Tacoma, WA – Dozens of protesters rallied and marched for a strong climate commission in Tacoma, Washington in observation of Earth Day, April 18.

The crowd carried picket signs demanding a “strong climate commission” and “system change not climate change” as they marched from Point Defiance to Dune Park. Chants like “Cut the carbon emissions! Empower the climate commission!” echoed through the parks.

“The 'end of living' mentioned by the ancestors is not a distant threat – it is the reality of our current path if we do not act,” said River Bandi, a member of the Osage Nation and the Climate Alliance of the South Sound. “Let us leave this rally not just with signs, but with a vow: to act like we belong to the Earth. To protect the web as if our lives depend on it – because they do.”

Dune Park is built on a remediated Superfund site, the historic site of the Asarco copper smelter which spewed dangerous heavy metals and chemicals all over the South Sound region for nearly 100 years.

Attendees highlighted the importance of workers’ rights, indigenous sovereignty and climate justice. The city’s climate commission currently has no legal power and big businesses in Tacoma routinely take full advantage by violating treaty rights and polluting working-class communities, as well as building and maintaining projects in the interest of profit rather than the people of Tacoma.

“The oversight and policy we need in Tacoma to protect our air, land, water, and to protect us from a climate catastrophe doesn't exist,” stated Phil Harty, another member of CASS. “We demand a strong climate commission that can fight back against all attacks on the environment, that can respect the treaties and Indigenous sovereignty, that can ensure green jobs, and that protects the trees of Tacoma.”

A wide range of community organizations were represented at the march, and speakers highlighted the need for uniting together to fight against the big corporations driving environmental disaster in Tacoma and beyond.

“It's clear this climate catastrophe isn't an accident; it's a direct result of the system that we live under. U.S. monopoly capitalists profit, while the working people of the world face the consequences,” said Ari Pahoundis, an organizer with Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

The fight for a strong climate commission continues as community members gear up to launch a citizen’s initiative to get the issue on the ballot in 2027.

#TacomaWA #WA #Environment #EarthDay #CASS

Tacoma, WA – On February 6, 375 students walked out from Washington High School and Keithley Middle School before the final class period of the day, joining the movement of students across the country who are standing up to ICE.

As the bell rang students began to gather outside in the sun holding Mexican, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Brazilian and Honduran flags. Washington High School junior Madyson Smith addressed her fellow classmates with a Puerto Rican flag around her neck saying, they were all together to “stand up for not only our Hispanic community, but everyone else who is affected.”

This action is one of many in the greater Tacoma area. In recent weeks. There have been many walkouts at high and middle schools including at Franklin Pierce, Graham-Kapowskin, Stadium, Silas, Annie Wright, Rogers and more.

“Our community in Tacoma/Parkland is in fear of ICE. Washington High School is a very diverse campus with almost 40% of students being Hispanic,” Smith said. “We want our school district to be more aware of what’s going on and practice our anti-ICE policies more and make school a safe space for students!”

In preparation for the walkout students had sign-making parties and meetings with supporters. They tasked local organizations including Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA), Climate Alliance South Sound (CASS), Philippines US Solidarity Organization (PUSO) Tacoma, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and Rainier View Christian Church with ways to materially support them, including providing snacks and water and on-the-ground support.

When asking FRSO member Ari Pahoundis why they showed up to support they shared, “It's so inspiring to see the next generation of organizers taking to the streets to speak out for their community. These students are going to be out here either way, and we have a responsibility to do what we can to support them.”

A group of volunteers helped block off a side road from incoming traffic so that the students could safely march from the parking lot towards the main road. One of those volunteers, Nick Miskogwane, member of PCIA Teamsters 313 said, “I think it’s crucial we support and teach our youth the importance of free speech and democracy – for [them] to learn the power they have.”

The electric crowd of students marched farther than originally planned, fearlessly taking over a lane on the main road and totaling 1.2 miles round trip. Parents and community members drove by honking and waving flags in support and many joined on foot to help direct traffic. Madyson, Felix, and more helped lead their classmates in chants including, “No justice! No peace! Get ICE off our streets!”

