Keep protesting, but end CHOP

The shuttered Seattle Police East Precinct building, inside what has been named the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone, on Monday, June 22, 2020. (AP Photo / Ted S. Warren)

Reverend Harriett Walden, founder of Mothers for Police Accountability speaks out in an editorial in last week’s Seattle Times.

“We’re here because of the police brutality and the killings, but the police do a lot more than that,” such as responding to domestic-violence calls, Walden said.

“Accountability is for everybody, and now we need some accountability for the other residents in Capitol Hill and other (area) residents,” she added. “They need to be able to get the services that are necessary.”

The perspective of Walden and other civil-rights leaders in the community is invaluable. They can play an important role in resolving the CHOP dilemma.

Walden said that will involve city leadership acknowledging mistakes. Also, they cannot let hatred — from the far right or far left — keep dividing us.

“We’ve had enough of continuous conflict,” she said, summing the situation up well. “How do we build a new world that works for everyone?”

Continue reading here: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/keep-protesting-but-end-chop/