Updated: April 5, 2021 @ 9:30 AM to include a statement from the Marysville police.
[MARYSVILLE] – (MTN) Parents and students gathered in Comeford Park on Saturday to express their anger at the Marysville School District’s handling of threats against students. JJ Frank, the parent of a student threatened with death due to her race, held a press conference with city, county, and Black leaders, speaking to a diverse crowd of supporters.
“I’m here in the capacity as a father,” Frank told the crowd. “I’m hearing that these students that made these death threats said it was just a joke. When another student threatens another student’s life and says that they want to kill him, that is not a joke.”
“When another student threatens another student’s life that threatens all of our children’s lives, let us not turn a blind eye because these were Black students and minority students that our lives are any less,” Frank continued. “Black lives do matter.”
Two students at Marysville Pilchuck High School made death threats in December 2020. In that incident, which Malcontent News reported, the students received a short suspension and moved to a different high school. The Snohomish County prosecutor officers did not pursue charges stating that one family did not want to press charges and the students posed a low risk after a threat assessment. They were both referred to a deferment program through the juvenile court. Malcontent News is not naming the students or victims as they are juveniles.
Frank spoke about the incident during his speech on Saturday in vivid detail. “They said, what about that n*****’s sister? They said, yeah, we want to kill that n******.” This is in the police report.”
“They said that they wanted to kill my daughter, my 15-year-old daughter,” Frank said fighting back his tears as Black leaders gathered around him to provide support.
Screen capture of the Snapchat threat made on the same account as a student that made death threats in a December 2020 Zoom meeting
In the second incident, a January 2021 Snapchat message stating, “killing minorities soon,” showing a white hand holding a handgun, was made from the same phone and e-mail address of one of the students involved in the Zoom meeting. That student denies that they made the post and that a 20-years old relative did it. The 20-year old has not been named but is a son of a Marysville police officer. Because of the conflict of interest, Marysville police moved the criminal investigation to the Snohomish County Sheriff.
Frank accused the Marysville School District of misrepresented the status of the students after this second incident. He claims the district told him the students had been removed from school again, which they haven’t.
In response to growing media coverage, the school district released a statement. “In recent days, information about incidents against students of color, specifically Black/African American students, were shared publicly in the news, on social media, and through community forums. These incidents included online threats made against Black/African American students and confirms Marysville School District’s recognition and acknowledgment that racism and hate continue to exist in our community.”
“We will strive to do everything in our power to make certain that each student we serve feels safe physically, socially, emotionally, and free from racial or other forms of discrimination.”
For Marysville residents, many we spoke to expressed concern about the existing threats, given the history of a prior mass shooting event at Marysville Pilchuck High School. Later in the afternoon, a Black Lives Matter rally was held on the Salvation Army’s roof about a mile away. As a band played and a small group solicited support from the cars passing by, many drivers honked and waved. One person confronted the group briefly, asking when they would start breaking windows. A couple of pickup trucks circled the group, with one driver making a white power symbol as they created a black cloud of exhaust.
According to a KOMO news article, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s department has completed its investigation into the January incident and has recommended criminal charges to the prosecutor’s office.
The Marysville Police also released a statement on April 2. ” I want to update the Marysville community that this investigation is now complete. The Major Crimes Detectives from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office have referred this case to the Snohomish County Prosecutor with a recommended charge of hate crime, RCW 9A.36.080(7). The Sheriff’s office can answer further questions on their investigation.”
Frank and his supporters want further action. “If Jason Thompson, who’s on administrative leave, and Lori Knudson acting deputy superintendent, Rod Merrell, and the consortium consultants do not resign, we are asking Vanessa Edwards, the school board president and the board of directors to use their authority to terminate their employment immediately. This leadership must end, and enough is enough.”
Because it is a holiday weekend, the Marysville School District, the Snohomish County Prosector’s Office, and a public information officer with the Snohomish County Sheriff were not available for comment.
[SEATTLE] – (MTN) A person is in custody after carjacking a black Honda, driving it through a group of protesters, and colliding with multiple parked vehicles. Two different events converged in downtown Seattle as Black Lives Matter protesters marched from the West Precinct into the Amazon South Lake Union campus.
a carjacker drives through a black lives matter protest in Seattle is later arrested
The march was to commemorate 300 days of continuous protest in Seattle and started at Cal Anderson Park. About 200 peaceful protesters marched to the West Precinct, where several speakers addressed the group, including City Council candidate Nikkita Oliver. The group was followed by a heavy police presence, with over a dozen police vehicles visible on the surrounding blocks and many bike officers just out of sight.
As the group approached the intersection of Virginia, Fairview, and Boren, the carjacker attempted to turn on Virginia, finding it blocked. The carjacker struck a cyclist as protesters scattered. Seattle police bike officer following the protesters rode into the intersection to a scene of chaos. Police officers asked if anyone was injured. A destroyed bicycle lay on the ground, but there were no reported injuries to the officers’ amazement.
Video captured on the scene shows protesters running in two directions while a car brigade moves to protect the group. Another video shows a person narrowly missed by the fleeing car as it makes a u-turn on Boren. The driver then collides with several parked vehicles before wrecking at Denny and Fairview.
A Seattle Police photo shows the Honda wrecked after colliding with several parked cars and striking a fire hydrant.
A diverse group of protesters representing Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and insurrectionary anarchists have been marching and engaging in direct action since May 2020. The three groups at times march together using different tactics and seeking a variety of goals. Last night’s march was Black-led, with organizers admonishing those in the group trying to take direct action.
It became a tale of two cities as vigils and protests in honor of Breonna Taylor swept the United States on Saturday. Seattle and Portland both had vigils and marches with two very different outcomes from Direct Action marchers.
In Seattle, activists gathered outside Cal Anderson Park for a candlelight memorial and chalk art before marching into downtown Seattle. SPD met the group with a heavy and aggressive presence as they marched downtown and to the waterfront. Smaller groups splintered off and broke windows. The Seattle Police used a level of force not seen since November, resulting in fourteen arrests.
Activists created a candle and flower memorial for Breonna Taylor in Seattle, Washington
Later on Saturday, Direct Action protesters gathered in Occidental Park, where one of the activists chastized the group for lack of planning and poor tactics. KOMO released the video on Monday, and an infiltrator of the group allegedly filmed it.
Disagreements between the various protest groups in Seattle are well known and have spilled over into the public view on social media. Direct Action marches are described as a “venue” and are considered leaderless. An increasing presence by the Youth Liberation Front, an organization born out of Portland, vacillates between allowing independent journalists to tell their story and threatening violence against reporters.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”35″ gal_title=”Breonna Taylor 365 Day Protests”]
Black activists, including those within Direct Action, have expressed the frustration of the coopting of the Black Live Matters message with insurrectionary anarchist tactics. In January, Black leaders in Tacoma condemned a protest that tore through Black neighborhoods.
Black leaders have expressed that any property destruction caused by insurrectionary anarchists gets blamed on Black Lives Matter and the Black community. The court of public opinion frequently conflates Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and anarchists into the same grouping. In reality, they represent three different philosophies with overlapping goals but use divergent tactics.
For example, systemic racism against the Black community has roots within corporate America, especially in banking and financing. Acknowledgment, correction, and compensation for wrongs against the Black (and BIPOC) are common goals. Some groups seek reform, another dismantlement, and others destruction. These critical differences are often lost within the message and actions on the street.
In contrast, Black leaders in Portland assembled for a vigil for Breonna Taylor. A group of about 100 gathered outside while maintaining social distance for a candlelight vigil. The vigil featured live music, speeches from Black leaders, and impacted family members. The details of the actions taken by Louisville Police and the multiple policy violations were outlined with documentation. Candles and flowers surrounded a large painting of Breonna Taylor as people paid their respects.
A drawing of Breonna Taylor was surrounded by flowers and candles during a vigil in Portland, Oregon
The group then drove to the Blackburn Bridge, where activists released 60 lanterns into the Columbia River to commemorate Breonna Taylor’s life. With musicians playing, a group of about 100 marched over a mile to the Federal Courthouse. When they arrived around 10 PM, Direct Action protesters had already gathered outside the courthouse for a third day. On Thursday, federal officials used pepper balls and tear gas, while on Friday, Portland police kettled about 100 people, including journalists, arresting 13.
