Dear employee,

Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County (BLMSKC) has called for a statewide silent march and general strike across Washington on Friday, June 12.

King County remains steadfast in our fight against racism, hatred, and violence, and in our commitment to our “We are racially just” value. We respect, value, and support people peacefully expressing their views and exercising their First Amendment rights.

Employees who are scheduled to work and wish to attend any of the strike events on June 12 must follow their department’s appropriate leave policies. For more information on your department’s leave policies, please refer to your Human Resources Manager.

Employees should check with their supervisor for specific information or instructions for their work unit, or requests for alternative work arrangements. Any alternative work arrangements must be approved by an employee’s supervisor. Supervisors are encouraged to exercise flexibility and creativity wherever possible.

All Executive Branch employees who are currently telecommuting should continue to do so, except where there is an operational need to physically be in the workplace. Employees designated as first responders and mission-critical employees should continue to report to work per current operations, unless advised otherwise by their supervisor.

You can find more details about Friday’s strike and events here.

Public Health officials advise that attending a large gathering such as a protest carries a risk of a person acquiring COVID-19 and bringing it back to their home, workplace and community.

Larger outdoor gatherings represent larger risk, especially if distancing is not possible. Steps to prevent potential exposure include:

• Stay home if you have symptoms
• Stay 6 feet or more away from others
• Wear a cloth mask or face covering. This helps protects those around you, and others wear face coverings to help protect you.
• Carry hand sanitizer and use it often. Avoid touching objects and surfaces that others have touched.
• Do your best to avoid situations where people are shouting or singing, as these activities can spread more virus into the air. Use noisemakers instead of shouting.

Following an event, be on the lookout for any of the symptoms in the 14 days after attending a large group gathering and seek testing promptly if symptoms develop, even if mild. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and, diarrhea. If you can’t access testing through your healthcare provider, Public Health has a listing of free testing sites at www.kingcounty.gov/covid/testing.

Crossposted from Public Health Insider 

Face coverings help protect our community from COVID-19. Unfortunately many members of the Black community are concerned that wearing face coverings may lead to dangerous and harmful encounters with law enforcement or other community members. Racism influences perceptions of face coverings and those wearing or not wearing them. 

After rounds of engagement and feedback from community partners, the decision was made to roll out the face covering policy as as a directive, not an order, so as to prevent further policing of black and brown communities or perpetuate further acts of racism. 

However, in recent days and weeks, Black men and women wearing or not wearing a face covering have experienced racial profiling, and racist and violent behavior. Wearing a face covering or not wearing one is no justification for attacking or brutalizing people of color in King County. 

Read more from Public Health Insider