FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2020
SpokesPerson: Carolyn Riley-Payne, President, Seattle/King County NAACP PHONE: 206-321-0382 EMAIL: president@seattlekingcountynaacp.org communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org The Seattle-King County NAACP, under leadership of President Carolyn Riley-Payne, is extremely concerned about the profound effect that COVID-19 is having on the Black community in Seattle and King County, and the country. Black people are an overall disproportionately affected community in the number of cases and deaths of COVID-19. This will not be tolerated. The Seattle-King County NAACP is working with and reaching out to State and local officials on the improper safety and protection to our community during this time. Our community lacks the proper universal measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 by employers: proper Social Distancing called for by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), personal protective equipment, and regular cleaning and sanitizing of work spaces and its equipment. This is in part due to Black Americans being more likely to be employed in jobs that are considered essential—grocery clerks, fast-food workers, transit, postal and delivery workers. Just this past week in Seattle, King County, Washington, 59-year-old Samina Hameed, a King County Metro bus driver, died after contracting the virus. Our NAACP branch is asking our community for its stories. Did you get furloughed or laid off due to COVID-19? Were you promised restoration pay while you're laid off? Were you retaliated against for demanding a safe work environment during this global pandemic? Contact us with your story at communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org The Seattle-King County NAACP recognizes that the disproportionately negative effect of COVID-19 on the Black community is an indication of ongoing structural and institutional racism in the United States Healthcare system; the response by our State and local leaders, and our community employers, is an opportunity to save Black lives and correct the systemic problems in our healthcare systems.
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An update from our NAACP Health Chair, Phyllis D. Gearring-Anderson, on this current global pandemic:
Governor Inslee is reviewing the shelter in place (Stay Home/Stay Healthy) restrictions, but does not expect to make any changes before May 4, 2020. New cases of the coronavirus (Covid -19) seem to be slowing, however with increased testing availability, it is expected to see increased cases. In King County, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders, Hispanic or Latinos, and African Americans are disproportionately impacted in this order. Current Positive Cases: Positive Cases Deaths US 852, 47,750 WA 12,494 692 King 5449 379 County Ethnicity and Race/100,000 (4/10/2020) White 93.7 Black 109.3 Hispanic or Latino 159.2 Asian 68.8 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 185.5 Native Indian or Alaskan 103.5 We all should continue to: - Shelter in place - Frequently hand wash - Don't touch your face (eyes, nose, mouth) - Social distance and limit gatherings to no more than 10 - Avoid sick people and don't leave your home if you are sick! The NAACP stands with the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs in reinforcing the reality that viruses are not ethnic-specific. The CAPAA and the NAACP reject race and location-specific labels to describe COVID-19.
Today, in Washington and nationwide, reports of hate crimes targeting Asian people are on the rise. In their best practices for naming diseases, the World Health Organization explicitly warns against naming diseases after locations, cognizant of the bigotry that could provoke. Viruses are not ethnic-specific, and people of Asian descent are no more likely than anyone else to carry or spread COVID-19. In times of uncertainty and heightened fear, all people, especially leadership, must be vigilant to not perpetuate negative stereotypes, nor promote prejudicial attitudes based upon race. For more information, please click below: https://capaa.wa.gov/ Your Seattle King County NAACP is working to keep you informed on ways/tips to combat the spread of the COVID 19 in our neighborhoods. As the weeks pass, we will continue to offer tips as well as interpretations of the policy and procedures, and how that may impact our community.
By President Trump declaring a State of Emergency for the United States, he has used his power to free up funds for free testing, paid emergency leaves, and measures to contain the Virus. Things are moving at a fast pace, and the NAACP is keeping informed on what resources are being proposed and implemented, and will be sharing them with you, our community. Governor Inslee has mandated that all statewide schools K-12 remain closed to at least April 24, 2020. And now, they are restricting to groups of 50 people by order of the CDC and President Trump. Seattle and King County has experienced 37 deaths and 420 cases of the coronas virus. Due to these measures, and for the health of our community, the NAACP Seattle King County will suspend in-person meetings through this time period, but please keep watch of our website and online calendar, as well as follow our social media @SeattleKingCountyNAACP on Instagram, facebook, and twitter. Important Facts: What is it?
How did it start?
How does it spread?
What are the symptoms?
Phyllis Gearring-Anderson Health Chair Seattle King County NAACP FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2019
SpokesPerson: President, Seattle/King County NAACP EMAIL: communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org president@seattlekingcountynaacp.org The Seattle-King County NAACP, wishes to make a statement about the displacement of women business owners in SeaTac. This is a gross injustice. The Seatac Center Mall was a deteriorating former Casino, and it was through the will and determination of immigrants, chiefly African Muslim, Latino, and Indian immigrant families to make Bokaro Mall as it’s known in the community today: the Heart of Seatac’s International District. The Seatac City Center Coalition has fought for two years to be heard by their representatives, only to be told that they don’t belong here because of their faith and the color of their skin. This is the same kind of bigotry and racism that the NAACP fought against in the Mississippi Delta in 1963, and with voter suppression in Georgia in 2018. The Seattle-King County NAACP calls on the City of Seatac and Inland Development to do the right thing, and we formally condemn the City of Seatac for their blatant indifference and racism. This must be said: Seatac is our Selma today. Just as former Alabama Governor George Wallace stood against the activists who wanted to march for freedom, Mayor Erin Sitterley and her allies on city council have time and time again stated, demonstrated, and pronounced that these Black and Brown lives do not matter to them. This is unacceptable. The only just resolution to this is for the City to come to a moral revival and acknowledge their responsibility to respect and appreciate their citizens here. Our citizens and proud business-owners must be protected and celebrated, not gentrified. No matter where they come from, the color of their skin, or the god that they pray to, they are Seatac, and here is where they deserve to stay. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2019
SpokesPerson: Seattle/King County NAACP EMAIL: communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org president@seattlekingcountynaacp.org On 7/29/19 the Seattle-King County NAACP has decided to withdraw from a Memorandum of Understanding with Alchemy Real Estate. The NAACP has taken this action in the interest of and solidarity with the community. After weeks of negotiations with the developer and advocacy on behalf of Saba Restaurant, the Seattle-King County NAACP was unable to secure a written agreement and compromise with the owner of the restaurant, Workie Wubushet. The NAACP is withdrawing from the agreement in order to truly live our values and to reinforce our commitment to the community. The values of the Seattle-King County NAACP are incompatible with business practices that exacerbate displacement and the increasing racial wealth gap in Seattle and King County. In King County, specifically the City of Seattle, the Black community is disproportionately affected by displacement and economic disenfranchisement. In the outset of this agreement, we worked in good faith to create office space for not just the NAACP but four businesses from the community that would help to anchor people to their communities. This was our vision and a reflection of our values. For the last weeks, our NAACP President, and Housing Chair, Cliff Cawthon, have been working with community activists and Councilmember Sawant, as well as the developers. The numerous parties have not been able to come to an accord in the interest of our community. We will continue to work to advocate for under-represented and under-served communities throughout King County and the City of Seattle. We firmly stand with the community and we will not settle for perpetuating the cycle of displacement and disenfranchisement that disproportionately impacts People of Color. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2019
Spokes Person: President, Seattle/King County NAACP EMAIL: communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org president@seattlekingcountynaacp.org The Seattle King County NAACP wants to congratulate and uplift the victory of the Byrn Mawr tenants in Skyway, WA, against a racist attempt to evict multiple families from their housing complex. This is an example of the strength of people-powered advocacy. According to Byrn Mawr Plaza leader, Mergitu Argo, “this was racism. For the NAACP to step in and fight for us, it was helpful.” Seattle King County NAACP President, and NAACP Housing Chair Clifford Cawthon, worked with community activists the week of June 17, 2019, to prevent the eviction of tenants at the Byrn Mawr Plaza Apartments in Skyway, WA. This was a fight that involved extensive advocacy from NAACP Housing Chair Clifford Cawthon, with the cooperation of Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. The Seattle King County NAACP branch is a 110-year-old organization, which was alerted to this situation by community allies, and after contacting the tenants and looking at the relevant evidence, sent a letter June 23, 2019, to the landlords on the matter. As of this Press Release, there has been no response from the landlords. Thereafter, the NAACP reached out to King County authorities and the landlords to seek a resolution. We were, and continue to be, proud to stand with tenants