Tumwater, WA – Members of the Tacoma Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held a press conference outside the Washington State Office of Independent Investigation (WA OII) on Friday, October 23, to urge the WA OII to investigate the death of Ronald Amir Harris.

TacAARPR members delivered a petition with over with over 450 signatures to the office, as well as new evidence obtained by Ronald Amir Harris’s family.

“The county didn't do an investigation that produced really any type of evidence that could conclusively concur with a suicide,” said Christian Tullar. “And that's why petitioning the state is so important here.”

Ronald Harris was found dead in his Pierce County jail cell before his trial on May 2, 2022. The county’s sheriff’s office ruled it a suicide, but refused to release key evidence to Ronald’s father, Ray Charles Harris. Concerned community members wrote in over 60 letters to the WA OII urging them to open an investigation into this death. When TacAARPR members met with WA OII on Oct 8, the office would not take up the investigation unless Ronald’s family and community were able to provide new evidence.

“My son did not commit suicide,” stated Ray Harris, “My son told me three days before his death, he said, Dad, if something happens to me, I did not kill myself.”

The petition’s two main demands were for Pierce County to release key evidence to Ronald Harris’s family, and for WA OII to do a full, transparent investigation into the death. The first demand was met earlier this week, when Harris’s family obtained new evidence by appealing directly to the county medical examiner’s office. This came after almost a year of denials by the sheriff’s office and the family’s FOIA requests. According to documents available on the TacAARPR website, the toxicology report, autopsy report and autopsy photos were never entered as evidence in the original suicide investigation.

“The WA OII gets 14 million tax dollars a year to investigate deaths like Ronald’s, yet the onus is put on us to find new evidence,” said TacAARPR member Moon Gosserand. “And when we do present new evidence, they have the power to just dismiss it, like they’ve done on other cases. But we won’t let them dismiss Ronald’s case without a fight!”

Gosserand was referring to the cases of Jason Hale and Andrea Churna, where new evidence, including new video and testimony, was dismissed by the WA OII. Since forming in 2021, the WA OII has never completed a “prior investigation.” According to their website, all eight existing prior investigation cases were either denied, passed to another body, or still in progress. TacAARPR members affirmed that despite this track record, they would continue the community investigation to obtain even more new evidence.

“One of the pieces of evidence that really worried us was in what’s called a CAD log,” Tullar continued, referring to the computer-aided dispatch log, which was released to TacAARPR via a FOIA request earlier this month. “In the CAD log we had seen the term hanging, and, when you're Black in America, especially when you're a Black man, the term hanging has a very particular racialized connotation. It instantly makes us think of the type of political and racial repression against Black people. And Pierce County has a long history of oppression and neglect and violence and brutality against Black men and Black people and people who are in the prison and jail system here.”

“My son's going to get justice,” Ray Harris re-stated. TacAARPR and the Harris family confirmed they will not back down until a full, transparent investigation has been completed.

#TacomaWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR

Tacoma, WA – For over seven months, Felix Vladimir Ponce Alvarez has been detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). Felix has lived in Seattle since 2002, where he started his business and raised his family. Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA) is demanding his immediate release from the Northwest Detention Center and calling for an end to the horrific conditions that he is facing during his detention.

As part of the process to gain his citizenship, Felix was obligated by ICE and the DHS to check in with officials monthly. He was fulfilling these legal obligations when he was detained without any clear reason on February 24, 2026. These circumstances leading up to his wrongful detention are not unlike many of the stories behind the status of detained people, where the established legal process for citizenship is instead used as a means for ICE agents to intercept immigrants in order to fill their detention quotas. In Felix’s case, he was already scheduled for another court check-in in March, when his legal process was interrupted without any valid cause.

In the last seven months, Felix has missed family birthdays and graduations. He also grieves the loss of his brother and the repossession of his home since he was unable to make payments on his mortgage while in detention. Felix's family has joined PCIA in protests and in reaching out to Washington state representatives directly to demand his freedom.

During his detention at the NWDC, Felix has been subjected to dire conditions. Inside, people are regularly denied access to medical care and they receive low-quality food that has been reported to have bugs in it. They also receive meals hours late and are given access to water that is cloudy and often has bugs in it.

Felix has not just been fighting for his release, but he has also often spoken out against mistreatment from guards and has frequently supported other people in his unit in detention by translating for the other Spanish speakers. When people speak out against the conditions they are facing, they are often met with repression. That can look like receiving frequent bed checks, getting written up by guards, or even being sent to solitary confinement.

This repression does not stop people from fighting back or speaking out. One of the ways that people protest their conditions at the NWDC is through hunger strikes. As of August, of this year, there have been 20 hunger strikes at the Northwest Detention Center to demand better conditions.

When describing the immigration system, Felix stated, “It is one of the largest human trafficking operations in human history, but it's considered legal.” ICE has ramped up its operations in Pierce County and all across the country, and in turn, so has the NWDC. Transports have significantly increased over the past couple of months. It is estimated that over 500 people have been transported in a single day. The NWDC is also seeking to expand its operations by changing its bed capacity from 1575 to 1635 people. This is despite the city of Tacoma’s current zoning laws, which prohibit its expansion.

“Felix should have never been detained. He shouldn’t have to spend another day in detention facing conditions where he has to fight every day for his basic rights and the rights of others. He should be at home with his family. He should be out here with his community,” stated Sumeet Kaur, a member of the Pierce County Immigration Alliance. “We will not stop fighting until Felix is free. We will not stop fighting until every single person in this detention center is free and it is shut down! We will not stop fighting until there is legalization for all and an end to immigration terror!”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #FelixAlvarez

Tacoma, WA – On Wednesday, October 14, around 40 people gathered outside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in support of immigrants in detention. Community members rallied for Kuya Desmon, whose final hearing was scheduled for later in the day. “Kuya” is a title of affectionate esteem used in the Philippines. Members of SEIU 6 also came out strong in support of two janitors who were detained on October 3.

“Immigrants rights are workers rights,” said Ceci Hooks, executive board member and security officer of SEIU 6. “When immigrants, workers and janitors and security officers and airport workers are under attack, we all suffer.”

The crowd chanted “Free them all!” and “You are not alone!” while banging on drums in between speeches.

Hooks continued, “The labor movement can hold ICE accountable for the abuse, violation of civil rights, physical violence inflicted on our communities across the country, violation of our due processes, and inhumane conditions they have created at these concentration camps.”

The first speaker of the event was Reverend Alex Booker of Queen Anne Baptist Church, who closed his speech with a prayer before the crowd began chanting again.

“I'm out here to stand in solidarity with those who are facing horrible immigration terror from the Trump administration,” said Christian Tuller, member of SEIU 775.

The recent apprehensions by ICE are part of a reported push from the White House for ICE to arrest at least 2000 people per day. This quota has resulted in an increase of detentions occurring at the NWDC since the summer of 2026.

One of the speakers at the event was Liliana Chumpitasi, a union member of SEIU. Chumpitasi delivered her speech in Spanish, with an interpreter there to translate to English.

“These workers are immigrants who have come to contribute to this country and deserve the same opportunities as everyone else,” said Chumpitasi. “This is affecting the country’s working class, and when these injustices occur, it’s definitely not just the union that needs to step up—everyone needs to show solidarity with them and work to shut down this detention center.”

Voices continued to ring through the streets as attendees chanted, “The people united will never be defeated!” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!” The attendees heard more speeches from groups such as Capybara Collectiva and Tanggol Migrante Movement, who uplifted the stories of Kuya Desmon and Kuya Nestor, who were both kidnapped by ICE in June.

“We're not scared. We're out here fighting and we're going to keep fighting,” said Ari Peel, member of Teamsters 174. “Many of these people who are detained are in unions, and if not in unions, they are almost all workers. This is absolutely a labor fight. We should all show out in solidarity, because our fights are so much stronger when we're together.

“The labor movement has a decisive role in this fight. We need to work together with all the people who are oppressed in this country in order to kind of get what we deserve,” said Tuller.

As the rally wound down, many stayed and waited to hear the results of Desmon’s final hearing. Chants continued, and despite the grim setting, spirits were high. The solidarity between various unions and community activists was strong.

When asked about the future of the movement and Trump’s reign of immigration terror, Naj Ali of SEIU 6 said: “Every kingdom will fall. And every evil will see justice. Whatever corruption and oppression there's been, there will be a day where every soul will come forth and be served what they served to the earth.”

“There are so many people who are starting to understand why they suffer, and are no longer willing to accept it,” said Tuller. “The people are ready.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Philippines #SEIU #Labor

Tacoma, WA – Around 50 people gathered in downtown Tacoma on the evening of October 7 in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. The crowd gathered at 6 p.m. outside of the federal courthouse and chanted “Free, free Palestine!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

“I'm here today because I believe in a free Palestine,” said Ryan Bell. “Since the beginning in 1948 up until now, there's been Nakba on Nakba and we can't stand for it anymore.”

The event marked the third anniversary of the beginning of the Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people. Despite the grim reality facing Palestinians, the mood of the action was inspired and hopeful. The crowd was determined to raise their voice and send a unified message.

“I came out because I’m Palestinian and I think it’s very important to speak up about what’s right,” said Yasmeen Juhar, president of the club South Asian, South West Asian, and North Africans at the University of Puget Sound (SSWANA at UPS). “Since 1948, the Palestinians have been experiencing oppression. And I think it's important for people to know what's happening and what the U.S. is funding.”

As the emcee introduced the event and the first speaker, the crowd continued chanting, including “We want justice, you say how? Stop arming Israel now!” and “From Palestine to the Philippines, stop the U.S. war machine!”

A lone Zionist counter-protester attended the rally and attempted to disrupt the program. However, his sign was snatched by attendees and destroyed while the crowd chanted. After losing his sign, the counter-protester resigned himself to quietly standing at the back while the program continued.

“What's happening in Palestine is just wrong and, you know, against everything that I believe in,” said Sarah Toole. “I think that [the Zionist] is on the wrong side and that he is just wasting his time.”

Event speakers connected the struggles of the Palestinian people with the broader anti-war and anti-imperialist movements, with speeches from organizations like South Sound Veterans About Face and Bayan USA. The mood was one of solidarity, with people of different backgrounds and national origins standing together against genocide and Zionist occupation.

“I'm here to support my Palestinian friend Yasmeen. I was born in Brazil, another country where the United States has major influence,” said Maya Welch. “I'm here today with her, for her, for us, for myself, for my people.”

After the speeches concluded, attendees taped names and photos of Palestinian martyrs to the front of the federal building as the crowd continued to chant “Israel you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!” and “Viva viva Palestina!”

“Under imperialism, we’re stuck in a cycle of exploitation that keeps oppressed nations like Palestine chained to the machine of imperialist greed,” said Abbie Baughman of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “As individuals, we can’t stop the US from funding Israel’s genocidal plans. Together, we can unite the multi-national working class under a political party that is capable of waging socialist revolution!”

The crowd dispersed around 8:30 p.m. after more chanting. Many lingered behind to make plans for further collaboration and actions related to the cause for Palestinian freedom.

“Palestine is on the path to liberation,” said Baughman. “And so are we!”

#TacomaWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine

Seattle, WA – On Thursday, October 8, more than 150 people marched in Seattle as part of a national day of action to demand a stop to sexual violence. The event started with a rally at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building. Attendees wore “Hello, I am Jane Doe” stickers and called for the punishment of the Cornell 7 and all rapists.

The event was organized locally by the Gender Equity Movement, Seattle Handmaids, Seattle Indivisible, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Lisa Weber from the National Organization of Women was the first to speak. She drew attention to the additional violence faced by immigrant women, especially those who are undocumented.

Many attendees wore teal, a color to raise awareness of sexual assault. Organizers talked to people at a table about further ways to get involved. Protesters brought signs such as “Justice for survivors” and “I am Jane Doe.” People angered by the Cornell 7, who had raped a woman and not been prosecuted because police did not listen to the victim, were motivated to act.

Meredith Ruff, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and former domestic violence attorney, said, “We will never achieve full equality under a system that profits from our oppression. Capitalism has no incentive to end discrimination against women and LGBTQ people when our subordination remains profitable. We have to fight for something different: socialism.”

The march was led by a banner calling for the enactment of the Equal Rights Amendment. The amendment has been ratified by enough states to become law since 2017, but because of how long it has taken, it has not been recognized. It would prohibit sexual discrimination. Chants included “Sexual violence has got to go” and “Say it once, say it again, no excuse for violent men.” The crowd cut through downtown Seattle, blocking streets and traffic.

The march stopped next to the King County Prosecutor’s Office. Zoe Mason of the Gender Equity Movement, who had earlier explained the failures of the prosecutor’s office to charge rapists, called for more action against sexual violence stating,“We are demanding that they stand up and they prosecute rapists. Do your job!”

The crowd then was led in the Chilean protest song, A Rapist in Your Path. Still blocking the intersection, people sang, “And the fault wasn’t mine, not where I was, not how I dressed, the oppressive state is a rapist.” The march then continued back to the federal building.

#SeattleWA #WA #WomensMovement #Cornell7

Seattle, WA – On October 3, activists from Seattle Against War rallied in solidarity with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores for the Anti-War Action Network’s day of action. Activists canvassed passersby and collected petition signatures demanding the release of the kidnapped leaders.

This is one of many actions to demand “Hands off Venezuela” since President Trump abducted Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores on January 3. Since then, Maduro and Flores have been held prisoner at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on false charges of narcoterrorism. The Trump administration is continuing its collusion with prosecutors by tacking on charges of human rights abuses against Maduro and Flores.

Flores is being tortured in prison. Flores has lost over 25 pounds in jail and is suffering from deteriorating cardiac health. A U.S. District Court judge has denied her request to be released on house arrest to manage her health problems.

The activists demanded an end to U.S. militarism and intervention in Venezuela, chanting, “U.S. Navy, CIA, we don’t want you, go away!”

Seattle Against War member Rae Lee said, “It’s completely upside-down that the United States, a country which bombs and disintegrates people every day, a country that constantly violates international law to serve the interests of its monopoly capitalist class, is able to play world police and kidnap the ruler of another nation.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #International #Venezuela #SAW

Seattle, WA – On the third anniversary of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, October 7, over 350 Seattle-area workers and students marched for a free Palestine.

Hundreds of high school students walked out at noon, holding a rally and march in the Capitol Hill neighborhood before merging into a larger demonstration organized by Nidal Seattle. After opening speeches from organizers, the nearly 400-strong crowd took the streets, marching from Seattle Central College to the historic Pike Place Market, which has been the center of many anti-war protests this year.

The strong turnout and militant energy represented the three years’ worth of organizing undertaken by the groups that helped to plan the event. The march was endorsed by over 30 organizations, ranging from socialist groups to the Muslim Congress.

Speakers and attendees emphasized the need to counteract the narrative that October 7 was an isolated terror attack, but to assert that it was a righteous uprising against 75 years of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The program specifically highlighted the legitimacy of armed resistance. Chants not only praised the Palestinian resistance factions, but also the regional Axis of Resistance, uplifting Iran, Yemen and Lebanon in their fights against imperialist aggression.

Chants during the march also highlighted the interconnected nature of the struggle for Palestinian liberation with the plight of workers and immigrants within the United States, a fact frequently highlighted by freedom fighters in Palestine, Iran, Yemen and Lebanon. As the protesters reached downtown Seattle, it wasn’t just “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!” that reverberated from the buildings, but “Not for ICE and deportations!” as well.

“October 7 was a wake-up call for so many people,” explained Rae Lee, an organizer with Seattle Against War, who helped organize the march. “The genocide in Gaza and the heroic struggle of the Palestinian resistance has inspired millions across the world to fight for a better world. We owe a great debt to their courage, and that’s why we have to keep fighting for a free Palestine.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #October7

Tacoma, WA – More than 250 community members attended a seven-hour protest on Sunday, October 4, on the east side of Tacoma, where heightened ICE presence has terrorized the immigrant community. Organizations including the Puyallup Tribe, the Brown Berets, and Pierce County Immigration Alliance came to support members of the community who had called for a vocal presence rejecting immigration terror and defending the neighborhood from surging ICE patrols.

Many recent abductions have taken place on 72nd street, a major Tacoma arterial lined by taquerias, panaderias and street vendors. In the last week, marked ICE vehicles also started cruising through a shopping plaza parking lot and harassing the workers inside.

Public calls for a demonstration were met by the community, with organizers arriving on the scene as early as 7 a.m. to prepare. Within an hour, a crowd of nearly 100 had formed to wave signs, chant, and put a stop to ICE terror against the community. “My people don’t deserve to live in fear,” said one protester, Gabby Bernal-Amaral, about why she had decided to join the event.

“I have the privilege to speak up for my community,” shared Leanna Esquivel, another attendee. “I want to see a complete overhaul of all the systems that harm the human race. Oppressive systems, racism, xenophobia, have no place here!”

As attendees chanted rounds of “Chinga la migra” and “No están solos,” reports rolled in that several known ICE vehicles were headed towards the plaza. The community sprang into action. As ICE came into sight, the rallygoers blocked the road into the strip mall and yelled for ICE out. Surrounded by the people and outnumbered 40 to 1, one ICE van was forced to reverse back into the street, and two unmarked ICE cars were similarly identified and forced out. Two repeat attempts by ICE to come into the plaza were similarly pushed back, with undaunted protesters chasing down and surrounding the ICE vehicles until they retreated.

The rally continued into the afternoon, with music, food, and an outpouring of community support. Tamales, coffee, pizzas and pastries were brought in by neighbors and the workers of businesses surrounding the rally. The crowd remained steady at roughly 100 attendees throughout the event, with new people consistently arriving to support as others left for work, church, or to take care of children – and passing off their signs to the folks joining in. Over 500 commuters joined the demonstration, honking horns, hanging out of car windows and sunroofs, and raising fists in support of “ICE out!”

“The rally today was a big step in our community’s fight against immigration terror,” said Edgar Alvarez, an organizer with Pierce County Immigration Alliance. “We’ve been canvassing this area and our allies have been patrolling here for months because we know this is a hotspot for ICE’s terrorism, and today the community put their foot down and declared they’ve had enough of the state’s unwarranted violence.”

And this mobilization was just the beginning. Community members are planning to demonstrate again and continue the fight to push ICE out of Tacoma.

“Through actions like this, the community is rapidly learning to fight back,” Edgar continued. “I’m confident that the activists and community members involved will capitalize on this moment. We keep us safe from the thugs that have been plaguing our streets.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Tacoma, WA – On September 28, 30 people held a vigil for those killed by Tacoma police. This vigil was held in response to a recent killing on September 27. Tacoma police have not released the identity of the man they killed. Attendees were concerned that this would become another cover-up, so they demanded the release of the bodycam footage and officers' accountability if unnecessary force was used.

The event was hosted by the Tacoma Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TacAARPR). At the beginning of the event, members of the community spoke about other police killings around the area. Jem Trumbly stated, “this is part of a pattern that we know very well. The police kill someone. The investigations into the killing are inadequate. The facts are covered up. The evidence goes missing. Trials drag on for years, and justice is never served.”

Many people in attendance carried signs demanding an end to police killings and accountability for police violence. While information about the most recent killing is still not released, people are worried that whatever evidence is released will be in Tacoma PD’s best interest. Another speaker, Ray Harris, told a similar story, about when his son, Ronald Amir Harris, was murdered in his jail cell before his trial. Ronald’s father was not given access to any of the evidence surrounding Ronald’s murder. Tacoma PD claimed that Ronald’s death was a “suicide.”

During the vigil, Harris told the crowd, “If you want change, you gotta make it happen. I lost my son. But I got no fear. I got none. I got nothing to lose, but I got a lot to gain. I want to make sure what they done to my boy, they do it to no one else, ever again!” Ray continued to speak about how difficult it was to get the evidence that Tacoma PD used in their suicide claims. The true source of Ronald’s death remains hidden from his closest family.

The TacAARPR is helping to build a public pressure campaign to open an investigation into Ronald Harris’s death. You can sign the petition to demand an open investigation into Ronald’s death here: tinyurl.com/justiceforronald

#TacomaWA #WA #InjusticeSystem #PoliceKillings #NAARPR

Seattle, WA – On September 26, around 20 Seattle and South King County residents gathered in the White Center neighborhood to protest the ICE shooting of Wilber Perez, and recent local abductions in the area. The group, organized by King County Immigrant Rights Alliance (KCIRA), marched through the town’s main street, stopping at each of the sites where locals were kidnapped by ICE.

The marching route was unexpectedly diverted when ICE kidnapped someone right around the corner from the demonstration. Marchers hurried to the site. They arrived mere minutes after a man named Ivan was stolen away, finding only his empty car and several locals who were gathered in the parking lot, shouting angrily about what they’d just witnessed.

“It was no more than about ten minutes ago that I came here,” said Flor Chicana, a local musician and activist who happened to be nearby when ICE agents set upon the man’s car. “It was a man named Ivan – he was being taken away and he was calm, he didn’t want anything to happen. He wanted to make sure that he could at least just be alive!”

The kidnapping took place cross the street from another abduction site, a local laundromat staffed and visited primarily by Chicanos in the area. The group stopped to chant outside and listen to a speech by Indira Trejocordova of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, while members of KCIRA went into the laundromat to speak with the employees and community members who witnessed the recent abduction.

“We have been coming out time and time again,” said Joseph Ostheller of KCIRA. “It might feel like nothing is changing. ICE activity has even increased! But change comes from consistent effort, and we already see the cracks showing! Take heart, we are still out here, still resisting. A better world is possible, and together we are unstoppable!”

#SeattleWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #KCIRA #WilberPerez

Seattle, WA – September 16 marked the U.S. government’s 200th day of war on Iran. Hundreds rallied at Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle for the Anti-War Action Network National Day of Action to protest the U.S.-Zionist aggression against Iran.

Over the past 200 days of this illegal war, the United States and Israel have murdered thousands of Iranian men, women and children, while destroying key civilian infrastructure like power plants, bridges, schools, desalination plants, ports and hospitals. People in the U.S. are feeling the economic impacts of this war with high gas prices and the gutting of social services.

