Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

SeattleWA

By Haze Leviathan

Seattle, WA – On Saturday, August 15, dozens gathered outside Embassy Suites Hotel to picket in support of hotel workers with UNITE HERE Local 8. The workers have been negotiating their contract for six months and have been on strike for 59 days.

The strike began on June 12 after Embassy Suites repeatedly failed to meet workers' demands, which included year-round healthcare, higher wage increases and protection from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The organizers of the picket said that negotiations with the company have been difficult and unproductive.

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By staff

Kent, WA – On Friday, July 31, 12 anti-war activists held an action at U.S. Representative Adam Smith’s district office to demand that he take material action to stop funding wars and to cut ties with Israel. Smith is behind the House of Representatives’ most recent National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) containing Section 219, which formally integrates the U.S. and the Israeli militaries.

This protest comes after Smith’s symbolic vote against the NDAA, a war funding bill he co-authored and co-sponsored. Activists emphasized that Representative Smith’s so-called “doomed-to-fail” vote is nothing more than an attempt to deceive nearly 800,000 voters ahead of a critical election into believing that he is against funding Israel and the Iran War.

Two activists attempted to deliver Seattle Against War’s petition to the office. When they arrived, the office appeared to be closed, which is unusual for a public office during office hours. The petition, with over 1400 signatures from community members, demands that Smith use his powers as Congressman and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee to take action to end all aid to Israel, end the war in Iran, and hold U.S. and Israel accountable for war crimes.

Other activists joined the petition deliverers inside the building and brought the rally to Smith’s office doorstep. Rae Lee, a member of Seattle Against War stated, “He performs support for queer communities as a clear pinkwashing tactic to paint a picture of himself as an ally. That is fucking gross, and we need to call it out when we see it. He uses BIPOC communities as PR opportunities, the pittances he leaks to struggling grassroots groups to divert our attention away from the literal billions being used for senseless wars.

Section 219, which protesters are calling attention to, enables Israel’s unfettered use of U.S. military resources, including a permanent Pentagon position to synchronize Israeli and U.S. military initiatives, an open-ended technology deal, and the ability to deploy U.S. troops to carry out their genocide against Palestinians.

Protesters then canvassed and distributed flyers at the neighboring offices in the building to raise awareness of Smith’s crimes and his recent attempt to merge the U.S. and Israeli militaries, until they were escorted by building security.

The rally continued outside the building, where activists continued to amplify demands and slogans such as “No war in Iran” and “Stop funding Israel.”

#KentWA #SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #AdamSmith

By Jeremiah Baxter

Seattle, WA – On June 26, the day of the World Cup Iran–Egypt match, the Hands Off Iran Coalition organized a flash action in the form of an anti-war “People’s Football Game” in the middle of a packed street within view of the main stadium.

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By Jordan Phillips

Seattle, WA – Activists from Seattle’s Hands Off Iran Coalition held an emergency rally in downtown Seattle at Westlake Park on June 8 to oppose Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon and Iran. The rally was organized after Israel violated the ceasefire that has been in effect since April, by bombing Dahiya, a southern suburb of Lebanon’s capital Beirut. The rally began at three light rail stations across the city, before all groups converged in Westlake at 6 p.m.

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By Han Woodford

Seattle, WA – On May 25, George Floyd Day, a day for drawing attention to police brutality, the Seattle Alliance against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) led a rally and march through the streets of South Seattle to demand justice for Christian Nelson and Jack Paleli.

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By Jeremiah Baxter

International Workers' Day in Seattle.

Seattle, WA – On May 1, Seattle's May Day march saw thousands of workers, students, immigrants, community organizations and other attendees gather at Cal Anderson Park to celebrate International Workers’ Day.

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By Jeremiah Baxter

Seattle, WA — On March 26, eight members of Seattle Against War (SAW), along with allies in the anti-war movement, staged a sit-in at the office of Representative Adam Smith (WA-09). At time of writing, the sit-in is ongoing.

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By staff

Seattle protest against the war on Iran.

Seattle, WA – On February 28, less than 24 hours after the start of the U.S.– Israeli military assault on Iran, 300 demonstrators turned out to Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market to protest this latest U.S. war.

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By Rae Lee

Seattle showing of the film documentary Che: Un Hombre Nuevo.