The march wrapped up with students arriving back on campus to catch their buses, greeted by supportive parents and staff. Students also continued to celebrate their cultures, playing Mexican music and dancing Huapango in the parking lot.

An on-the-ground volunteer with CASS and local doula Jessica Whitson said, “These kids will be adults soon and they should have their voices heard and get a say about the systems that impact them. They were brave and energized, marching together making it loud and clear they want ICE off their streets. The teachers that know these kids were so incredibly proud of their students, many shedding tears of joy as the kids marched and made their voices heard.”

When asked about the impact this action had on her fellow classmates, organizer Smith said, “Students before the protest were in a stage of fear — kids weren’t coming to school. After the protest everyone is hyped and lowkey happy about how it turned out.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #StudentMovement #HighSchool #PCIA #PUSO #FRSO #CASS

Tacoma, WA – Over 1000 people gathered in Tacoma’s Firefighters Park, January 24, to protest the racist Trump administration. Protesters waved signs reading, “Fight for workers and immigrants’ rights” and “ICE out of Tacoma” while chants of “One struggle, one fight: immigrant justice, worker’s rights!” filled the air.

Amelia Escobedo of the Brown Berets said, “The reason I'm out here today, even though I'm recovering from a hysterectomy, is that my people matter. Our people matter. And if we're not out here raising our voices, nobody else is going to do it for us.”

Speakers from many of the 25 endorsing organizations rallied with the crowd before taking to the streets. “Fight back!” echoed throughout downtown as the march took a major thoroughfare, marching from the park to the nearby federal building.

“I'm out here in the streets today because I at first was very fearful seeing everything that ICE was doing, like killing people and attacking my people as an indigenous Latina,” said Julia Bobadillo, one of the speakers with the 28th Legislative Democrats. “And so I'm out here because I wanted to not be fearful.”

Bobadillo spoke and offered indigenous drumming and song to a crowd so large it would not fit in the plaza outside the federal building. Protesters spilled into the street to listen to more speakers talk on the importance of immigration justice and the fight for socialism in the United States.

“Trump's escalating attacks on the people make it clearer and clearer that they do not care if they have to kill us to get theirs!” said Moon Gosserand, with Freedom Road Socialist Organization, to an enthusiastic crowd. “To change this system, we don't need small reforms, we need a revolution! We need a party to be built for and by the people! One that stands for the multinational working class!”

This march, which had been planned for over a month, took on a special character in response to yet another murder by ICE agents in Minneapolis that same morning. Many protesters brought their entire families, including babies, children and elders.

“My son came home one day from school asking, ‘Why Is Trump targeting us?’ If I don't fight for my son, these kids, who else is going to fight for them?” said attendee Alfredo Villegas, member of Laborers' Union, “I'm a native of Tacoma, Washington. Native American, also First Nations, and Mexican. And as a member of this community, if there's no voice, then nothing will be seen or heard.”

Amelia Escobedo said, “We have to do it for us. We have to do it for our babies. We have to do it to make sure that our people know that we have their back, because right now we're under attack.” Her husband Chris Escobedo, also with the Brown Berets, added, “We had to show support, because what's happening in the country, especially with the kids getting taken and things like that, it's taking it too far. We’ve got to stop it now.”

“We are going to keep up the fight” said Jami Cortes, one of the lead organizers of the event with Climate Alliance of the South Sound. “We are prepared to march for International Women’s Day, Earth Day, May day, and every day until we see an end to this rotten system and the liberation of the planet and her people.”

#TacomaWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #Labor #FRSO #CASS

Tacoma, WA – On October 14, a group of several dozen Tacoma activists gathered in the sunset of Fireman's Park to oppose the expansion of the city’s liquid natural gas (LNG) plant. The event was organized by a broad coalition of Black, brown, indigenous, and other liberation movement groups, led by the of the Coast Salish Water Warriors (WW).

Speaker Marilyn Kimmerling with Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS) explained that the LNG facility near the Port of Tacoma is both a refinery and storage place. The oil travels from across the country through underground pipelines to the LNG plant at Tacoma’s tide flats. Within those pipes are gaskets, components which connect the lengths of pipe together. Such gaskets are notorious for failing, resulting in leaks.

