White Supremacist Graffiti, Vandalism Damage Offices of Grassroots Community Organization in Seattle

[eridani]

Cross-posted in WA State Forum

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Monday, April 26, 2010
Contact: Bev Spears, Director, Statewide Poverty Action Network
Work: 206-694-6772; Cell: 425-647-7648

White Supremacist Graffiti, Vandalism Damage Offices of Grassroots Community Organization in Seattle

Community response is broad and swift

Seattle, WA—This weekend, white supremacist graffiti marked the offices of the Washington Community Action Network, a statewide grassroots community organization working for social, economic and racial justice.

Vandals broke office windows, slashed tires of vehicles, plugged vehicle exhaust pipes, and left white supremacist slogans in graffiti outside the office, including “RaHoWa,” which stands for “Racial Holy War,” and the number “88” which represents “Heil Hitler.”

Community leaders and Washington CAN! staff discovered the vandalism when they came to a Sunday morning meeting to prepare for the annual May 1st Immigrant Rights march.

Faith, labor, community, and political leaders responded quickly.

“We believe that a vibrant democracy is enriched by a healthy, civilized debate over ideas. But, hate crimes, racially motivated vandalism, and domestic terrorism are unconscionable in a decent society and must be vigorously condemned,” says Monica Corsaro of the Church Council of Greater Seattle.

“People who perpetrate these crimes are trying to create a climate of fear and to intimidate people into silence and inaction,” says Lupita Ayón, Director of Latinos for Community Transformation. “We will not be intimidated.”

“We will not back down from the morally necessity of our time: fighting injustice in all its forms, including injustice against immigrants and the oppressed. Today, we continue our work to pass comprehensive immigration reform that puts family values first, to implement health care reform fully and fairly for all communities, and to hold Wall Street accountable for the financial crisis that wreaked havoc on our entire economy, particularly in communities of color,” says Dave Schmitz, President of UFCW 21.

“As an organization that has also experienced violence, threats and harassment, and has to be vigilant every day to protect the safety of both patients and staff, we offer our heartfelt support to Washington Community Action Network, and condemn this abhorrent act of intimidation,” said Dana Laurent, Political Director of Planned Parenthood VOTES! Washington. “There is no place for hate and harassment in a democratic society.”

"The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community stands with Washington CAN!, and the many organizations, faith traditions, and congregations who are deeply troubled, disgusted, and appalled by the vandalizing of the Washington CAN! offices by neo-Nazi and white supremacist graffiti as well as other significant property damage. At times like this it is incumbent that we come together to show that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Washington State. Equal Rights Washington applauds the work done by Washington CAN! in support of immigrant rights and humane immigration reform," said Joshua Friedes, Executive Director of Equal Rights Washington.

“We want to thank the Seattle Police Department who were quick to respond, are taking this hate crime seriously, and are doing everything in their power to ensure public safety and law and order,” says Robby Stern, President of the Puget Sound Alliance of Retired Americans and Vice-President of the Washington CAN! Board of Directors.

Washington CAN! received national attention last month when Marcelas Owens, an 11-year-old African-American Washington CAN! member, stood next to President Barack Obama as he signed the historic health reform legislation into law. Marcelas’ story of losing his mother after she got so sick she could no longer work and lost her health insurance was heard across the country in the weeks leading up to the health reform vote. The organization is also actively working to promote immigrant rights and the reform of our immigration system.

Some of the organizations that condemn these actions of hate against Washington CAN! include:


AFT Seattle Community Colleges, Local 1789
Planned Parenthood VOTES! Washington
Larry Gossett, Councilmember, Metropolitan King County Council, District Two
Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
Minority Executive Directors Coalition
Randy L. Joseph, CPA, Joseph & Associates PS
United Food and Commercial Workers 21
AFT Washington
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Delridge Neighborhood Development Association
Statewide Poverty Action Network
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
Win/Win Network
Fuse Washington
Western States Center
OneAmerica
Puget Sound Sage
Church Council of Greater Seattle.
Sightline Institute
SEIU Healthcare 775NW
Latinos for Community Transformation
Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
Washington State Labor Council
Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights
Equal Rights Washington
Center for Ethical Leadership
Community Alliance for Global Justice
Socialist Workers Party
Pride at Work AFL-CIO
Community to Community Development
Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation
Washington BUS
UNITE HERE! Local 8
Seattle CISPES
Casa Latina
Social Justice Fund
Bethel United Church of Christ
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Washington Association of Churches
IFPTE Local 17
Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers
Lutheran Public Policy Office
El Comite
SEIU Local 6
Economic Opportunity Institute
Washington State Nurses Association
Japanese Americans Citizens League – Seattle Chapter
Sprague Israel Giles, Inc.
SEIU State Council