Island County commissioner reads decades-old racist deed covenants, proposes resolution of atonement

District 1 Commissioner St. Clair read aloud historic racially restrictive covenants Wednesday that the Bridals Restrictive Covenants Project identified in Island County plats and deeds and asked the county prosecuting attorney to help draft a resolution of atonement.

"These were plats approved by the Board of Island County Commissioners," St. Clair said, reading excerpts of deed language recorded between about 1930 and 1950 on Whidbey and Camano Islands. She read multiple examples that barred ownership or occupancy by anyone "not of the white race" and noted the restrictions sometimes appeared in plats, covenants or deeds of sale. "I am deeply ashamed," St. Clair said, and she told the board she would ask the prosecuting attorney to work with her "to draft a resolution of atonement for this shameful history."

St. Clair said the Bridals Restrictive Covenants Project identified…