someone from the consequences of such egregious misconduct.”

Jonathan Toledo, another speaker from the Seattle Alliance, also addressed the crowd, saying “The people demand justice for Jaahnavi Kandula, murdered by an officer driving recklessly.” Toledo highlighted the King County prosecutor's complicity and identified the weakness of an injustice system that refuses to hold itself accountable. “If our own police won’t protect us, and our own legal divisions won’t protect us, then it is up to us, the working class, to take this task upon ourselves,” he said.

The crowd resonated with calls to build a working-class fight against police terror, to continue the campaign to secure justice for Jaahnavi Kandula despite setbacks, and ultimately to win community control of the police in Seattle.

The emergency rally concluded with a clear message – the fight for justice for Jaahnavi continues.

#SeattleWA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #NAARPR #SAARPR #JaahnaviKandula

Seattle, WA – A crowd gathered around Seattle's World Trade Center for a February 9 protest against the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine.

Chants of “Not another nickel! Not another dime! No more money for Israel's crimes!” could be heard not only from and within the building, but for blocks around. The protest called attention to the continued support of Israel's genocidal campaign by the U.S.

Speakers decried U.S. capitalists, some of whom do business inside the World Trade Center, for materially supporting a campaign of extermination in the pursuit of extracting further profit.

This event was organized by the Progressive Students’ Union, the University of Washington's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, in collaboration with the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. It was one of many protests happening all across the country for in response to a call from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and National Students for a Democratic Society.

“We see the hypocrisy in these institutions and are committed to use the voice that we have to challenge the forces that silence the masses,” said a member off the University of Puget Sound SDS. “Palestine is our cause, and the cause that ties us to every other struggle. I encourage us all to see the horrific conditions that have been live streamed for almost four months now, to inspire the action you can take from our positions within the belly of the beast.”

After several speakers, cars driven by activists moved to block entry to the lot in front of the World Trade Center. “We cannot allow business to continue as usual!” rang out the voices of student organizers. Chants and speeches continued, even as Seattle police grouped around in an attempt to intimidate protesters and break up the blockade, their attempts repeatedly foiled by the crowd.

Powerful speeches continued even still. “The Seattle World Trade Center is where the imperialists get together to carve up the world amongst themselves, and we are here today to say no more to imperialist profit and plunder!” said Clio Jensen, a rank-and-file union member and organizer with the FRSO. “We know that any movement of the oppressed that weakens imperialism is a good thing. It deserves our support and solidarity.’”

During the blockade and speeches, a banner drop was performed on the bridge overlooking the World Trade Center, a powerful image of solidarity visible across the dense area. After nearly two hours of disruption, well past the operating hours of the World Trade Center, the blockade began to clear out. This did not stop Seattle Police from attempting additional repression. A video caught one officer slashing tires as vehicles left the lot, a tactic used both in Seattle's 2020 George Floyd protests and those in Minneapolis.

Israel Vasquez, a member of the PSU, said, “As members of a democratic society, we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities. We must stand in solidarity with the oppressed and demand an end to the violence and injustice in Palestine and Yemen. This means holding accountable those who perpetuate these crimes, including governments and corporations that profit from the suffering of others!”

Shortly after the vehicles were moved, all the while surrounded by demonstrators chanting of “From the river to the sea!” and “SPD! KKK! IDF you're all the same!”, the police charged into the crowd without warning, tackling or throwing several protesters to the ground. One hit her head as she fell and was brought to the nearby Harborview Medical Center. Nearby members of the crowd were hit with clouds of pepper spray fired by officers without any sort of warning.

Once the crowd dispersed, an emergency rally was immediately organized. The crowd that before attended the rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people went to do the same for their comrades who had been wrongfully arrested. Chants and further speeches went on for several more hours, while SDS rapidly organized a national call-in demanding the immediate release of all four jailed activists. Other community members came out in support, providing food and drinks to the organizers and activists who had been out on the streets for hours and hours uninterrupted.

As of the time of this article, only one of the arrested protesters has been released. Charges are pending for the other three.

#SeattleWA #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #PSU #USPCN #NAARPR #WeekOfAction4Palestine #SAARPR #StudentMovement

Seattle, WA – On Sunday, January 28, a crowd of community members led by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression gathered on the steps of Seattle's West Precinct. The previous Tuesday, January 23, marked one full year since Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student living in Seattle, was hit and killed at a crosswalk by Seattle Police Department Officer Kevin Dave.

Officer Dave was going nearly three times the speed limit without his lights or siren while responding to a non-fatal overdose call and did not stop after he struck and killed Jaahnavi. After a year, the city has taken no action for her and her family.

Community organizers held several vigils in her memory at Seattle's East Precinct as well as the site of her murder in the past week, culminating with the Seattle Alliance’s action where speakers, many affected by police violence themselves, spoke to the importance of real police accountability.

Suresh Chanmugan, of Seattle Tech4Housing, thought the timeline for consequences has been too long, stating, “It's so incredibly clear that he killed Jaahnavi Kandula, and it is unacceptable to me that he has not been charged with the crime of killing Jaahnavi. How can that take a year?”

Chanmugan went on to reference video footage that was released last September, in which top police guild leaders were recorded laughing just after Kandula’s death and saying that her life had “limited value.” Referencing the video, Chanmugan asked, “I wanna know, what did Mike Solan say after Daniel Auderer said she's dead that made Daniel Auderer laugh? Why is Mike Solan not being investigated? What did he say?”

Jeremiah Baxter of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression had this to say: “Jaahnavi was walking through a crosswalk! She had the right of way. But, because Dave was driving beyond recklessly, he didn't stop in time, and Jaahnavi died because of it. When I say 74 in a 25, you say Jaahnavi should still be alive!”

Baxter continued, “If anyone other than a cop was driving 74 in a 25 and hit anyone, they would be in jail right now! But a cop does it, and what happens? He gets paid vacation for a year! Does that sound like justice to you?”

Po Leapai, of the Washington Coalition of Police Accountability, said “My cousin Iosia Faletogo was killed by Seattle Police on his way to celebrate New Year's Eve in 2018. My cousin never made it and he was the third person killed by this officer. My cousin's murderer's name was Jared Keller. Keller has killed three people since joining the force about a decade ago, and we have a problem with that.” He added, “I am here because Jaahnavi's life had limitless value.”

Mantak Singh, an organizer with the University of Washington's Progressive Student Union, had this to say: “We see this time and time again, and how many times do you have to go to rallies and vigils for victims of police violence? Too many!”

Castill Hightower, of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, also spoke to the crowd. “Where does my family go? After hearing that my brother Herbert Hightower Jr.'s murderer, Steve Hirjak, who shot and killed Herbert 20 years ago while he was experiencing a mental health crisis, recently settled a lawsuit with the city for $800,000 and reinstatement as assistant chief of police?”

Chants of, “Convict Kevin Dave!” “Justice for Jaahnavi!” “74 in a 25, Jaahnavi should still be alive!” and “Jail killer cops!” could be heard for blocks around, while community members attached photographs of Jaahnavi to the windows and doors of the West Precinct.

The Seattle Alliance (SAARPR) and others in the community are still waiting to hear any update on the investigation, which has been delayed several times by the city.

#SeattleWA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #JaahnaviKandula #NAARPR #SAARPR #Feature

Seattle, WA – On October 14, over 1000 people rallied in Westlake Park to show support for the liberation of the Palestinian people.

Since the successful offensive by the Palestinian Resistance only a week before, many organizations in Seattle and across the world have held massive demonstrations showing support for Palestine. Amid calls by the Israeli minister of defense for “total war on Gaza,” calling Gazans “human animals” and making plans to treat them as such, the Seattle community has been made it clear that they support the right for Gaza to defend itself.

The rally began in Westlake Park, and then marched through the heart of downtown Seattle. Protesters chanted “One, two, three, four! Occupation no more! Five, six, seven eight! Israel is a terrorist state!” and “Palestine is our demand, no peace on stolen land!” as they took to the streets.

The International League of People’s Struggle, joined by Freedom Road Socialist Organization-Seattle, formed a contingent and gave speeches during the march.

Carly Brooks, a member of Resist US-Led War, spoke, “This movement does not come from a position of comfort. It comes from the most impoverished area of our people, under siege, on the front lines confronting Israel. This is the time to support the Palestinian armed forces and the Lebanese resistance. The time is now to take a position, to be clear, to stand for justice. Do not wait until after the battle is done.”

