Hundreds protest the disappearance of of 43 students during a demonstration outside the Mexican Consulate in Seattle, WA

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Demonstrators gathered at the Mexican Consulate in Seattle during a solidarity rally for the 43 missing students from Mexico, believed to have been killed by local police in collusion with drug cartels.

#Ayotzinapa
#FuelElEstado
#VivosLos43
#RenunciaEPN
#YaMeCanséDeTi
#GobiernoCorrupto
#RompeElCerco
#SOSPorMexico
#FUERAPEÑA

From the event Facebook page…

“Last Saturday, the Inter Assembly of Universities of Mexico agreed to convene a national strike in the education sector on November 5, in solidarity with the relatives and friends from the 43 missing students from the Teachers School of Ayotzinapa, in the State of Guerrero.

It was reported that it is planning a national strike for 72 hours, the closure of airports and blockades the freeways.

Also, they agreed to demand radio and television stations access to spread their message from the Assembly, as well from family members and colleagues of the missing students.

The Inter-University Assembly involved students from 80 schools throughout Mexico, who demanded punishment for those responsible for the disappearance of the Ayotzinapan’s students.

“We are ready to everything. We know what are the consequences and retaliation if we speak out, but what really matters is that young people come back,” said Mr. Felipe Gómez Flores, father of one of the students that disappeared.

For its part, the student leaders made public that the massacre in Ayotzinapa “is a State crime, a sign of the deep decadency of political institutions in the country.”

On 26 September, students from the teachers school of Ayotzinapa went to collected funds in the city of Iguana, Guerrero State 200 kilometers from Mexico City. The students were attacked by municipal police and members of drug trafficking cartel.

Six people were killed in those attacks, three were students. 43 students disappeared during the attack, and so far no nothing is known about them. Some witnesses testify that they were killed and buried in clandestine graves.“

Housing Rights Advocates Rally and March to Seattle Housing Authoriity Meeting

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Housing rights activists gathered at Seattle Center before marching to the Seattle Housing Authority’s office on Queen Anne Ave. in protest of SHA’s Stepping Forward rent increase proposal. Over 60 people packed into the tiny SHA meeting room after marching from the International Fountain at Seattle Center.

From the event Facebook page…

“Seattle Housing Authority tenants have been organizing against SHA’s Stepping Forward rent increase proposal since August, but SHA still refuses to STOP Stepping Forward! Stepping Forward would increase rents over five years for 7,000 “work-able” tenants so high that after five years, they will need to earn between $16 and $20 an hour just to afford rent.

Tenants are demanding that the SHA Board of Commissioners votes “NO” on Stepping Forward and any other proposal where rent is not based on tenants’ incomes. Stand in solidarity with them against this unfair rent policy on SHA’s own turf and tell the Board to vote “NO” against Stepping Forward rent increases!

We will meet at the International Fountain at Seattle Center and march together to the SHA office (a 7-minute walk or roll) at 190 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109. The Board of Commissioners meeting begins at 5pm. Please visit http://stopSHA.wordpress.com/ for more information about the STOP Stepping Forward campaign!“

UW Students Lead Procession for the Ayotzinapa 43

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Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the Ethnic Cultural Center at the University of Washington for a procession to Red Square, calling for justice for the 43 missing Mexican students on Friday, November 14th, 2014.
From the event Facebook page…

“The University of Washington social justice organization Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlan (MeChA) is leading a procession in solidarity for the 43 students from Ayoztinapa Normal School.

– 43 students from the rural town of Ayotzinapa in Guerrero Mexico are missing
– They were last seen 9/26/14 on the way to a demonstration to protest the diversion of state education funding to their school and other rural schools.
– Police were given orders by the mayor to confront the students.
– Police blocked the road and shot at the students
– Police took the students and handed them over to a local gang
– The students have not been seen since that evening and have recently been declared dead as of 11.7.14

The world is watching this news headline. We want to show our presence and unity with everyone searching for justice for these 43 students.”

Unite Here Union Members Picket Hyatt’s Unfair Treatment of Workers

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As chants of “Hyatt, Hyatt you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side” echoed off the buildings in downtown Seattle, approximately 80 supporters gathered to picket outside of the Grand Hyatt on 8th and Pine. Demonstrators were serenaded by the dulcet tones of the labor chorus as they stood in the cold wind sweeping through the city.

Robert Kelly, a banquet server at the Grand Hyatt, “sees a lot of glaring inequalities” at the “non Union Hyatt”. “Healthcare is one of the most important things for me and my family, but the Hyatt insurance cost $200 just for me, without my family. At the Westin, it’s $40 with all of us fully insured.”

From a M.L. King County Labor Council email…

“Hyatt workers throughout the US have called for a fair process to form their unions. Over a year ago UNITEHERE and Hyatt Hotels reached a national agreement for such a process. Although Hyatt workers in California, Connecticut and Maryland have won their unions through this process, the local owner of the Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt at Olive 8 has refused to implement it in Seattle.

Workers should be able to choose a union free from employer interference or intimidation – and all workers deserve respect and decent working conditions.”

Demonstrators protest Sakuma Brothers berry farm and their mistreatment of workers

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November 12th, 2014

Despite the cold, protestors handed information to pedestrians and cyclists in front of the QFC at Broadway and Pine in Seattle, regarding Sakuma Brothers berry farm mistreatment of workers.

In the summer of 2013, the Sakuma Brothers berry farm in Skagit County experienced a strike, as farm workers walked off the job for better treatment. Their issues ranged from wage theft, harassment, and abuse from their employers. At one point, Sakuma was willing to negotiate with the workers, but after reaching an agreement on a new price rate, Sakuma backed out and sent private security forces to the worker’s camps and the fields. A Skagit County judge ruled the event to be a violation of Washington State labor law.

Because of Sakuma’s broken agreement, the farm workers asked the public to boycott Sakuma and Discroll’s (a major purchaser of Sakuma berries) until the labor dispute has been resolved. The workers are acting through their union, Familias Unidas Por La Justicia (FUJ) to gain a contract recognizing their union.

You can find more information here…

http://www.boycottsakumaberries.com

http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org

Washington Fair Trade Coalition organized protest of Trans-Pacific Partnership in downtown Seattle

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From the WA Fair Trade Coalition website…

“…In this notoriously low-accountability period just after elections, Congress is pushing legislation that would “Fast Track” the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a secretive agreement negotiated behind closed doors by government bureaucrats and more than 600 corporate lobbyists. It threatens everything you care about: democracy, jobs, the environment, and the Internet.

It is time to let our representatives know how we feel about Fast Track and the TPP, and put this undemocratic process to rest for once and for all…” – http://www.washingtonfairtrade.org

According to a leaflet handed out at the demonstration…

“How will the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) impact our environment?

New Tools for Corporations to Challenge Regulations

Special Tribunals allow corporations to sue governments for lost ‘expected profits.’ Similar provisions rolled back parts of the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act, and allowed corporations to challenge anti-mining laws in El Salvador and a court decision against oil giant Chevron in Ecuador.

Limit Precautionary Regulation

Regulators must prove that new pesticides, additives, and chemicals will cause harm, instead of proving that they will not cause harm.

Encourage more ‘rip and ship’ resource extraction

Increases export of raw materials while banning ‘value added’ requirements that support local, sustainable economies.

Expand pollution offshore, enable ‘throw away’ culture

Manufactures can relocate to seek lax environmental regulations and sweatshop labor, while producing artificially cheap products.

Corporations write the rules

700 trade advisors from corporations like Monsanto and Walmart are part of the process, while the public is kept in the dark.

Tell Congress, no ‘Fast Track’ for the TPP

Fast Track is a Nixon-era legislation that:

1) Allows the Executive brance to sign trade agreements before Congress approves them

2) Limits Congressional debate

3)Allows Congress only an up or down vote – no amendments…”

Garfield High School students lead youth march through Seattle in protest of police brutality and harassment

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With a soaking, incessant rain, Garfield High School students lead a march of 60-70 youth through the Central District to Capitol Hill, home of Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct. During the march, chants of “hands up, don’t shoot”, “black lives matter ” “being black is not a crime, same story every time” and “if we don’t speak, who will” could be heard through the streets as the youth marched against police brutality and harassment of youth in Seattle, and around the United States. In solidarity with Ferguson, demonstrators rallied at the East Precinct, read a statement through megaphones, and allowed anopen time for anyone to speak. Student’s questioned SPD’s shifting glances and far off stares, as officers on horseback smiled for the camera and police in light riot gear maintained a perimeter around the station. Police on bicycles held back the peaceful but angry students as they asked why the police had their batons out when they were unarmed kids. SPD Captain Pierre Davis could be seen giving interviews, directing traffic, and speaking with high school students.

The Black Student Union Statement

“DECLARATION TO SEATTLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

It seems as though many residents of this city struggle to make connections between what’s happening in Ferguson and what happens in Seattle, even though members of our own police department commemorate the Ferguson Police for their extrajudicial killing of Michael Brown. For example, Sergeant Christopher Hall of the Seattle Police Department changed his Facebook profile picture to a police badge that says, “Officer Darren Wilson I Stand By You,” as well as linked his Facebook friends to the Darren Wilson donation page. Sergeant Hall did this on August 20th at 3:43 PM, one day after the murder of Michael Brown. (Brown, unarmed and with his hands raised in the air, was shot to death by Officer Wilson.) Some are under the impression that Seattle is some sort of liberal Utopia where police brutality does not exist, despite the fact that the Seattle Police Department was under the investigation of the United States Department of Justice within the last three years for excessive force and concerns of discriminatory policing. The Department of Justice Findings Letter stated
“This perception is rooted in a number of factors, including negative street encounters, recent well-publicized videos of force being used against people of color, incidents of overt discrimination, and concerns that the pattern of excessive force disproportionately affects minorities.”
The Seattle Police Department has afforded it’s officers a “Perspectives in Profiling” class which aims to prevent racial profiling; however, SPD Officer Steve Pomper writes in the SPD’s newspaper The Guardian,“The city, using its Race and Social Justice Initiative, continues its assault on traditional and constitutional American values such as self-reliance, equal justice, and individual liberty.” Officer Pomper urges officers to “take the City’s use of Social Justice terminology and implementation of policy seriously and oppose it in every legal way possible.”. Another Officer Clayton Powell wrote in The Guardian newspaper about referring to citizens he interacts with as bitch, motherfucker, and nigga and says “If I can communicate with someone in their primary language… it makes me a more effective officer… Learn to accept and appreciate the direct method of in-your-face communication.” 
With all of this evidence of misconduct in the Seattle Police Department we as students of color at Garfield High School have decided to make a statement about the state of our city’s police department because we understand that in order to affect nationwide change we must first take a look at our own city. Garfield High School’s Black Student Union, in alliance with fellow BSUs and youth of color in Seattle stand in solidarity with the people of Ferguson and with all victims of racial profiling and police brutality. We’re congregating in front of SPD East Precinct to assert our rejection of the police force here and nationwide, because we know “protect and serve” does not apply to us just as “All men are created equal” did not apply to our ancestors, nor we their descendants. Though some may argue “not all cops”, when you put on that uniform you are no longer an individual but another force upholding a system of oppression. The same system whose origins of American policing are in Runaway Slave Patrol, the entire establishment is rooted in White supremacy and feeds on anti-blackness. Today we are here to say that we will no longer compromise with those without a conscience, we will no longer beg & plea for you to recognize our humanity. We will no longer demand reform of the ‘broken system’ because it is functioning exactly as it’s supposed to.
Until the people can revolutionize this corrupt institution altogether, we will take justice into our own hands. We the people will police the police. In order to achieve our goals of accountability and community autonomy, especially for and among communities of color, we are referring to the goals and action plans outlined by the Berkeley chapter of Copwatch. Berkeley Copwatch’s Goals are:
 