The protest was organized by anti-war and advocacy groups, including Seattle Against War, Seattle Families for Palestine, the Hands Off Iran Coalition, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and Veterans for Peace, and was endorsed by the National Iranian American Council and About Face Veterans.

Julia Leyla Khorsand, with Seattle Families for Palestine, told the crowd, “Even Iranian-Americans like myself, who have been socialized to criticize and call the Islamic government ‘a regime’, see clearly now. I saw the images of Minab elementary. I saw the bombed-out medicine factory and the universities destroyed. I saw the blocks near my family’s neighborhood in Tehran, and in Tajrish, reduced to rubble.”

Khorsand continued, “I also watched brave Iranians, linking hands, and placing their bodies in front of power stations and life-sustaining infrastructure in hopes that U.S.-imperial forces might show some mercy. And watching them fight for something has radicalized me forever.”

Speaking on behalf of Seattle Against War, Zainab Obaid stated, “The people of Iran are saying that no foreign power gets to decide their future for them. No foreign power gets to plan a coup in their country, assassinate their scientists and leaders, and take over their resources. No foreign power gets to change their system of governance.”

Obaid continued, “The people of Iran are proudly asserting their sovereignty and fighting for their freedom. We should understand that message, because the principle is universal: A country’s future should belong to its people. We demand a stop to the war with Iran.”

Protesters chanted “U.S. hands off foreign soil! No more trading blood for oil!” and held signs stating “Stop Trump’s war on Iran!” and “Money for human needs, not for war.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Iran #SAW #AWAN

Federal Way, WA – On September 14, community members held a vigil for Leon Davis, a 27-year-old Black man who was killed by Federal Way police in the spring. The vigil was attended by his friends and family, as well as the Seattle and Tacoma chapters of the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (SAARPR and TacAARPR), at West Hylebos Wetlands Park.

Davis was killed by Federal Way police in Saint Francis Hospital on March 12. He had checked into the hospital fearing heart issues, but was then killed while being held down by police and hospital staff for roughly 30 minutes.

“It sounds like Federal Way police have a pattern of concerning and racist behavior,” said Chet Baughman, a Teamster Local 174 member. “This isn't the first time they have done something like this; my co-worker knows someone who was shot by police not too long ago in the area.”

The vigil opened with a member of the Seattle Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression talking about the injustice that had occurred with the murder of Leon Davis. Family members then said words and shared memories of their loved one. More of his family members arrived to support each other in this time of grief. People in the crowd passed a sunflower balloon around, signing it with messages to Davis.

Davis's brothers chanted, “Long live Leon,” and the crowd joined in.

“It’s really emotional seeing him. This shouldn't have happened,” said Aife Pasquale, speaking about his uncle Leon.

Davis's murder by the Federal Way police is one of many instances of police killing of Black people across the Puget Sound. This vigil, and the outpouring from the community, shows the outrage towards racist police conduct happening in our region. SAARPR and TacARRPR advocate for community control of the police, with one speaker identifying targets to continue the fight for justice and real community-led solutions to stop the killing.

“Federal Way, it's just, it's sad because we have family that are police and that's in law enforcement. So, for us to see this and to experience it is even more heartbreaking. And it brings up a lot of distrust for us, and just in Black people in general, and people of color as well,” said Shannice Johnson.

Davis's oldest brother stepped up to the microphone and shared memories, highlighting how Leon was the best of them, and the one that they all loved deeply. The crowd then finished writing messages for Leon on the balloon and then handed it to the family, who had all come together. The family gave the balloon to the children and released it, sending it back to him in the sky. His brothers started to chant “Justice for Leon,” and everyone joined in, calling for the balloon to be received by the clouds. Davis's family continues to fight for justice, to fight for transparency around the circumstances of his killing, and demand accountability.

When asked about how her brother was treated, Shannice Johnson said, “They were very negligent in the way that they handled the situation. And there could have been, anybody could have said something in 25 minutes of them doing what they were doing to him. Anyone could have stood up and, you know, stood up for him, and nobody did.”

#FederalWayWA #WA #SeattleWA #TacomaWA #InjusticeSystem #LeonDavis #KillerCop #OppressedNationalities

Seattle, WA – On August 19, members of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) walked into the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to demand answers from the top cop lawyer, Leesa Manion.

For months, SAARPR has been asking first the county sheriff and then the county prosecutor for transparency and accountability regarding the Seattle Police Department (SPD) shooting and killing of two Black men, Jack Palelei and Christian Nelson, in the last months of 2025.

In both instances, the men were suffering mental health crises. In both instances, the police escalated the situation, whether by shouting commands, driving onto the sidewalk in their police vehicles to give chase, or pulling out assault-style weapons.

The police in Christian Nelson’s case are responsible for shooting Nelson multiple times, as well as shooting into an apartment building and injuring a bystander. Nelson did not hurt anyone; SPD did. Palelei did not hurt anyone; SPD did.

When municipal police kill someone in King County, the King County Sheriff’s Office is supposed to investigate. Local police cannot be trusted to investigate their own officers. The sheriff’s office then sends the investigation files to the King County prosecutor, who decides whether to charge the officers involved.

Jack Palelei met his death at the hands of the Seattle Police Department in November 2025. According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, they forwarded the investigative file on Jack Palelei’s death to the prosecutor’s office in February. The prosecutor’s office claims to have only just received it. If SAARPR had not inquired into the status of Jack’s case, it remains unclear if the prosecutor’s office would even be aware that it had the file at all.

