Black Lives Matter

Crime

What causes a culture of police violence, and what can change it?

Following the killing of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police, Former King County Sheriff Sue Rahr published a piece for The Atlantic titled "The Myth Propelling America’s Violent Police Culture." KUOW’s Kim Malcolm talked to her about the issue and her article.

Crime

Black Seattle detective feared Proud Boys were chasing her. They were undercover sheriff’s officers

An investigation by the King County Sheriff's Office determined that two officers violated numerous policies when they pursued an undercover Seattle detective’s vehicle during a protest. Seattle Police said the incident was an unprecedented lapse in communication that endangered everyone involved. The sheriff agreed that the mens’ actions created substantial risk of harm, according to findings obtained by KUOW.

Government

Former Seattle police chief admits deleting texts in wake of 2020 Capitol Hill protest

Two years ago, the Seattle Police Department abandoned the Capitol Hill East Precinct, leading to the creation of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP). At the time, former Police Chief Carmen Best distanced herself from that decision. Whether Best approved the move remains an open question that is difficult to answer due to missing text messages. In a deposition obtained by Axios, Best said she deleted texts she sent during the 2020 protests.

Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best speaks plainly about being 'Black in Blue' in new book

Former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best started her law enforcement career the same year Rodney King was brutally beaten by Los Angeles police officers. She ended her career in 2020, just a few months after George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis. And the intervening years were marked with too

Politics

Jenny Durkan on the decision to leave East Precinct, and those missing texts

Homelessness, economic recovery, policing – these issues don’t wait for an election. They’re being addressed – or not, depending on your perspective – in real time.

Arts & Life

Is Black and Asian solidarity possible? These artists say yes

Inspired by a bold mural by Vietnamese artist Tân Nguyen and Black Seattle artist Moses Sun, KUOW's Kristin Leong saw the potential these communities held if they could come together for a common cause. But that meant overcoming two particularly steep challenges: that a lot of people just don't want to talk about race, and that there is long-standing tension between the Asian and Black communities.

Politics

Looking back at Seattle's CHOP, one year later

It’s been one year since people in Seattle protesting police violence marched to the East Police Precinct - and found Seattle Police all but abandoned the area. What remained was a protest zone that garnered national attention.

Politics

'You are only defeated if you stop fighting'

Marcus Harrison Green is the publisher of the South Seattle Emerald and columnist for the Seattle Times. He's a Black man who grew up in South Seattle. And he spoke to KUOW's Morning Edition about how this city has changed - after George Floyd was killed but also long before that.