We, the Seattle King County NAACP, are disturbed and saddened by the hate crimes that have galvanized our communities and places of worship recently. We are aware of the shooting at a synagogue outside of San Diego where worshippers were celebrating the last day of Passover. Four people were sent to the hospital on Saturday, where one later died. What we now know is the alleged gunman posted an online "manifesto" in which he criticized Jews and celebrated the slayings of 50 Muslims at shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month.
​
The NAACP is a Civil Rights organization that is openly accepting to all faiths, we offer our condolences to those families who lost loved ones, and pray for recovery in the community of San Diego and our own.

We, the Seattle King County NAACP, would like to offer our most sincere condolences to the nearly 300 people that were pronounced dead in the multiple explosions in Sri Lanka which occurred on April 21, 2019, Easter Sunday. We are deeply saddened and shocked by the incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the casualties, and those who have been affected.
​
Seattle King County NAACP,
Religious Affairs Chairman-Tramaine Palms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2019
Spokes Person: Sadiqa Sakin, President, Seattle/King County NAACP
communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org

​
The Seattle King County NAACP, under leadership of President Sadiqa Sakin, is in absolute support of Washington Initiative 1000 (I-1000), which is the Affirmative Action measure that is currently under consideration by the state Legislature. If the Legislature fails to act on I-1000, the initiative will then head to the November 2019 ballot for citizens to vote on.
 
I-1000 is an incredibly important step toward racial equity; particularly in these times of uncertainty for people of color, veterans, women, and other minorities, it's imperative to put in place the legislation that will further protect these populations from being discriminated against based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin regarding education, employment, and contracting. If passed, I-1000 would undo the harm of 1998's Washington I-200, which rolled back Affirmative Action. 
 
We thank our legislative partners for standing arm-in-arm with the Seattle King County NAACP as we jointly work on passing this important piece of legislation of I-1000. 

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our NAACP 2nd Vice President, Jacquie Jones-Walsh, on Monday morning. 
Jacquie has done incomparable work with the NAACP, this is an overwhelming loss.
​
We are sending thoughts and prayers to Jacquie's family at this time, and will plan to make an official post in the coming days to include how we can best pay our respects to her life and legacy.

Today, we, the Seattle King County NAACP, would like to express our sincere condolences about our fallen brother, Crenshaw rapper Nipsey Hussle, also known as Ermias Asghedom. Words cannot express how saddened we are to hear of this loss.

For those of us who were privileged to know Nipsey, we are well acquainted with his passion as an activist and leader in his community. Today hallmarks the memorial service of Nipsey. The world, but more importantly our communities just last week, were caught off guard when we were all made aware that Nipsey was gunned down in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. Reports provide detailed accounts that Nipsey
was rushed to the hospital, and that his family and celebrity friends showed up shortly thereafter. It is widely known that Nipsey was regarded as a very successful artist and entrepreneur. In fact, Nipsey Hussle’s label, Atlantic Records, said in a statement. 'One of the kindest and brightest stars in the universe, he was inspiring to all.' Nipsey was shot in plain view of a surveillance camera, and footage shows the shooter who authorities believe to be Eric Holder, who opened fire three (3) different times on Nipsey before kicking his body and fleeing the scene. Nipsey was just 33 years old. The sadness we all feel is widely shared, because Nipsey’s death happened to be motivated by another black man who took it upon himself to assassinate Nipsey in cold blood.We remember Ermias Asghedom as a father, entrepreneur, rapper, and activist, and send our deepest condolences to his family and his friends.
- Seattle King County NAACP Religion Chair Tramaine Palms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2019
​CONTACT: Spokes Person: Sadiqa Sakin, President, Seattle/King County NAACP
EMAIL: communications@seattlekingcountynaacp.org

Seattle, WA— [April 4, 2019]- The Seattle King County Branch of the NAACP, under President Sadiqa Sakin, who took office January 1, 2019, declared today, in this year 2019, our NAACP chapter's realignment with community needs. The nation’s most prominent civil rights organization is prioritizing critical policy advocacy and social justice work needed to ensure the rights of all people. 

One of the NAACP's most crucial community engagements in 2019 is fair housing. The greater Seattle King County area housing market is still flourishing, but most working- and middle-class 
families struggle with fair and affordable housing. With housing prices up, that drives the working and middle classes, and specifically people of color, out of the city and closer to poverty and homelessness. The Seattle King County NAACP's Housing Committee has been meeting with local legislators over tenant/landlord laws and initiatives in affordable and fair housing.

