We're experimenting with Slog AM/PM formats as we meet the present moment. Today, Slog PM will work as a live blog starting at 3:30 p.m. The most recent updates will be at the top of the post.
Our small but mighty team is working hard to bring you coverage from Seattle's ongoing protests and policy discussions in response to the killing of George Floyd. If you are able, please consider supporting our work.
It's the end of the day so we'll be hopping off this post: Time for Slog AM.
A group of arts organizations and small businesses on Capitol Hill have created a mutual aid network dedicated to sustaining the protesters: Carolyn Hitt, owner of Blue Cone Studios and bartender at Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, kicked off the movement on Tuesday. Since then, Rancho Bravo, Bang Seattle, Optimism Brewery, and SeattleShare have joined the cause. Each place offers different services at different times—water, bathrooms, food, phone charging stations, first aid.
Two officers just took a knee: Not sure what level of cops we're talking about here.
Two cops just took a knee here after days of protesters calling for them to do so. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/saFbVL18tZ
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 5, 2020
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards is calling for the firing of the four officers involved in the death of Manuel Ellis, reports the Tacoma News Tribune. He died in March from oxygen deprivation while being physically restrained by cops. He called out “I can’t breathe" while being restrained, reports New York Times.
Most of the crowds have unified around 11th and Pine: Earlier today there were marches throughout Seattle: around the CD, at Garfield High, and across Capitol Hill. At this point, the groups have mostly consolidated around 11th and Pine. The group following Seattle hip-hop artist Raz Simone just got to the intersection:
Raz Simone, this rig, and a couple hundred people have joined the protest. “This is something different,” he says. pic.twitter.com/DhOly1YbXE
— Rich Smith (@richsssmith) June 5, 2020
Some news from Councilmember Herbold:
Breaking news: @SeaCPC @SeattleOPA & @SeaOIG recommendations on use of teargas are coming tomorrow. At yesterday's Special Public Safety Committee mtg, @CMTMosqueda and I asked for emergency recommendations re: use of teargas.
— Lisa Herbold (@Lisa_Herbold) June 5, 2020
Come watch our live-stream: Here. Stranger art critic and former radio jockey Jasmyne Keimig is talking everyone through the protest. Put it on in the background while you read.
hey i'm Going Live on @TheStranger's instagram at around 8:30pm from our World HQ—watch here: https://t.co/evQeohmSCk
— jasmyne keimig (@jasmynekeimig) June 5, 2020
This just happened: Lights said “Stop Killer Cops” + “Defund Police, Invest in Communities" + "We Can't Breathe."
Got another one! pic.twitter.com/Fb1r0ebfE5
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) June 5, 2020
Here's who's doing the light show: Backbone Campaign. Rich has a picture in the second tweet here:
Lighting rig courtesy of Backbone Campaign, a nonprofit activist org based on Vashon and run by Bill Moyer. This is Aziza, his daughter. The group has been doing “artful activism” for 16 years, and they’re deploying these things across the country in support of the protests. pic.twitter.com/BeXX28FSts
— Rich Smith (@richsssmith) June 5, 2020
Raz Simone is here again: Last night he was at 11th and Pine until late into the evening ramping up and also deescalating the crowd.
“Do not feel wrong for smiling, this is beautiful.”@razsimone speaking to the another crowd down the block. pic.twitter.com/MrUoYASql0
— amandamsnyder (@amandamsnyder) June 5, 2020
A huge group of protestors made their way through the Central District: David Gutman, who is with the group, says the march has been "entirely peaceful" and hasn't seen a single cop.
Everything has been entirely peaceful, from what I've seen, so far tonight. And I haven't seen a single police officer since protesters started marching an hour ago.
Currently chanting "CD, CD," for the Central District, at the corner of 20th and Unionhttps://t.co/svyr7uzka4 pic.twitter.com/RbFfy1Bw0K
— David Gutman (@davidlgutman) June 5, 2020
We’re getting two new coronavirus testing sites: in Sodo (3820 6th Ave S) and North Seattle (12040 Aurora Ave. N) via the city of Seattle and UW Medicine, reports the Seattle Times. They are available to anyone who lives, works, or spends time in Seattle and open on Monday, potentially expanding the number of tests by 1,600 a day. You can make your appointment online or by calling 206-684-2489.
While there's a big hub at 11th and Pine... groups are currently moving around the city. One large group just left and appeared to be heading toward the youth jail on Alder Street. Lots of movement as some groups come and go from 11th and Pine.
