First annual Kwanzaa Awards recognizes black organizations and individuals
The first-ever Kwanzaa Awards took place on Jan. 8 as an online ceremony that celebrated individuals and organizations, nominated by the community, for embodying Kwanzaa principles. The pandemic prevented an in-person gathering, but the spirit of Kwanzaa shone through in prerecorded candle lighting and libation ceremonies and a candid mother-daughter conversation about Kwanzaa.
Mothers for Police Accountability co-founder Rev. Harriett Walden was among the honored with an award!
Seattle Times Editorial Board Names Rev. Walden a “gift to the region”
“The Rev. Harriett Walden, longtime voice for social justice, has been a pivotal voice for public safety (and against the Council’s reckless cuts to policing). “
– Seattle Times Editorial Board
Letter from Rev. Harriett Walden
Dear Members of the Seattle City Council:
Our beloved City of Seattle needs healing and unity and Debora Juarez is the leader we need to help Seattle heal and unite. As an Indigenous woman, with strong ties to local Tribal and Indigenous communities, it is time for a leader like Debora who can restore our relationships with each other and with the earth. It is time for others to step aside and let the Indigenous peoples of these lands be represented in City Hall and steer Seattle in a new direction.
WA Coalition for Police Accountability asks…
The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability asks…
REV. HARRIETT WALDEN TAKES A STAND AGAINST HATE
REV. HARRIETT WALDEN TAKES A STAND AGAINST HATE
At 3:30 PM today we will walk across the street together in solidarity and then cross First Ave to take a stand against Hate Crimes.
Regarding the recent attack on Rev. Walden: A Statement from the 37th LD Democrats Executive Board
On Thursday, November 18, Reverend Harriett Walden was assaulted on the street in downtown Seattle.
Reverend Walden, a legendary social justice icon, was walking in an intersection when she was confronted by a young white man in a vehicle. He began edging his car toward her, yelling racial slurs, before finally throwing a can of motor oil at her, hitting her in the back.
The Seattle Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Op-Ed by Rev. Harriett Walden
Since 2020 alone there are 81 Black mothers weeping over their children who have been killed by gun violence. As crime of all kinds is on the rise, we are left wondering how valuable the safety and well being of the over 700,000 citizens in Seattle is to the city council. Seattle is 87.81 square miles with entire sections of the city being without an adequate number of police officers. We have a leadership crisis in Seattle that has left us underprotected and more divisive than ever. When making the choice to defund the police it was clear the city council was not prepared for the consequence of these actions.
You’re Invited: Mothers’ Justice Breakfast
Mothers for Police Accountability
Invites you to join us, in person or virtually, for our
9th Annual
Mothers' Justice Breakfast
& Thurgood Marshall Awards
30 Years of MFPA: Advocating for Police Transformation
The incident that sparked Walden’s activism took place on a mid-summer evening on Aug. 5, 1990. One of Walden’s sons was riding home from a community festival with two friends. As the boys were rounding the corner at 29th Avenue South and South Jackson Street, Seattle police officers stopped them, saying they were looking for drugs. Walden’s other son was in the house nearby and came outside because of the noise. The four boys — all high school graduates on their way to college — began to argue with the police, explaining that they had no drugs in their possession, and the argument escalated.
Rev. Harriett Walden on Seattle’s Morning Update
Rev. Harriett Walden discusses her work with Mothers for Police Accountability.
Recommended reading: UN rights office highlights policing reforms to address systemic racism
Radical policing reforms are needed to address systemic racism affecting people of African descent around the world, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Monday, as her Office published a series of recommendations prompted by the killing of George Floyd.
UN reports, “racism in policing is global, not just USA”
United Nation reports, “racism in policing is global., not just US”
Community Call!
SAVE THE DATE
Join the Mothers for a Community Call over Zoom on Wednesday, April 28th from 6 - 7:30 pm. Special guest, Devitta Briscoe, assistant director of Not This Time will join us with an update of how policies are effecting policing in our communities.
Zoom link coming soon.
New Podcast for Mothers Justice Show
Tune in weekly to the Mothers Justice Show at your leisure. Now listen to the Monday talk show at any time. Find it here https://mothers.libsyn.com/website
Black community blaming ‘racism’ for police chief’s departure
"This is an anti-Blackness issue at the highest level," declared police accountability activist Harriett Walden.
The City Council Is Already Rolling Back Commitments to Defund the Police
“Rev. Harriet Walden, co-chair of the Community Police Commission, commented on the development on Twitter, saying that the council wouldn't even have had the courage to defund SPD if Best's white predecessor, Kathleen O'Toole were still the chief.”
How Seattle's Police Chief Has Navigated The City's Protests For Racial Justice
HARRIET WALDEN: We stand with you. We fought the good fight to get you here. We know that Black women in leadership have a hard time. And sometimes people like to crush them.