Van has raised over $75,000 and earned key endorsements, just one month after announcing campaign for County Council
Renton – Today, as communities across America recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day in a time of historic division, Kim-Khanh Van, a Renton City Councilmember, community organizer, attorney, and mother of two running for King County Council released the following statement:
“On this important holiday, celebrated in honor of the namesake of our county and our nation’s defining voice for equality and justice, we have an important opportunity to reflect on our values in this challenging moment and define the critical and urgent priorities of the future.
“In light of the attack on our Capitol and efforts to discount and overturn the votes of millions of Black and minority voters, we know that what we say – and when we say it – matters. Elected leaders owe it to our communities not to just speak out in times of crisis when the pot boils over, but to reject racism and inequality in all forms from the start by being bold, consistent critics of injustice.
“Commitment to action and representation must be steadfast, these principles cannot be an afterthought, nor a secondary responsibility. We deserve representatives who understand the need to truly invest in equity – in our COVID response and vaccine distribution, support for our veterans and seniors, in helping small and minority owned businesses. Today, I will join in protest with my community in collective demand for a better tomorrow.”
Van, a member of Seattle Martin Luther King Jr. Organizing Coalition, will spend the day in her role as peacekeeper, protesting racism and injustice and joining fellow community members and elected leaders at the 39th Annual Seattle MLK Day Rally and March protest at Garfield High School in Seattle. This year’s theme “Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble” reflects on the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis, including his and Dr. King Jr.’s fight for justice and efforts to create a beloved community.
If elected, Van would be the first woman of color to serve on the County Council since Ruby Chow retired from county government in the mid-1980’s, and the first to serve since the 1992 establishment of the current Metropolitical King County Council.
Officially announcing her campaign in December, Van has over $75,000 in contributions and pledges as she seeks to unseat Republican County Councilmember Reagan Dunn. Van’s impressive fundraising numbers, including outraising Dunn during this period and having a higher cash on hand, demonstrate the enthusiasm surrounding her campaign.
Van is endorsed by numerous community leaders and advocates for racial justice, including civil rights champion and former longtime King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, Indigenous community leader Matt Remle, Reverend Dr. Linda Smith of the Renton-King County Alliance for Justice, and Vasudha Sharma, a member of the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force in Renton.
“Kim-Khanh Van is a natural leader. As a Renton City Councilmember she has helped community members fashion solutions to a wide range of issues including housing, schools, employment, social services and immigrant and refugee advocacy,” said Gossett. “Her quick grasp of neighborhood needs and her ability to bring people together has been a superb gift. She will be a great advocate for every King County neighbor.”
Since entering the race, Van has earned additional endorsements from State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, State Senator Karen Keiser, and State Representatives Debra Entenman and Nicole Macri.
See Van’s full list of endorsers and learn more at ElectKimKhanhVan.com.
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Thank you for the Endorsement!
Council member Satwinder Kaur is a refreshing perspective in the Kent City Council. Her work in representing and serving her neighbors is exemplary, I am happy to have her on my side! ... See MoreSee Less
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Hate has no place in our community. As a volunteer with the King County Anti-Hate and Bias Coalition last year, I sought to bring awareness of this kind of violence in our region. We all must denounce acts of racial bias and violence in King County, where hundreds of cases have been reported by community members since March 2020. I personally listened to our community members talked about their stories of assaults, and often times, re-living such traumas.
Unlike Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who has refused to recognize racism as a public health crisis, I understand that prejudice and discrimination are barriers to safety, opportunity, well-being, and success. Representation matters – District 9 residents deserve a councilmember who will stand up for all of them – someone who can be trusted to acknowledge and act on the issues and obstacles facing our community, even if they haven't experienced that challenge personally.
I will be that advocate. Please REACH OUT to me with your experiences of hate and bias. I'm here to listen and fight for you.
Nationwide:
www.thecut.com/2021/02/the-us-is-seeing-a-massive-spike-in-anti-asian-hate-crimes.html?fbclid=IwA...
Another example in our Renton Community:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLrhcVckBD4
King County Anti-Hate and Bias Coalition:
www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice/Coalition-Against-Hate-And-Bias/Coalit...On 2/13/2021, Renton Police received a complaint by phone from a man who reported being hit by a snowball thrown by a female. The man told the officer he didn’t know why the female suspect threw the snowball at him. The man said he was able to distance himself from the woman and he disconnected the call with the officer.
Since that time, we have learned that the victim posted a video of the woman using a racial slur during the incident. The officer was not made aware of the exchange during the phone call with the victim. We are making continued attempts to reach out to the victim to gather more information for the investigation.
The Renton Police Department takes all reports involving hate crimes or bias very seriously. Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our community members and we will investigate this incident to our fullest ability. ... See MoreSee Less
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Today, I joined with brothers and sisters from King County Labor Council, Transit Riders Union, UNITE HERE Local 8, and many more organizations to stand in solidarity with workers in Bessemer, Alabama and in King County.
Supporting workers’ rights is dear to my heart. I remember my mother took 2 to 3 buses to get to her work at a few restaurants during my childhood years. And knowing that at her jobs she had to work non-stop with no built in breaks for the whole full 8-10 hour plus shifts, and often times, “lunch” break means “here are some left over food that you can bring home and eat lunch” after work...
#WorkersRightsAreHumanRights #EquitablePay #Healthcare #Dignity #CORe #VanPlan #KingCounty #KCDist9 #WeAreInThisTogether #ExperiencedLeadershipMatters
#OneJobShouldBeEnough
#ThankYouMom
#ThankYouUnions
www.al.com/news/2021/02/national-day-of-solidarity-throws-spotlight-on-amazon-union-vote-in-alaba... ... See MoreSee Less
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As of February 4, our amazing healthcare workers have administered 770,000 shots in Washington! Let’s keep it up Washington. ... See MoreSee Less
Inslee: We have vaccine capacity, we just need the doses | Covington-Maple Valley Reporter
www.covingtonreporter.com
Despite continued frustration from those seeking a shot, the state is making progress, he said.Comment on Facebook
For #smallbusinesssaturday we're highlighting PAC Enumclaw! A wholistic health approach to fitness and welcoming space to ground yourself and work on your health. You may recognize this phenomenal coach, Vanessa, from our #MindfulnessMondays program! ... See MoreSee Less
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