As is typical of high-powered elected officials, King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion was not in her office or available to meet with her constituents. The office staff did not know how to engage with SAARPR members who came to the office. It quickly became clear that it was uncommon to receive visitors from the public asking about investigations into officer-involved shootings. SAARPR members were determined to wait until someone could give concrete information about what the prosecutor’s office is doing with Jack’s case.

Eventually, a prosecutor came into the lobby to speak with SAARPR. Dan Clark. Mr. Clark admitted that he did not know exactly what was being done with Jack Palelei’s case, although he confirmed that the office did have the investigation on file. The prosecutor’s office, including the specific team that reviews police killings, had a backlog of cases. And something that took place at the end of 2025 was not likely to be next in line.

He also admitted that the prosecutor’s office treats cases of police killing people as more “cut and dry.” Those cases are unlikely to result in charges or discipline for the officers because when police claim to fear for their lives, they seem to be able to justify their actions.

Both Jack Palelei and Christian Nelson were armed. Does that mean that their lives are forfeit? Of course, not. If police escalate a situation, should they be able to claim that they had to kill to save their own lives? No. The fight for police accountability cannot be for “perfect victims” alone, especially when the police use racism to justify their actions. The police should not be able to summarily execute anyone.

Sonya Herrera, the chair of the Seattle Alliance, said, “I went to Leesa Manion and the King County Prosecutor’s office to demand transparency in the case of Jack Palelei. This case has been lost and re-found on a number of occasions, and that’s unacceptable. This person was murdered by SPD and did not deserve to die. He was afraid, suffering through a mental health crisis, and SPD chased him in a vehicle on a sidewalk. I would be scared and try to defend myself too. Things are not cut and dry, as prosecutors make it seem. We need to demand more.”

SAARPR will continue to demand three things of the prosecutor: Release the names of the officers involved in these deaths; release unedited bodycam footage so that SPD’s edited footage is not the only public record, and prosecute the officers and get these killer cops off Seattle’s streets.

#SeattleWA #WA #InjusticeSystem #KillerCop #OppressedNationalities #JackPalelei #ChristianNelson #SAARPR

Tacoma, WA – The Tacoma Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TACAARPR) held a film screening of The Alabama Solution on August 29, as a part of the fight for justice for Ronald Amir Harris.

Ronald Harris, a 23-year-old Black man, was found dead in his cell in Pierce County Jail before his trial in 2022. The county ruled it a suicide but refused to provide any evidence or do an investigation, leading many to conclude he was murdered by prison guards.

“May 2, 2022 changed my life. This was the day that I found out my son was murdered. Even though the judicial system claims that my son committed suicide, there was no evidence to support that,” explained Ray Charles Harris. “In fact, there's more evidence to support that my son was murdered.”

The Alabama Solution is a documentary that exposes what many Black Americans are already well aware of: prison guards murder and politically repress prisoners all over this country. These killer prison guards are protected by the judicial system and typically get away with excessive force and murder.

“Ronald Amir was never convicted of a crime; he was killed before he ever got to court. An unconvicted individual who died in custody under suspicious circumstances,” stated Tanderlon Carter, longtime friend to Ray Harris and beloved community member. “This statement is to be used towards the focus on the denial of due process, and the fight for truth. Let us plan to use a special approach by protesting with signs and social media for the lack of accountability, and fight for the structure of truth.”

The Tacoma Alliance has launched a petition demanding an investigation into Ronald Harris’s death by the Washington Office of Independent Investigation. They are demanding the evidence in Ronald Harris’s death be released to his father, something Pierce County has refused to do. Many Freedom of Information Act requests have been denied, some remaining in a “pending” status for over nine months.

“If they have nothing to hide, why won’t they release the photos or location of his death to his father?” asked Moon Gosserand. “If anyone else died under these circumstances there would be an investigation, but, because it’s likely that a prison guard or officer committed the crime, the county is covering it up.”

Gosserand’s claim is well supported by national trends exposed in the film. Similar deaths were covered up in Alabama. Often these deaths are politically motivated.

“Pierce County prosecutors, in order to frame me for a crime that I did not do, they impersonated themselves as a doctor and a nurse and got on the stand and committed perjury in order to get a false conviction on me,” Ray Harris explained, “Four years later, Ronald decided to file a complaint on the station.”

Ray Harris and TACAARPR believe that the open legal case against Pierce County prosecutors was a political motivator in the murder of Ronald Harris.

“Ronald Amir was never given his day in court. However, the system became his judge, jury, and the executioner of an unconvicted human being. Ronald Amir left silenced. We demand the truth. They called it suicide to close the case. Although a life stolen and a trial denied, therefore innocent until proven guilty, unless he dies behind closed doors,” spoke long-time friend Carter.

Ronald Harris’s death is sadly not the only one of its kind in Pierce County. Innocent people are killed by police or prison guards at an alarming frequency, like Manny Ellis or Rhoda Butler. TACAARPR is continuing to fight for full community control of the police to prevent more cases like this, and to ensure greater justice for those already impacted.

“They want us to believe that he gave up on life before he was to ever give himself a chance to fight for his innocence. We refuse to accept the depth of this narrative written by the very walls that failed to protect him. This system has committed an unforgivable injustice that fails the law of the constitution for Ronald Amir Harris,” Carter concluded.

Ray Harris was clear that TACAARPR would not rest until they have won justice, “We have to find out what happened to my son, and we have to stop anybody else from dying under his circumstances.”

#TacomaWA #WA #InjusticeSystem #RonaldAmirHarris #TACAARPR #TheAlabamaSolution

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.

“Unfortunately, the hotel did not engage in good faith negotiations with the staff,” said Gabe Rubliovschi, a hotel worker at Embassy Suites and organizer with Unite Here Local 8, “12 days into the strike, they came to the table with the exact same offer of a 40-cent increase over the next six months.”

Many UNITE HERE hotel workers across the country went on strike in 2024 and won between $9 and $10 raises over a contract period of four years. The Embassy Suites workers’ wage demands are in line with other unionized hotels in the area.

Hayden Eyerly, a front desk agent with Embassy Suites, confirmed the story, saying that the company, “called us back to the negotiation table on day 12, and we were expecting a new offer of some sort. But they were assuming we’d have a new offer ready, when our response to their previous offer was to go on strike! So, it was a big waste of time, but it made it a whole lot easier to come back out here and yell at them.”

“As someone who started working here before the pandemic, we’ve seen staffing levels cut in half from what they used to be,” said Jus Adsuara, a Local 8 Vice President and hotel worker. “I’m doing twice as much work compared to before the pandemic, but my wage definitely hasn’t doubled.”

Staffing at hotels nationwide has not returned to its pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, Seattle’s hospitality industry is reeling from decreases in Canadian travelers, some of which have been attributed to Trump’s oppressive immigration policies.

Adsuara further explained, “We are really concerned about the presence of ICE in our city, and we want the right to be notified and the right to stay home if ICE is near the building.”

One-third of hotel workers nationally are immigrants; about 3 million immigrants work in hospitality. Hotel workers in Minneapolis have won protections from ICE, which Embassy Suites workers look to as an example.

As cries of “If we don’t get no contract, you won’t get no sleep” echoed throughout the picket, Jus had one more message for management: “We’ll be out here as long as it takes. We’ve said that from the very beginning, and we really mean it.”

#SeattleWA #WA #Labor #Strike #UniteHereLocal8 #HotelWorkers

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

Tacoma, WA – On Sunday, July 26, more than 30 community members rallied in the summer heat to demand the release of Felix Alvarez Ponce and all those detained at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). The protest marks the fifth month that Felix Ponce Alvarez has been detained in the NWDC, and of his fighting his detention.

The rally began with the crowd chanting their demand to “Free Felix!” and “Free them all.” The chants became so loud that Ponce called and told his family that he could hear the crowd inside the detention center.

Lane Parish, an organizer with Pierce County Immigration Alliance, shared the words Alvarez asked to be shared with the crowd. “Inside this detention center, conditions are poor. Many people get sick often, who were healthy before. I have been sick four times since February. The guards are often cruel, intentionally humiliating the people here.”

Parish also shared on behalf of Alvarez the impact his detention had on his family and community, including missing his brother’s passing, family birthdays, holidays, weddings, graduation and several months of his daughter’s first year of life.

“If someone asked me if I believe ICE and GEO facilities should be shut down, my answer is yes, I say 10,000 times, yes,” stated Parish.

This action is only the most recent of a long history of community organization against the NWDC.

Joseph Ostheller, a member of FRSO’s Seattle district, chronicled the detention center's origins and its track record of inhumane treatment, stating, “This concentration camp – the Northwest Detention Center – broke ground in 2004 to serve a then-new agency in the U.S. Government: Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It has been right here in Tacoma through five presidential administrations, four mayors, and truly countless abductions.”

“GEO Group brought in $2.6 billion last year on imprisoning our neighbors – and profits of $254 million,” Ostheller continued. “These profits were scraped out of our community by charge-by-the-minute phone calls, inedible food, medical neglect, and even forcing detainees to work inside the facility for less than a dollar a day.”

The immigrant community in Tacoma, along with the other major cities in the U.S., has been hard at work in response to the recent surge of ICE activity that is a result of the DHS ordering an increase of daily detentions to 2000 arrests a day, a doubling of the previous quota ICE was carrying out.

Anyelia Brown, who spoke on behalf of the local Adopt a Corner group and the rapid response network, stated, “Several of our community members right here in Tacoma have been taken by ICE from the South Tacoma Home Depot while looking for work and trying to provide for their families. These are skilled laborers, longtime community members, and hard workers who are just trying to get by while navigating language barriers, wage theft, health issues and immigration terror.”

Organizers across the U.S. have been documenting similar patterns regarding the operations of ICE’s immigration terror. In contrast to the mass arrests prevalent during the start of Trump's deportation campaign, ICE has switched to tactics that bring less attention to the news, opting to detain civilians through traffic stops and the interception of individuals attending court, or in areas with sparse density to avoid being tracked. Felix is among these individuals who were unlawfully brought into detention while going through his immigration hearings.

Catelynn Henion, an organizer with the Pierce County Immigration Alliance, spoke against the fear tactics that ICE implements with their operations, “I know that our neighbors should not be locked inside a detention center. I know that our neighbors shouldn’t be gunned down in the street by ICE. I know that people deserve dignity and a life where they don’t live in fear that they will be locked up in a place where people are abused and not given adequate access to medical care. I know that the people locked up inside this detention center are workers, parents, friends, family. I know the loss of them in our community is felt deeply and widely.”

Catelynn Henion stated, “It is regular people, people like Felix, people like you, people like me, that will make a change. Not once has the city, the state, or the federal government given us anything because they felt like it! Everything we have won is because ordinary people fought for it!”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE

Tacoma, WA – Community members gathered in People’s Park to honor the memory of victims of police violence on Friday, June 19.

The event was organized by the Tacoma chapter of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TacAARPR), a newly-formed group aiming to achieve civilian oversight of local law enforcement agencies.