Riqui Castellanoz, a member of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, weighed in, “The police is an entity that is made to oppress people. That’s what they do. It goes hand in hand with what Israel is doing in Palestine. I joined the Seattle Alliance because of the repression I saw all around me. It is our duty to fight for everyone, especially the oppressed, all over the world.”

As the rally came to a close after nearly three hours, Bissan Barghouti of Samidoun Seattle took to the stage and echoed the powerful words of the Palestinian poet Samih Al-Qasim:

You may build walls of hatred around me, You may glue my eyes to humiliations, O enemy of the sun, But I shall not compromise, and to the last pulse in my veins, I shall Resist!

#SeattleWA #Palestine #Samidoun #Poetry #SAARPR #ILPS #FRSO

Seattle, WA – On Thursday, October 5, the Progressive Student Union at the University of Washington held a rally to begin a campaign to increase enrollment of Black, Latino and native students at the university. Over 20 students gathered at the steps of Suzzallo Library to demonstrate their support for the demands.

Black, Latino and student from native nations at the University of Washington are drastically underrepresented. Based on the enrollment numbers for the incoming class of 2022, which have not been released in detail publicly, less than 10% of new students in 2022 were Latino, 3.9% were African American or Black, and less than a quarter of a percent were native. Despite this, the university continued to boast of having one of the most diverse incoming classes in its history.

As a result of escalating attacks on diversity nationwide, the Progressive Student Union at the University of Washington, a chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, decided to take up a campaign to increase enrollment of these groups. Israel Vazquez, a member of the Progressive Student Union, spoke to the effect that low enrollment of oppressed peoples has at UW, stating “What message does it send to me when I come to UW, and I have to search for my community? When I’m one of the only Chicanos in my classes? It tells me that I’m alone.”

The administration has paid lip service to similar demands in the past, but students said that they were tired of a lack of action. Milan Suárez, of the Students for Farm Workers, said, “We desperately seek community on campus, and we’re tired of being our own support system.” Jonathan Toledo, a member of the Seattle Alliance against Racist and Political Repression, described the primary reasons for a lack of enrollment as “antagonistic administration” and “the general cost of classes.”

The rally finished with Mathieu Chabaud, another member of the Progressive Student Union, explaining the historical context for the current campaign, saying, “What we have here today at this university, in terms of enrollment, ethnic studies, the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, was created because students fought for it and made administration implement it.”

In 1968, the Black Student Union held a sit-in that culminated in the university agreeing to create ethnic studies programs and increase Black enrollment, which also had the effect of significantly increasing Latino and native enrollment. Chabaud ended with a call to rebuild the gains of the student movement in the past, and force administration to commit to increasing enrollment of oppressed nationalities again.

#SeattleWA #PSU #SDS #AfricanAmerican #Chicano #Latino #SAARPR #IncreaseBlackEnrollment

Seattle, WA – Over 20 community members and activists brought together by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) gathered at City Hall on September 26 to deliver public comment and demand justice for Jaahnavi Kandula, who was killed by Seattle Police officer Kevin Dave on January 23, 2023.

Kevin Dave was responding to an overdose call, driving at 74 miles per hour, almost three times the posted speed limit and without a consistent siren. Kandula was walking through a lit crosswalk and had the right of way when Dave hit her and sent her flying 138 feet away from the intersection. Reports state that if Dave was traveling at 50 mph, Kandula would have had time to react and get out of the way.

On September 11, body camera footage was released of Michael Solan and Daniel Auderer, the president and vice president of the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild, talking over their radios shortly after Kandula was killed. During the conversation, they can be heard laughing, and apparently estimating the value of her life, saying, “Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway, she had limited value.” This sparked multiple large rallies mere days later, demonstrating to news outlets, city officials and the public that the people of Seattle have had enough. Kevin Dave, Michael Solan and Daniel Auderer have not yet sustained charges or faced consequences for their behavior or actions.

Jonathan Toledo, a member of SAARPR, delivered a unity statement written by the organization during public comment, reading, “We demand the immediate resignation of bigots Mike Solan and Daniel Auderer for their inhumane and unacceptable comments, and for Kevin Dave to be fired and convicted for the death of Jaahnavi Kandula.”

