Decolonize SAM's Demands for Policy Change

Since the termination of SAM's contract with Star Protection Services, we have created a detailed list of demands regarding policy change.  

Decolonize SAM demands the museum change its policies regarding homelessness and will continue to promote the boycott until the following changes are made or committed to in writing:
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1. Immediate improvement of SAM’s security department policies in the following ways:

• Stop removing Unhoused people from museum property, merely for being Unhoused.
• Allow tents in set locations for long-term Unhoused residents, and tents at least 3 ft from museum walls, for visitors.
• Direct people blocking entrances and exits to alternate locations on property and assist them to move as necessary.
• Ensure restroom access for Unhoused people on open days and have at least one (willing and trained) worker staffed to escort people on closed days, during hours the museum would normally be open.
• Schedule enough staff to ensure all daily exterior perimeter duties of security and environmental services are performed in groups no smaller than two.
• Provide SAM security training in harm reduction, de-escalation, and sensitivity to cultural, physical, and neurological diversity.
• Provide a bonus financial incentive “shift differential” of at least $10/hr for security and environmental services workers who work outside during their shifts, to ensure they are compensated fairly for any emotional labor required in community interactions. This should help encourage workers to carry out these duties with extra care.

2. Removal of bollards on SAM property, and a commitment to not replace hostile architecture or hire private security in the future.

3. Disclosure and redistribution of funds originally budgeted for hostile architecture and private security — to be invested in productive support of people experiencing homelessness, rather than punishment or alienation:

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Staff Training & Taskforces:

• Providing SAM staff training in harm reduction, de-escalation, and sensitivity to cultural, physical, and neurological diversity.
• Expand the “Special Advisory Taskforce on Homelessness” to include (at least) one SAM environmental service worker, who regularly cleans outside; one SAM visitor service officer; one person who has recent lived experience being unsheltered; and one expert in harm reduction and community based care (trained or with comparable lived experience).
• Make the meetings and activities of the “Special Advisory Taskforce on Homelessness” open to all staff and share the minutes publicly, only redacting the names of non taskforce members and information that would directly risk the security of the collection.

Sanitation & Hygiene Efforts:

• Installation of flushing portable toilets outside the museum, to take the burden off of workers, and provide Unhoused people the services and privacy they deserve.
• Biohazard containers inside the building, at least, until the external restrooms are installed to account for discarded needles.

Community Connections:

• Use of museum influence to advocate for safe consumption spaces in Seattle.
• Partnership with the city, or an organization like Urban Rest Stop, to provide safe, clean showers for unhoused visitors.
• Financial giving to community aid and outreach groups, like those listed on Decolonize SAM’s website, to provide essentials and care for visitors.
• Funding for museum programs that engage Unhoused people of all ages in art making.
• Designated space for Unhoused vendors and artists to sell their products on property.
  

4. A new, transparent, employee-protective, victim centered system for accountability within the museum. The museum will inevitably continue to make mistakes, but could choose to grow from criticism and center the needs of harmed people. The current HR system does not sufficiently protect employees and has created a hostile work environment.

5. Disclosure of the tangible ways in which SAM has supported Indigenous people without profiting from, or appropriating, Native cultures and customs. SAM must stop celebrating colonizers’ greed and disregarding the needs of the community. We are on stolen land, displaying art bought with fortunes made on the backs of Black, Brown, and Asian people — reparations are past due.

We acknowledge that change takes time, but feel that SAM leadership has a responsibility to reverse the role they’ve played in dehumanizing Unhoused people and substance users. Further stigmatizing homelessness and substance use is a temporary solution that only serves the privileged, while derailing lives in the process. The most secure, safe communities are not equipped with the most police or barriers, but with the most resources, and access to care and compassion. We know SAM can do better.

Read more about the termination of SAM's contract with Star Protection Services: