Question Inevitability

1 in 99 Americans is behind bars.  Our state and city budgets are struggling, with vital social programs on the chopping block.  And this is the time our city decides to spend up to 220 million dollars on a new municipal jail.

Public conversation on this issue has been narrow, geographically isolated, and limited to a technocratic question of "Where do we build it?", never "Do we really need it?"  We're too busy talking about zoning laws to grasp the impact on lives and communities. 

There are cheaper and more effective ways to make our neighborhoods safer.  Our city stands at a crossroads:  Will we make a permanent investment in damaged lives, blighted neighborhoods, and institutionalized racism?  Or will we choose now to grow into a stronger, safer and more just community?

Join the conversation.  Come to a community forum on Wednesday, January 28th, at 6:30 pm.  A panel of speakers will discuss racial disparity in the prison system, the connections between prison, povverty and struggling public education, effective and afffordable alternatives to incarceration, and much more, with lengthy Q&A to follow.

   A new jail isn't inevitable, it isn't effective, and it isn't right.  Come find out why, and what to do about it.

Featuring a panel of speakers including:

Silja J.A. Talvi, author and investigative journalist

Aaron Dixon, 2006 Green Party Senate candidate, co-founder of the Black Panthers in Seattle and well-known activist

King County Councilmember Larry Gossett

Jesse Hagopian, Seattle teacher and activist

Tim Harris, founder and executive director of Real Change

Alexes Harris, with the Clean Dreams pre-arrest diversion program

and moderated by David Bloom, Seattle activist and City Council candidate

Seattle University's Pigott Auditorium

January 28th, 2009

6:30-8:30 pm

Sponsored by Real Change Organizing Project and the Seattle University School of Law.

Address

1016 E. Marion St.
Seattle, WA 

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