In Tacoma, the gaskets are close to both schools and housing, usually in low-income areas such as reservation land. “The facility is an 8-million-gallon facility,” said Kimmerling. “The gas is chilled to -215 degrees so it can be condensed into a liquid, [allowing for] more storage. If the tank leaks, the gas expands and could easily explode.”

Even without expansion, the LNG plant as-is is already in violation of regulations. According to marine safety regulations, LNG tanks must be at least three miles away from human habitation due to the serious risk of explosion. The LNG refinery also releases methane, tons of particulate matter, and toxic chemicals such as benzine, a known brain carcinogen.

“Methane is 82 times more responsible for climate change [than CO2],” Kimmerling continued. “It's not in the atmosphere as long as carbon, but it's faster at polluting the environment.” It is no surprise, then, that environmentally damaging facilities like Tacoma’s LNG plant are built in low-income areas.

Kimmerling explained that not only is the LNG plant in violation of the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek, which is supposed to guarantee the hunting and fishing rights of the local tribes, but it was also built without a legal permit. Moreover, the 8-million-gallon tank is situated on a landfill in the tide flats. The tide flats themselves are at sea level, which is already rising due to climate change, and the plant is in an earthquake zone, a lava flow zone, and built in a location that is difficult to effectively evacuate.

If an explosion were to occur, the 5000-degree temperatures would incinerate everything in the immediate blast radius, including people. The Northwest Detention Center, a 1500-bed facility used by ICE to detain immigrants, is located in that blast zone, and there is no evacuation plan in place in the event of an explosion or other disaster. The five-mile radius of a potential LNG explosion also encompasses most of the city of Tacoma. Even when functioning normally, the refinery pollutes the water, where salmon are already a threatened species.

After the speeches at the park, the crowd mobilized to Tacoma City Hall where the city council meeting was in session. The group merged with a larger contingent of community members who took the opportunity to advocate their Stop The Sweeps campaign. Local faith groups like Common Good and organizations like Tacoma DSA delivered speeches outside City Hall on other issues, including the housing crisis. They shared statistics on the number of people who die on the streets of Tacoma, which is in the thousands. Other speakers pointed out that many of Tacoma’s unhoused people are disabled, as Social Security doesn't pay them enough to live on.

Most of the attendees then entered City Hall to make public comments at the city council meeting. It was filled to capacity as the city council removed the first two rows of seats and tried to erect a barrier to shield the councilmembers from the outrage of their supposed constituents.

Tacoma’s mayor, who had been in attendance for the first half of the council meeting, slipped out before the second half began because she could not be bothered to listen to public comments. CASS delivered their statement about the LNG plant in 90-second chunks delivered by different members due to the restrictions placed on public comment by the council, which asked attendees to “be nice” as they were “tired.” When a member of the local Black Panther Party Ovunayo X came up to speak, his microphone was shut off abruptly after his allotted 90 seconds, after which the council quickly walked out.

“Anti-people policies like the camping ban and expansion of the LNG facility show the true interest of the city council,” said Aife Pasquale, a member of CASS. “They will always put profit over the people, and bend to the whims of capitalism. The people of Tacoma, however, do not accept this without a fight. Today a wide coalition of organizations united to push against these policies and stand for what's right!”

#TacomaWA #WA #Environment #CASS

Tacoma, WA – On July 1, 15 members of Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS) gathered at Tacoma, Washington’s weekly city council meeting to speak out against the undemocratic city management and demand a strong climate commission.

Community members rallied outside the meeting to prepare to go in to speak, but were confronted by the mayor, who asked them not to speak at the city council meeting. Community members were not intimidated, and attended the meeting as planned, despite the city’s attempts to block their ability to speak.

CASS members were planning to speak on the retirement of Tacoma’s City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and were preparing to enter the City Hall when they were confronted by Mayor Victoria Woodards.

“There is something on the agenda, but if this is the direction we’re going to go in I’m going to pull it off the agenda,” Mayor Woodards said to the community, in reference to the item on City Manager Pauli’s retirement.

“This is an attempt at repression!” said CASS member Aife Pasquale. “The mayor wants us to respect the city manager, but we’re not going to respect someone who disrespects her entire community in her actions.”