Seattle, WA — On February 7, two dozen people attended fundraiser for medical aid for Cuba hosted by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. The fundraiser featured a screening of the Spanish-language documentary Che: Un Hombre Nuevo and a panel discussion with activists who had all recently been to Cuba and who shared details about the blockaded country.

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By staff

March in Seattle after the ICE murder of Alex Pretti.

Seattle, WA – Over 1500 protesters took to the streets of downtown Seattle on the evening of January 24 demanding justice for Alex Pretti, who was murdered in Minneapolis earlier that day.

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By staff

Seattle protest against U.S. attacks on Venezuela.

Seattle, WA — Over 200 protesters gathered in front of the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building on January 16 to demand freedom for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores as well as an end to U.S. attacks on Venezuela.

A coalition of progressive and anti-war organizations, including Seattle Against War and the International League of People’s Struggle, organized the program, which was hosted by the organization Troublemakers as part of their long-running Federal Building Fridays.

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By Olive Lacy

Seattle protesters disrupt city council meeting demanding an end to all collaboration with ICE.

Seattle, WA – 30 people in council chambers came together January 13, for a protest organized by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) to demand the Seattle city council strengthen its stance against ICE.

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By Jasmine Judd

Seattle, WA – On January 10, approximately 50 activists gathered at the New Holly Public Library for a reportback meeting featuring two speakers who shared their experiences from a December delegation to Venezuela, during which participants defied a U.S. “no-fly” order.

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By Sonya Herrera-Perez

Seattle protest after the ICE murder of Renee Good.

Seattle, WA – On January 7, organizers with Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), Seattle Against War (SAW), and others held an emergency rally in front of the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building to protest the ICE murder of Minneapolis resident Renee Good which had occurred that same morning. The rally was held to answer the nationwide call to action from the Legalization 4 All Network and was organized within a matter of hours.

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By staff

Seattle protest against the U.S. attacks on Venezuela.

Seattle, WA – Approximately 120 protesters rallied at Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle on January 3 to condemn the U.S. military’s illegal bombings of Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro.

The rally program included speeches from Seattle Against War (SAW), the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS) Seattle/Tacoma, Veterans for Peace (VFP) Daniel Ellsberg chapter, 350 Seattle, Capybara Colectiva, BAYAN Washington, bil-Yad, the National Lawyers’ Guild, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

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By Jasmine Judd

Seattle, WA – On December 7, Freedom Road Socialist Organization – Seattle hosted Joe Burn, a labor lawyer and author of Class Struggle Unionism for a discussion at the Seattle Public Library on building a fighting labor movement. Workers, unionists, and FRSO members joined in person and online to hear Burns explain why rank-and-file militancy is critical for winning real gains and challenging corporate power. The event highlighted growing interest in class-struggle politics as workers nationwide confront attacks on wages, their rights and union strength.

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By Marce Soto Ramírez

Seattle protest against police terror.

Seattle, WA – Over 100 people gathered December 3, at 42nd Avenue S and S Othello Street to mourn and demand justice after Christian Hadley Nelson was shot and killed by as many as six Seattle Police officers at a busy intersection the previous afternoon.

The Seattle Police Department closed the streets and left Nelson’s body at the scene for over 12 hours, shocking neighbors and passersby. Authorities did not release Nelson’s name until December 5. By the time of the rally, community members were calling for the release of all details, including bodycam footage and the identities of the officers involved.

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By Jasmine Judd

Seattle  protest against U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Seattle, WA – Seattle anti-war activists rallied November 15 at Mount Baker Light Rail station for a short program of speeches before marching to the nearby overpass, where they dropped a banner and chanted to denounce the U.S. sinking of Venezuelan boats. Pedestrians slowed to watch, with some taking photos and others raising fists in solidarity as the group made their demands for an end to U.S. military action in Venezuela.

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By Robert Engel

Seattle press conference demands answers on another killing by police.

Seattle, WA – On November 2, the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) held a press conference in response to an Seattle Police Department killing three days before. The press conference was held where the killing took place, by the intersection of 4th Avenue S and S Holgate Street.

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By Katelyn Farvour

Seattle Against War launches a campaign demanding that Congress member Adam Smith back an arms embargo on Israel.

Kent, WA – On October 24, organizers with Seattle Against War (SAW) assembled in front of Congressman Adam Smith’s (WA-09) office to launch their “Adam Smith: Stop Arming Israel!” campaign and deliver a petition with over 530 signatures to Smith himself.

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