WA BLM Alliance calls for CEO and Board Chair of Seattle Children’s to step down
Call follows release of findings on institutional racism at hospital
August 9, 2021
SEATTLE—The Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance today called for the resignation of the CEO and the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Seattle Children’s hospital following the release of findings on institutional racism at the renowned institution.
“The official findings are clear and damning; hospital leadership has been aware of the insidious nature of anti-Black racism and explicit bias and done nothing,” said Sakara Remmu, lead strategist of the Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance. “Nothing to protect staff. Nothing to protect patients. Nothing to hold offenders accountable.”
The text of the letter follows.
The Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance calls on each of you to immediately resign from your respective roles as Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Children’s hospital.
The official findings of what has come to be known as the Covington report were released today, after community stakeholders including WaBLM demanded it.
The official findings are clear and damning; hospital leadership has been aware of the insidious nature of anti-Black racism and explicit bias and done nothing. Nothing to protect staff. Nothing to protect patients. Nothing to hold offenders accountable.
This is the legacy of Seattle Children’s under your leadership.
Under your leadership, Seattle Children’s attempted to hide these findings and silence the accountability committee. It is clear by the press release issued today, hospital leadership refuses to be accountable, and instead is investing in a narrative of your own redemption.
From the findings and official recommendations, it is clear that hospital leadership is devoid of those who possess the professional acumen and personal character to address anti-Black racism and all forms of oppression. For if you truly possessed those skills, values or commitments, the Seattle Children’s community would not be suffering today, and no such official report would have been needed.
As patients, families and stakeholders, we are not beholden to the redemption of those who allowed or caused these issues within the hospital. We are not beholden to those who have sought to withhold assets from our community. For decades you have tokenized our children and our community clinic to pad the hospital’s fundraising efforts, while at the same time, maliciously withholding funding and assets desperately needed to care for Black, brown, and economically disenfranchised families.
The findings of the Covington report could not be more explicit; the care of non-white patients has and continues to be harmed by the failures of hospital leadership, and non-white staff are disregarded, rather than upheld and supported as the assets they are.
Current hospital leadership failed to address known issues, failed to be transparent, and failed to be accountable. For the community to have faith in the process of change going forward, new leadership is required at Seattle Children’s hospital.
Immediately.
For all Black lives,
Sakara Remmu
Washington Black Lives Matter Alliance