The city council struck the item of the city manager’s retirement from their agenda and started the public comment section of the meeting earlier than allowed.

To silence the voices of CASS, the meeting was adjourned as soon as the city council had the opportunity. “The city manager is an unelected and undemocratic role that sacrifices the community and environment for profit, and the city council continues that undemocratic trend by pulling stunts like this,” said Gemini Gnull, another CASS member.

After the meeting was adjourned, CASS members rallied outside to speak on issues such as the importance of real representation in elected bodies, strong environmental protections, and indigenous sovereignty. Tacoma is built atop Puyallup land, and the city of Tacoma has a history of violating indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights. CASS member Jami Nelson-Cortes said that indigenous people “protect 80% of the earth’s biodiversity,” adding “So long as there is an unelected city manager position, indigenous sovereignty, including treaty rights, will be undermined.”

“The actions of the city council against the people of Tacoma show the necessity of waging a fight for democracy, for indigenous sovereignty, and climate justice, it shows the necessity of bodies that can keep the city in check,” said Gnull. “CASS is not going to stop fighting for a strong Climate Commission, one that will give Tacomans the real political power we need to fight for the future we deserve.”

#TacomaWA #WA #Environment #CASS

Tacoma, WA – Dozens of community members gathered at the Tacoma City Council chambers on Tuesday, December 17, in preparation for the city of Tacoma’s vote to pass the city’s first Climate and Sustainability Commission into law.

“It’s great that the city council is planning to pass an ordinance enshrining the Climate Commission into law, but as it stands there are some serious problems with it,” said Haze Bender, a rank-and-file member of Teamsters Local 174. “As written, the commission is only advisory, has no real power, and all members are appointed, rather than elected.”

“We’ve been here many weeks, and a lot of our members never miss council meetings,” said Catelynn Henion, a local activist with Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS). “I strongly believe that this Climate Commission wouldn’t even be an ordinance here tonight if there weren't so many people that organized for it.”

The city’s public comment section of the meeting opened with a statement calling to delay the vote on the Climate Commission until the language could be updated to match community demands. The comment was met with resounding applause and cheers from the audience. After the applause, Mayor Victoria Woodards said: “During public comment we ask that in these chambers you refrain from cheering after a speaker has spoken.”

One attendee, a letter carrier with the NALC Local 79, Bryce Phillips shouted from his seat: “It’s our constitutional right!”

Mayor Woodards responded, “This is not a back-and-forth. If you want to be respected, then you must respect the rules of this council. If we can’t abide by the rules of the council, then we won’t have public comment tonight.”

Dozens of community members testified in favor of a strong commission and implored the council to delay the vote until the language could be changed. Despite the mayor’s threats, indigenous community members in the audience continued to beat hand drums at the end of supportive comments.

“I have been an educator in Tacoma for over ten years, and the youth are experiencing the worst of pollution, especially in the South End,” said Phil Harty. “The commission must have the ability to veto permits and projects based on consultation with local tribes and preservation of native ecosystems.”

“By empowering a stronger climate commission, Tacoma can address its urgent environmental challenges and improve public health outcomes. Instead of mega warehouses, we should be planting more trees” said Stephanie Reasor. “Tacoma has the lowest tree coverage of any city in western Washington.”

“The climate commission needs to actually be able to protect the environment, but right now it’s just a little band-aid,” said Zipporah Jarmon.

“Systems are designed to produce the outcome that they get, and we are in a climate catastrophe because our system was designed to create it,” said Rachel Ostheller. “Your commission leaves the power in the hands of that very same system, unchecked. Essentially your commission is politely asking the system to do better, but we don’t have the luxury to be polite anymore.”

Despite earlier threats from the mayor, Phillips gave a powerful testimony that resulted in resounding applause from the audience, “There’s a lot of things I like about Tacoma, but let’s be real: this city is known as a toxic waste dump, as the place where the most exploitive, extractive, pollutive garbage goes. It’s treated as a garbage dump by the capitalist class. The toadies on city council say ‘oh hey, put your toxic waste dump here, put your big warehouse here, put your big polluting thing here, our people are poor, are people won’t say anything, this isn’t Seattle, this is Tacoma.’ So I’d like to ask: what kind of legacy do you want to leave? Do you want your legacy to be that we made some feel-good statements?”

