Author Archives: Alex Garland

Palestine Solidarity March and “Die In” On Steps of Capitol Building In Olympia

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November 4th, 2023

Olympia, Washington

Thousands joined in a march from Heritage Park to the Capitol building in Olympia, WA in solidarity with pro Palestine demonstrations globally. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world joined in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are being killed and injured in attacks by Israel.

After reaching the Capitol building, hundreds participated in a “die in”, holding papers with the names and photos of people killed by Israeli bombs and bullets, and speaking their names out loud.

Capitol and Olympia police were present but there were no arrests or major confrontations.

Activists with Jewish Voice for Peace shut down Seattle Federal Building

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November 3rd, 2023

Seattle, Washington

In a demand that Senator Patty Murray call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, hundreds of activists with Jewish Voice for Peace and their allies shut down the Henry M. Jackson Federal building at 8am on November 3rd, 2023.

Activists blocked entrances on 1st Ave and 2nd Ave while one activist made it to the awning, hanging a banner demanding Senator Patty Murray call for a ceasefire.

Homeland Security and Federal Police pushed down several activists while attempting to remove the ladder used, injuring at least two. No arrests were made.

 
From the Jewish Voice for Peace – Seattle Facebook page…
“In the last three weeks, over 9,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed. Over 3000 children have been killed in Gaza. This week, the Israeli military has hit Gaza’s only hospital for cancer patients. They struck Gaza’s largest refugee camp, killing 100 people and burying others under rubble. Israeli warplanes have flattened entire neighborhoods. Shell-shocked children are left to search for their parents under the rubble. Millions of Palestinians have once again been made refugees, bombed as they tried to flee. Surgeons are operating by the light of their cellphones, increasingly without anesthesia. Over half the hospitals have been forced to shut down. In the West Bank, 120 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war. Jewish settlers are burning down houses with families in them after they come with warning notes for the Palestinians who have not yet fled to do so immediately or they will be killed. Israel has doubled the number of Palestinian prisoners to 10,000 in the last two weeks. Every bomb dropped on Gaza threatens the lives of 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza and 200 Israeli hostages. But the Israeli government has made it clear that they do not value life and will not negotiate, as it would rather continue its genocidal attack against Palestinians.
In Seattle, we need to demand that Senator Murray call for a CEASEFIRE NOW. We cannot stand for business as usual. We cannot stand by as a genocide is carried out in our names.
Join Jews and ALL people of conscience to cry out as loudly as we can: Ceasefire now to save lives. End the siege on Gaza. End Israeli apartheid. B’tselem Elohim: Every life is precious.”

Indigenous People’s Day 2023

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Westlake Park to Seattle City Hall

Seattle, WA

Monday, October 9th, 2023

The Indigenous People’s Day Proclamation says the following:

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle recognizes that the Indigenous Peoples of the lands that would later become known as the Americas have occupied these lands since Time Immemorial; and that Seattle is built upon the homelands and villages of the Indigenous Peoples of this region, without whom the building of the City would not have been possible; and

WHEREAS, the City values the many contributions made to our community through Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge, labor, technology, science, philosophy, arts and the deep cultural contribution that has substantially shaped the character of the City of Seattle; and

WHEREAS, the City of Seattle has a responsibility to oppose the systematic racism towards Indigenous people in the United States, which perpetuates high rates of poverty and income inequality, exacerbating disproportionate health, education, and social crises; and

WHEREAS, the City promotes the closing of the equity gap for Indigenous Peoples through policies and practices that reflect the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, ensure greater access and opportunity, and honor our nation’s indigenous roots, history, and contributions; and

WHEREAS, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas; and

WHEREAS, in 2014 the Mayor, City Council of Seattle, and the Seattle Human Rights Commission declared the second Monday of October as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” to promote tolerance, understanding and friendship, and to combat prejudice and eliminate discrimination stemming from colonization: and on March 29, 2022 the City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 126559 establishing Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a legal holiday;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR OF SEATTLE AND SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 9, 2023 TO BE Indigenous Peoples’ Day to commemorate and support Indigenous Peoples and encourage all businesses, organizations, public institutions, and City residents to recognize this day and honor the legacy and contribution of Seattle’s American Indian, Alaskan Native and Indigenous communities who have been here since Time Immemorial.

March for Jaahnavi Kandula to Seattle Police Officers Guild Headquarters

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Outrage continues to grow over comments made by Seattle police officer Daniel Auderer as he was caught laughing and joking while discussing 23-year-old’s Jaahnavi Kandula’s death.

September 23, 2023
An estimated 100 people marched, biked, or drove from Seattle’s International District to Seattle Police Officers Guild building. While there, family members affected by police violence spoke to the crowd demanding police be accountable to the community, not be investigated by their peers. The crowd dispersed less than an hour after arriving at SPOG HQ. Seattle police watched from a distance and a POET team tried to engage the protest before they were told to leave. A King County Sheriff’s helicopter circled the protest at the beginning and end of the march. There were no arrests.


https://southseattleemerald.com/2023/09/15/comments-from-seattle-police-officer-regarding-death-of-jaahnavi-kandula-provoke-local-and-international-outrage/

Prayer Walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People

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May 15th, 2021

At least 200 people gathered at Be’er Sheva Park for a prayer walk to Othello Park in honor of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. Demands for justice and an end to violence against indigenous people were joined by songs and drumming as people moved North on Rainier Ave. A car brigade, bicycle brigade, and an indigenous motorcycle club provided protection for those on the march.

Images From A Socially Distanced May Day

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May 1st, 2020
A parade of 20-30 cars and bicycles took to the streets of Seattle allowing their protest to be taken directly to sites of worker struggles. At the same time activists with different organizations were protesting at Amazon in their vehicles for the rights of workers or in Olympia at the Capitol building in their cars demanding immigrants and workers rights.
In the time of quarantine and social distancing; protests, rallies, and demonstrations have to adapt. Honking horns, chants through megaphones, and shouts out windows caught the attention of passersby while signs taped to cars shared the messaging around workers rights and immigrant justice. The distance traveled was far longer, personal interactions non existent, and there were no incidents of pepper spray or blast balls. However, SPD was an ever present force in their cruisers, vans, and unmarked vehicles, occasionally directing traffic around the protest.

From the Facebook event page:
“Join the COVID-19 Mutual Aid Network, International League of People’s Struggle, members of the ILWU in solidarity with Local 10 in Oakland, the community, and cross-industry working people for a *social distanced* May Day.
Friday May 1st, join a *social distanced* caravan (on bikes or cars) throughout the streets of Seattle to different targets to show our solidarity with workers, promote worker demands and declare EVERY HUMAN IS ESSENTIAL. We will be livestreaming the different targets via Facebook Live.
The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly revealed the contradictions of imperialism that daily plague the world. The triple crisis of viral plague, recurring crises of capitalism, and the failure and/or unwillingness of governments to provide necessary protections, especially for the poor and those subjected to racialized capitalism have thrown us into A FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES.
Capitalism further exploits the workers and forces people to choose between their livelihood and their lives. People incarcerated in prisons and caged in detention centers are being put in life-threatening conditions. Health workers, grocery workers and other essential workers are denied access to basic protective equipment. All while the rich get richer and put profits over public health.
Join us in opposing this racist, exploitative, militarized response to COVID-19 this MAY DAY and join together to demand better for our communities, defending workers rights, immigrant rights and human rights.
Route:
11:00 UW: Burke Museum lot 45th st+ Memorial Way
11:45 Trader Joe’s: (Capital Hill, 1700 E Madison St)
12:30 SSA Marine: 1131 SW Klickitat Way
1:15 Cargill Sweeteners: 2 S Horton St
1:45 King County Metro Central Base: 1500 6th Ave S
2:15 Reynolds Work Release: 410 4th Ave
2:45 VA Hospital 1660 S Columbian Way
[Route may be adjusted day of, please follow the FB live and this event page with updates]
Our message:
Workers are essential, not disposable
Thank you workers! You deserve (fill in the blank)______ !
Capitalism is the virus, people over profit
How to join:
Decorate your car visibly in support of the messages above
Making a sign and hold it out your window or paint your car to make our caravan really visible for workers watching cars drive past
Meet us at any of the stops and join along
Or watch online and share with your friends and co-workers
Follow the livestream on FB to find up to date locations
Safety and Health protocols:
**We ask that everyone in attendance use a FACE COVERING for safety, and not exit their cars unless they are 6 feet apart from those around them. Bring gloves, masks, sanitizer, and any hygienic products that can ensure your safety as well as the safety of others. We are doing this to demand protection for our communities–let’s do it mindfully–we are responsible for each other!**”
– https://www.facebook.com/events/553648002249681

City Council members and candidates band together over Amazon’s influence

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October 24th, 2019

Seattle, WA

It wasn’t just activists at the Amazon spheres during this lunchtime protest. Seattle City Council members, candidates for the upcoming election, tech workers, Amazon employees, and labor organizations joined together to protest Amazon’s cash dump of $1.5 million dollars into the Chamber of Commerce’s political action committee, Civic Alliance for a Sound Economy (CASE).

In a rare show of support, City Council members and registered Democrats Lorena Gonzalez and Theresa Mosqueda joined with Socialist City Council member Kshama Sawant (D3) and candidates Shaun Scott (D4) and Tammy Morales (D2) as they spoke against such a significant corporate influence in a city council election.

With less than two weeks left before the election, PAC spending will likely increase, but with national politicians weighing in, so will the numbers of eyes on Seattle’s election.

 

 

You can read more about the election and Amazon’s cash influence here…https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2019/10/response-to-amazon-cash-helps-sawant-secure-key-new-allies-her-fellow-council-members/

Amazon’s Spheres and 4-star Store target of rally and picket against ICE technology

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Saturday, October 12th, 2019

The Spheres were once again the target of a rally against Amazon and their hosting of Immigration and Customs Enforcement database and possible enhanced biometric database to track and apprehend immigrants. Approximately 100 protestors rallied first at the Spheres before walking to the Amazon 4-star store and forming a picket line. 10-15 SPD watched from their bicycles on the corners as the protest kept to the sidewalk.

From the event Facebook page…

“Close the Camps Rally
Saturday October 12th, 2-4 pm
Amazon Spheres in Downtown Seattle!

The Democratic Socialists of America invite you to join us in protesting the inhumane, illegal, and unconstitutional immigration system, as we bring attention and shame to the Trump Administration and the corporate collaborators harvesting human misery for profit! We’ll be holding a rally outside the Amazon Spheres in downtown Seattle, gathering on the corner of 6th & Lenora, from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday October 12th.

Our demands are simple and just; urgent and necessary; personal and powerful:

Abolish ICE! End all raids and all deportations! End courthouse arrests! Enforce Keep Washington Working! Close the Northwest ICE Processing Center and all private prisons! Divest the city of Seattle from GEO and private prisons! End the relationship between Big Tech and ICE! Recognize the Duwamish Tribe and their right to the land! And above all:

CLOSE THE CAMPS!

At the rally, we’ll be gathering signatures for a Peoples’ Petition with our demands that we’ll deliver to Seattle City Hall, and collecting funds for the Fair Fight Bond Fund!

If your organization would like to endorse this action, please contact Seattle DSA at immigration@seattledsa.org. We are also soliciting speakers for this event – endorsers guaranteed a speaker’s slot!

closethecampsoct.org l seattledsa.org l dsausa.org
____________________________________________________________________________

PRINCIPLES OF THE SDSA IJWG CLOSE THE CAMPS TEAM

We reject a global system that facilitates the movement of capital across borders but denies human beings the freedom to live with dignity in the communities of their choice. We demand full and equal rights for all regardless of citizenship, an end to all forms of immigrant detention and imprisonment, and a humane, publicly funded immigration system that actively supports people who choose to move to the United States.

The Seattle DSA Immigration Justice Working Group (SDSA IJWG) works in solidarity with immigrant-led organizations to provide immediate material support to people harmed by our immigration system; and offers a socialist analysis of our immigration system in order to build political will for a socialist world without detention or second class citizenship for anyone. A better world is possible!

In Solidarity, The Seattle DSA Immigrant Justice Working Group

#CloseTheCamps #CloseTheCampsSeattle #CloseTheCampsSEA ”

– https://www.facebook.com/events/2372559429659878/

ICE Headquarters Target of Downtown Seattle Protest

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August 1, 2019

Nearly 300-400 activists and community members showed up to protest ICE at their downtown headquarters in Seattle. This diverse crowd was joined by passersby and cheered on by cyclists and those driving by in cars. While loud chants of “free the children” echoed through the streets of downtown, less than 15 Proud Boys and III%ers made a small, ineffectual attempt at a counter-protest by chanting “build the wall” and “lock them up”, were soon separated by SPD who formed a wall between the two groups. Some of those gathered to counter-protest were open carrying pistols while one had a rifle slung across his chest. Those protesting ICE were not open carrying any weapons and peaceful in their demonstration. There were no arrests.

 

 

From the Facebook event page…

“We can no longer watch as our friends and neighbors are torn from their homes by the Trump Administration. We can also no longer wait for our politicians to decide when the right time is to solve this crisis. With every child that dies in a cage due to inhumane conditions, we are reminded that the time is now. ICE violates the very being of our most vulnerable communities and they must be abolished, alongside all detention. We are the solution. Every day we bear the guilt and pain of watching our nation descend into fascism.
The time is now to stand in defense of asylum seekers, migrants, and people of color. The Northwest Detention Center, the largest private immigration prison in the United States, is Washington’s best kept secret. The offices at 1000 2nd Ave serve as the nexus for Washington’s deportation machine. This fight is not only happening on the Border — it’s here. Rally the city. #NeverAgain.

OUR DEMAND: That the Washington legislature bans private immigration detention centers throughout the state. Illinois recently became the first state to do so; let’s become the second.

BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND SIGNS.
This is a mass action, not an arrest action. Some attendees may be undocumented, so please be mindful of your words and actions. Simply, do not incite violence.

If you have any questions or are part of an organization that would be interested in speaking at our rally, please send us a message at rallythecity@gmail.com. We will be updating this page frequently with confirmed endorsements and speakers.

ENDORSED BY:
Never Again Action
The Human Rights Defense Center
Close the Camps
Seattle DSA (Democratic Socialists of America)
ANSWER Coalition (Act Now, Stop War, End Racism)
Refuse Fascism
SEA SOl (Seattle Solidarity)
Puget Sound Sage
Amnesty Group 4
FSP (Freedom Socialist Party)
LELO (Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organization)
Transit Riders Union
Radical Women
Colectiva Legal Del Pueblo
Socialist Alternative
Mijente
La Resistencia
Casa Latina”

– https://www.facebook.com/events/356850948313381/?active_tab=about