The Seattle Jewish community and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle are committed to an American society based on equal opportunity and justice for all. We share deep concern about the disproportionate use of police force directed at African-Americans in our country, and we believe that substantial steps are required to address this important gap in racial justice. The most recent case here in Seattle, involving the shooting death of Charleena Lyles, a young mother of four, saddens us greatly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and all who knew and loved her. As the circumstances of her death are investigated, it is important that the tragic end to Ms. Lyles’ life spurs additional action by the police and other segments of our society aimed at closing gaps and preventing further tragedies.
In May, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle selected Chief Kathleen O’Toole and the Seattle Police Department (SPD) for an award to be presented this Thursday, June 22, for taking on the challenges of improving the community. We made this choice for two main reasons:
1) Chief O’Toole’s and the SPD’s commitment to ensuring officers understand what it means to administer authority ethically. The SPD has committed to mandatory training for every officer through “Law Enforcement and Society: Lessons of the Holocaust”.* This training encourages officers to examine their relationship with the public and to see themselves as defenders of the Constitution, especially against the breakdown of democracy, and as guardians against mass crimes against humanity, by respecting and attending to the humanity of each person they encounter.
2) The Seattle Police Department’s work with SAFE Washington to combat hate crimes and, through information sharing, skills training, and relationship-building with SAFE Washington, to improve its protection of the Jewish community. This assistance has been invaluable during the recent increase in anti-Semitism across the Puget Sound region.
We stand by our original reasons to bestow the award on Chief O’Toole and the SPD. We also believe, in light of recent events, it is not appropriate to present an award at this time. With so many unanswered questions regarding the circumstances of Ms. Lyles’ death, it is not respectful to the Black community, to Jews of color, nor to all those committed to racial justice to go forward with the award right now. For these reasons, the Federation will not be presenting the award at Thursday’s Jewish Federation annual meeting.
Communities of faith, charitable and educational institutions, elected officials, law enforcement, community leaders--we all have unfinished work to do in strengthening our society’s protection for the most vulnerable and repairing the world. May Ms. Lyles’ memory be a blessing to all who knew her and inspire our shared commitment to work for racial equity, comprehensive mental healthcare, and justice for all.
*A partnership of the Pacific Northwest Anti-Defamation League, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Holocaust Center for Humanity, and the Seattle Police Department.
