Accountability & Justice for Jaahnavi!
The Issue
Accountability & Justice for Jaahnavi!
Indian American Community Services (IACS) is deeply disturbed by the recent video relating to the handling of the investigation in the death of 23-year old Jaahnavi Kandula. This video surfaced on Sept 11, 2023 in mainstream and social media. Jaahnavi Kandula was fatally struck in January by Seattle Police Department (SPD) officer Kevin Dave’s vehicle - a marked patrol SUV responding to a drug overdose. The vehicle was speeding in a -crosswalk at the intersection of Thomas Street and Dexter Avenue North in Seattle’s South Lake Union area.
The body camera video footage shows officer Daniel Auderer, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG), who responded to the collision, talking to Mike Solan, president of the SPOG. They were laughing, joking, and downplaying the death of Jaahnavi. “That’s not reckless for a trained driver,” Auderer also said in the video, that he doesn’t believe “she was thrown 40 feet either. But she is dead”. Auderer’s statements are audible in the video. He later continues his laughter and says, “No, it’s a regular person.” and suggests that the department “write a check for eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway. She has limited value.”
In January, Indian American Community Services (IACS) had requested a meeting immediately after Jaahnavi’s tragic death and was informed by SPD that they could not comment on an ongoing investigation. However, they promised to follow up with the community once they had conclusive details. There was no follow up from SPD about the investigation. There were no updates until the shocking release of the body camera footage.
Jaahnavi Kandula was a bright international student pursuing a master’s degree from the Northeastern University’s Seattle campus in South Lake Union. She was the daughter of a single mother who taught elementary school in India. Her mother took on financial debt so that Jaahnavi could travel to the United States and pursue her master’s degree. Many organizations, the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, elected representatives, and social media have reacted with outrage at officer Auderer’s comments regarding Jaahnavi Kandula’s life having limited value. Protests are being organized in Seattle to seek justice for Jaahnavi and her family.
IACS has always stood in solidarity with justice movements condemning violence and institutionalized racism towards Black people and Indigenous people. This video footage sheds light on the callous disregard and bias against human life of not only the Indian American immigrant community but also against other communities of color and marginalized populations. In addition, it harks back to the extreme violence and apathy that Black people and Indigenous people face from the very institutions that are supposed to foster community trust and ensure safety.
IACS demands that the SPD:
- Appoint an independent body to investigate Jaahnavi Kandula’s and other civilian deaths involving SPD officers and report results back to the community in a timely manner.
- Identify and disclose all details of the fatal accident to the public including the high speed at which officer Kevin Dave was driving. Provide clarity on what basis officer Auderer had already determined that it was not reckless driving that fatally killed Jaahnavi Kandula.
- Request the Office of Police Accountability to release all of their investigation reports regarding this case to the public with full transparency in light of the video footage.
- Hold accountable the three officers involved:
- Officer Kevin Dave who struck Jaahnavi Kandula, resulting in her death.
- Officer Daniel Auderer, vice president of SPOG, who laughed about the deadly crash, dismissed any implication of responsibility or criminality, and demeaned Jaahnavi’s life to be of “limited value.”
- Officer Mike Sloan, president of SPOG, who callously engaged in this horrific conversation with officer Daniel Auderer.
We urge you all to join our cause to demand accountability and just action from the Seattle Police Department and the Office of Police Accountability for all our communities - the Black, Indigenous, Latino, Muslim, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian and all people of color including the marginalized caste oppressed groups, LGBTQ+, the unhoused as well as those with behavioral health challenges, disabilities and special needs and for human rights. This fight requires your support!
Stand with us by signing this petition, and together, let's call out this callous disregard for human life!
Organizations supporting this petition:
Indian American Community Services (IACS)
Asian Counseling Referral Service (ACRS)
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Seattle
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) East King County
Eastside For All
Indo-American Friendship Forum (IAFF)
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
Pacific Islander Health Board of WA State
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) South Puget Sound
Town Hall Seattle
AWU
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Snohomish County
Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest
Muslim Community Network Association MCNA
Asian Pacific American Advocates of Greater Seattle
Indian American Friendship Forum (IAFF)
WA State Commission of Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)
Tasveer
Coalition of Seattle Indian Americans CSIA
Khalsa Gurmat
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Pierce County
4 Tomorrow
Africans on the Eastside
Indian American Muslim Council IAMC - Seattle Chapter
Humanize Homelessness and Dignity First
Queer and Desi Allies of South Asian QDASA
American Muslim Empowerment Network MAPS-AMEN
SEIU 775
Seattle Public Schools
North Carolina Asian Americans Together NCAAT
API Chaya
Advancing Justice - AAJC
Media Links:
SFO INDIAN CONSULATE STATEMENT
Indian Consulate Intervenes After Reports of Seattle Police ‘Downplaying’ Death of Indian Student (thewire.in)
SEATTLE TIMES SEP 11 https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/investigation-launched-into-tape-of-seattle-police-guild-leaders-downplaying-death-of-woman-struck-by-officer/
SEATTLE TIMES SEP 13 https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/feel-safer-yet-seattle-police-unions-contempt-keeps-showing-through/
SEATTLE TIMES SEP 14
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/handling-of-jaahnavi-kandulas-death-brings-harsh-criticism-from-seattle-leaders/
RECORDING OF SPOG CONVERSATION
https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/q3ZhqZh6
15,537
The Issue
Accountability & Justice for Jaahnavi!
