Thread by @GovInslee

We have a moral mandate to uproot systemic racism in our society. 2020 has yet again laid bare the cost of inaction.

I believe WA can be an anti-racist state. Today, I’m announcing concrete actions we should take to rise to that essential challenge. ⬇️

medium.com/wagovernor/ins…

1⃣ I am supporting legislation to make Juneteenth a legal holiday.

Clearly we have not done enough to recognize the history of slavery and acknowledge the institutional racism that has impacted people of color for generations.

This is one small but important step to fix that.

2⃣ I am proposing $2.5 million to fully fund the state Equity Office created last year.

The office will develop and implement an equity plan for the state, transparently track our progress and assist agencies in developing their own plans.

3⃣ Black lives matter. And our actions need to back up those words.

I'm requesting legislation to create the Office of Independent Investigations - so police use-of-force investigations are conducted transparently, thoroughly and with an anti-racism lens.

The Office of Independent Investigations was shaped by Governor’s Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force – formed after the deaths of George Floyd and Manuel Ellis.

I’m grateful for their guidance on this issue. governor.wa.gov/news-media/ins…

4⃣ Immigration status should not deny anyone and food, shelter or safety. In Oct. we formed the Immigrant Relief Fund to help immigrant workers - unable to access most economic supports - through the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am recommending we add another $10 million to that fund.

5⃣ Systemic racism has made the use of credit scores to determine insurance rates highly inequitable. So we shouldn't use them.

@WA_OIC Mike Kreidler and I are proposing legislation that bans the use of credit scores to determine auto, homeowner, renter and boat insurance rates.

6⃣ Finally - I'm proposing new equity investments in the capital budget to support resiliency and economic growth in BIPOC communities.

These investments are steps toward righting the historic disinvestment and marginalization faced by communities of color in our state.

We can and we must uproot systemic racism from our state. These proposals are a start.

They will help dismantle inequities. They will invest directly in underserved communities. And they will increase access to opportunity to stop this insidious cycle of inequality.