Progressive Party of Washington State

The Progressive Party of Washington supports Occupy Seattle and similar actions around the state targeting big banks, multinational corporations and the corrupt politicians and parties that they control.

We stand with our fellow citizens in Seattle, Spokane, Tri-cities, Olympia, Bellingham, Tacoma Longview and other places who are committed to social and economic justice, creating jobs for all, ending unnecessary wars and closing the growing gap between the rich and the rest of us.

We applaud your efforts and will be taking up your cause with our state legislature.

Linde Knighton, Chair
Progressive Party of Washington

Support these Actions all over Washington

http://occupyseattle.org/

http://www.facebook.com/OccupySpokane

http://www.facebook.com/occupytricitieswa?sk=info

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyOlympia

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Bellingham/129622153804379

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyTacoma

Occupy Longview

Occupy Ellensburg

Occupy Perth

Occupy Vancouver

Occupy Yakima

Occupy Wenatchee

The John T. Williams shooting has activated a lot of people who never spoke out before. The efforts of the Williams family and the Chief Seattle Club have been well noted, especially for their respectful approach to protesting.

Two of us took the opportunity to find the legislator in charge of changing the state law that let Birk off. We discussed the situation with Representative Hurst’s Legislative Assistant, covering the lack of training, our preference for body cameras on the Seattle police and not allowing police with less then three years training to patrol the streets. As it turned out, she was familiar with the properties of throwing knives, and how hard it is for the untrained to throw any knife or sword with any degree of accuracy.

If you want to get your comments in to Rep. Hurst, please email him at hurst.christopher@leg.wa.gov

We are also sending this resolution out via friends for are Democratic Party PCOs, asking for Body Cameras on the Seattle Police.

Resolution

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF REQUIRING SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS TO WEAR BODY CAMERAS WHILE ON DUTY (APRIL 2011)

WHEREAS, the Seattle Police Department has demonstrated a history of some officers using excessive force and brutality and historically it has been difficult to prove in a court of law, and;

WHEREAS, recent events include the killing in August 2010 of a Native woodcarver with a shooting that a Seattle Police Department review has called unjustified, and;

WHEREAS, recent events also include in October 2010 the unnecessary kicking of a teenager in the head and genitals, and;

WHEREAS, Seattle residents who pay the salaries of Seattle police officers with their taxes have a right to know what the officers are doing on their work time and how they respond to potentially violent situations, and;

WHEREAS, the cost of body cameras can be recouped from litigation costs that will be avoided or reduced with camera surveillance, and;

WHEREAS, officers who are doing a good job will appreciate having their excellent work documented, and;

WHEREAS, many cities have deployed body cameras in our state, such as Lake Forest Park, Black Diamond and Orting, and cities across the nation are deploying this equipment, such as Cincinnati, Oakland and San Jose, and;

WHEREAS, this equipment will help officers learn what they could do differently and help the public understand what the officers face, creating a win-win for officers and the public,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 36th District Democrats call for a requirement that all police officers wear a body camera during all hours they are on duty, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the 36th District Democrats send a copy of this resolution to Mayor Mike McGinn, Seattle City Council Members, and Police Chief John Diaz.

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A search of state web pages revealed that Corporations in Washington got breaks on the B and O Taxes covering twenty-one pages. For a peek at our non-taxpayers click here Tax Breaks

After this and other abuses of our tax dollars came out, lawmakers mostly blamed the public for voting in Tim Eyeman’s 2/3′s majority requirement for new taxes. There are a few brave souls trying to stop the madness. Find out if your legislator has the courage to ask those who have the money to pay for running this state. Call them and ask what they are doing to flip the funding and close tax-loopholes, instead of cutting everything needed by the rest of us.

Organize to get these tax loopholes closed, and to keep amateur economics, “experts” like Tim Eyeman from messing up our state’s tax system.

Our friends at Sisters Organize for Survival have put together a great little pamphlet of how to find money to run our government. Flip the Funding If you like it, print it up and pass it around.

Join Sisters Organize for Survival, or similar groups in your area, or start one.