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

Recent escalations to the unilateral sanctions on Cuba by the U.S. are not only violations of international law but represent the dying gasps of an empire no longer able to achieve its imperial aims through “soft power.” Cuba may pose no material danger to the United States, but its successful socialist revolution, refusal to bend a knee, and continued humanitarian support and solidarity to sovereign nations under similar threat from the U.S. empire – Venezuela is only one example – makes it an ideological threat to a state that relies on a lie: that the only viable way of life is under capitalism.

Che: Un Hombre Nuevo (2010), a film by Tristán Bauer, shows the thoughts of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the doctor-turned-revolutionary born in Argentina who became one of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro’s most trusted comrades-in-arms during Cuba’s revolutionary struggle.

In this documentary, which took 12 years to come together, viewers are able to understand the day-to-day of revolutionary struggle, the hardships of training, the material support of the rural peasants; incredible strides made post-revolution through literacy campaigns and carefully planned industrialization; the personal sacrifices of those who serve the revolution, just to name a few details – through private archives, letters and recordings. These powerful footages and narrative dispel the propaganda of the U.S. empire that aim to delegitimize the socialist revolution to manufacture consent for imperialism’s unilaterally imposed sanctions which kill thousands through what is effectively a modern-day siege.

Beyond the informative aspects of the documentary, the brave struggle of the people who fought to liberate Cuba from the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista serves as an inspiration to all those who fight for liberation today. As Che himself says, “The eagerness to sacrifice a life for the good of the noble ideals is useless if it is a one-man effort. To start a revolution, you need the people mobilized as a whole.”

After the documentary, a panel that included Nolan Good, a member of FRSO Seattle who was on the 2025 May Day Brigade, and Cindy Domingo, a labor leader and activist who has visited Cuba regularly since the 90s, answered questions from the audience about daily life in Cuba.

Cuba’s revolution is threatened by tightening U.S. sanctions designed to force regime change on the country. Now more than ever all progressive people should stand up and say “Hands off Cuba! End the blockade now! ¡Cuba sí! ¡Bloqueo no!”

#SeattleWA #International #Cuba #AntiWarMovement #Blockade

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

The march came after a rally and vigil organized by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist Political Repression (SAARPR), Seattle Against War (SAW), Defund Musk, the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS), The Defend Migrants Alliance, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Indivisible Seattle, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO).

On the morning of January 24, Seattleites woke up to a host of disturbing videos showing the public execution of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents with United States Border Patrol (USBP) in broad daylight. The obvious criminality of the act shocked all who witnessed it, and Seattle activists wasted no time calling for a public demonstration in opposition to continued federal attacks on the people.

The organizations chose to rally at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building because it is the seat of federal power in Seattle, and the most obvious target for the people of Seattle to make a statement to the U.S. government that they will be held accountable. By 5:30 p.m. the crowd was several hundred strong and people were chanting “Justice for Alex Pretti” and “ICE out of Seattle.”

To open the rally program, AJ Daniels, a new member of SAARPR, said that this rally and vigil was a reaction to the unjustified killing of Alex Pretti, who should be an inspiration for all people wishing to express solidarity with nationally oppressed people in the face of targeted government violence.

“The will of the people does not stop,” said Jonathan Toledo, branch chair of SAARPR, as he gave a speech sharing his indignation at the targeted attacks on the Chicano people, Central and South American immigrants, Somali immigrants, and others.

A speaker from BAYAN Seattle spoke for the Defend Migrants Alliance, sharing stories from the Northwest Detention Center, where a person suffered severe medical neglect at the hands of the GEO group, leading to the amputation of his toe and severe heart problems. He said that the situation of Filipino migrants is deeply related to the imperialist exploitation of the country at the hands of the United States, which causes waves of forced migration from the Philippines to serve as a cheap and easily exploitable labor force around the world.

A highlight of the program was a speech from Nolan Good, speaking for the FRSO, who with great emotion shared the story of a five-year-old recently detained by ICE and shared how, as an early child educator, he was moved to tears at the thought of the five-year-old children he cares for on a daily basis facing that experience. Good made a strong call to get organized and take up the call for revolution. “When the people come together and act as one, there is no amount of police or ICE agents, no matter how well armed or institutionally protected, that can stand in the way of the people’s will!”

#SeattleWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #AlexPretti #KillerICE

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

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

Members of the Seattle Alliance had presented the Seattle city council with a list of demands, including refusal of any and all cooperation with ICE, and an end to the Seattle Police Department's expanding surveillance system – invasive surveillance cameras which community members previously spoke out against due to the potential for them to be accessed by ICE if requested.

Public commenters spoke out in favor of the demands. Kevin Rosewood, a local educator stated “As a teacher, my main goal is keeping the kids I work with safe. When the council says we are a sanctuary city, I feel like that's just lip service when I see ICE coming and taking people from our communities,”

Rosewood continued, “I'm tired of living in fear that one day my classroom will be raided, and I want you to live up to the promise that Seattle is a sanctuary city.”

Protesters echoed the demands, chanting “We want safety, we'll tell you how! Defend our sanctuary city now!”

“To all of you who didn't sign on to our demands, I say: ‘What are you doing?’” said Jonathan Toledo, branch chair of the Seattle Alliance. “While our streets are being terrorized by ICE, we're hearing nothing from you. You sit up there and don't interact with the people who make up our communities. We want ICE out of Seattle, and if the next words after my comment aren't addressing this, we won't be happy.”

Chants of “ICE out of Seattle!” after this statement drowned out Council President Joy Hollingsworth's next words and forced the council to call a recess where a meeting was arranged.

Hollingsworth initially claimed that the council had reviewed the Alliance's demands. During the meeting it was revealed that only one progressive council member had actually read them, and as such they could not sign on to it. Protesters and community members then left the chambers chanting “We'll be back!”

#SeattleWA #WA #ImmigrantRights #ICE #SAARPR

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

The conversation quickly turned to the everyday realities facing Seattle workers. People shared openly about bureaucratic roadblocks, employer intimidation, and the urgent need for democratic organizing on the shop floor.

Clio Jensen, a FRSO member, described Burns’ book as “an important read for those of us in the labor movement. It goes beyond what our existing unions can do today.”

Attendees stressed that class-struggle unionism isn’t just theoretical, it is a practical tool. With stagnant wages, rising living costs, and contract violations affecting many workplaces, reading and sharing Burns’ analysis gives rank-and-file members the knowledge and strategies they need to organize effectively. Engaging with these ideas turns frustration into collective action and strengthens worker solidarity.

Burns reminded the room that real change comes from workers themselves, not top union officials. He pointed to historic labor battles where rank-and-file action, cross-workplace solidarity, and strategic disruption won major victories. Attendees connected these lessons to their own workplaces in Seattle, where struggles over wages, staffing and contract enforcement demand proactive, coordinated action. Virgilio Goze, a USPS worker and FRSO member, highlighted the limits federal employees face: “As federal workers, it still isn’t even legal for us to strike, despite being unionized.”

The challenges faced by federal workers echo a broader national pattern. Across the country, millions of public-sector employees are barred from striking, limited in bargaining rights, or forced to navigate legal restrictions designed to weaken collective action. Seattle workers noted that these constraints don’t just affect federal workplaces; they shape the entire labor terrain of the region, where large sectors like healthcare, transportation, and logistics are tied to federal regulations or federal funding.

Participants emphasized that the repression of federal workers’ rights is a deliberate strategy by the state to contain worker militancy, making it even more important for labor organizing to spread across sectors. To many in the room, it underscored why building a fighting labor movement requires solidarity across workplaces, industries and legal categories, especially when the law itself is used as a weapon against worker action.

Throughout the event, participants emphasized that simply learning and discussing these ideas is a form of organizing. Workers shared experiences from their shop floors and discussed the need for workplace committees as well as cross-union networks. Burns warned, “Without rank-and-file organization, the union becomes a bargaining tool for management. Dan Howes, a local union member, added, “The rank and file need to be leading our unions.”

