(This article was originally published by KNKX and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
What You Need To Know
🚔 Tacoma police officers Matthew Collins, Christopher Burbank, and Timothy Rankine face felony charges in the death of Manuel “Manny” Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man who died in police custody on March 3, 2020. All three pleaded not guilty and are on paid leave.
🏛 After nearly six weeks and hearing from about two dozen witnesses, prosecutors from the state Attorney General’s Office rested their case on Nov. 8. Attorneys for the officers are expected to call several more witnesses before resting their case, including their clients.
A police use of force expert testified Monday, Nov. 27, that the Tacoma police officers’ punches, neck hold, and Taser shocks of Manny Ellis were appropriate because Ellis was resisting arrest.
(This article was originally published on KNKX and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
On Tuesday morning in a modest courtroom in Tacoma, attorneys, defendants, and media gathered for opening statements in the trial of three Tacoma police officers charged with killing Manuel “Manny” Ellis, a 33-year-old Black man, on March 3, 2020.
All of the speakers, including state lawmakers and Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, acknowledged the historic nature of the measures — a dozen in total — that aim to address systemic racism in policing.
“These bills are all going to work in coordination with one another to create a system of accountability and integrity stronger than anywhere else in the nation,” Inslee said in his opening remarks.
If drummer D’Vonne Lewis isn’t the hardest working musician on the Seattle jazz scene, he is, by all accounts, in the top 1%. Typically, he played two to three gigs per day, every day of the week. Lewis was so busy he even stopped practicing because, spending all his time playing live music, he, his ear, and his body already knew the drill.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and performances started cancelling.
“Oh man, this is getting ugly,” Lewis remembers thinking.
Announcements, events, and other stuff we don’t want to get lost in the fast-churning news cycle!
NOTE: Beginning the week of Nov. 23, find upcoming events on our new Events page (next to “About” in the main menu). And on Nov. 25, we’ll begin posting “Weekly News Gleams” where we’ll round up relevant announcements and other info formerly added regularly to this post.
Have an event or announcement you want to share? Use our Event Submission page or shoot us an email.
Announcement — 11/19/20: City of Seattle Announces $1.7M in funding to Support BIPOC-Led Organizations Impacted by COVID
From the City: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the City of Seattle has worked quickly to launch COVID-19 relief programs including rent relief, expanding shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness, grocery vouchers for working families, direct cash assistance for immigrants and refugees, and financial assistance to small businesses. Residents and businesses can find a list of existing COVID-19 relief resources and policies on this website.
Following the recent announcement of $6 million in Equitable Development Initiative funding for site acquisition, capacity building, and capital improvements for community organizations fighting displacement, the Office of Planning and Community Development will provide an additional $1.7 million in funding to support BIPOC-led organizations that have been impacted by the pandemic. Awards of up to $50,000 will go out to 36 organizations to support community-based responses to the pandemic. You can find the full list of recipients here.
Rainier Ave Radio is giving away food this Saturday at their Central District location — steak and chicken, vegetables, dairy, fresh produce, bread, and even desserts from 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
The event will be hosted outside on their deck, safely social distanced. Bring your own bag!
Rainier Avenue Radio wishes you a ver Happy Thanksgiving!