1) Reduce police violence by directly observing the police on the street, documenting incidents and keeping police accountable. We maintain principles of non-violence while asserting the rights of the detained person. We provide support to victims whenever possible. We also seek to educate the public about their rights, police conduct in the community and issues related to the role of police in our society.
 
2) Empower and unite the community to resist police abuse. We will do this by sharing information with the community, conducting “Know Your Rights” trainings, sponsoring rallies, supporting victims and other community based efforts to deal with the problem.
 
4) Most importantly, we encourage people to exercise their right to observe the police and to advocate for one another.
Warning’ by Langston Hughes
 “Negroes, Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day They change their mind.””

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray Signs Indigenous People’s Day Into Law

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Hundreds of activists and community members gathered in Seattle City Hall’s Bertha Knight Landes room, to witness the signing by Mayor Ed Murray of Indigenous People’s Day into law, effectively abolishing Columbus Day in Seattle.

Seattle Marches To Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day

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Activists for Indigenous rights, tribal members, native leaders, and indigenous people from around North America gathered to rally and celebrate Seattle’s newest holiday, Indigenous People’s Day, replacing Columbus Day. The event included a rally at Westlake Park, a march to Seattle Center and a rally at the John T. Williams memorial totem pole. More than 150 demonstrators marched through Seattle, stopping in intersections to sing and dance.

From the 7th Annual Abolish Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples Day Rally and March Facebook event page…

“We will meet at Westlake Park for speaking.
We will march and sing to the John T. Williams Pole for more speaking and singing and ceremony.
Wear red. Spread the word. We need singers, dancers, chairpeople and hereditary leaders. we need mothers, fathers, sisters, sons and daughters. we need nations from all directions and colors. we need to be loud enough that the state and federal governments take notice. Lets make this the largest march yet, with the biggest wave of change following it. in the wake of our footsteps through the city may the people see, the people hear, the people remember and speak about the good that is happening in this sacred time we live in.“

Historic decision by Seattle City Council renames Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day

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After years of hard work by generations of activists, the Seattle City Council made a unanimous decision on Monday, October 6th 2014 to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day. Mayor Ed Murray will sign the resolution on October 13, 2014.

From the Rally to support Historic Vote “Round 2”  to abolish Columbus Day and declare that day Indigenous People’s Day in Seattle! FB page…

“On October 6, 2014, the Seattle City Council will vote on a resolution supported by members of the Seattle Urban and Reservation Native communities to end Columbus Day in Seattle and declare it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

THIS VOTE IS FACING STRONG OPPOSITION BY COLUMBUS DAY SUPPORTERS! We need your voices and brief speeches, songs, drums and bull horns! WE ALSO EXPECT EVERYONE TO REMAIN PEACEFUL…

The rally begins at 11:00am until to 1:30pm. The Seattle City Council meeting starts at 2:00 pm where there will be about 30 minutes total for testimony.

*****
TO SPEAK UP AND TESTIFY! You must sign up to testify prior to the City Council vote! Sign in before 1:30pm outside the Council Chambers to support this historic vote! You will have two minutes to speak your mind in the Council Chambers, so make it count! Let your voice be heard!

*****

Columbus brought genocide and slavery to our lands, let us stand strong for our ancestors for what they endured and let us send a message to our youth and next generations that we will not tolerate celebrations in the honor of a man who committed mass atrocities.

The resolution is co-sponsored by Council-members Kshama Sawat and Bruce Harrell.”