Burns concluded, “Unions today are weak because they have abandoned class-struggle politics. But if we rebuild unions around those fundamentals, we create strong, lasting unions capable of real change.” He urged workers not to wait for change to trickle down from union leadership or government policy but to take initiative in their own workplaces, educate coworkers, and build networks of solidarity across industries. Attendees agreed that the challenges Seattle workers face demand more than passive participation; they require organized resistance.

For Burns and the people in the room, the direction was unmistakable – a labor movement grounded in class struggle, led by the rank and file, and committed to confronting corporate power head on is the only way to achieve lasting change.

#SeattleWA #WA #Labor

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

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

The rally, organized by local groups led by the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (SAARPR), aimed to respond to community concerns over recurring police violence, particularly towards Black community members.

Speakers at the rally shared personal experiences and emphasized the need for collective action, uniting attendees around demands for accountability.

“The reason why they [SPD] do this is because these cops are out here to serve as an occupying force,” said Jonathan Toledo, branch chair of SAARPR.

Police said the man shot was allegedly holding a handgun, but neighbors challenge this narrative, showing community skepticism about the authorities' version of events.

A neighbor, who joined spontaneously on the mic, shared, “They killed a Black man, he was homeless, he had mental health issues, and he lived in the park in this neighborhood for a long time. And because he was poor, he was Black, he had mental health issues, his life didn’t matter.” They later continued, “The police serve the wealthy and those who have money and property.”

A worker from Cafe Red said, “A life has been taken. It was police violence.”

Another neighbor in the area, shared, “They do it so they can oppress the Black community.” He later added, “SPD Chief Shon Barnes once again lied and said the man had a gun and that police had no choice but to kill him, but we were talking to witnesses, and they said there weren’t any warnings; the cops escalated instead of de-escalating. That doesn't sound right. Not only did the cops kill this man, but they also endangered this entire neighborhood,” pointing to the nearby building where stray police bullets broke windows and even injured a civilian. Witnesses counted over 24 bullet casings at the scene.

This latest killing occurred only 90 days after federal oversight through the Consent Decree was lifted, closely following the killing of Jack Palelei.

The 2012 Settlement Agreement between Seattle and the U.S. Department of Justice, known as the “Consent Decree,” required city of Seattle to implement reforms to ensure police services comply with the Constitution, ensure public trust and promote confidence.

Emijah Smith, member of the community and a speaker at rally, said, “We have to address the issue here: a person’s life is now gone. A murder. The police were called because someone was having a concern. We don't know all the details, and we’re asking for the release of the details.” Smith later added, “Our people are dying, our people are suffering, and now y’all are too. Do not accept this. Call for action, hold them accountable, ask for the resources.”

The rally uplifted SAARPR’s call for a Community Police Accountability Council (ComPAC), already in practice in Chicago, highlighting the effectiveness of community organizing.

Other organizations, including Seattle Against War, attended the rally to support demands for transparency and justice: full release of bodycam footage, officer names and the victim’s identity.

Clio Jensen from Seattle Against War spoke told the crowd, “The country that we live in is violent, and it perpetuates violence overseas. The Seattle police department trained with the IDF. When George Floyd was killed in 2020 with a knee on his neck, where do you think Minneapolis Police officers learned that technique? By working with the IDF. By giving the IDF tools that the U.S. uses to oppress its own citizens, non-citizens, and to turn it against the Palestinian people who’ve lived more than 75 years of apartheid and a current genocide.”

The rally concluded around 7 p.m., with community members placing flowers and lighting candles in a moment of collective mourning and solidarity.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #KillerCops #SAARPR #NAARPR

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

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

The press conference comes as a response to the conflicted reporting by SPD. On the day of the killing, SPD reported that the officers involved shot the man, and that he was armed with an “edged weapon, potentially an axe.” Later in the evening, the King County Sheriff’s Office, which is responsible for the investigation, stated that the victim had a firearm, and that he “produced a firearm” during the shooting.

