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.

Representative Smith, who claims to oppose Trump’s attacks on Iran, has a track record of voting in favor of every war initiated since entering office in 1997.

“In keeping with this pattern,” wrote Seattle Against War in a press release issued simultaneously with the start of the action, “[Smith] has yet to back up his empty words of opposition with so much as a single piece of action.”

As the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, Representative Smith is a critical player in the approval of military spending, meaning there are real levers of power he holds but does not pull. With the sit-in, SAW emphatically demands that Smith no longer avoid his responsibilities, but put actions behind his empty words and do everything in his power to halt the flow of money to Trump’s war on Iran.

To date, Smith has avoided SAW and refused to address the issues that the group has been bringing to his doorstep.

The United States and Israel’s attack on Iran, which has already cost $31 billion, eats up nearly $12,000 per second.

“The people of the 9th District will not stand idly by while their tax dollars are spent on the slaughtering of others, nor will they let a warmonger like Adam Smith work undisturbed to facilitate it,” said SAW in their press release.

Smith was in Washington D.C. at the time of the sit-in, but SAW members refused to let him off the hook so easily, demanding that his staffers get him on the phone so the group could present him with the following demands:

“Block all spending for Trump’s war on Iran, effective immediately.

“Exercise any and all power held, whether as the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee or as the Representative of Washington’s 9th Congressional District, to end the war on Iran.

“Exercise any and all power held to end the flow of arms to Israel and support an arms embargo.

“Immediately call a hearing for an investigation into U.S. and Israeli war crimes and demand accountability for all responsible.”

Rae Lee, chair of Seattle Against War said, “It is time for Adam Smith to stop talking about opposing Trump and start actually doing it,” adding, “To date, he has not shown himself capable. We demand action and an end to Representative Smith’s continued political and financial support of the illegal war on Iran as well as Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people!”

#SeattleWA #WA #Iran #AntiWarMovement #SitIn #SAW #SeattleAgainstWar #Featured

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.

The emergency protest was called by Seattle Against War (SAW) and supported by Nidal, Haebang, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and Students United for Palestinian Equality & Return (SUPER UW). Originally planned as a rally, the numbers and energy of the crowd prompted the organizers from SAW to reorganize the event into a march, reflecting the widespread popular opposition to this war.

The attack on Iran comes after other acts of aggression by the United States on Cuba and Venezuela. Speaking on behalf of Seattle Against War, Joseph Ostheller stated, “It is our duty here in the belly of the beast to resist every imperialist assault. There is not a single example of U.S. ‘intervention’ improving the situation of anyone, regardless of the complexities of their domestic situation. Our stance against imperialism is firm. It does not come with exclusions. The United States does not and never has deployed its military for humanitarian purposes.”

The Democratic Socialists of America’s speaker, Alex Mayben stated, “Has any country ever benefited from a U.S.-backed regime change? Countless nations destabilized by our country’s criminal actions now litter West Asia, North Africa, and Latin America, from Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, to Libya, Somalia, and Sudan, to Costa Rica and Chile. The script for every U.S. operation is the same: unilateral sanctions, U.S.-sponsored protests, and if that fails, bombing campaigns and regime change.”

The speaker from Haebang Collective told the crowd, “The reality is, we’ve been in a new Cold War, a World War III. Before yesterday’s strike, Iran was already under crippling sanctions. Iran faced escalated military attacks as the U.S. and Israel worked overtime to facilitate a regime change against the sovereign government of Iran, as Iran's sovereignty stands in the way of U.S. imperialism and as Iran aids the Palestinian resistance.” 

A member of Nidal stated, “Since the revolution 47 years ago Iran has been an unwavering champion of the Palestinian cause. They’re the only state in the world that gives support to the Palestinian resistance not just with words or slogans but with weapons.” 

Chet Baughman from FRSO stated, “The despicable U.S. and Israeli bombing that killed elementary school girls today while preaching for decades that Iran is the one attacking women,” with the crowd responding with chants of “Shame!”

Baughman continued: “This is especially despicable as the Epstein files have been coming out and showing that the billionaire class is committing horrific attacks on women for decades.”

Baughman concluded, “What must be done? We must build a revolutionary movement. A movement that unites the many against the few.”

After the speeches finished, the crowd marched through Seattle’s downtown area, blocking traffic before returning triumphantly to Pike Place Market.

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Iran #SAW

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.

