HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-05-31 Proclamation - Declaration of Emergency in Response to Protests and DemonstrationsOffice of the Mayor
<L ]City of Tukwila, Washington
I908PROCLAMATION
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WHEREAS, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 38.52 authorizes the Mayor
' to exercise emergency powers; and '
WHEREAS, Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) Section 2.57.030 (1) empowers the Mayor to
proclaim a state ofemergencywhenanincident, whether natural orman-made, requires
immediate responsive action to protect life and property; and
' WHEREAS, the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, '
has generated anger and outrage across the United States, resulting in mass
' demonstrations; '
' WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila supports the peoples' right to lawful assembly guaranteed '
by the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of
Washington. Due to the current State of Emergency and the Governor's Stay Home Stay
' Healthy Order, the City was unable to issue a parade and/or demonstration permits to
groups who wished to lawfully assemble to voice their opinions, and plans to escort
' parades and otherwise assist in the safe and lawful right of speech and assembly; and '
' WHEREAS, the City regularly facilitates and supports unpermitted demonstrations and '
events to ensure public safety while preserving free speech and assembly, and
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WHEREAS, the City recognizes that p1
' arades and demonstrations which will travel upon
public streets and sidewalks, will disrupt and impair pedestrians, motorists and transit, '
and the City recognizes that some disruption is part of the rights of free speech and lawful
' assembly which the City will safeguard; and '
WHEREAS, in cities across the country, including Seattle, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York,
' Houston, San Jose, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland, and Minneapolis, demonstrations over
' the killing of George Floyd have turned violent and led to property destruction, injuries '
to demonstrators, significant uses of force by police, and injuries to both demonstrators
and police officers; and
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WHEREAS, in Detroit, MI, on May 28, 2020, a 19 year old man was killed by gunfire at a
related demonstration; and ,
WHEREAS, in many cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Louisville, Milwaukee, Columbus,
Atlanta, Portland, Cincinnati, and Denver declared states of emergency and established
mandatory curfews; and
' WHEREAS, the National Guard has been mobilized in Minnesota, Georgia, Oregon; and '
' WHEREAS, the protests and demonstrations have also led to looting activities, vandalism, '
and the destruction of property in the Southcenter area of Tukwila; and
WHEREAS, the presence of large numbers in a limited space combined with the clear and ,
present, and escalating, threat of violence, presents an unacceptably high risk of serious
' injury to innocent people including lawful protesters and police, as well as the significant '
potential for property damage to businesses and other structures in the City of Tukwila;
' and '
' WHEREAS, these events are rapidly evolving and police responses are escalating even '
during the drafting of this order and the ability of the police to effectively control the
' situation is rapidly being compromised; '
' NOW, THEREFORE, I, Allan Ekberg, Mayor of the City of Tukwila, do hereby proclaim a '
declaration of emergency within the City of Tukwila, and that during the existence of
' said emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the Director of Emergency '
Management and the emergency organization of this city shall be those prescribed by
' state law, by ordinances, and resolutions of this city and approved by the Mayor on '
May 31, 2020. Said local emergency shall be deemed to continue to exist until its
' termination is proclaimed bythe Mayor of the City of Tukwila, State of Washington. '
' Executed this 31st day of May, 2020.
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' Mayor '
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