“Why is it that we only hear a day after this killing that the victim had a gun?” commented Jonathan Toledo, the branch chair of SAARPR. “Was it because they didn’t know about the gun because he didn’t pull it out? We would love to give SPD the benefit of the doubt, but we cannot, because they have proven themselves to be untrustworthy.”

The Seattle Police Department has a history of shooting Black or brown people for holding an “edged weapon.” Referring to the case of Terry Caver, a Black man killed in May 2020 under a minute after making contact with the police, Toledo continued, “This isn’t just Terry Caver and today. The history goes back decades. Herbert Hightower Jr., John T. Williams, Urban Seay – I have an issue with our Seattle Police Department having such a reputation for shooting and killing Black and brown people armed with kitchen knives that it’s considered suicide.”

SPD recently exited the Federal Consent Decree, established in 2012 after the police killing of John T. Williams, a Native American wood carver. Williams was holding a closed carving knife. Ian Birk, the officer who killed Williams, resigned one year later. Following an investigation by the Department of Justice, SPD was placed under a Consent Decree that required it to conform to constitutional policing practices.

In September 2025, after 13 years under the consent decree, Seattle successfully petitioned the court to lift the restrictions, citing a “comprehensive transformation,” and “one of the strongest accountability systems in the country.” Despite this, many of the same issues with SPD faced by people living in Seattle are still a reality today.

“We know they won't hold themselves accountable. We have many, many police officers with a long track record of shootings. The story being created is that they needed to subdue this person with a blade, but we need to see the footage, and know which officers were involved in the shooting. We deserve to know who is responsible.”

The Seattle Alliance is demanding that SPD immediately release the names of the officers involved, as well as all dashcam and body-worn video of the shooting.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #SAARPR #NAARPR

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

Seattle, WA – On October 12, anti-war and immigrant rights organizers in Seattle gathered with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) to answer the Anti-War Action Network’s (AWAN) call for protests against the escalation in U.S. aggression against Venezuela. A small crowd assembled in front of the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building to show solidarity with the Venezuela and demand to keep that country free from U.S. intervention.

The program opened with a speech from Seattle Against War (SAW) member Izzy McCabe, who stated, “We understand that the same system bombing fisher people in the Caribbean is bombing Palestinians; that the same system that steals Palestinian land wants to steal Venezuelan land too; that they call Venezuela a dictatorship to be liberated in the same way they call the Palestinian resistance terrorists from which the Palestinian people must be ‘saved.’ We know all too well that every accusation from our rulers is a confession.”

“When we hear the U.S. say that Venezuela is our enemy, we say ‘I don't think so!’” said Robert Engel, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization speaker. “When the U.S. tells us Venezuela is trafficking drugs and is a narco-terrorists state, when even the UN will tell you Venezuela has no large-scale drug trafficking or drug production whatsoever, we say, ‘I'm not stupid!’ When the United States accuses the Venezuelan state of punishing their political opponents, or unlawful detention or human rights abuses, we say, ‘Look who's talking!’ The same U.S. empire that put a two-million-dollar bounty on Assata Shakur’s head. The Supreme Court that just legalized the racial profiling of Chicanos. The same U.S. that let the police department bomb its own people in Philadelphia in 1985. Jails that hold more people than any country in the world. Guess what? We don't trust you!”

The violence towards Venezuela is not limited to missile strikes on fishing boats. Immigrants, especially Venezuelans, within the U.S. face targeted anti-immigration terror from the Trump administration.

The speaker from the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) related the story of a Venezuelan immigrant named José, stating, “After mobilizing with ILPS after the election, José was picked up by ICE, where he was sent to Texas. In February we found he was deported to Guantánamo Bay. Guantánamo Bay is an illegal U.S. base in occupied Cuban territory, infamous for the human rights violations perpetrated there.” The speaker continued: “To torture a father separated from his family, it is everyday violence of the system. We continue to fight alongside him and alongside all those who have been displaced by the violence caused by imperialism. Amidst Trump’s attacks the mass movement of migrants is rising up and fighting back.”