Jeremiah Baxter, speaking for Seattle Against War, pointed out that “even if we accept the empire’s propaganda and lies, claiming that Maduro is a dictator and a dozen other claims we’ve heard before, the massacre on January 3 was still a massacre and an absolute violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. The kidnapping of Maduro and Cilia was and is still an absolute violation of international law.”

Branch Chair of the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR) Jonathan Toledo stated, “Whether it is in Venezuela, Mexico, or the Chicano Nation of Aztlán, the imperialist United States is trying to use military force to exert racist and political repression to subjugate the nation’s right to determine its own decisions, the right of the working class to be able to organize and have fair working conditions, and to extract and steal resources.”

The speaker from the International League of People’s Struggle said, “Another invasion means more profit, it means more resources for the billionaires, not for the people. We have seen this throughout history, war was never about defending the country. It was about the oil, the mining projects, the land, the profit that can be made off the war.”

“The only people that profit, the only people that enjoy war, the only people who win at war are the billionaires,” said Mike Fraser, a local musician who led the crowd in a chorus of All You Fascists Bound to Lose in between speeches.

The program closed out with speakers urging attendees to take the next step and get organized. “Until our demands are met, we will continue escalating,” said Rae Lee, chair of Seattle Against War. “Whatever skills you bring, I promise you there is a home for you in the movement. Join an organization, and discover that when we take collective action, the helplessness goes away. The people, united, will never be defeated!”

Baxter echoed this call in his speech: “Showing up is step one. Step two is getting organized. Trump and his regime — the real dictators — they know that we have the power. They know that people power is stronger than any weapon they have. That’s why they use every trick in their bag of tricks to try to shut us down. That’s why they sic the National Guard on cities that don’t comply. That’s why Trump is threatening to invoke the insurrection act to put down the protests in Minnesota. That’s why Trump’s regime is throwing Mahmoud Khalil back in jail for speaking out. They want to make examples of us before we become so strong that there’s nothing they can do to stop us.”

“They are desperate,” Baxter concluded. “They are afraid because they know we can win. I believe that we will win.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #SAW #ILPS

The meeting offered insight into the risks, motivation, and political stakes of the delegation’s solidarity work, situating their action within a broader struggle to defend sovereignty against escalating U.S. aggression in the region.

The reportback featured Izzy McCabe from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), and Rae Lee from Seattle Against War (SAW), both of whom were members of the December delegation. They described traveling to Venezuela and attending the People’s Assembly for Peace and Sovereignty, where large-scale and grassroots movements from around the world.

Lee stated, “Right now, Venezuelans are building their capacity to withstand U.S. imperialism through community.”

McCabe told the crowd, “The U.S. aggressions and increasing U.S. presence in the Caribbean and Pacific are a way to divide Latin American countries by sowing confusion through propaganda.”

McCabe continued, “It is our duty as members of the imperial core to stand in solidarity with all peoples facing imperialist aggression.”

Lee also reflected on the importance of international solidarity stating, “We were there to learn and get new perspectives from all over the world.” Attendees engaged in discussion, asking questions about sustaining work and linking local struggles to global movements.

After the reportback, activists and community members took their message to the street, gathering at Othello Station for a rally against U.S. intervention in Venezuela. The protest drew a large crowd, reflecting the widespread outrage over the latest U.S. military rampage and the continued threat to sovereignty faced by people in Venezuela.

At the rally, participants carried signs, hung banners reading “Hands off Venezuela” and chanted “¡Trump, escucha, estamos en la lucha!” Speakers connected struggles across Latin America to local organizing efforts in Seattle, emphasizing that U.S. military aggression abroad has direct economic and political consequences for working-class communities at home. The atmosphere was energized and resolute, with attendees chanting together, exchanging information, and committing to continued action.

Meredith Ruff, a member of SAW, stated, “The purpose of our military action is to maintain U.S. interests, which just so happens to be completely aligned with the interests of U.S. corporations and the billionaire class.”

Together, the reportback and rally demonstrated a growing commitment among Seattle activists to oppose U.S. imperialism and build solidarity with people resisting that aggression worldwide.

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #SAW

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.

The event began as a press conference where SAARPR Branch Chair Jonathan Toledo laid out the four people’s demands: an immediate end to ICE raids in our cities; an immediate end to the mass deportations and terrorization of immigrant communities; full justice and accountability for the murder of Renee Nicole Good, and the immediate release of the name of the ICE agent who murdered her, along with the names of all ICE agents terrorizing communities across the country. Toledo continued, “They should not be able to hide! This is unacceptable! This needs to be stopped!”

The press conference quickly took on mass rally proportions as the crowd grew to 300 people. Other speakers spoke in solidarity with the demands. Many demanded full transparency not only of ICE agents but of Seattle PD, who murdered Jack Palelei and Christian Nelson within two months of each other just last year.

Ray Mitchell with Students for a Democratic Society at UW (SDS) spoke about the University of Washington, which “brands itself as a progressive university [but] has refused to do anything about ICE on campus. They told students that if they see ICE, the solution is to call the cops. When I spoke personally to UW President Robert Jones and told him international students on campus felt unsafe, he flat-out refused to make a statement to reassure them. Shame!”

Nolan Good, who spoke on behalf SAW stated, “When we see videos of armed vehicles rolling into neighborhoods, when we see Chinook helicopters fly across the sky, and when we see heavily armed foot soldiers murder people in broad daylight in front of cameras with complete impunity, we know that in Seattle and in Minneapolis and cities across the country, that the very same officers and agents that are killing the people of America on the streets are being trained by the people who are killing Palestinians.”

The growing size and energy of the crowd prompted the organizers to lead the group to take the streets of downtown Seattle and march, occupying the full breadth of the four-lane roads. At every turn, organizers led the crowd in chants of “Say her name! Renee Nicole Good!” Seattle PD blocked adjoining streets but kept their distance from the crowd, whose energy and determination far exceeded their own.

A member of Nidal, a Palestinian organization, echoed the fighting power of the people’s struggle, “When one of the occupation kills us through martyrdom, what we’ve seen today in Minneapolis, that doesn’t mean our movement dies, we keep fighting!” La lucha sigue!

#SeattleWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #InJusticeSystem #KillerICE #KIllerCops #SAW #SAARPR #SDS

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).

Rae Lee from Seattle Against War opened the program condemning the bombings and kidnapping of Maduro as criminal acts. They went on to describe the similarities between the U.S. war on Iraq and the attacks on Palestinian people, both motivated by oil. Lee described their recent visit to Venezuela, where they visited communities governed by locally elected councils and exercising autonomy in local governance, a far cry from the U.S. media description of a dictatorship. Lee then led the crowd in chants calling for “No U.S. war on Venezuela!” and to “Free President Maduro!”

A member of bil-Yad, a local Palestinian solidarity organization told the crowd, “Imperialist powers demand that the oppressed hand over their land and resources, and that the oppressed should just accept whatever crumbs are left over after the oil and resources are taken, after the environment is destroyed, and after the people are reduced to landless and impoverished masses.”

“It’s not about drugs, it’s about the oil! U.S. off Venezuelan soil!” chanted Mary Paterson from 350 Seattle, who condemned the attacks as a clear imperialist power play for U.S. interests in Venezuelan oil. She highlighted the need for environmental-focused organizations to oppose U.S. imperialist interests and stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela, Palestine and the Philippines.

Representing the National Lawyers Guild, Marti Schmidt stated, “U.S. violations affect the entire international legal system, undermining respect for the U.S., causing fear and chaos, and spawning disinclination to rely on law.”

A Venezuelan immigrant member of Comunidad Sin Fronteras and Capybara Colectiva said, “The people who are best suited to control the future of Venezuela are the Venezuelan people themselves!” She went on to condemn the longstanding U.S. sanctions against Venezuela that has caused thousands of Venezuelan immigrants to migrate to Washington state where they’ve been forced at times to live in horrific and inhumane conditions made worse by the cuts to social security.

“This is the most unpopular war in U.S. history; over 70% of Americans do not want this,” said Izzy McCabe, a member of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, “But we live in a dying empire, ruled by decaying pedophiles who march step over step towards their own graves, and as they realize their reign is coming to an end they flail, they kick, they scream in a desperate attempt to take the whole world with them.”

Describing having met community leaders in communes on her recent trip to Venezuela, McCabe said, “they have created real people power, participatory democracy, social programs, communes, neighborhood assemblies. In Venezuela the people rule, and for that the United States has declared them an existential threat.”

McCabe continued “When we fight we are not just fighting against a single war, we are fighting for the environment, we are fighting for freedom for immigrants, we are fighting for the national liberation of Black and Chicano Americans, we are fighting for indigenous sovereignty. And in this fight, it is important that we unite around action. In the Freedom Road Socialist Organization our strategy is to build the broadest possible united front against our common enemy.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #SAW #ILPS #VFP #BAYAN #FRSO

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.

The event, organized by Seattle Against War (SAW), About Face, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), was held in response to a national call to action by the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN) and other organizations. Demonstrators demanded, “No U.S. intervention in Venezuela! Stop the missile attacks on boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific!”

This protest comes as the U.S. conducted its 20th strike on maritime vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. Since September 2, an estimated 80 people have been killed in these strikes. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have attempted to justify the attacks by labeling the targeted boats “narco-terrorist vessels,” a claim protesters say is completely baseless and serves only to legitimize U.S. imperialism.

Jeremiah Baxter, a member of the FRSO, said, “The U.S. military has already murdered 80 people that we know of in the Caribbean and Pacific. Each time, they claimed their victims were trafficking drugs, but they have not shown a shred of evidence that this was the case.”

These attacks, activists argued, are not isolated incidents but part of a long pattern of U.S. imperialism in Latin America. By framing ordinary maritime vessels as “narco-terrorist” threats, Washington is manufacturing a pretext for military intervention and expanding its control over the region. Baxter added, “If we let the Trump regime get away with this, they’ll keep pushing to see what else they can get away with. We won’t allow Trump to do to Venezuela what Obama did to Libya or Bush did to Iraq.”

Protesters stressed that U.S. imperialism abroad directly fuels the migration crisis at home. By bombing, sanctioning and destabilizing countries like Venezuela, the U.S. creates the conditions that force people to leave, then criminalizes their attempts to seek safety in the United States.

June Mateos, a local member of SAW, said, “As a child of immigrants, I have seen this cycle with Mexico, Honduras, and so many other Latin countries, and we see this same cycle happening now with Venezuela.”

Organizers emphasized that fighting U.S. intervention abroad and defending immigrants’ rights at home are inseparable struggles. Mateos added, “We cannot oppose U.S. militarism in Latin America while turning our backs on the people it forces to flee their homes. Standing with migrants and refugees is part of standing against imperialism.”

The banner drop, chants and speeches served as visible reminders that local activism can challenge U.S. policies and build networks of support for communities affected by U.S. aggression. The representative from ILPS (International League of Peoples’ Struggles) said, “As people inside the imperial core, it is our duty to fight against U.S. imperialism.” As the banner waved above the overpass, activists also chanted, “¡Trump escucha, estamos en la lucha!”

The event was followed by a teach-in on November 16, hosted by SAW, FRSO Seattle, About Face, and Veterans for Peace. Activists encouraged participants to stay engaged in Venezuela and anti-imperialism actions in the coming weeks. Click here for more information on local protests.

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #SAW #AWAN

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.

“Adam Smith, you can't hide; we charge you with genocide” and “Adam Smith look in the mirror, you're a war profiteer” were just a few chants that Smith’s staffers and passersby heard between speeches from SAW members and community members as they entered and exited the building.

SAW member Makayla Heaps-Smith, speaking in the pouring rain, denounced Smith’s inaction, saying, “Adam Smith has shown to be nothing more than a meek coward who hides behind different walls so he cannot be held accountable for his crimes and complicity, and we say that ends now.”

Another member of SAW, Colleen Bell, added in her speech that “Palestinians aren’t just numbers. They’re human beings with hopes, dreams and a deep connection to their ancestral lands. They have as much right to a life of freedom and peace as the rest of us. Yet, our government continues to dehumanize them and call them terrorists when they resist their oppressors.”

SAW’s petition demands that Smith use his position in Congress and as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee to push for a real arms embargo against Israel. In particular, Smith is called upon to take three specific actions: first, to publicly support and co-sponsor all existing legislation which halts or restricts the flow of arms to Israel, such as HR 3565; second, to propose new legislation that halts or restricts the flow of arms to Israel in the case that there is no outstanding legislation to that effect currently on the table; and third, to publicly call for an end to all military aid to Israel.

Members of SAW went inside to present Representative Smith with the petition, but he and his staff had already fled the building. The sign on their window that once read, “We are open to serve constituents of the 9th District,” had been hastily torn down.

SAW’s overall campaign is aimed at pressuring Adam Smith to listen to his constituents and take action to put a stop to U.S. funding of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Smith has issued multiple press releases throughout his career stating concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but has issued even more urging Washington state to favor Boeing — the tenth largest contributor to Smith’s 2024 campaign — with tax credits to keep them operating in his district. There is a Boeing manufacturing site just across the street from Smith’s office, facilities where the very weapons that kill children in Gaza are built. They are designed in schools including the University of Washington with technology donated by Boeing.

On September 6, 2024, UW alum Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was shot and killed by the IDF in the West Bank while protecting Palestinian farmers and their olive harvest. Surveillance systems that track Palestinians’ every move are created at companies like Palantir, Smith’s third highest campaign contributor.

Smith has a voice in the legislature and proximity to the highest-ranking U.S. government officials, providing him ample opportunity to present legislation like that called for in SAW’s petition, which is co-signed by Veterans for Peace and Seattle Democratic Socialists of America.

With the launch of its “Arms Embargo Now” campaign, Seattle Against War has shown that they will not rest until the United States war machine is smashed for good. SAW members have made it clear that Adam Smith must either face the music and defy his donors, or he will continue to face a relentless people’s campaign.

#KentWA #SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #SAW #Palestine

Seattle, WA – On October 18, a crowd of 90,000 turned out for No Kings Day 2.0 at Seattle Center to protest the growing list of attacks by the Trump administration. They demanded immigrant rights, police accountability, and stops to U.S. war and intervention abroad, attacks on federal workers, social programs and services, as well as people’s basic rights to bodily autonomy and access to medical care.

In addition to the broadly anti-Trump messaging of Seattle’s No Kings protest, organizers with grassroots community organizations like UW Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), and Seattle Against War (SAW), along with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, joined together with other pro-Palestine organizations and activists to bring a loud and militant Palestine contingent comprising one of the more disciplined and serious sections of the march.

“Showing up here with the Palestine contingent means being visible and being defiant,” said Bria Lewis, a member of UW SDS. “So many people in power try to shut down a movement condemning the genocide of the Palestinian people by claiming it’s antisemitic to call it what it is. I don’t have family in Europe now because they were all killed 80 years ago. I can’t think of anything more antisemitic than causing unfathomable suffering on a large scale and claiming this is what the monolith of Jewish people believe in.”

A major achievement of the movement for Palestine in Seattle was securing a speaking spot for Palestinian activist Tariq Ra’ouf, who brought a sharp anti-genocide message to the 90,000-strong crowd stating “We all know that Trump is a liar, right? But what if I told you that it’s not just Trump who’s been lying to you? It’s not just the MAGA fanatics and the Republicans who’ve been supporting them.”

Ra’ouf continued, “When people across both sides of the aisle couldn’t admit that what was happening in Gaza was a genocide, and as I lost family member after family member after family member, the last of which was killed last week, I realized that I was being lied to not just by Trump, but by Democrats who were guilty of being paid by Israel to keep sending them more bombs!”

The Palestinian speaker and solid block of marchers waving Palestine flags represented a major shift in the prevalence of pro-Palestine messaging compared to the first No Kings event earlier this year. The change speaks to the tireless efforts of anti-war organizers and activists to build and sustain Seattle’s mass movement for Palestinian liberation and an end to the U.S.-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Once the march got underway, chant leads from Seattle Against War led the Palestine contingent through the streets of downtown Seattle with a nonstop chorus of chants in Arabic and English, including “When Palestine is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” and “Not another penny, not another dime! No troops in Venezuela, no bombs in Palestine!”

The contingent also loudly declared resistance to any future national guard deployment to Seattle with chants of “No Trump! No troops! Seattle isn’t licking boots!” UW SDS has preemptively called for an emergency response action in the case that the National Guard is sent to Seattle. The action will be at Federal District Court, 700 Stewart Street at 6 p.m. the day after such a deployment.

Ra’ouf’s speech drew a clear connection between these seemingly separate struggles. “You are the one that has the power in this world,” he concluded. “Not our politicians, not the National Guard, not our police. You are the one capable of telling them what is and isn’t acceptable. It is your labor that keeps the status quo going. So join your community to protest in front of the ICE facilities to prevent people from getting kidnapped. Join the Palestinian protests to send a message that our money should be spent on us, not on Israel. It’s time the world understands that when we say free Palestine, we want a free and better world for all of us.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #NoKings #SAW