Other members of SAARPR asked the city council to reflect on their past actions on police accountability measures, saying “While SPOG argues for their worth, remember the price tag they gave Jaahnavi. Remember Solan ended the contract for FBI-backed body camera analysis because they fear accountability. Remember all of the victims of police violence you have shut down and left behind.”

Castill Hightower, a leader in the movement for police accountability and victim of the Seattle Police Department, spoke on the injustice, saying, “What adds another layer of heartlessness was the mockery of her precious life and the lives of all the victims of police violence that was made by what should be former SPOG leaders Mike Solan and Daniel Auderer.”

“We are systematically shut out and shut up. A good example of that is what has been happening to the Affected Persons Program, a pilot project to address the harms done to survivors and victims of police violence. It's been absolutely suffocated by the system, by the ‘accountability’ system – and city council.” said Valerie Schloredt, a longtime advocate of real police accountability.

With pressure from the Indian Consulate, national press, many community organizations holding demonstrations and SPOG still in the midst of contract bargaining, it remains to be seen if the officers involved will face charges or consequences. The Seattle Alliance plans to continue the fight for justice for Jaahnavi Kandula and for all officers involved to be held fully accountable.

#SeattleWA #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops #SAARPR #NAARPR #JaahnaviKandula #PoliceAccountability #CPAC

Seattle, WA – On September 14, over 200 people came to an emergency rally and march organized by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) to fight for justice following the murder of Jaahnavi Kandula by Kevin Dave, an officer in the Seattle Police Department.

On January 23, Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India attending Northeastern University, tragically lost her life at the hands of SPD officer Kevin Dave. Dave was driving 74 miles per hour in a 25 zone without using his continuous sirens. Kandula was using the crosswalk on Dexter Avenue and Thomas Street when Dave's vehicle struck her, propelling her over 100 feet away, ultimately killing her.

Dave was one of six officers responding to a call about an overdose, a situation that did not necessitate police intervention. Kandula's death was not only senseless but also marked by cruelty. On Monday, September 11, body cam footage of a conversation between two other SPD officers – Daniel Auderer and Mike Solan – was released In the video, Auderer can be heard laughing, saying “Just write a check – $11,000. She was 26 [sic] anyway, she had limited value.” This clip is from the night of Kandula’s murder, after Auderer had responded to the incident.

The release of this footage is what sparked this rally. “This happened in January and the body cam footage is just now being released?” Kyla Carrillo said, frustrated by the police and the system. They were one of the many people gathered at the rally to mourn Kandula’s death and demand accountability from the city. Carrillo, along with SAARPR and other activists, led the group in chants such as “Justice for Jaahnavi,” “Convict Kevin Dave” and “Fire Mike Solan.”

“This is something that needs to be ended, these police officers need to be held accountable for their actions and for their words,” Kane Fox, a local indigenous activist said, echoing a sentiment shared by many at the rally. “To say her life had no value or little value is completely deplorable and unacceptable.” The obvious racism and misogyny of the police’s behavior was not lost on Fox, who went on to say, “Just say you’re racist with your whole chest.”

Community members, including organizers from SAARPR, the Progressive Student Union, and The Freedom Road Socialist Organization, recognized the need for community control of the police in speeches both before and after the rally. In his speech, Jonathan Toledo stated, “What we need is CPAC – which stands for a Civilian Police Accountability Council. With this we would not be forced to beg and rally to have justice. We could get democratic control for everyone and thus convict these individuals on our own!”

After the rally, people marched to the Seattle Police Department’s West Precinct, filling the streets with chants of “Say her name! Jaahnavi Kandula!” and “Jail killer cops.” Outside the precinct, people wrote chalk messages exposing the police officers’ salaries – describing how much they are being paid to terrorize and kill immigrants, women, and people of color like Kandula. According to the latest salary data from the City of Seattle, Dave makes $95,380 a year at least.

“You are supposed to protect us and you're not, you're killing us! You're taking away our lives time and time again!” Carrillo said, talking about both the Seattle police, and police in the U.S. in general. “People come here because they want a better life, and then the cops take it. And all I can do is cry, because this girl’s life was taken.”

#SeattleWA #WA #SAARPR #PoliceBrutality #KillerCops