Another personal connection to the disastrous outcomes of U.S. foreign military intervention was related by a member of Seattle Democratic Socialists of America, who said, “When my Colombian grandparents were alive, they lived through U.S.-sponsored civil war that left the country torn and bloody. This kind of violence and repression is what we expected and continue to expect to see from the United States.”

President Donald Trump has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to begin secret operations in Venezuelan territory with the ultimate goal of regime change.

“We need to take this seriously,” said FRSO member Jeremiah Baxter after the event. “U.S. aggression against Venezuela isn’t just an anti-war issue; it’s also an immigrant rights issue. We can build a strong united front to make sure this doesn’t go the way it did in Iraq and Libya. We’re stronger together, and when we fight, we win.”

The rally was endorsed the Palestinian organization Nidal, which added their voices and numbers to condemn the threatened U.S. intervention against Venezuela. Closing out the programming for the event, a member of Nidal gave a speech: “We recognize our struggle is intertwined with the struggle of oppressed people around the world, and that includes steadfast Venezuela that has resisted the invasive tentacles of empire. We don't need to wait for the mass killings of Venezuelan civilians; we don't need to wait for forced displacement. Together we can free us all.”

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

Seattle, WA – Hundreds marched for Indigenous People’s Day on October 13, this year marking the city of Seattle’s first recognition of the holiday. Starting at the city’s Henry M. Jackson Federal Building where immigration hearings are held, drummers of all ages led marchers through the streets of downtown Seattle, ending at Pike Place’s Indian Park.

Grief and pride resonated through the march, as ICE kidnappings, the genocide in Palestine, and missing and murdered indigenous peoples were mourned and honored through continued resistance.

Dakota Case, member of the Puyallup Tribe Water Warriors, spoke to the vital importance of Indigenous People’s Day. “It’s actually a step toward fighting colonialism. Stepping up and saying we're taking over a day that a white dude showed up on our land and said that he found us when there were already a 100 million people living here by that time. I mean we were already metalworking; we were already advanced. And the Spanish influenza and everything that came with the invaders nearly knocked us out. So this is the step in the direction of finally defeating colonialism and actually saying, ‘this is our territory,’ and what enforcing our sovereignty actually means.”

The event highlighted solidarity among national liberation movements. Black, Chicano,and indigenous oppressed nationalities united to uplift each other's struggles. Ovunayo X of the Black Panther Party of Washington expressed the need for multinational solidarity, stating, “Our struggle is a mutual interwoven survival for Black, Brown, indigenous, Caribbea, and other oppressed peoples. And we will have our liberation. All power to the people by any means necessary.”

Sol Jesus Ozuna, member of Climate Alliance of the South Sound (CASS) and Tacoma DSA, stated, “Today we not only commemorate our indigenous siblings from the past, we gather to ignite the new generations of warriors. This administration of colonizers continues to take what does not belong to them. Even with the removal of Indigenous Peoples Day from federal calendars, we show up in sovereignty. Loud, fearless, and very much a living, united force. Unwilling to see these lands and our siblings being erased and mistreated. Always grateful for the continued generosity offered. May we all continue to honor, protect, and learn from the indigenous people of these lands.”

#SeattleWA #WA #OppressedNationalities #IndigenousPeoples

Seattle, WA – On Wednesday, October 8, the Seattle Public School Board voted 5-2 to reject bringing cops into Garfield High School halls and classrooms. The school board was considering assigning a Seattle Police Department officer to Garfield High School for a one-year pilot program.

The Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression organized with Seattle students and parents to demand no cops in classrooms. This was in reference to part of the proposal which included cops teaching students in classrooms about multiple topics, including students’ “legal rights when engaging with law enforcement.”

At the board meeting, Garfield High School parents spoke up powerfully against the proposal. Emijah Smith, a Black mother and Garfield alumna, said, “Families appreciate having them [cops] on the campus and around but don’t bring them into school when you know we are working on the prison pipeline. You know that’s the cause that’s going to send our kids to prison.”

Amanda Thornewell shared how “the school leaders [used] the police to stop my son from talking about swim team hazing.” She added, “this was the message that my son received from the SRO [school resource officer] and the Garfield leaders: we want you to stop talking. It’s not in your best interest. You will be expelled.”

The Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression branch chair Johnathan Toledo stated, “I’m directly opposed to this SEO pilot program because, as it stands, it does not let students, faculty and parents have control of what officer will be selected, and it doesn’t let students, faculty and parents to decide whether they want to continue or terminate the program.”

Toledo uplifted the demand for community control of the police, stating, “Don’t use the death of Amarr Murphy-Paine as an excuse to put cops in schools in direct contact with students and not give the students, faculty and parents to have any control over what they can and can’t do.”

This vote came after months of organizing and advocacy by the Seattle Alliance, including collaborating with the progressive pro-education Keep Your Promise Coalition, which includes the Seattle Student Union and Seattle Education Association, the Garfield Black Student Union, and Garfield parents, including members of the Garfield PTSA and Garfield parent Arron Murphy-Paine.

The school board’s rejection of this policy is a major political defeat for pro-police Mayor Bruce Harrell and Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, both of whom strongly advocated for putting cops back into schools. In contrast with the limited scope of the proposal, Mayor Harrell has advocated for cops in up to four schools with as many as 15 officers.

In her comments before her vote, Board Director Michelle Sarju advocated for Black kids and said, “We are not standing on equal ground. [There is] too much data that says having a police officer in a school creates more disproportionality, not less.”

While Seattle still needs to increase investment in school staff and community organizations that are doing effective violence prevention and justice work, this vote was a positive step in the right direction and a victory for the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

#SeattleWA #WA #InJusticeSystem #HighSchool #SAARPR

Seattle, WA – On October 7, over 500 protesters gathered Cascade Playground in South Lake Union to take part in a march for Gaza, calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel and urging Seattle-based companies such as Palantir and Amazon to cut ties with Israel.

The protest marked two years since the start of the genocide in Gaza, a reminder that the struggle for Palestinian liberation remains urgent. The march began with roughly 200 high school students walking out of class to join workers from Seattle and beyond who had taken the day off in solidarity with Palestine.

The rally opened with speeches from tech workers, college students and a local Imam. Speakers called for solidarity between students and workers, highlighting U.S. responsibility in the genocide in Gaza and the role of major tech companies in enabling it. Many emphasized the power of labor, stressing that workers’ solidarity was essential to the broader fight for Palestinian liberation. After the speeches, the crowd left Cascade Playground and marched through South Lake Union to the site of Palantir’s Seattle office.

The demonstrators paused for a few minutes in front of the Palantir office, chanting “Join the workers’ intifada!” as Palestinian flags waved above the crowd. A representative from No Azure for Apartheid then addressed the demonstrators. They called for local tech companies and political representatives to be held accountable for their part in supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people. The speaker described how companies like Palantir provide cloud services, data analytics and AI infrastructure that are directly used by governments, including Israel. All of this, they emphasized, is made possible through the labor of tech workers whose code, data systems and infrastructure power the tools used in the genocide of the Palestinians.

“Many assume that tech workers are simply ignorant of their company's role in genocide,” said Ben Wheelon, a local tech worker participating in the protest. “This is not true. What it is, is that the American education system has trained us since birth to view this as acceptable. Protests like this are not only important in calling out the CEOs, but also in showing the tech workers of Seattle that their luxurious lifestyles are funded by the blood of Palestinians.”

Because these systems rely on their labor, organizers argued, tech workers need to demand that their companies “disclose and divest” from contracts as well as partnerships that support the occupation of Palestine. The rally’s message on labor solidarity came through clearly as protesters tied the struggle for Palestinian liberation to broader workers’ movements around the world.

“Labor is with Palestine 100%” said Talison Crosby, a rank-and-file teamster with Local 174. “Dock workers are shutting down ports, and workers in Italy went on a general strike. When workers of the world unite, there is nothing we cannot do.”

