Seattle, WA – A crowd gathered around Seattle's World Trade Center for a February 9 protest against the U.S.-backed genocide in Palestine.

Chants of “Not another nickel! Not another dime! No more money for Israel's crimes!” could be heard not only from and within the building, but for blocks around. The protest called attention to the continued support of Israel's genocidal campaign by the U.S.

Speakers decried U.S. capitalists, some of whom do business inside the World Trade Center, for materially supporting a campaign of extermination in the pursuit of extracting further profit.

This event was organized by the Progressive Students’ Union, the University of Washington's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society, in collaboration with the Seattle Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. It was one of many protests happening all across the country for in response to a call from the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and National Students for a Democratic Society.

“We see the hypocrisy in these institutions and are committed to use the voice that we have to challenge the forces that silence the masses,” said a member off the University of Puget Sound SDS. “Palestine is our cause, and the cause that ties us to every other struggle. I encourage us all to see the horrific conditions that have been live streamed for almost four months now, to inspire the action you can take from our positions within the belly of the beast.”

After several speakers, cars driven by activists moved to block entry to the lot in front of the World Trade Center. “We cannot allow business to continue as usual!” rang out the voices of student organizers. Chants and speeches continued, even as Seattle police grouped around in an attempt to intimidate protesters and break up the blockade, their attempts repeatedly foiled by the crowd.

Powerful speeches continued even still. “The Seattle World Trade Center is where the imperialists get together to carve up the world amongst themselves, and we are here today to say no more to imperialist profit and plunder!” said Clio Jensen, a rank-and-file union member and organizer with the FRSO. “We know that any movement of the oppressed that weakens imperialism is a good thing. It deserves our support and solidarity.’”

During the blockade and speeches, a banner drop was performed on the bridge overlooking the World Trade Center, a powerful image of solidarity visible across the dense area. After nearly two hours of disruption, well past the operating hours of the World Trade Center, the blockade began to clear out. This did not stop Seattle Police from attempting additional repression. A video caught one officer slashing tires as vehicles left the lot, a tactic used both in Seattle's 2020 George Floyd protests and those in Minneapolis.

Israel Vasquez, a member of the PSU, said, “As members of a democratic society, we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities. We must stand in solidarity with the oppressed and demand an end to the violence and injustice in Palestine and Yemen. This means holding accountable those who perpetuate these crimes, including governments and corporations that profit from the suffering of others!”

Shortly after the vehicles were moved, all the while surrounded by demonstrators chanting of “From the river to the sea!” and “SPD! KKK! IDF you're all the same!”, the police charged into the crowd without warning, tackling or throwing several protesters to the ground. One hit her head as she fell and was brought to the nearby Harborview Medical Center. Nearby members of the crowd were hit with clouds of pepper spray fired by officers without any sort of warning.

Once the crowd dispersed, an emergency rally was immediately organized. The crowd that before attended the rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people went to do the same for their comrades who had been wrongfully arrested. Chants and further speeches went on for several more hours, while SDS rapidly organized a national call-in demanding the immediate release of all four jailed activists. Other community members came out in support, providing food and drinks to the organizers and activists who had been out on the streets for hours and hours uninterrupted.

As of the time of this article, only one of the arrested protesters has been released. Charges are pending for the other three.

#SeattleWA #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #PSU #USPCN #NAARPR #WeekOfAction4Palestine #SAARPR #StudentMovement

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, February 9, students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee staged a sit-in at the UWM administrative building, Chapman Hall.

Led by Students for a Democratic Society, the event began with a rally in front of the Zionist-named Golda Meir Library, followed by a march to Chapman Hall, where students entered the building and occupied it for six hours.

Protesters rallied behind SDS’s campaign to divest from Israel, end all study abroad trips to the occupation, and to change the name of the Golda Meir Library. Furthermore, the students demanded that the Chancellor, Mark Mone, meet with them, after months of him evading requests.

“Our chancellor talks about diversity and integrity. Claiming to be there for students’ needs, to listen to our concerns, yet he avoids us at every turn. We have tried time and time again to secure a meeting, to make our voices heard and we are met with nothing but avoidance, and we will not stand quietly,” said Sania Syed, a member of Un-Pac, during a rally before the sit-in.

Around 45 protesters gathered in front of the university library, among them were students, community and elected officials. Frustration was clear as protesters chanted, “Chancellor Mone, you can’t hide, end the ties with genocide” during the short march to Chapman Hall.