Phillips continued, “Or you want your legacy to be that you turned Tacoma around, started to make this into a world-class city, started to make this the beautiful city that it can be, and that you started listening to the residents, to Indigenous people, to labor, and to our communities that are demanding that you put some actually teeth in this legislation and stop playing games.”

After public comment ended and dozens of activists, scientists, indigenous people, and union members testified in favor of a strong climate commission and delaying the vote, the council blazed through the rest of the agenda.

When they reached the vote to adopt the Climate Commission ordinance, it became clear there would be no amendments. Before the city clerk could call the vote, an organizer with CASS, Aife Pasquale, rose from their seat and chanted “Liberate the people!” Dozens more rose from their seats and responded, “Liberate the planet!” The chanting continued as activists moved to the front of city council chambers and linked arms in an attempt to block the vote.

In an unprecedented move, Mayor Woodards insisted the clerk call the vote despite the disruption. Council members had to shout into their microphones in order for their votes to be heard above the chanting community members gathering at the front. The ordinance passed with eight voting yes and a single council member, Jamika Scott of District 3, abstaining. After the vote, Woodards immediately moved to adjourn the meeting.

As council members shuffled out the back door and police lingered at the periphery, the community continued to rally, producing a megaphone and sharing speeches, songs and poems on a variety of issues.

“City council chose to end the meeting early and cancel community forum, so we held our own community forum,” said Gemini Gnull, member of the Osage Nation and organizer with CASS.

Community forum is the section at the end of council meetings where constituents can talk about anything, even if the subject of their comment is not on the agenda.

Addressing the crowd in chambers, Pasquale said, “Our actions are not drawn from thin air, and our demands are not drawn from thin air. We use historic examples from successful movements to guide our actions. We work with elder activists who have put everything on the line to make a better world. We synthesize ideas from the community and represent their felt needs. And then the council silences us! This is repression! The council is too comfortable taking away our rights. When the council ignores us and silences us, we are forced to escalate.”

“It’s incredibly disappointing that despite months of calls, emails, meeting requests and testimony at council, the city pushed through this ordinance unamended,” said Gnull. “But the road to victory is paved with losses, and tonight we showed the power of our community, of the alliance between labor and Black and indigenous people. We showed that the people of Tacoma are ready to fight.”

“I love Tacoma. I was born and raised here. I love the people of Tacoma” said Pasquale. “This is a climate emergency, and we need to act like it. There is no future unless we start fighting.”

#TacomaWA #WA #Environment #ClimateJustice #CASS

Bellevue, WA – On Friday, January 19, a crowd of about 30 people rallied near the Bridge Industrial office in Bellevue to protest the construction of a mega warehouse complex in South Tacoma.

“Bridge Industrial, corrupt and rude! We don’t like your attitude!” and “If you pollute our neighborhoods, we’ll make sure you’re gone for good!” chants echoed through the glossy skyscrapers that surround the company’s office.

Catelynn Henion from Climate Alliance of the South Sound explained the situation saying, “Bridge Industrial is willing to pave over our wetlands, pollute our neighborhoods, and profit off of the city’s dismissal of South Tacoma.”

Members of Climate Alliance of the South Sound, The Conversation 253, 350Tacoma, Black Panther Party of WA, Issaquah Student League, and many other South Sound communities oppose this project due to its racist and destructive nature.

If completed, this mega warehouse complex would pave over 125 acres of park-like green space in a historically red-lined neighborhood, bringing pollution and traffic, and ultimately lower life expectancies in its wake.

After several speeches, the crowd drummed, chanted and marched to the office building and entered the lobby. The chant “Global warming is war, of the rich upon the poor” rang throughout the entire floor as they entered building.

Once inside, another speaker warned about the horrible health impacts of diesel fuel fumes and other air pollutants – pollutants that would be brought with the 10,000-plus additional vehicle trips caused by the mega warehouse if constructed.