After making their point in front of Palantir, the march pressed on to Amazon’s offices at the Spheres. Organizers reminded the crowd that Amazon, alongside Google, “holds a $1.2 billion contract under Project Nimbus, which provides cloud and AI services to the Israeli occupying forces.” Speakers condemned the company’s contracts and the retaliatory actions taken by Amazon to unjustly punish employees who express solidarity with Palestine. The speakers tied this to Amazon’s broader suppression of labor organizing over the years and how tech giants like Amazon constantly “put profit over people.”

The march concluded at the Amazon Spheres, where the crowd gathered to hear additional speeches from tech workers and activists. Speakers reiterated calls for tech companies to divest from contracts supporting Israel and highlighted the ongoing suppression of pro-Palestinian voices within Amazon.

One speaker, an Amazon worker and member of No Tech for Apartheid, discussed their personal experiences with this. “I read racist, disgusting comments about the Palestinians on Slack channels, and received emails from the company about their support for the Israeli government following October 7 [2023],” the speaker recalled. They further emphasized the role of labor in challenging corporate complicity, noting that collective action and worker solidarity are essential to holding companies accountable.

Izzy McCabe, speaking for Seattle Against War, one of the organizations behind the march, stressed “The Global Sumud Flotilla did not happen, it was organized. The Italian general strike did not happen, it was organized. It is critical that if you walk away from this action with one thing, I want you to walk away getting organized. Because that is what it will take to block everything! Because that is what it will take to win an arms embargo! Because that is what it will take to free Palestine!”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #SAW

Seattle, WA – On October 2, Seattleites took to the streets in solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla, protesting the humanitarian aid fleet’s illegal interception by Israel the previous day. Nearly 100 activists packed into over 40 cars to form a motor caravan and cruised through some of the busiest streets in downtown Seattle during rush hour, disrupting traffic and unloading afterwards at a rally. The action was timed to coincide with other national and global efforts, like that of the Italian Unione Sindicale di Base (UDB), which enacted a general strike across Italy.

The caravan, as well as the rally attended by nearly 600 people, ensured that Seattleites could not ignore the events surrounding the Global Sumud Flotilla despite the U.S.’s repressive media doing its best to keep Americans in the dark.

Each of the more than three dozen cars drove in a bumper-to-bumper formation at a snail’s pace through Seattle’s Queen Anne, Downtown and Capitol Hill neighbourhoods, all the while waving Palestinian flags from each vehicle and proudly displaying messages of solidarity. Despite the serious disruption to what is already gridlock on a good day, the caravan was welcomed almost entirely with enthusiastic cheer and good spirit. At multiple points, cars caught amidst the caravan spontaneously joined for stretches of the route, honking along with the protestors as they all inched along the road at two miles per hour.

At the route’s end, the caravan was greeted by a rally of nearly 600 people. Speakers from Seattle’s anti-war community, including representatives from Seattle Against War, bil-Yad, Nidal, No Azure for Apartheid (NOAA), and Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return at the UW (SUPER) took the mic to speak about the Global Sumud Flotilla, Palestinian resistance, and the need for a powerful people’s movement here in the U.S. capable of supporting both.

“No business as usual until we see some serious material change!” said Seattle Against War member Joseph Ostheller, who drove the flagship car as well as helped to organize the event. “I want an arms embargo and I want an end to U.S. aid to Israel!”

Many of the speeches focused on that same theme, the need to build organizational power capable of forcing desperately needed change.

“Let this attack on the Sumud Flotilla be the new standing point for a sustained and steadfast global intifada!” said a member of Nidal. “It is our duty to the people of Gaza: to turn our righteous anger into an organized and permanent global intifada. We must continue to fight!”

The combined actions signal a marked step forward for the organizational cohesion of Seattle’s diverse anti-war movement, reflected by the numerous speeches calling for a stronger, bolder movement prepared to escalate the struggle.

The event is to be followed on Tuesday, October 7 by a march for Gaza which hopes to bring even more Seattleites together. Organizers called for attendees to turn out to that action as well, which will begin at 1 p..m at Cascade Playground in South Lake Union.

“With every passing day and every action, our organizations become larger, our movements stronger, our coalitions tighter,” said a statement from Seattle Against War put it. “We will win.”

#SeattleWA #WA #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #SumudFlotilla