Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Anti-police rally

On Sunday, January 28 2024, a crowd of community members led by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression gathered on the steps of Seattle's West Precinct. The previous Tuesday, January 23, marked one full year since Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student living in Seattle, was hit and killed at a crosswalk by Seattle Police Department Officer Kevin Dave.

Community organizers held several vigils in her memory at Seattle's East Precinct as well as the site of her murder in the past week, culminating with the Seattle Alliance’s action where speakers, many affected by police violence themselves, spoke to the importance of real police accountability.

Suresh Chanmugan, of Seattle Tech4Housing, thought the timeline for consequences has been too long, stating, “It's so incredibly clear that he killed Jaahnavi Kandula, and it is unacceptable to me that he has not been charged with the crime of killing Jaahnavi. How can that take a year?”

Jeremiah Baxter of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression had this to say: “Jaahnavi was walking through a crosswalk! She had the right of way. But, because Dave was driving beyond recklessly, he didn't stop in time, and Jaahnavi died because of it. When I say 74 in a 25, you say Jaahnavi should still be alive!”

Po Leapai, of the Washington Coalition of Police Accountability, said “My cousin Iosia Faletogo was killed by Seattle Police on his way to celebrate New Year's Eve in 2018. My cousin never made it and he was the third person killed by this officer. My cousin's murderer's name was Jared Keller.

Mantak Singh, an organizer with the University of Washington Progressive Student Union, had this to say: “We see this time and time again, and how many times do you have to go to rallies and vigils for victims of police violence? Too many!”

Castill Hightower, of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, also spoke to the crowd. “Where does my family go? After hearing that my brother Herbert Hightower, Jr.'s murderer, Steve Hirjak, who shot and killed Herbert 20 years ago while he was experiencing a mental health crisis, recently settled a lawsuit with the city for $800,000 and reinstatement as assistant chief of police?”