Once at the administrative building, Robby Knapp of SDS gave a call to students to sit in: “Mone likes to hide from his students, and not do his job, and because of this, we have decided there is only one way in which he will listen to our demands to meet with him! In line with SDS’ motto of ‘Dare to struggle! Dare to win!’ we will be staging a sit-in on Chancellor Mone’s office until he talks to us and listens to our demands!”

After calls for the sit-in, it was discovered that the doors to the building were locked during open hours. Regardless, an SDS member found a side entrance to the hall and opened the doors. More than three dozen protesters entered Chapman Hall and occupied the top floor. Chants of “meet with us” echoed throughout the building.

Police immediately escalated after taking position at all entrances. They denied students access to bathrooms, physically prevented students from returning to the group if they tried to leave the occupied area, and threatened to arrest students if they did not leave the building. Despite threats, protesters remained put and occupied Chapman Hall for approximately six hours.

Kayla Patterson of SDS and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression said, “We aren’t the first to protest this, and if this continues, we won’t be the last. This change is inevitable, and it’s high time for UWM to stop skirting around and pick a side. This campus prides itself on inclusion and progressive values. We have a lounge named after Martin Luther King Jr., an Electa Quinney Institute for Indigenous Studies, and a Roberto Hernandez Center for Spanish-Speaking outreach that was founded after student-led protests – all nothing short of hypocrisy to recognize these people in name without recognizing their respective struggles against the same oppressive systems that UWM upholds.”

In response to students demanding a meeting with their school’s chancellor, ten different police departments appeared: UWM University Police and Marquette University Police, along with police departments from Milwaukee, Shorewood, Fox Point, Cudahy, River Hills, Whitefish Bay, Saint Francis, and the Wisconsin State Fair Park Police.

Partway through the sit-in, a student was left bruised after being violently restrained and removed from the building by an officer.

During the sit-in, Audari Tamayo of SDS and Freedom Road Socialist Organization gave an inspirational speech: “Us as students, young people, and people with a conscience within the belly of the beast have an utmost duty to fight for change,” Tamayo said. “After all, it is this government that is giving the settler army the green light for genocide. Without the billions of dollars and the illegal arms the U.S. gives Israel to enact U.S. foreign policy, Israel would crumble. It is not a secret that Israel exists on stolen land borrowed time.”

Around 20 protesters remained after the building officially closed at 5 p.m. when police were given the order to remove the remaining students. Four protesters were restrained, with one student being thrown to the ground and kneed in the back by two officers simultaneously.

The restrained protesters were released at around 6 p.m. after being processed. Each one left in high spirits and chanting things like “Dare to struggle, dare to win!” to the cheers of the community outside of the building.

The occupation of Chapman Hall was a historic moment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee of student power, resilience and bravery. As the university administration ignores student calls to end funding and ties to the Israeli occupation and genocide of Palestinians, students are taking matters into their own hands and taking up militant actions to demand change be made now.

The events were organized by Students for a Democratic Society and endorsed by the Muslim Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, Un-Pac, Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, Milwaukee Anti-War Committee, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, United States Palestinian Community Network-Milwaukee, Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. It coincided with the National Week of Action for Palestine called for by the National Students for a Democratic Society, National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and United States Palestinian Community Network.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiWarMovement #StudentMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #SDS #NAARPR #USPCN #WeekOfAction4Palestine

Green Bay, WI – On February 10, four months into the Zionist occupation’s genocidal assault on Gaza, dedicated activists braved the wintry cold and wind to demand an end to U.S. aggression in the Middle East.

The mood was energetic yet somber as people shared their personal stories about how Israeli-trained forces and American weapons have destroyed families and lives around the world, from occupied Palestine to Guatemala to here in the US.

Aodhan Bowman spoke for Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and called attention to the fact that Israel’s ability to wage war on Palestinians is entirely dependent on U.S. support. “Israel has zero legitimacy – all they have is American weapons. But the rest of the world is coming together against this genocide. It is only a matter of time before the resistance is victorious.”

Younis Zaiden, a Palestinian community member and Muslim leader, expressed gratitude at the gathering and gave a speech about his experience living as a Palestinian Muslim in the Fox Valley.

Zaiden stated, “A coworker asked me recently what I thought about Palestine and Israel and October 7. I had to ask him back: ‘How much time do you have?’ Because you can’t explain October 7 without understanding the rest of the 75 years.” He finished his speech with, “I know Palestine will be free!” and the crowd chanted “From the river to the sea!” before marching through downtown Green Bay.

The action was a part of a national week of action being put on by the US Palestinian Community Action Network, the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, and Students for a Democratic Society.

#GreenBayWI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #FRSO #GBAWC #USPCN #NAARPR #SDS #WeekOfAction4Palestine