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The Faith Action Network Governing Board has unanimously endorsed Referendum 90 that will appear on your November ballot. We want to tell you about it and invite your endorsement and participation today. During the 2020 legislative session, a coalition of parents, educators, medical professionals, and advocates passed SB 5395 (Sen. Claire Wilson) in Washington state focused on sex education that keeps young people safe and healthy. This law requires all public schools to teach age appropriate, inclusive, comprehensive sexual health education to K-12 students. This law was backed by a large statewide coalition and has strong support from a majority of [...]

Breaking news! Gov. Inslee responded to months of advocacy in creating a $40M fund for undocumented workers for relief during COVID-19, a vital resource that has been left out of federal stimulus packages. Thank you for your advocacy to make sure these essential workers who are keeping us fed are supported! Above, workers in Yakima show off their masks donated by the community (photo courtesy of Yakima Immigrant Response Network). Making an Impact on Policing Reform FAN's primary engagement regarding substantive policy change in policing is currently through the newly formed Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA). This coalition’s goal, led by impacted families, is [...]

Announcing our 2020 Annual Dinner! Save the Date November 15 for a new way of celebrating the year together - our program will be completely online this year in light of COVID-19, with some live elements. Depending on which phase of reopening your area is in, we are hoping some regions will be safe enough to gather in small groups - think about who you might like to host at your table. Stay tuned for more! Congressional Relief Package - Take Action In May, the House passed the HEROES Act for the next phase of Coronavirus relief. The Senate is creating [...]

These summer days, we are grateful for all the work being done at local levels to address police brutality and accountability. Last night, the Governor’s Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force met for the first time. FAN is very involved with a new policing reform coalition called WA Coalition for Police Accountability (WACPA) that is led by impacted family members who have lost loved ones due to use of deadly force by police. Both taskforces will be bringing forth legislation to the next legislative session in January. Meanwhile, FAN joins our partner coalitions in multiple meetings this summer [...]

There were many events last Friday to celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of June 19, 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were told of their freedom - the final state to hear the proclamation. We know that so much more work is needed for Black communities to experience true economic, cultural, and systemic freedom, and we are grateful to the many organizations that led marches and teach-ins to help us achieve that reality. Top left - the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and A. Philip Randolph Institute Seattle hosted a rally and march to accompany the shutdown of Pacific coast ports [...]

South Seattle march Sunday 6/7/20, photo by Mark White, mjwhitephotos.com Since its formation nine years ago, FAN has advocated for restoring justice in the criminal justice system and for policies intended to counter the effects of centuries of racism and white supremacy in our nation. On May 30, the FAN board issued a statement deploring the latest murders of Black Americans by police and calling out for justice. In the midst of a rapidly evolving situation related to policing and police misconduct in our cities, state, and nation, there are currently multiple opportunities to advance justice and security for African-Americans and people of [...]

Protecting What We Love: This theme of our spring appeal has taken on even greater significance in recent days, as we all seek to protect our communities and the democracy we love as so much is at risk. While we delayed our spring appeal to this moment, aware earlier that the economic downturn would impact many of our supporters, we are now faced with so many organizations and needs crying out for support. We ask you to share what you can with organizations on the frontlines of racial justice work, as well as consider a gift to FAN to make sure [...]

May 30, 2020 The Faith Action Network of Washington State joins with many across this nation in deploring the latest murders of Black Americans by police and in calling out for justice. We speak the names the victims of this recent racist violence and we grieve for their families, their communities, and our nation. George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis this past weekend while begging for his life. (May 25, 2020). Dreasjon (Sean) Reed, a 21-year-old from Indianapolis died after being shot at least eight times by a police officer (May 6, 2020). Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician, was shot eight times by Louisville Metro Police Department officers who entered [...]

With the National Council of Churches and Sojourners, along with other national partners, FAN supports this National Day of Mourning and Lament on June 1 for 100,000 deaths related to COVID-19 and invites you to mark it in your faith communities this weekend and/or Monday, June 1. Please consider their call to action below and let us know what your community plans to do, in case we get media inquiries: We are so grateful to each of you for the courage and leadership to unite together across all of our traditions, to bring about unprecedented unity to mourn and lament the [...]

Our partners at Yakima Immigrant Response Network are hoping to collect over 5,000 face masks to give to farm workers in Yakima county. The health of those who care for our food, who are often immigrants, is vital to the survival of all. Show your support by making some masks - contact YakimaResponseNetwork@gmail.com if you can donate! Protect Undocumented Immigrants in Relief Packages Faith Action Network has joined with the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) and over 400 other organizations in a letter to call for a state relief fund for undocumented workers and their families who are experiencing great hardship [...]