It hasn’t made the national news, but there have been multiple
protests here recently over the police killing of a native american
wood carver. the DA has decided not to prosecute the murderous cop and
last night the police pepper sprayed the protesters. (i’m feeling a
wee bit guilty for not having been there as i have protest medic
training, including how to treat for pepper spray and tear gas. if you
want to do something productive, learn to be a protest medic). there
have also been multiple incidents of officers kicking people who are
subdued on the ground while hurling racial slurs. there was a
community meeting recently for people to air the grievences against
the SPD where the police were not invited because citizens rightly
fear police retaliation for speaking out publicly. Minorities (and
anyone who doesn’t pass as middle class or better) in the city don’t
look on the police as defenders of law and order but as potential
terrorizers and possible murderers, because they are.

—
The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all of your time.
Willem de Kooning