Several hundred protesters marched through Seattle Tuesday evening from Capitol Hill and into City Hall.
According to a reporter who followed the march, Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant was with the demonstration and opened the door with a key to let a few hundred protesters inside. They began to chant and gave speeches in the City Hall lobby area.
The demonstration at City Hall started around 9 p.m. Around 10:20 p.m. protesters said they would head back to Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill.
The group that had a majority of Antifa and BLM members called for the resignation of Mayor Jenny Durkan. The group also called for the defunding of the Seattle Police Department.
“Whose City Hall? Our City Hall! Whose City Hall? Our City Hall!” demonstrators shouted.
Video below:
Councilmember Sawant has a key to City Hall, allowing protesters to enter and chant for the mayor’s removal. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/EyC7GdT4Xh
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 10, 2020
#BlackLivesMatter protesters in #seattle have taken city hall. Thousands are moving in. pic.twitter.com/1cTRNRZ5fv
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) June 10, 2020
Sawant herself also spoke to the mob, calling her colleagues “sellouts” and “corporate politicians.”
Sawant called for accountability from the city.
“If Mayor Jenny Durkan refuses to step down, I will introduce articles of impeachment,” she said.
Councilmember Sawant now calling her council colleagues “sellouts” and “corporate politicians.” #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/G915glD95k
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 10, 2020
But the first person to speak was a socialist:
First speaker inside City Hall here, a member of Socialist Alternative. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/b4U0ky25q1
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 10, 2020
The speaker calls for stronger institutional protection for immigrants and defunding the police:
On top of defunding SPD, speaker calls for stronger institutional protection for immigrants. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/AJGzlKMjuu
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 10, 2020
More protesters joined the group:
Another group that earlier marched to Amazon HQ is joining the group here at City Hall. Greeted with the “Our City Hall” chant. #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/dHG9k8dx3n
— Jake Goldstein-Street (@GoldsteinStreet) June 10, 2020
“In the beginning, the organizer’s first job is to create the issues or problems.”
Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”
“The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.”
“The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.”
Rule for radicals.