As the Direct Action protesters painted graffiti on the boards covering windows and columns and probed for weak points, Black leadership demanded they stop. A heated exchange exploded between the two groups, with Black leaders expressing frustration that Portland’s continued violence does not support Black lives. Black activists repeated words heard last year that Black voices should be listened to when protests are happening to support Black lives.
A Black activist appeals for support and to end Direct Action in Portland, Oregon on Saturday
Like in Seattle, the fissure between Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and anarchists was on full display. Some pleaded for the primarily white audience watching and listening to intervene and stop the direct action group. Some people moved to the courthouse sidewalk, and gradually most left the courthouse perimeter.
After the exchange, many left the area. As the night progressed, tensions rose several times, with announcements from the courthouse that those on the sidewalk were trespassing and could be subject to action. The sounds of rocks hitting the wooden barricades and windows filled the air multiple times. Music known to result in DMCA takedowns played in an attempt to blackout media coverage. By 1 AM, most had left, and not one Portland Police officer or federal agent made an appearance.
Twenty-four hours later, Portland police declared an unlawful assembly as Direct Action hit the streets again. On Monday, a coalition of Black leaders condemned insurrectionary anarchists in particular and put out a call for the tactics of property damage and threats to end.
Many expect an increase and larger protests in the coming months. Better weather, the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, the imminent decision on charges against police officers involved with Manny Ellis’s death, and the Jeff Nelson trial are all on the horizon.
A variety of groups and tactics will continue to be employed by different factions. If there is one thing the media should strive to achieve in those coming months, it is clearly differentiating between the groups, their tactics, and their goals.
Clark County District Court Judge Darvin Zimmerman, 70, stated he was taking time off after being caught on camera during a Zoom meeting making comments about Kevin Peterson Jr. and Black suspects in general.
Last week between court cases, Judge Zimmerman spoke to another court official while the Zoom meeting was running. During his conversation, he demonstrated judicial and racial bias while disparaging defendants and their family members. The Oregonian released a video of his comments on Monday after a YouTube video was removed on Saturday.
The Barrar Law Firm, one of the largest criminal defense firms in Western Washington, called for Zimmerman’s resignation following the broadcast. Moments later, the other five judges at Clark County District Court condemned Zimmerman’s comment, stating, “racial bias displayed by a judge is unacceptable, unethical, unjust and cannot be tolerated.”
By morning, county prosecutors and defense lawyers alike were filing motions to disqualify Zimmerman on cases he was presiding over. In a story by Oregon Public Broadcasting, Clark County Prosecutor Tony Golik stated, “We’re not indicating that the prosecutor’s office feels like we would necessarily get an unfair ruling. We’re worried more about people that are accused.”
During the Zoom meeting where Zimmerman talks to another unnamed court official, he stated that Kevin Peterson, Jr. had a “death wish” and that he was “so dumb” for fearing a lifetime in jail if he didn’t cooperate with a regional task force. Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old Black man, was shot by police in October during an alleged drug bust. Security camera video and phone records call into question police actions during the attempted arrest of Peterson Jr.
In a further twist, Judge Zimmerman’s son, Erik Zimmerman, was one of the Clark County Sheriff deputies present during the attempted arrest of Peterson Jr. As the suspect ran away from police, the younger Zimmerman was one of three deputies who shot at Peterson Jr.
During the Zoom meeting, Judge Zimmerman suggested that Peterson Jr. family was trying to capitalize on his death, saying, “he wakes up with dollar signs in his eyes and George Floyd’s attorneys.”
Several defense attorneys and public defenders who have petitioned Judge Zimmerman have come forward this week with questions on his conduct and his attitudes towards non-English speaking defendants.
Rodney Reese, 18, was arrested on February 16 for walking in the road in Plano, Texas
Someone called 911 to report a Black man stumbling along in the middle of a snow-covered street wearing a short-sleeve shirt and they requested a welfare check
Reese repeatedly told officers he was fine and he was walking home from work, police continued to follow him for two-minutes despite denying any aid and then told him he would be detained
Officers accuse Reese of resisting arrest but elected not to charge him, and instead charged him with a misdemeanor, being a pedestrian walking in the roadway and arrested him
The acting police chief had the charges dropped, saying officers had no cause to stop or detain Reese based on the reason for the call and his response.
