6 March 2017 For more information: Jeremy Wood, 206-765-9031, jeremywood10@gmail.com
SEATTLE –The Seattle Human Rights Commission (the Commission), together with UNIDOS, a Snohomish County Latino activist group, are saddened by recent reports of the death of Ben Keita in Lake Stevens, WA. Ben Keita was 18 years old and a Running Start student at Everett Community College. He dreamed of becoming a doctor. In November 2016, he went missing and was recently found hanging from a tree in the woods near Lake Stevens. Further details have not yet come forth. We grieve the loss of this young life as a violation of the right of every person to “life, liberty, and security of person.” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR, Article 3).
Ben Keita and his family are also Muslim. Ben’s death, tragic and worrisome on its own, elicits heightened concern due to the increase in Islamophobic discourse and hate crimes observed nationally throughout the 2016 U.S. election season. Ben’s disappearance in the same month of the election underscores fears that Ben’s death may have resulted from a hate-inspired act, and in the face of that possibility, our organizations publicly express our solidarity with our neighbors in mourning the loss of their community member. We join the Keita family and the Council on American Islamic Relations in urging the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to begin a full investigation into Ben Keita’s death as a possible hate crime.
In making this statement, the Commission recalls the following UDHR articles:
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world;
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.“ (Preamble)
“All human beings … are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”; (Article 1)
“Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” (Article 3)
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ben Keita’s family and our local Muslim community, and we ask for a prompt and committed local and federal response. It is of paramount importance that all communities of color and other progressive advocacy organizations demand the FBI intervene in the investigation to find the exact cause of Ben’s death. If the true cause of Ben’s death is not determined, we fear that it will only give fuel to more possible horrific incidents of this nature.
Jeremy Wood
Co-Chair, Seattle Human Rights Commission
Pauline Alvarado
Co-Chair, Seattle Human Rights Commission
Marcel Baugh
Co-Chair, Seattle Human Rights Commission
Juan Peralez
President, UNIDOS