Group presents Washington council with petition for resignations

WASHINGTON - Washington for Justice presented a petition for the apology and resignation of two City Council members at the Tuesday night council meeting.

The petition has been signed by more than 300 people and states 'their comments were unnecessary and not befitting the community they are supposed to represent.”

Haleigh Brockman said the petition indicates a desire of community members to work toward becoming anti-racist.

Brockman said even though they cannot force the council to take action, they will remember the comments and actions when voting for the next term.

'There are several members of our diverse community who are willing to run for City Council in an effort to diversify the faces of leadership in Washington,” Brockman said.

Brockman said there were 125 signatures specifically from Washington and almost 200 signatures including surrounding areas.

'Compared to overall population of Washington, yes, it seems small,” Brockman said.

Brockman compared it to the number of votes Steven Gault and Fran Stigers received to be on the council during the 2017 election. Gault received 161 and Stigers received 144.

'Suddenly that number seems striking,” Brockman said.

While a majority of signatures on the petition are from Iowa residents, many other signatures are from other states such as Ohio, Florida and California.

Brockman said many of these signatures still matter as well and listed a few examples, such as her brother who lives in Florida and a Washington graduate now living in Missouri.

Along with asking for apologies and resignations, Washington for Justice is asking the council to take racial sensitivity training.

'It is not enough to be not racist, we must actively choose to be anti-racist in our words, actions and policies,” Brockman said.

Washington for Justice hopes to create an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability, or IDEA, committee in the city.

Brockman said the committee would work with city officials as well as organize community events.