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 – 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 – 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