And we’re back for another night of #seattleprotest Most of the current group at 11th and Pine is on the move south on 11th. Many still here. pic.twitter.com/42b5VkemGJ
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) June 5, 2020
Protester here says they’ll be leaving this spot to go towards the Youth Jail south of here when another group that was in Cal Anderson earlier gets to 11th and Pine. #seattleprotest
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 5, 2020
More than any other day, it seems 11th and Pine is operating as a hub with groups coming and going. Past hour has seen multiple groups entering and exiting in shifts. pic.twitter.com/99VzQsg4W5
— Chase Burns (@chaseburnsy) June 5, 2020
There's also a protest in South Seattle:
South seattle protest, @NikkitaOliver speaking. Talking about the need to defund and demilitarize the police. Mentions that SPD never had to fight to keep its budget. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/1Ldg67AePP
— Robert Getch (@StumpToEmerald) June 5, 2020
There's a petition to kick the Seattle Police Officer's Guild (SPOG) out of the King County Labor Council: The King County Labor Council represents more than 150 unions and 100,000 workers. According to KUOW, "over 500 black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) union members have signed" a petition to get SPOG out of the labor council "to distance the local labor movement from policing, which is one element of 'systemic racism in American society.'"
It's day seven of protests in Seattle: Capitol Hill is still going strong.
Feeling like Groundhog’s Day here as protesters spend their fourth day in a row at 11th and Pine. Law enforcement a decent distance from the barricade. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/VaB9eF9TcU
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 5, 2020
Canada's Green Party leader calls on country to allow U.S. asylum seekers: Since the country is "no longer safe."
Speaking of the U.S. and our silly (read: terrible) ways: Sen. Rand Paul just held up a bill that would have banned lynching and make it a federal crime. He's the lone holdout. Legislation that would prevent the president from nuking hurricanes was also unveiled since, you know, that's a thing that needs to be addressed.
Los Angeles just ended its curfew: Welcome to the club, LA. It was the "widespread peaceful conduct" at demonstrations across the city that brought the curfew to an end, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Dallas protester lost his eye: Brandon Saenz, 26, was hit with a non-lethal sponge round while protesting police brutality in Dallas. Saenz lost his left eye because of the hit.
Greece throws down in solidarity: They're not fucking around in Athens.
Demonstrators held banners and threw firebombs at police outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens during a protest against racism and the death of George Floyd, as police fired tear gas to quell demonstrators. https://t.co/iEfSQtWsCx pic.twitter.com/4kg4iJZCbk
— ABC News (@ABC) June 4, 2020
From the Minneapolis City Council president: "We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department."
Yes. We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a transformative new model of public safety. https://t.co/FCfjoPy64k
— Lisa Bender (@lisabendermpls) June 4, 2020
SPD is going to do something about the mourning badge thing: The Seattle Police Department tradition of honoring fallen officers by putting a black strip on officers' badges—right over their badge numbers—has drawn Seattle's ire this week. Finally, after outrage about accountability and transparency, Chief Carmen Best announced that she would be issuing a directive to change the policy to allow badge numbers to be visible. This could take a "day or two," according to Best.
Mayor Jenny Durkan addressed the city: She had some nice words to say about the peaceful protest last night where no tear gas was fired for the first time this week (thanks, SPD) and about her conversations with Omari Salisbury, the journalist who filmed the now-infamous pink umbrella video from Monday. She cited that Salisbury advised SPD to get better speakers so the crowd could hear what SPD was saying. Durkan is going to try to make that happen. "When we come together and listen we can move forward," she said.
Durkan, citing an interview btwn journalist Omari Salisbury and Chief Best, says setting up a sound system for police to communicate with protesters "should help," calls it evidence of "moving forward." I don't see that suggestion on this list of demands https://t.co/1RF3ZWBZFb pic.twitter.com/tN3R5lP1UB
— Rich Smith (@richsssmith) June 4, 2020
It's Omari's birthday today:
Do this: https://t.co/bvZjmajl98
— Seattle Bike Blog (@seabikeblog) June 4, 2020
On a different note: Biden's VPs
I can report that among those who have met with @JoeBiden #VP co-chairs & currently being vetted are:
• Mayor @KeishaBottoms
• @RepValDemings
• @AmbassadorRice
• Sen. @KamalaHarris
• @GovWhitmer
• @StaceyAbrams
• Sen. @ewarren
• Sen. @AmyKlobuchar #JoeBiden
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) June 4, 2020
News in the Ahmaud Arbery case: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in Georgia while he was jogging. Evidence revealed in court on Thursday that Arbery "was repeatedly boxed in by two pickup trucks as he desperately tried to escape." He was then shot in the chest by Travis McMichael, according to the driver of the second pickup truck, Roddie Bryan. McMichael fired three times. Bryan said McMichael said the n-word after he had shot Arbery, standing over his body.
Who needs Capitol Hill block party?
Making the rounds pic.twitter.com/aRqN5CmLvN
— jseattle (@jseattle) June 4, 2020