Hundreds of marchers came out in Seattle on June 19, Juneteenth day, as part of the United Hood Movement. The event page stated: “United Gang Members (active/inactive/affiliated) of Seattle have came together, and decided that they will peacefully march in solidarity with our brothers, and sisters, and other black organizations across the nation. We are tired of waking up to black men, women, children dead because of violence in our community, or police brutality. ”
Beginning at the Seattle Police Headquarters on 5th Ave downtown, marchers took over the street for some initial speakers. Leading things off was Rev. Harriet Walden of Mothers for Police Accountabilty. She praised the organizers and called for building a culture of life.
Other opening speakers included Afam Ayika: “My heart is heavy because this year I have seen Black children get shot, Black women get killed, trans women get killed, I’ve seen a Latino man run for his life and be shot to death, and we ask ourselves, enough is enough, what are we going to do?” Directly addressing the police across the street, he called them out for their violence and cowardice, eliciting a strong response from people in the crowd.
Activist Nikita Oliver said: “Today we gathered under the auspice of the United Hood March, the uniting of different hoods and in particular gang members to talk about what it means to be peaceful and building for our people. …What gets me is we are standing here in front of the Seattle Police headquarters, the longest lasting gang in the United States. A group that was created for the purpose of being a slave patrol. … It is a history that the police do not want to acknowledge, let alone unearth so we can truly be set free from it.”
Sheley Secrest of the Seattle/King County NAACP (pictured above holding yellow banner) said: “This is more than a moment, this is a movement. As we celebrate Juneteenth, we have to reflect on the lives of those who are here. What has taken place in the last 150 years, how do we honor our grandmothers and our grandfathers, those who struggled in resistance. …”
After the opening remarks, the march took off through the streets chanting: “Whose lives matter? Black lives matter!” Bystander response was strongly positive, with people at an outside dining area rising to applaud in solidarity. At Westlake, marchers formed a circle at 4th and Pine for an open mic. Many people joined in from the sidewalks. Continuing on to Myrtle Edwards Park, marchers gathered on a beautiful pebble beach in front of the Puget Sound, in view of the mountains, for closing speeches, prayer and poetry.