TacAARPR is seeking justice for Rhoda Butler, a 61-year-old woman suffering dementia who was fatally shot by a TPD SWAT team in January 2024. One of her killers, Aaron McNeely, sits on a board that investigates police-involved shootings. This board conveniently cleared McNeely of any wrongdoing.

In attendance was a contingent of activists led by James Rideout, whose niece, Jacqueline Salyers, a Puyallup tribal member, was killed by TPD in 2016. Of the slaying, Rideout expressed, “You don't want to know how this feels, and unfortunately, my family, through Jackie, does know.” Rideout has been involved in the decade-long Justice for Jackie campaign, which has culminated in a lawsuit brought against the city of Tacoma. Right now, this case is being heard by the Washington Supreme Court. He added, “We never gave up, and that gives the citizens hope. Your issue is everyone’s issue.”

Attendees also paid their respects to Kohen Wiley, a one-year-old boy shot by police in Mississippi on June 14 over false allegations that his family members had stolen diapers from a local Walmart, when they were in fact bought and paid for.

A local passerby, who ended up sticking around for the length of the program, said of the proceedings, “The police make it clear over and over that they won't hold themselves accountable, so the only way we can see justice is to get community oversight.”

#TacomaWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #Juneteenth #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican

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.

The lively protest broadcasted the demand “Kick Israel out of FIFA!” through signs, banners, chants and song. In a press release sent out in the lead-up to the action, Hands Off Iran Coalition organizers condemned FIFA’s participation in Trump’s “Board of Peace,” where FIFA released an AI-generated video in February 2026 depicting football stadiums rising out of the rubble of destroyed homes in Gaza.

“From the streets to the stadiums,” the press release said, “the game of football was built by communities, fans and generations of ordinary people. We reject FIFA’s use of the game for ‘sportswashing’ to normalize oppression and injustice.”

The football pitch was erected by creating an unbroken perimeter of anti-war and anti-imperialist banners held by organizers and activists. Ad hoc teams of three players competed in a “queen of the hill” style tournament, with team names like “Right to Rebel,” “Strait of Hormuz” and “The People’s Team.”

Football fans passing the pitch stopped to watch the People’s Game, with many asking how they could sign up to play. New teams were created and joined the tournament on the spot, with some teams representing countries including Mexico and Italy.

The People’s Game was a new type of protest for Seattle, with an emphasis on meeting people where they are and reclaiming a sport that rightfully belongs to the masses and not to pro-imperialist, pro-Trump FIFA. At the same time, the event brought sharp anti-imperialist messaging, demanding an end to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and justice for the victims of Israel’s genocidal campaigns in Gaza and south Lebanon.

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #FIFA #WorldCup #PeoplesStruggles #Palestine #Iran

Tacoma, WA – 15 Portland for Palestine organizers traveled up to the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington on Saturday, June 13. Portland for Palestine (P4P) was there to promote their ongoing campaign to help free a local Palestinian immigrant Tareq Zakarneh, a man who has been in ICE detention for over two years.

These organizers joined the Tacoma-based immigrant rights group La Resistencia for one of its regularly-held “Solidarity Days.” Overall, there were about 50 people in attendance.

Zakarneh has mostly been held at the NWDC, though recently DHS and ICE have been trying to break his resolve and remove him from the U.S. The U.S. does not recognize Palestinian statehood, so he is in danger of being deported to Israel. Any Palestinian deportee in the hands of the Israeli authorities is in grave danger as Israel pushes to complete their project of ethnic cleansing in the region.

P4P wanted to make sure that DHS’s underhanded, illegal tactics don’t go unnoticed with regards to Zakarneh, and tragically, so many other immigrants. Since his removal from NWDC on June 2, ICE has made Zakarneh impossible to track and taken away his rights to communication with the outside world.

On June 5, P4P mobilized and conducted an emergency call-in campaign to Judge David Estudillo’s office to demand he allow Tareq the rights of due process. And it worked! A last-second order issued by the Washington judge got Zakarneh pulled off his final deportation flight while he was waiting to board early in the morning on June 9.

The group further mobilized to show solidarity with detainees still unjustly locked away in NWDC. They also sought to send a message to the facility’s operators, the infamous GEO Group.

Kacey Desantis, organizer for P4P, commented on the conditions in NWDC and others. From her speech delivered that day, “Tareq has often told us of the atrocious quality of the food and water and about how ICE would not give Tareq nor his fellow Muslim detainees the appropriate time and space to practice their religion. On hot days, there is often no air conditioning. He was denied access to legal materials and legal representation on multiple occasions. When Tareq was detained in a facility in Eloy, Arizona, he was denied his right to meet with lawyers at least six times.”

Zakarneh often found himself a target of extraordinary abuse and deprivation by ICE and the operators of these facilities. Why? In their own words, they deem him a “nuisance” for daring to engage in jailhouse lawyering. Not only is he extremely active in fighting in his own defense, but he has been critical in helping, with self-filed motions, to ultimately get several of his fellow detainees released. The more he helped others, the more ICE would attempt to isolate him.

At the event, organizer Cole Dunahugh said, “We demand that Tareq be brought back to the NWDC so he can be allowed to argue his case in person in front of a judge, that he be granted asylum, and that he be released from ICE detention.”

It is critical that we stand up to protect immigrants of all nationalities. But Palestinians require special attention as ICE deports them exclusively to Tel Aviv, where they face possible long-term internment, torture and even extra-judicial execution.

Desantis closed out her speech, “The ICE facilities in this country and the Israeli prisons that Tareq faces are connected. The violence of the American immigration system and the apartheid system that is killing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are connected. They are connected by an imperial system that inflicts and promotes violence abroad, learns the best ways to do it and brings it home to the U.S.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #Palestine #P4P