who are facing injustice, or anyone who is facing racial discrimination in King County. The Seattle-King County NAACP wants to urge King County Council, Councilmember Larry Gossett (D2) and Council Chair Rod Dembowski (D1), to pass Just Cause Eviction Legislation. We sincerely hope that they push this urgent matter forward toward fighting for Just Cause Eviction legislation, which would affect thousands of their constituents. This is an urgent issue for renters across King County, particularly in unincorporated areas. Across King County, hundreds of thousands of residents would be protected from being denied housing due to implicit racial bias or retaliation among landlords. As it stands, this is a core denial of everyone’s right of equality under the law. **PRESS CONFERENCE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 AT 10:30 AM *
Airbnb and NAACP To Announce Partnership for Seattle The Country’s Oldest and Largest Civil Rights Organization joins Airbnb to Launch Seattle Program to Spread The Benefits of Homesharing to Local Residents Seattle, Washington - On Wednesday, June 5, 2019, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Airbnb will join together at the Northwest African American Museum to announce the regional launch of its national partnership. In 2017, the two organizations came together to announce a program that included targeted outreach to communities of color to help more people use their homes to earn extra income. Seattle is the second partnership launch of 2019 and part of Airbnb and the NAACP’s joint efforts to continue to ensure that the benefits of homesharing reach all communities. The partnership between Airbnb and the NAACP includes commitments across the community that will be outlined at the press conference. WHO: Seattle Unit President, NAACP Janaye Ingram, Director of National Partnerships, Airbnb Jacquelyne Ward-Richardson, National Fair Housing Manager, NAACP WHAT: Announcement of partnership between Airbnb and NAACP Seattle WHEN: Wednesday June 5, 2019 10:30 AM WHERE: Northwest African American Museum 2300 S Massachusetts St, Seattle, WA 98144 About the NAACP Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our Economic Opportunity “Game Changer” issue by visiting http://www.naacp.org/issues/economic-opportunity/. About Airbnb Founded in 2008, Airbnb exists to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, providing healthy travel that is local, authentic, diverse, inclusive and sustainable. Airbnb uniquely leverages technology to economically empower millions of people around the world to unlock and monetize their spaces, passions and talents to become hospitality entrepreneurs. Airbnb’s accommodation marketplace provides access to 6+ million unique places to stay in nearly 100,000 cities and 191 countries. With Experiences, Airbnb offers unprecedented access to local communities and interests through 30,000+ unique, handcrafted activities run by hosts across 1,000+ markets around the world. Airbnb’s people-to-people platform benefits all its stakeholders, including hosts, guests, employees and the communities in which it operates. In April, NAACP President and Prison Chair Denise Ransom met on behalf of the Black Prisoners Caucus at the Monroe Correctional Complex to connect with the organization and build relationships to support their vision and mission.
On May 17th, the NAACP met with Mike Obenland, Superintendent of the Monroe facility (pictured, with NAACP President Sadiqa Sakin, right, and NAACP Prison Chair Denise Ransom, left), to begin open dialogue on behalf of the Black Prisoners Caucus as we move forward and advocate for issues and topics that are important to their organization. The most-urgent agenda item of discussion was the ability for prisoners' families to be able to come up for an annual Juneteenth celebration. The Black Prisoners Caucus does have various topics they're passionate about and formed committees which include Education, Legislative, Health and Family. Next month, a meeting will be held with the Department of Corrections to continue to build relationships and bring important issues and topics to the forefront. The Seattle King County NAACP is appalled at the news coming out of Missouri and Alabama on abortion bans this week.
The NAACP has a long history of supporting women. Women in NAACP (WIN) was founded in part to serve as an advocacy vehicle for issues affecting women and children. Our own NAACP chapter spoke at Planned Parenthood Lobby Day in March 2019 on the importance of reproductive health access and sexual education. Here's how we can help end this assault on women's rights. We fight. We vote or we register to vote. We boycott establishments supporting misogyny. We volunteer at health clinics. We donate to local organizations that fight for reproductive rights. We speak to those around us about the devastating effects on abortion bans, especially to those who don't understand the disastrous effects these laws have. We vote out those politicians who don't believe women have the ability to choose what happens to their own bodies. The NAACP Seattle King County is watching and will fight for women's health, we cannot keep letting history make the same mistakes. We will always fight against misogyny and ignorance, and we ask you to join us. |
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