PLANO, Texas — A misdemeanor charge has been dropped against a Black man who was arrested last week for walking home on a street during a snowstorm in Texas.
Rodney Reese, 18, was arrested Feb. 16 in Plano and charged with being a pedestrian in the roadway, news outlets reported.
[SEATTLE] – (MTN) Superior Court Judge Judith H. Ramseyer rejected the City of Seattle’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit for wrongful death, personal injuries, and civil rights violations. Attorneys from Stritmatter, Kessler, Koehler, and Moore, and co-counsel Cedar Law PLLC filed the suit last fall on behalf of more than 60 plaintiffs who participated in Black Lives Matter protests. The plaintiffs, including the survivors of Summer Taylor, claim that policing decisions were based on discriminatory practices and negligence causing injuries and death.
In court today, lawyers representing the city argued that the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) is only applicable for employer-employee law. Lawyers representing the city stated that applying WLAD to this case would be a “radical departure of the law” and represented a new legal theory. “We’ve seen the difference between how the police have handled other protests such as the women’s march and blue lives matters protests versus those for Black lives,” said attorney Sarah Lippek of Cedar Law, PLLC. “We think the differences in treatment are discriminatory.”
The city’s argument was, in part, that since protesters are not city employees, the protesters were not protected by WLAD even if the city behaved in a discriminatory way. Karen Koehler argued that protesters of all races advocating on behalf of Black lives and then brutalized by police due to their advocacy should be covered under the non-discrimination law.
Judge Ramseyer sided with the plaintiffs and upheld the claim that authorities’ actions over the summer could be considered discriminatory under WLAD. “The judge upheld our cause of action that protesters of all races advocating for Black lives could bring discrimination claims against the police for their brutal and disproportionate response,” said attorney Lara Hruska.
Another finding in today’s case is that the streets are “places of public accommodation” protected under WLAD. In 2019 the Washington State Supreme Court found that places of public accommodation are broadly defined as facilities or businesses used by or open to the public. Judge Ramseyer’s decision expands that protection. “The court decided that the streets are an area of public accommodation, and the police can’t discriminate against protesters on those streets,” said Lippek. “I mean, what is more public than the streets?”
DISCLOSURE: Renee Raketty, field editor for Malcontent News is a plaintiff in this case.
Anais Valencia was murdered in the NAAM parking lot on February 5, 2021
[SEATTLE] – (MTN) Black, religious, and community leaders from across the spectrum came together in a call for an end to violence, being bright in the world, and honoring Anais Valencia. Valencia, just 23-years old, was murdered by Gregory Taylor while he was in a mental health crisis on February 5 in the parking lot of the Northwest African American Museum. During a cool, dry evening with the moon above, religious and community leaders, along with family, remembered Valencia and discussed the tragedy of BIPOC families burying their children due to gun violence.
LaNesha Barber of NAAM, started the words of comfort, “This is a turning point for our community, turning toward the light and a turning toward love. Your presence here tonight begins this turning point.” Seven members of the clergy from Christian and Jewish faith addressed the small crowd as they held candles in the cool evening breeze.
“I think about the power of the cry,” said Reverend Mary Bogan, of the Damascus International Fellowship Baptist Church. “I think about my savior Jesus and his last seven words, and how important it was for him to message the freedom of acknowledging the pain. The freedom of being able to sit with something that is more about the presence of an absence, or the absence of a presence. I thought about what it means to get a call. Deep bonds of love have been torn apart and a community once again feels the stain of violence.”
Reverend Rick Rouse of the Lutheran Church quoted Jimi Hendrix saying, “Jimi Hendrix once said when the power of love overcomes the love of power, we will have peace again.” Controversial figure Virginia Beach of the African American Community Advisory Council spoke of being “exhausted,” from the continued violence, and fighting the sense to quit against the continued strain the Black and Person of Color community faces.
As darkness fell, family and friends gathered around a small memorial in the parking lot of NAAM, just steps from where Valencia lost her life. Later that same night, LaNesha Barber’s words of turning toward the light and love fell hollow on the ground as police shot and killed a man having a mental health crisis on the Seattle waterfront.
Submitting your e-mail address gives us permission to send you e-mails. We do not sell or distribute our e-mail lists or share them with third parties.