Our Seattle King County NAACP administration focuses on community race relations, including building relationships with local organizations and emphasizing the importance of diversity trainings; most recently we've been working with Issaquah School District Superintendent, Dr. Ron Thiele, in April of this year after a racist photo a student posted went viral. We are at the forefront of calling for police accountability in incidents where it appears the victim(s) will not receive a fair review; the NAACP was the first organization calling for an independent investigation of the SPD shooting death of Iosia Fatelogo in January of this year.
We acknowledge, most importantly, however, that our NAACP membership is the driving force of our continued success in the community. Their continued support through membership, donations, and volunteer hours make this NAACP branch effective and powerful. Our membership this year has gone up a spectacular 250%, and we thank each member for being a part of the community and encourage others to join! Our Board is made up of volunteers only; our membership is our life blood as well as our direct lifeline to the community.

The Seattle King County Chapter celebrates its 106th year this year. We look forward to continued service of the Seattle King County community and working on issues that concern its citizens the most.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18th, 2019
CONTACT: Sadiqa Sakin, President, Seattle/King County NAACP
PHONE: 425-327-8208
EMAIL: sadiqasakin37@gmail.com
​

THE NAACP OF SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY CALLS FOR THE WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE  TO OVERSEE THE INDEPENDENT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE POLICE SHOOTING OF MR. IOSIA FALETOGO.
[The NAACP further requests the Washington Attorney General’s Office lead criminal investigations into the officer involved shooting deaths of Charleena Lyles, Che Taylor, and Tommy Le at the hands of Law Enforcement in King County.]
Seattle, WA—[January 16th, 2019]- The Seattle King County Chapter of the NAACP, acting in its representative capacity as the guardian of Civil Rights, under President Sadiqa Sakin, calls for a fair, transparent and thorough criminal investigation of the police involved shooting death of Mr. Iosia Faletogo. Specifically, the NAACP requests an independent prosecutor and independent police agency handle the investigation to create dual level independence. The NAACP requests the Washington Attorney General’s Office (AGO), oversee the criminal investigation, instead of King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The Attorney General’s Office is the appropriate prosecuting agency for police involved shootings.  The voters of Washington State have spoken with the passage of I-940 by demanding a new process to provide independent investigations in police involved shootings. The AGO does not have a symbiotic relationship with the Seattle Police Department and the AGO has the capacity to conduct a thorough investigation.  The KCPAO has also never exercised its authority to call for a criminal investigation of police-involved shootings in over a decade of being in office.
Justice requires an  independent criminal investigation supervised by the Office of the Attorney General for the following reasons: 1) An inquest is not a criminal investigation. 2) There is an inherent conflict of interest when the investigating agency works closely with the agency under investigation. 3) SPD has already taken steps towards independence, supported by the Consent Decree. 4) Community trust is required to ensure officer and public safety.
First, the Inquest process falls short of delivering justice as it does not address civil or criminal liability. [“Inquest interrogatories do not deal with the questions of law, recommendations for future police or procedures, or whether anyone is civilly or criminally liable.”]. The inquest process is also misleading as the public expects a legitimate criminal investigation but does not receive one. The Inquest’s inability to answer the critical question of criminal liability creates a lengthy process with no substance which is no more useful than a coroner’s report.
Second, a conflict of interest exists between The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the SPD. The KCPAO and the SPD have a symbiotic relationship managing criminal cases in King County. The KCPAO develops criminal cases with SPD officer assistance, calls on SPD for testimony, and strategizes with SPD on law enforcement practices. The intimacy of the relationship means there can be no objectivity. There are similar conflicts in all 38 other counties.
Allowing KCPAO to investigate SPD is in direct opposition to the standard applied to the public. If a civilian is investigated, their colleagues and associates are prohibited from participating in the investigation. This prohibition is outlined in both SPD and King County policies. Both entities recognize the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest, and even the “appearance” of such.
The SPD Manual, title 5, Employee conduct, 5.001 (18) specifies:
Employees Must Avoid Conflicts of Interest
Employees will not associate with persons or organizations where such association reasonably gives the appearance of conflict of interest.
Employees will not engage in enforcement, investigative, or administrative functions that create or give the appearance of conflicts of interest.
Employees will not investigate events where they are involved.  This also applies where any person with whom the employee has a personal relationship is involved in the event.
Except in cases of emergency, officers will not arrest family members, business associates, or social acquaintances.
Similar King County policies exist.
Third, an oversight agency has requested an independent investigation and independence is vital in light of the 2011 DOJ findings. SPD’s Office of Professional Accountability (OPA) recommended an independent criminal investigation into Mr. Faletogo’s death be led by an agency other than SPD.  Police Chief Best, exercising sound leadership and ensuring an increase in community trust, followed the recommendation of the OPA and requested the Washington State Patrol (WSP) handle the investigation.
The NAACP urges the KCPAO to avoid an inherent conflict of interest and follow Chief Best’s lead, in agreeing to allow the investigation go to an independent authority. Justice calls for true independence and community trust in its law enforcement is dependent on a credible and transparent process.
​