No New Youth Jail in Seattle: Hearing September 18

Campaign against the construction of a new youth jail:

We are rapidly approaching a critical opportunity for community members to raise our concerns publicly about the new youth jail. Youth Undoing Institutional Racism, End the Prison Industrial Complex & European Dissent need YOU to speak out in front of the Seattle City Council THIS WEEK.

PUBLIC HEARING

Thursday, September 18th 2:00 - 3:00pm
600 Fourth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104
City Hall Council Chambers

The Planning, Land Use and Sustainability Committee of the Seattle City Council is holding a hearing to decide whether or not to grant the permits that are needed to build the new youth jail. Up until now, the "community input" that King County has gathered has been from an all White group of neighbors. The current design reflects the cosmetic needs of this group and ignores the voices of those who will be most deeply impacted. Tell the City Council to listen to community and VOTE NO on all youth jail permits.

What can you do?

1. Attend the hearing on Thursday, September 18 from 2:00 - 3:00pm at City Hall and share a 1-2 minute testimony about why you oppose the building permits being issued.
   
2. If you cannot attend, write a brief statement about why you oppose the building of the new youth jail.
   
3. Help us with outreach and forward this email widely (flyer attached).

Talking points:

Incarceration harms young people. There are many alternatives to incarceration that have been utilized in other places such as Multnomah County. We should be working towards a future in which caging our children is not necessary rather than continuing to pour money into a broken system.

We need community accountability. Community accountability has been completely lacking during the process of deciding to build and design the new youth jail. Those who are most affected by the juvenile justice system have a critical perspective that has been silenced.

An anti-racist approach is needed. 8% of young people in King County are Black. The current youth jail is 42% Black. The disproportionality of our current youth jail is the result of systemic racism. The King County jail will continue to incarcerate youth of color at higher rates unless we fundamentally change the system.

Questions? Contact James Williams at Jamesatdu@hotmail.com (253) 883-9548