David Yankovich

“PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND… THE WORLD” - Donald Trump

Is it just me, or is this a whole lot of victory-lap energy and glee a little too early in the game when people are dying? It gives me George W. Bush “mission accomplished” vibes. 🤔

This is a really important thread/substack.
I hope you’ll read it.

This is big news! SB 6239 appears to be dead.

Credit to Washington House Dems for hearing loud and clear that balancing the budget on the backs of survivors wasn’t acceptable.
@housedemocrats.wa.gov

And shout out to everyone who pushed this into the spotlight. This is what people power looks like.

Washington state has a loophole problem, and predators know it‼️

Current teacher sexual misconduct laws make it too easy for accused educators to quietly resign, move districts, and start fresh. Cases disappear into paperwork instead of real accountability. Kind of like bad cops.

Here’s the outrageous part: Legislators are trying to change the rules. They’re trying to put pass a bill (SB 6239) that would force sexual assault survivors into arbitration. This reduces payouts; their stories would be kept in the shadows after they’ve already been brave enough to come forward.
4.

After a 2024 law removed the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse claims, cases surged, accusing staff of exploiting their authority while reports were ignored or suppressed. Because the state had legal custody of these youth, it faces liability. As it should.
3.

Nearly 200 former residents have filed lawsuits alleging decades of abuse and systemic failures at facilities like Green Hill School and Echo Glen.

Emphasis on this point: these were minors in state custody. Meaning they were in the state’s care when they were sexually assaulted.
2.

This!!!!!!!!

People need to understand what’s happening in Washington state because it’s outrageous and barely being covered by the news media. But I think it matters, and I think you’ll agree.

The state is facing growing legal & public scrutiny over widespread sexual abuse of juveniles in state custody.
🧵

Dems are not supposed to have deplorables on their side — wtf, selling out survivors?!

I don’t understand what their problem is with SB 6239, just vote NO !

Oh, balancing the budget comes before victims. Seems strange when they have no problem finding money when they need it .

@housedemocrats.wa.gov this is for victims.

This is a big moment for @housedemocrats.wa.gov to tell the senate to vote no on bill 6239 or the they will.

It’s awesome you’re responsive, but the House needs to denounce. It’s bad.

You can fight this and be heroes protecting survivors now or it’s on your door next…

Oh even better, so you can get in front of this so it dies in Senate? Amazing. Let’s honor these survivors and bin this bill. Democrats can do better for survivors.

Tag your Washington State Senators! Ask them to vote NO on SB 6239

Stand with survivors—vote NO on SB 6239
@noelframe.bsky.social
@twinanobles.bsky.social
@rebeccasaldana1.bsky.social

I can’t wrap my head around why Democrats are backing this terrible bill.

Over 100 survivors signed a letter pleading with lawmakers to vote NO on SB 6239. Not lobbying. BEGGING to be heard.

Their message: don’t cut justice for survivors to balance the budget.
@wadems.org
@housedemocrats.wa.gov

It was 9-year-old Maria Antonia’s dream to visit Disneyland

It turned into a nightmare-4 months of being detained by ICE at Dilley

She’d “wake up in the middle of the night crying, fearful she would never leave [or] would be separated from her mom”

Nobody should hire Tricia McLaughlin ever again

Survivors deserve transparency.

Forced arbitration is revictimizing these survivors.

Stand with survivors, Vote NO.
@noelframe.bsky.social
@twinanobles.bsky.social
@rebeccasaldana1.bsky.social

To my family and friends from the good old Twitter days,
Our friend Zanetta is gone. 💔

This makes me so sad because we lost a good one.

I hope you will join me in contributing to this cause.

To Z’s family, my deepest heartfelt condolences. Peace and blessings to you. 🙏🏽

Zanetta was a friend to us all, someone who showed up and wanted the world to be better. She walked with us a long time, and she fought personally while she ensured democracy beyond her.

That is called giving your last full level of devotion.

Please, share the post below and ensure we honor her.

Today the state of Washington votes on a Democratic Party backed bill (SB 6239) that will CAP the survivors of sexual assault for the traumas the state put them through.

This vote is happening today.
@wadems.org, we need you to step up.

Everyone else, spread the word.
Say NO. Loudly.

This cannot be allowed to move forward. Every senator “for” this must be called out for the coward that they are. @warren.senate.gov @markey.senate.gov

Seriously, @wadems.org & @housedemocrats.wa.gov you're looking complicit in the victimization. Why on Earth would you treat victims this way?

Today is the vote day 🗳️

WA State Senators, please do the right thing for the victims.

SB6239 is bad for the victims, they have been through ENOUGH .

Survivors of abuse shouldn’t carry the cost of these cuts!

Don’t force SA survivors into arbitration.

@wadems.org
@housedemocrats.wa.gov

WOW! A politician putting fiscal costs ahead of sexual assault survivors should rethink that before speaking.

A survivor of childhood sexual assault spills her guts, and Sen Manka Dhingra’s response is about controlling costs.

This is not how an advocate talks.
@wadems.org
@housedemocrats.wa.gov

Disturbing news. SSB 6239 just cleared Senate Ways & Means and is now in Senate Rules, one step closer to a full vote.

If this becomes law, Tatiani Elliot and survivors like her could be forced into mandatory arbitration before reaching a courtroom.
@wadems.org
@housedemocrats.wa.gov

This is seriously what craters the belief that dems will fight in a time when we need defenders not appeasement…

And how can anyone appease those who want to cap how much a S/A survivor can be paid for the negligence and traumas they were put through?

This is bad— @wadems.org

I genuinely cannot believe the Senate moved this out of committee, why aren’t the Democrats pushing back on this??

Survivors deserve to hold their abusers accountable in full view if they choose! Forcing them into mandatory arbitration is cruel!
@wadems.org
@housedemocrats.wa.gov

Tatiani Elliot is a survivor and was silenced in Washington St during testimony by Sen June Robinson.

It’s stunning that @housedemocrats.wa.gov aren’t speaking out instead of pointing the finger.

I really hope @wadems.org course-corrects before it’s a damaging issue for us in November.

WTH, @housedemocrats.wa.gov ?

They are called victims for a reason and should be treated with respect, empathy and caring.