Seattle Democratic Socialists of America

On Wednesday, thousands of activists came together in an art-filled march from the Youth Jail to City Hall, demanding 50% cuts to SPD, reinvestment in black communities, release of protesters, no new Youth Jail, and for Mayor Durkan to resign. Just days later the Seattle Police Officers Guild held their own counter-rally at City Hall.

As activists marched to City Hall on Wednesday, the Seattle City Council voted for the first time ever to reduce the Seattle Police Department budget rather than increase it. While the cuts are small — far from the 50% at minimum we are demanding — they represent a fundamental change in the political debate, striking a blow against the reactionary alliance of the police, big business, Mayor Durkan, and the right-wing corporate media. They represent two months of inexhaustible protests for Black Lives and years of activism against the Youth Jail and encampment sweeps.

What we’ve won:

• Up to 100 police positions cut, including in schools, the “navigation team” AKA the encampment sweeps, and SWAT teams

• Defunding of police recruitment and PR (like this SPD-produced copaganda)

• Financial transparency requirements

• Cuts to salaries for SPD Command staff, including Police Chief Best

• $14 million for community-led public safety initiatives

But even with this important victory, it’s clear that the majority of the city council is wavering. All but one member of the council, Kshama Sawant, the only socialist, voted against a 50% cut in the SPD for the 2020 budget. While six of the eight other council members say they remain committed to 50% defunding in the future, it’s clear we absolutely can’t rely on them. We must continue to keep the pressure up through protests, union action, and building a movement-rooted alliance of activists that are prepared to oust any politicians in 2021 city elections who don’t take a clear stand between the movement for Black Lives and business-backed police.

Keep the pressure on City Council!

Last week’s votes were in the City Council Budget Committee, but the decisive vote will be taken by the Full Council today. Call and email your City Councilmembers and sign up for public comment. We are still fighting to end overtime pay, to establish the civilianization of 911, and for $3 million for community-led research on what defunding can look like.

Sherae Lascelles makes it through the primary

Sherae Lascelles, Seattle People’s Party candidate challenging Frank Chopp for State House in the 43rd district, made it through the primaries. Chopp, one of the top establishment Democrats in Olympia, received only 51% of the vote, while Sherae and another progressive challenger won 48%! Sherae is the founder of PoC Sex Worker Outreach Project, and calls for taxing the rich, investing massively in affordable housing, and and ending the homelessness crisis.

Anti-gentrification rally

On Friday activists took to the streets in front of Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop on 23rd and Union, demanding reparations for the War on Drugs which ruined so many lives. Uncle Ike’s is the epitome of the most vulgar predatory development of historically black neighborhoods, making bank, while black communities were disrupted, displaced, jailed, and killed.

Hilton Hotel Workers Protest Healthcare Cuts

Hotel workers in Portland and Seattle staged die-ins to protest Hilton Hotels’ decision to cut healthcare for over 1,000 laid-off workers. DSA members were out on the frontlines as workers and in solidarity.

Here are upcoming events: