CPOC Calls on Elected Officials to Speak Out Against White Supremacist Threats
/The Coalition To Protect Our Community strongly condemns the continued persistence of the system of white supremacy that in itself enables the type of fascist action we saw Wednesday at the Capitol in Washington DC. It puts our community in danger when white nationalists and militia members are allowed to threaten democratic processes, injuring anyone who stands in their way while law enforcement turns a blind eye. The attack on the Capitol was a clear warning- with the intent to take hostages and overturn the rule of the people with an authoritarian coup. These extremists have threatened to return to Olympia and take over the State Capitol in the coming days.
We call on Mayor Seth Fleetwood, County Executive Satpal Sidhu, Sheriff Bill Elfo, and Interim BPD Chief Flo Simon to investigate and assure the public that any local law enforcement or County and City staff that participated in any way in the domestic terrorist insurrection in Washington DC or Olympia will be immediately fired. We also call on them to warn County and City staff and law enforcement officers that they will be fired if they participate in any future white nationalist insurrection against national, regional, or local government. We do not believe that these organized violent actions are First Amendment rights that anyone holds on or off their government jobs. We are seeing other local governments take strong action against employees and elected officials who participated in the insurrection in DC.
As elected leaders, Elfo, Fleetwood, and Sidhu have a responsibility to model true leadership and publicly support the COVID protocols, the election process, and the U.S. Constitution, and oppose domestic terrorism. There is no excuse for Whatcom County or the City of Bellingham to not take immediate action and make a public statement. We are asking our supporters and good people across the state to apply similar pressure to their elected officials to investigate and root out white supremacy in publicly held offices.
The Coalition to Protect Our Community is committed to continued rapid response as actions unfold in the coming days and weeks. We’re stronger together. Sign on to stay involved