Indian American Community Services (IACS) is deeply disturbed by the recent video relating to the handling of the investigation in the death of 23-year old Jaahnavi Kandula. This video surfaced on Sept 11, 2023 in mainstream and social media. Jaahnavi Kandula was fatally struck in January by Seattle Police Department (SPD) officer Kevin Dave’s vehicle - a marked patrol SUV responding to a drug overdose. The vehicle was speeding in a -crosswalk at the intersection of Thomas Street and Dexter Avenue North in Seattle’s South Lake Union area.
The body camera video footage shows officer Daniel Auderer, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG), who responded to the collision, talking to Mike Solan, president of the SPOG. They were laughing, joking, and downplaying the death of Jaahnavi. “That’s not reckless for a trained driver,” Auderer also said in the video, that he doesn’t believe “she was thrown 40 feet either. But she is dead”. Auderer’s statements are audible in the video. He later continues his laughter and says, “No, it’s a regular person.” and suggests that the department “write a check for eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway. She has limited value.”
In January, Indian American Community Services (IACS) had requested a meeting immediately after Jaahnavi’s tragic death and was informed by SPD that they could not comment on an ongoing investigation. However, they promised to follow up with the community once they had conclusive details. There was no follow up from SPD about the investigation. There were no updates until the shocking release of the body camera footage.
Jaahnavi Kandula was a bright international student pursuing a master’s degree from the Northeastern University’s Seattle campus in South Lake Union. She was the daughter of a single mother who taught elementary school in India. Her mother took on financial debt so that Jaahnavi could travel to the United States and pursue her master’s degree. Many organizations, the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, elected representatives, and social media have reacted with outrage at officer Auderer’s comments regarding Jaahnavi Kandula’s life having limited value. Protests are being organized in Seattle to seek justice for Jaahnavi and her family.
IACS has always stood in solidarity with justice movements condemning violence and institutionalized racism towards Black people and Indigenous people. This video footage sheds light on the callous disregard and bias against human life of not only the Indian American immigrant community but also against other communities of color and marginalized populations. In addition, it harks back to the extreme violence and apathy that Black people and Indigenous people face from the very institutions that are supposed to foster community trust and ensure safety.
IACS demands that the SPD:
- Appoint an independent body to investigate Jaahnavi Kandula’s and other civilian deaths involving SPD officers and report results back to the community in a timely manner.
- Identify and disclose all details of the fatal accident to the public including the high speed at which officer Kevin Dave was driving. Provide clarity on what basis officer Auderer had already determined that it was not reckless driving that fatally killed Jaahnavi Kandula.
- Request the Office of Police Accountability to release all of their investigation reports regarding this case to the public with full transparency in light of the video footage.
- Hold accountable the three officers involved:
- Officer Kevin Dave who struck Jaahnavi Kandula, resulting in her death.
- Officer Daniel Auderer, vice president of SPOG, who laughed about the deadly crash, dismissed any implication of responsibility or criminality, and demeaned Jaahnavi’s life to be of “limited value.”
- Officer Mike Sloan, president of SPOG, who callously engaged in this horrific conversation with officer Daniel Auderer.
We urge you all to join our cause to demand accountability and just action from the Seattle Police Department and the Office of Police Accountability for all our communities - the Black, Indigenous, Latino, Muslim, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian and all people of color including the marginalized caste oppressed groups, LGBTQ+, the unhoused as well as those with behavioral health challenges, disabilities and special needs and for human rights. This fight requires your support!
Stand with us by signing this petition, and together, let's call out this callous disregard for human life!
Organizations supporting this petition:
Indian American Community Services (IACS)
Asian Counseling Referral Service (ACRS)
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Seattle
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) East King County
Eastside For All
Indo-American Friendship Forum (IAFF)
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
Pacific Islander Health Board of WA State
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) South Puget Sound
Town Hall Seattle
AWU
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Snohomish County
Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest
Muslim Community Network Association MCNA
Asian Pacific American Advocates of Greater Seattle
Indian American Friendship Forum (IAFF)
WA State Commission of Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)
Tasveer
Coalition of Seattle Indian Americans CSIA
Khalsa Gurmat
Asia Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Pierce County
4 Tomorrow
Africans on the Eastside
Indian American Muslim Council IAMC - Seattle Chapter
Humanize Homelessness and Dignity First
Queer and Desi Allies of South Asian QDASA
American Muslim Empowerment Network MAPS-AMEN
SEIU 775
Seattle Public Schools
North Carolina Asian Americans Together NCAAT
API Chaya
Advancing Justice - AAJC
Media Links:
SFO INDIAN CONSULATE STATEMENT
Indian Consulate Intervenes After Reports of Seattle Police ‘Downplaying’ Death of Indian Student (thewire.in)
SEATTLE TIMES SEP 11 https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/investigation-launched-into-tape-of-seattle-police-guild-leaders-downplaying-death-of-woman-struck-by-officer/
SEATTLE TIMES SEP 13 https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/feel-safer-yet-seattle-police-unions-contempt-keeps-showing-through/
SEATTLE TIMES SEP 14
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/handling-of-jaahnavi-kandulas-death-brings-harsh-criticism-from-seattle-leaders/
RECORDING OF SPOG CONVERSATION
https://cdn.jwplayer.com/previews/q3ZhqZh6
15,537
Supporter Voices
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Petition created on September 16, 2023