Seattle, racism, police: How the Northwest is responding to a week of tragedy

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray spoke to the city the day after five Dallas police officers were shot and killed by a sniper, following the deaths of two black men at the hands of police.

Related: Are political responses to shootings helpful?

“This is both a pivotal and dangerous moment in our history,” Murray said. “Will we be further divided and sink into more violence, or will we choose to say that violence is not the answer? I hope that we will respond and be united in hearing the peaceful voices of the peaceful protesters in Dallas, in Louisiana and in Seattle.”

Murray also stressed that the “vicious” act of one individual in Dallas should not silence the peaceful voices of so many others. He also had a message for Seattle police officers.

“To the members of the Seattle Police Department, this tragedy is a sober reminder of the risk you and your colleagues face every day as you serve our community,” Murray said. “You have an extraordinarily difficult job. You are called to respond to the failure of so many systems that have not addressed institutional racism.”

But Mayor Murray’s was not the only response to the complex issues that have shocked the nation.

Seattle Police Department

At the request of its police union, the Seattle Police Department placed all patrol officers in pairs for the time being.

“As a community we are feeling fear and frustration and anger and sadness, and the police are feeling fear and frustration and anger and sadness,” said Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole.

Macklemore

How many more murders of black people by police before we hold our system and those that enforce… https://t.co/qMZ1F7cEC1

— Macklemore (@macklemore) July 6, 2016

Seattle King County NAACP

Puyallup Police Department

Today the appreciation, support, & love shown to our department from the community has been overwhelming. Thank You! pic.twitter.com/Xt6mNTVx6K
— Puyallup Police (@PuyallupPD) July 8, 2016

Russell Wilson

Loving Our Humanity is the Only true cure to the Pain of Our Society. pic.twitter.com/vmz3m7G3Tr

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) July 8, 2016

Bill Nye

Tragedies around the US. As president remarked: “We can do better.”

— Bill Nye (@BillNye) July 8, 2016

Seahawks Michael Bennett

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett posted several Instagram messages, including one that was directed at his fellow athletes, criticizing the fact that more people posted about Kevin Durant’s decision to play for the Golden State Warriors than someone being killed.

See those posts here.

King County Sheriff John Urquhart

King County Sheriff John Urquhart said that no cop wants to shoot someone. He stressed that elected officials should “tamp down on anti-police rhetoric.”

“I want people that want to trash police, call us racist, or whatever they are going to do, to keep that in mind,” he said.

Hope Solo

When will it stop? #AltonSterling https://t.co/8NPT6698Xm

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 7, 2016

Krist Novoselic

Seems like the USA is slipping into chaos. This is scary.

— Krist Novoselić (@KristNovoselic) July 8, 2016

Seattle Superhero Phoenix Jones

I keep getting asked so here it is. 1. I don’t get why people are freaking out about Dallas it has always been this bad. The only difference is the videos 2. Black people right or wrong are not going to be treated fairly by the system so stop resisting arrest, keep your hands visible at all times, and never pull over on an isolated road when police lights turn on. 3. Every time i get pulled over the first thing i do is Dial 911 and tell the operator i am afraid and then inform the police officer 911 is listening. 4. Cops are afraid and should be. I have personally taken down three gunman without firing a shot and if i had a gun i can honestly say that would not be true. 5. This will not stop till cops are better trained, in better shape, can relate to the people there interacting with and know there are consequences for murder beyond paid administrated leave.

A photo posted by phoenix jones (@thephoenixjones) on Jul 8, 2016 at 12:06pm PDT

Draze

Seattle hip hop artist Draze told KTTH’s Todd Herman about a conversation he had with a friend recently. After watching two unrelated incidents of police shooting black men who appeared non-threatening, his friend felt the cops would go to jail, given the evidence.

This was right after the first video dropped on Alton Sterling … the sad part is that I don’t know that (the cops will go to jail). I’m not sure. I’m not certain. He’s like, ‘but it’s so clear.’ I’m like, to who? It breaks my heart to feel that way.

To me, we have to hold them responsible. I’m seeing videos of white Americans, I posted one today where a guy was tazed two or three times while he’s holding a machete, waiving it at police. He never got shot. He ran off. He’s a white guy, and they let him go. The point is that one group of people are being treated drastically different.

“I just have to say, shooting police officers is not the way. That’s not the answer. These are community members, just like us.

Snohomish

Thank you to all who stopped by our precincts to show support with hugs and kind words. It’s an honor to serve pic.twitter.com/NrfNHDVHQG

— Snohomish Sheriff (@SnoCoSheriff) July 8, 2016

Rainn Wilson

I’m so sad and despairing at all the violence & injustice out there. Can we just stop killing … https://t.co/6lEx5c6EGn

— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) July 8, 2016

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