Seattle King County NAACP Statement on HB 1453

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2019
CONTACT: Sadiqa Sakin, President, Seattle/King County NAACP
PHONE: 206-636-2952
EMAIL: president@seattlekingcountynaacp.org
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On behalf of the Seattle King County Chapter of the NAACP, I want to congratulate the Washington State House of Representatives for passing HB 1453, which provides needed protections for community members who are faced with eviction during the current housing crisis.  I would like to especially thank Representative Nicole Macri, the sponsor of HB 1453, for her leadership on this critical legislation. Rental protections are an important issue to the NAACP and the black community as we are well aware that we are evicted at a much higher rate due to issues that this bill will address.  Important issues like this can bring difficult conversations and decisions, which is why it is vitally important that we assume good faith and conduct debates on legislation in a manner that fosters continued dialogue and deeper understanding. We will be working in a bipartisan way to help our elected officials in Olympia to better understand the issues that disproportionately impact people of color, who are often the most vulnerable in our communities.  

While the Seattle King County NAACP agrees with the NAACP AOWSAC that the passage of 1453 is a great first-step in addressing bias and discrimination in the current housing market, we must be clear in stating that no one speaks on behalf of the Seattle King County NAACP except for its recently elected President Sadiqa Sakin or her properly appointed designee on this or any other issue. This includes presidents, board members and/or committee chairs of any other local NAACP affiliates that have jurisdiction within the State of Washington. The Seattle King County branch is encouraged to know that there are more allies and representation of communities of color in Olympia than ever. This progress has allowed the opportunity to form the new Black Caucus in Olympia. We have had the pleasure of meeting with the chair of the Black Caucus, Representative Melanie Morgan and look forward to seeing her leadership as she provides an insightful and equitable lens to issues that impact our community.
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On behalf of the Seattle King County Chapter of the NAACP, I look forward to working with our local elected officials in a manner that fosters continued dialogue, open door policies, and to pass legislation that promotes civil rights and economic justice for all Washingtonians.

Seattle King County NAACP President Sadiqa Sakin