Over a thousand people rally to urge Seattle council to defund SPD by 50%
Aug 5, 2020, 1:17 PM | Updated: 5:58 pm
Over a thousand people rallied at the King County youth jail on Wednesday, urging Seattle council members to follow through on a pledge to cut the police department’s budget by 50%.
Seattle budget committee to vote on SPD funding cuts
The rally was organized by Decriminalize Seattle and King County Equity Now, whose plan for defunding SPD has been under consideration by city council.
Breaking: The marchers to #DeFundSPD arrives at #Seattle City Hall chanting #BLACKOUTDAY2020 & “Shut it down” @KIRORadio @KCEquityNow @SeattleCouncil very distant @SeattlePD visable presence a block or so removed – this rally & march has been 100% peaceful #seattleprotestcomms pic.twitter.com/ocIaIIQHbO
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) August 5, 2020
Met this you man 14yo from Freemont who says he realized he’s grown up with white privilege & felt compelled to show his support by coming out to march with the group for first time @KIRORadio @KCEquityNow #seattleprotests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/Sojowx9AG0
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) August 5, 2020
Music & speeches to start rally outside the youth jail which organizers says directly connected to #defundSPD plan to keep pressure on @SeattleCouncil thru next Mon final vote on 2020 @SeattlePD budgt. & into 2021 for more cuts to SPD, prosecutors @KIRORadio #seattleprotestcomms pic.twitter.com/8moIcMr2jE
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) August 5, 2020
The group is marching from the youth jail on 12th and Alder to City Hall, in a day-long event to call on the council to “do the right thing” and defund the SPD by half in 2020. This coincides with Wednesday’s committee vote, where councilmembers approved a series of amendments to SPD’s budget.
A final council vote on the proposal is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10.
“We have to keep pressure on (council) until the vote is completed next week,” one of the rally’s speakers said.
There are over 150K signatures to a petition to stop the defund effort, sponsored by the Seattle Police Guild.
