To: Office of the Governor, State of Washington
 From: Concerned residents, scholars, and community stakeholders

  Washington State committed public funds to the Charles Mitchell and George Washington Bush Study on Reparative Action—a study governed by clear statutory qualifications designed to safeguard its integrity, independence, and public trust.

  The Department of Commerce awarded the study to Truclusion, an LLC that has publicly acknowledged it lacks the required experience, is not led by a descendant community member, and does not meet the qualifications set forth in the Governor-signed law. This award was made despite proposals from nationally recognized research teams, including those led by Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter and Dr. Sandy Darity, whose work has helped define the field of reparations research.

  Both research teams submitted formal challenges and requested debriefings under the Department of Commerce’s own procurement procedures. Each challenge asserted the same core issue: that Truclusion does not meet the qualifications required by the study language enacted into law. The Department of Commerce declined to substantively review those qualification-based claims.

  In addition, Commerce did not issue a competitive solicitation through the Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) portal, despite the availability of nationally recognized reparations scholars and research institutions. The study was also released with funding levels insufficient for the scope and rigor required—conditions that predictably constrain competition and discourage the caliber of research teams necessary to deliver credible, high-quality work.

  Commerce relied on advisory input from the Commission on African American Affairs. Advisory input, however, cannot substitute for statutory compliance or cure a failure to meet the legal qualifications established by law.

This petition does not allege motive or intent. It asserts process failure.

We respectfully call on the Governor to:

• Pause the current award
• Reset the procurement process
• Require a transparent, national search for qualified research teams
• Ensure full procedural review of all qualification-based challenges

Public trust requires correction when the process fails.

Sign to demand accountability and restore integrity to Washington’s reparations study.