Multiracial coalition launches campaign for equitable 2021 redistricting process

— from Washington Census Alliance —

SEATTLE—The Washington Census Alliance (WCA)—a statewide coalition of 92 Black and Brown-led community organizations—today announced  a campaign to increase and protect community input in the 2021 redistricting process alongside WinWin Action, the Voting Justice Coalition, the League of Women Voters, and Fix Democracy First.

On Tuesday, a public panel discussion on redistricting featured Rep. Mia Gregerson (33rd Legislative District) Rep. Pellicciotti (30th Legislative District), Sen. Sam Hunt (22nd Legislative District), and spokespeople from the Colville Tribe of Indians and Yakama Nation, whose tribal lands were heavily impacted by the 2011 redistricting process.

The event drew over 100 attendees, representing tribes and community organizations across Washington.

Yvette Joseph of the Colville Tribe of Indians, who ran for State Representative in the 7th District in 2004, spoke about how a history of inequitable redistricting impacts Native lands: “The district boundary splits the reservation right down the middle, and half of my family, who lives on the other side of the highway, wasn’t able to vote for me. We want to see district lines go along our reservation boundaries, instead of cutting reservations in half.”

The organizations are calling on the Washington State Legislature to include women and people of color among the appointees for the 2021 redistricting commission. The commission has never included a person of color in its 40-year history, and only three of the 12 voting members have been women. The group is also calling for an increase in the number of public meetings that communities can attend to provide feedback, as well as  the inclusion of more languages at these meetings.

Doresty Daniel, a representative of Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC) Spokane who works primarily with the Marshallese community, shared the importance of having a statewide coalition of color collaborating on redistricting. “People from the Marshall Islands don’t feel heard, and it’s difficult for us to participate in things like redistricting,” she said. “We’re still learning the system here in the US. This is something new to me, and I hope I’ll be able to get together with this coalition to bring out the voice of the Marshallese community here in Spokane.”

State legislators present at the event voiced their support for a more equitable redistricting process.

“We’ve been fighting for fair representation at all levels for years,” said Rep. Mia Gregerson (33rd LD).“We really appreciate this effort: this huge coalition coming together with one voice makes it a lot easier for us.”

Rep. Mike Pellicciotti (30th LD), echoed this support. “Even before the legislative session, we’re doing everything we can to make sure that when the redistricting commission comes together, all voices are heard,” he said.

WCA has been outreach events to educate community members about redistricting and to gather their input—particularly from communities of color, who have historically been denied  power and access in the redistricting process.

Based on early input, WCA has outlined preliminary goals for the new 2021 districts:

1. Honoring tribal boundaries by keeping Native communities together within districts;
2. Creating a majority-minority legislative district in central Washington; and
3. Keeping communities of color together within districts.

“Our fight started with the Census because we knew how critical a complete count was towards winning fair representation for communities of color in Washington State” said Denisse Guererro, a lead organizer with Washington Census Alliance. “We’re 30 percent  of the state, but only 16 percent of the legislature, and with just one Native legislator in Olympia. That’s why we need people and women of color on the commission making sure district lines honor tribal boundaries and keep communities of color together.”

“A lot of people feel like the legislative districts drawn after 2010 pit communities against each other,” added Margot Spindola, a lead organizer with Latino Community Fund, “by dividing the Yakama Nation across two districts, while packing the parts of the valley’s Latino community in one district and splitting them from others—the end result being the dilution of voting power for Natives and Latinos in central Washington. We’re determined to not let that happen again. Fair districts would keep communities together, not split them apart.”

About the Washington Census Alliance

The Washington Census Alliance is a statewide coalition of 90 organizations led by and working in communities of color. It advocates for the unique needs of our communities. Together, we’re launching an unprecedented relational organizing campaign to ensure that historically undercounted communities throughout Washington state are counted in the 2020 census.