A COMMUNITY MATTERS / JUSTICE FOR JACKIE UPDATE
This is a last-minute post to inform family, tribal members and community I was asked to attend President Biden’s new Police Reform Executive Order signing. On Saturday night I received a call from the White House Presidential Staff asking me and my sister Lisa Earl (Jackie’s mother) to attend the signing.
President Biden’s overture to me was heartfelt knowing all the hard work that our family, tribe, and community have put into the Justice for Jackie movement and the push for the nation’s first De-Escalation law here in Washington State.
Let’s be clear: De-Escalation and Police Reform isn’t an assault on law enforcement agencies. In fact it’s an attempt to bring them into the fold to help ensure that officers of law enforcement are held accountable for their actions.
President Biden’s Executive Order basically consists of: Accountability of Law Enforcement and ensuring more safety without discrimination.
There are definitely pros and cons to this Executive Order. The pros would be: the start of getting the Congress to act and create legislation to actually move the country forward in and with de-escalation and police reform. The cons are exactly that: the failure of Congress to actually pass legislation that changes “Qualified Immunity” and to give the families the right of civil prosecution and states the right to criminally prosecute law enforcement officers and agencies. I personally think that part of that legislation should address those law enforcement officers who commit these acts, to not have the ability to transfer to other law enforcement agencies in other states or to federal law enforcement agencies.
It is my sincere wish that the Congress adopts legislation, i.e., real laws preventing further loss of life and tragedies that impact so many. We in “Indian Country” know all too well the impact of these traumatic events on families, tribes and our communities. We look forward to funding for our much needed community, to strengthen our laws and the Puyallup tribal law enforcement department to help with these issues.
It was said to me, “That out of tragedy can come Triumph.” Though we sadly lost our beloved Jackie, we passed the nation’s first de-escalation law in our home state of Washington, and on the day of the White House called me to invite me and Lisa to President Biden’s Executive Order signing, my sister and I were heading to South Dakota to witness the graduation of Osceola Blue Horse Jr., Jackie’s oldest son from high school where he was valedictorian and awarded an academic scholarship.
Again thank you to all those who helped us with the Justice for Jackie campaign. Without your help it wouldn’t have gotten done.
And to my beloved sister Lisa for all she has endured and still fights the fight every day, as she says Justice for Jackie is Justice for all.
I love you.
All My Relations,
James “JimJim” Rideout
Puyallup Tribal Councilman
Watch the signing of this event at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0FypMEIweY.
Read about the executive order here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/25/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-sign-historic-executive-order-to-advance-effective-accountable-policing-and-strengthen-public-safety/
