Racist policing is legally embedded in Seattle's Municipal Code.
On the road to police abolition and dismantling the carceral state, here are two actions Seattle City Council must take to correct that ASAP:
On the road to police abolition and dismantling the carceral state, here are two actions Seattle City Council must take to correct that ASAP:
1️⃣ Seattle City Council should repeal SMC 12A.20.050, the "Drug-traffic Loitering" Ordinance.
It was crafted in 1990 and last modified in 1992, when racist Republicans & carceral Democrats enlisted local cops to fight the "War on Drugs."
It was crafted in 1990 and last modified in 1992, when racist Republicans & carceral Democrats enlisted local cops to fight the "War on Drugs."
Even observers at the time noted that this ordinance was a pretext for cops to surveil and harass citizens for simply "looking like" they sold drugs.
It needs to be repealed.
archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=…
It needs to be repealed.
archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=…
2️⃣ Seattle City Council should repeal SMC 12A.10.010, the "Prostitution Loitering" Ordinance.
The ordinance effectively criminalizes sex work, and gives cops an excuse to disproportionately badger transgender and cisgender women of color.
It needs to be repealed.
The ordinance effectively criminalizes sex work, and gives cops an excuse to disproportionately badger transgender and cisgender women of color.
It needs to be repealed.
These recommendations emerged from Seattle's "Reentry Workgroup Report," generated in 2018.
It contains some of the most thorough policy analysis that has been done in Seattle with respect to limiting the scope/size of the carceral state. herbold.seattle.gov/wp-content/upl…
It contains some of the most thorough policy analysis that has been done in Seattle with respect to limiting the scope/size of the carceral state. herbold.seattle.gov/wp-content/upl…
Let your Seattle City Council rep know that you think the City Council should repeal the "Drug-traffic" and "Prostitution-Loitering" ordinances immediately.
Find your rep and their contact information here: seattle.gov/council/meet-t…
Find your rep and their contact information here: seattle.gov/council/meet-t…
