Following comments by officials Tuesday regarding rising COVID-19 numbers in Snohomish County, organizers of the Edmonds Rally for Freedom to Support Black Lives have decided to postpone the July 3 event set for Civic Field
“While recent protests and rallies have not been found to be super-spreader events when attendees wear masks and follow distancing, the health of our community is paramount,” organizers said in a statement. “And being mindful of everyone’s health risks, data has also shown that COVID-19 is statistically impacting the Black community in greater numbers.”
“As a group of local Edmonds residents, we remain deeply committed to the work of dismantling systemic racism,” the statement continued. “We encourage everyone to make a commitment to becoming anti-racist, learning what that means, and taking meaningful action.”
Organizers said they will reschedule the event “as soon as we deem it safe.”
A deep bow of gratitude to all the organizers:
First, for the all the work you’ve put into what I know is going to be a phenomenal rally when it happens.
Second, your sincere acknowledging the health and safety of BIPOC and entire communities.
Third, I love you, I stand with you.
I definitely agree with all of this, and I am so grateful that the organizers put so much effort into working to make the world around us a better and more just place, and take the health of our community so seriously. I truly believe that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (MLK), and that the systemic racism in this Country is not only devastating to the people of color who have to live under it, but everyone who are taught to accept a racist system as normal. We all should be working to help all Americans to be the most that they can be, which would benefit every single person in this country. The more that everyone is given a fair chance to succeed, the more that everyone will be able to contribute to society, and we will all benefit from that.
Dialogue to improve our society is always a good thing, and I hope that this event is rescheduled for a later time. I personally would like to see more emphasis on meaningful reform. I think that blanket statements like “defund the police,” and “remove officers from schools” are far too broad, and do not go into the details enough into how to alleviate the problems these plans would create. That is a serious impediment to meaningful change. In some instances, it might even make the problems worse.
For schools, there are real threats from school shootings, along with people who are personally uncomfortable interacting with the police. Just removing officers from schools does not prepare people for interacting with the police in the real world where the stakes are higher, and it does nothing to address the serious safety challenges from school shootings and school violence. I think that removing officers from schools without any real backup plan for the problems it would create only makes the problem worse for everyone, and is a prime example of what not to do to enact serious structural racism reform.
I don’t think that the Edmonds Rally for Black Lives Rally has to come up with all the answers, but I do think that this is a very unique time with a real opportunity for meaningful change, and that all of the people in the past and present who have been victims of structural racism are counting on everyone to take this movement seriously enough to propose something that is lasting, thoughtful, and impactful.
I am disappointed to hear this but I understand and will vey much look forward to its rescheduling. Kudos to all the time and creative energy the organizers put into planning such fun, family-friendly activities. When it happens, this will be a wonderful community event!
I echo the words of Elizabeth. Thank you for the work that you have put into the rally that will happen when the time is right. Our solidarity includes the dedication to bringing awareness of what we need to do to help bring an end to systemic racism, and keeping our community safe and healthy as we watch the numbers climbing.
We stand with you!
I am heartened, first by the consideration of the organizers in postponing this event out of respect for the health concerns of all of us and secondly by Elizabeth’s and Nancy’s well stated comments. With thoughtful support and action on behalf of our friends and neighbors of color, we can and will turn the tide at long last.
I look forward to attending the rally when it is rescheduled.
I echo the above comments – especially Sandy O’s. Due to health concerns we were not going to attend the rally this week despite wanting to. Now, we will be able to join in on the as yet unscheduled date.
Thanks!
When the city rented Civic Field to the Chamber for the Taste or the 4th of July activities, there is a contract between the city and the chamber. I cannot find the details for that contract on the city web site. Does anyone know how to find the details of that contract? Is it in a council packet from some past council meeting that approved the contract? It would be interesting to know what are the terms and conditions set forth in a contract to use civic park.
YEAH! (Your Edmonds Autonomous Haven) UPDATE: My brothers and sisters at the CHOP are understandably disappointed, but we too have postponed our protest occupation at the central roundabout. However the barricades remain on standby for deployment aboard a flatbed trailer provided by a generous friend of the movement.
There won’t be a need to use them however if the apparently large contingent of narrow-minded reactionary Edmonds folks evidenced by their uncharitable comments with suspect motivations expand their minds and have an epiphany. The times are changing, please get out of the way if you can’t land a hand. It’s not your time anymore. Regarding police brutality, delve into the Elijah McClain episode if you haven’t done so. It would take a hard heart indeed not to be outraged and even shed a tear.
Looks like all your “broad minded” brothers and sisters in the CHAZ/CHOP have gone back to their parents basements. So maybe Durkin or that nasty group called the SPD will loan you some of the now unused barricades to continue your “Summer of Love”.. And I’m guessing that you can always return to the Soviet of Seattle for more “charitable” comments and groupthink more in line with your mob.
Stop with the “CHAZ/CHOP” already. CHAZ is yesteryear, in the past, finito, dead and buried, vanished into the nevermore black pit of eternity. Get the point? We moved on from CHAZ to CHOP quite awhile ago, can’t you move on too? Are all reactionary Trump traitor-lovers pathologically unable to let go of the past and accept any progress of anything in any way, shape, or form? That’s a rhetorical question: no need to answer, just reflect on these things, like Krishnamurti. And you can look him up, too, it may help.
LOL. I’m proud that you’ve moved on since 5am.. You are definitely right about the black pit, but you can bet we’ll pull CHAZ/CHOP references out often in the future for a good chuckle. And who knows, with the clown show that runs Seattle, the circus could re-convene at any moment.
Like many pompous pubescent assumptions, your confidence is writing checks your experience can’t cash. Probably unlike you, I’ve lived a lot of life; am honest, educated, world traveled, a small business owner, and don’t suffer fools well. Come back in about 10 years, you might understand a little of life then, and we might actually be able to have an informed discussion about what “progress” is.
I was seriously hoping that you were being sarcastic, but I am sad to see you not taking the damage to BLM from CHOP seriously. As the community organizer Andre Taylor noted in a KUOW interview recently, “I think, when CHOP is remembered, this is just my opinion of it, it will only be remembered as a place where violence occurred. Because no matter what the message is, you cannot just sweep away dead bodies, dead Black bodies, and act like it didn’t exist there.”
It is hard to forget CHOP security yelling in a video “oh you’re not dead yet, huh” after firing 18 shots into the car of the two black teens this week killing one of them, and leaving another in critical condition. There will be no marches for them, their names will not be written on sidewalks, and no one will be chanting to say and remember their names. They will just be dead as a result of people who did not take the repercussions of the actions seriously.
We need serious restructuring and change to end the systemic racism, and poorly thought out plans that only make the situation worse is a betrayal to those who are desperately working for meaningful change.
I have not kept up with the news. Has the 4th of July parade been canceled for health reasons? I assume so, but missed any mention of it, so just need to confirm.
Thanks,
Bette Bell
Yes, the parade has been canceled due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions.