Our History
(Video above is a clip from The Church Council of Greater Seattle interview with Rev. Harriett Walden, December 2019 regarding the beginnings of
On August 5, 1990 Tunde Salisbury and some of his friends were stopped by the police as they arrived at Tunde's home. Some of them told the officers they were tired of the harassment. Tunde's brother Omari came from his home and spoke up also about the harassment. The police beat both teenagers and took them to the East Precinct, rather than to the Juvenile facility. There, they beat them again. Their mother, Harriet Walden, was angered by this disregard for her sons' humanity and decided to model a healthy response to her sons. From her anger and determination, Mothers was formed. She gathered her friends and neighbors, Paquita Edwards, Janice Belt the late Fabiola Woods and Willette Romlious.
The first Mothers’ meeting was held in September of 1990.
1990
October 1990, Seattle PI
1991
Our first newsletter, Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 2 , July 1991
Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 2 , July 1991
Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 3 , September 1991
Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 4 , November 1991
Newsletter Vol 1 Issue 5 , December 1991
1991
1991
1992
1992 Founders of Mothers win a Civil Libertarian Award from ACLU-W
1995
06/16/95 - Harriett Walden with Mothers Against Police Harassment, and Omari Salisbury, College Student talk about the case that started MFPA on Network X.
1996
Mothers Against Police Harassment changes its name to Mothers for Police Accountability when they realized their mission went beyond ending harassment. We were the first group in the nation to use the word “accountability” in our name. Now accountability is a household name.
1998
Harriett Walden with Mothers Against Police Harassment speaking on Network X regarding the beginning of advocating for the kids of Seattle.
2012
Seattle Washington April 07, 2012 at Seattle Center. The Rev Harriett G. Walden speaks to a crowd of 2000 at The Justice For Trayvon Martin March and rally.
Rev. Harriett Walden addresses the culture of death and how to turn it around with other local partnerships.
2017
Ellen Larkins, right, stands alongside Rev. Harriett Walden Wednesday afternoon in Powell Barnett Park, calling for an end to gun violence.
Lynsi Burton/ seattlepi.com
Mothers start calling for “shot spotters” and asking that others in the community come forward with information on shootings.