With reporting by Jake Goldstein-Street

Community anger over union head Mike Solan and Seattle Police support for the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol bubbled over during Wednesday night’s virtual meeting of the African American Community Advisory Council, a community group usually dedicated to neighborhood crimes and public safety around the Central District and South Seattle.

“In his own words Seattle Police Guild President Mike Solan will share what he said and didn’t say. Come be a part of the conversation,” the council’s February event notice read.

But the Wednesday night meeting was a rough one for Solan and organizers who attempted to impose more structured rules than are usually required in the monthly online community sessions involving neighborhood representatives and usually one or two members of the SPD brass.

Organizers of the meeting came under heavy criticism for not allowing community members to unmute themselves during the virtual meeting to ask questions. Instead, they had to type questions in the meeting room’s chat box and many attendees were frustrated that the council was not facilitating a true discussion.

“They are actively shutting out this Black face and Black voice from the space,” one woman said. Continue reading →