The energetic crowd then moved directly to the Bridge Industrial office, located on the second floor, to demand BI cancel the project. However, no one was in the office. Sources on site said it was because BI had learned about this action and canceled their workday.

Talison Crosby from Climate Alliance of the South Sound spoke about the Bridge Industrial office closure, saying, “Our action cost them an entire day of work. That impacts their bottom line – it costs them money. They haven’t listened to our concerns, so we’re making them listen by speaking in the only language they understand – profit.”

Bellevue police arrived at the scene almost as soon as the protesters entered the building, then issued a dispersal order so the crowd moved back outside the building. There, more speakers shared the importance of fighting racist projects like this, and building towards the future they want and deserve.

Bunchy Carter of the Black Panther Party of Washington said, “The reality is, environmental destruction is imperialistic at its core. The resources, and control of them, mean more than the lives of the masses of poor and oppressed people. We demand the cease of planning the construction of these mega warehouses and an immediate redirection of those funds to empower the communities you are attempting to displace.”

The event was closed out by singing, drumming and chanting “We will not let this warehouse pass, Power to the working class!”

As of today, Bridge Industrial has not begun construction, though the city has approved the permits that will allow them to begin building.

Henion shared her feelings surrounding the future of this fight, stating, “Bridge Industrial is terrified when confronted by those it will impact because they know that there is power in people. As long as this warehouse remains a possibility people will stand up and fight it as they have always done in the face of injustice.”

#BellevueWA #TacomaWA #Environment #CASS #Feature

Tacoma, WA – On Sunday, September 17, over 60 people filled Oakland Madrona Park to rally against the mega warehouse complex that’s approved to be built in South Tacoma. The rally had several speakers from the local organizations opposed to the warehouse, and community members, including families who were at the park, gathered around the speakers to have snacks, make art and express their opposition to the warehouse.

This rally is in response to a decision that was made earlier this year. In April, the city of Tacoma approved land use permits filed by real estate company Bridge Industrial to build a mega warehouse at 5024 South Madison Street in Tacoma. Such permits allow for construction on the historically polluted, but currently undeveloped site. This includes paving over 5.4 million square feet of green space and installing over 2 million square feet of warehouses. This space is zoned heavy industrial due to historic usage, but is now surrounded by residential houses, schools and small businesses. The site also sits atop an aquifer, and contains many species of trees, plants and animals.

Organizations at the rally included Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS), 350Tacoma, The Conversation253, Industrial Workers of the World, La Resistencia, and Earth Ministry.

“It is no coincidence that they proposed this warehouse for South Tacoma and not for North End,” CASS member Gemini Gnull pointed out, referring to the wealthier and whiter areas in north Tacoma. “South Tacoma is a historically redlined neighborhood – this is racism plain and simple.”

The city of Tacoma approved land use permits without doing a health impact assessment, and the development goes against many of the rules that the city must follow, such as those laid out in the HEAL Act and Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan. An appeal has been filed to require the health impact assessment, and they are currently awaiting a decision. There is no limit on how long this could take, but they expect a decision by the end of the month.

This approval for land use has many community members concerned about negative health outcomes for their families and the environment.

“The warehouse is going to affect my son’s health, whose lungs are not fully developed,” Black Panther Party member Ovunayo X explained. “There’s definitely that health worry there, and they are not doing the health assessment, which is a horrible thing to not do.”

Many other attendees expressed their desire to preserve the proposed site as a green space.

“I think that our green spaces are very valuable and should be protected,” said community member Rose Stacy, “the earth was here before we were. Once you destroy these areas, it’s not something that can just be recreated, so it’s important to protect them as they are already naturally. Putting a warehouse there is the opposite of what we should be doing.”

After the rally, over 15 people took to the surrounding neighborhood’s streets to knock on doors, hand out literature, and raise awareness about the warehouse. For many Tacoma residents who will be impacted by this project, this is the first time they’re hearing about it.

“The city knows if they tell us about this project, we’re going to oppose it,” Gnull said, explaining why the group was going door to door. “The city and Bridge Industrial aren’t listening to us right now, but we are going to make them listen.”

#TacomaWA #EnvironmentalJustice #CASS