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.

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.“

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.”

At 7AM a group of demonstrators gathered on the sidewalk near the parking lot of the recently opened Hobby Lobby in North Seattle to oppose the Supreme Court ruling that denies certain healthcare options for Hobby Lobby employees. The protestors were holding a 12 hour demonstration in front of the building as a small contingent of pro-Hobby Lobby supporters held signs proclaiming their love for the corporation. As vehicles passed, the reactions were mixed, but the majority of the passers by in support of those holding the Boycott Hobby Lobby signs. The numbers varied throughout the day, with the majority of demonstrators lining the streets before noon and from 4pm – 7pm. A group of high school students from nearby Ingraham H.S. decided to stop by on their lunch break after seeing the demonstrators on their way to school that morning. According to the students, they are members of the Humanitarian Society and are currently focusing on women’s rights issues. Some students may be organizing a protest of their own against Hobby Lobby on Monday, October 6th.

From the Boycott Hobby Lobby pamphlet…

Why Boycott Hobby Lobby?

– The only person who should make decisions about your healthcare is you. Not your employer.

– We are here to raie awareness and help everyone understand their rights, and more importantly how those rights are being threatened.

– We are here to encourage our neighbors to spend their money elsewhere.

What did Hobby Lobby Do?

– Earlier this year, the owners of Hobby Lobby went to the Supreme Court seeking exemption from covering certain contraception options for their female employees.

– The result of this ruling denies certain healthcare options for Hobby Lobby employees, and puts every American citizen at risk of being subject to not only healthcare restrictions but employment discrimination of all kinds, now and in the future.

How does this affect me?

– An employer, now or in the future, has an open door to potentially restrict or deny the healthcare options you might choose for you and your family. We don’t think that’s right.”

A warm day in New York City brought 400,000 people together across social, economic, racial, gender, age, and ability divisions for a massive march through Manhattan. The purpose was to once again draw attention to changing climate and to show world leaders attending the UN climate summit that their citizens are expecting action to prevent a climate catastrophe. The vast array of signs and banners gives a fractional representation of the wide spectrum of humanity attending the event.

From the http://www.peoplesclimate.org website…

“To Change Everything, We Need Everyone.

More than a hundred protestors held a rally outside the Yesler Community Center on Wednesday, September 17th to fight back against SHA’s proposed housing cuts. City Council Members Nick Licata and Kshama Sawant were on hand to speak and state legislature candidate Jess Spear appeared to stand in solidarity with those facing evictions from their low income housing.

From the event Facebook page…

“The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) want to push “work-able” tenants out of their housing by increasing tenants’ rents over six years with a proposed rent policy called Stepping Forward. This harmful policy will only lead to evictions and displacement of Seattle’s most marginalized residents.

Join SHA tenants as they defend their right to housing!

After the rally & press conference, please stick around for the public hearing on Stepping Forward at 6pm. For more information about the TU’s campaign to stop Stepping Forward, visit http://stopsha.wordpress.com/”

In an event reminiscent of the march from SeaTac to Seattle, workers, union members, and community activists rallied at the McDonalds on Madison. Malcom Cooper Suggs, a McDonalds worker spoke on $15 an hour, “$15 an hour has the ability to alleviate that struggle from us, and not just that, but bring back some of the dignity and respect we deserve as people, because we are people. Too often we are just seen as workers, we have on these uniforms, we look exactly the same. They think that we are one with the company. That’s all they see, people who flip burgers and take orders. At the end of the day, when we clock out, we are all people. I think that’s true for anybody who does their job. This cameraman isn’t a cameraman no more after he clocks out, hes a regular person. We deserve our dignity and I think that comes with a living wage.”

After a few more words, the demonstrators marched through Seattle to the I-90 bridge via the East Portal Viewpoint Park. As the hundred or so demonstrators moved across the bridge on the sidewalk, they made room for bikers  by staying to one side. Vehicle traffic on I-90 headed West came to a predictable crawl as drivers strained to read signs as they passed. Some car drivers honked in support while others held fists of solidarity as they drove by.

The march across I-90 was accompanied by a small boat on Lake Washington, carrying people holding signs and using air horns.

Further actions are planned throughout the day and you can find more information here…

http://www.workingwa.org/2014/09/09/wednesday-tomorrow-local-fast-food-workers-declare-i-now-wa-rally-risk-arrest/

On a warm sunny day at the Daybreak Star Indian Center, hundreds of people gathered for a “ceremonial launch of the Nawt-sa-maat Alliance” and salmon dinner with views of the Salish Sea. Attendees listened to speakers, spiritual leaders gave blessings, and people danced and sang in unity of their common desire to protect the environment.

More information can be found here…

http://www.protectthesacred.org/

From the website

“This coming Sunday marks the ceremonial launch of the Nawt-sa-maat Alliance: a coalition of Coast Salish Nations, environmental, interfaith, and youth activists, and impassioned community members who love the land and waters of the Salish Sea and call it home.

Nawt-sa-maat is a Coast Salish word that can translate to “One House. One Heart. One Prayer. United in power to Protect the Sacred.” The Alliance is calling for unprecedented, unified action to protect and restore the Salish Sea and its communities from the fossil fuel projects that threaten the region. The gathering takes place on Sunday, September 7th at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center and includes a Ceremony and a Salmon Bake to launch and strengthen the extraordinary collective work taking place in the region. The gathering will be an opportunity to learn about and join the Nawt-sa-maat Alliance, bring diverse groups of people from around the region together, and plug into a growing network of people and organizations who stand in unity to protect the Salish Sea.

All members of the Human Family are invited and warmly welcome to take part!”

Indigenous people from around the Seattle area gathered with community activists to rally for the signing of Resolution 31538 outside of Seattle City Council. Resolution 31538 states “Relating to Indigenous Peoples’ Day; declaring the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the City of Seattle; encouraging other institutions to recognize the Day; and reaffirming the City’s commitment to promote the well being and growth of Seattle’s American Indian and Indigenous community.”

Members of the Sacred Water Canoe Family drummed, activists spoke and sang, and even Mayor Murray made an appearance, showing his support and mentioning a signing on Columbus Day, October 12th, officially announcing the change to Indigenous Peoples Day.

Seattle City Council member Bruce Harrell suggests that one media camera (ignoring the 5 other photographers in the room) was not enough to sign Res. 31538 and agreed with Mayor Murray that it would be better to sign the resolution on Columbus Day, ignoring those who traveled to see it signed today. Kshama Sawant was the one council member to question pushing back the signing of Res. 31538.

Friday August 29th, 2014

Hundreds of activists and leaders from all corners of the community gathered outside the doors of St. Marks Cathedral in Seattle’s Capitol Hill before moving indoors for a totem pole blessing ceremony.

From the event press release… “…The cornerstone of Northwest Native American art, the totem pole, became a cross-cultural rallying point this morning, as a large crowd welcomed the 19-foot totem to Saint Mark’s Cathedral. The event marks the halfway point of a 2,500-mile binational journey by members of the Lummi Nation to demonstrate the strength and diversity of opposition to a proposal by Gateway Pacific Terminals that would locate North America’s largest coal terminal at Xwe’chi’eXen, the Lummi name for Cherry Point, near Bellingham…The Seattle event featured remarks from King County Executive Down Constantine and a welcome by Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe in Lushootseed, the language of the Salish people. All in attendance were invited to join in blessing the 19-foot Western Red Cedar totem pole.

The unusual juxtaposition of a totem and Christian church results from an unprecedented alliance between tribal nations and faith leaders around coal exports. Recently, 10 of Washington’s bishops and denominational executives signed a formal letter of support for the Lummi’s totem pole journey…”