Heading home? We’re watching traffic/transit, with protest, Sounders, more

5:17 PM: Since multiple factors might affect your homeward drive/ride, we’re on pm traffic/transit watch. So far: The protest march isn’t a march yet – it’s gathering first at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill. (CapitolHillSeattle.com is tracking it on Twitter.) When protesters do march, the route is expected to be west on Pine to 2nd, then southbound to the Federal Building. Some buses are rerouting, per Metro.

Meantime, as mentioned in this morning’s traffic/transit watch, the stadium zone will be busy tonight with the Sounders’ 7:30 pm playoff match vs. Portland.

And not related to either, but a crash in the West Marginal Way S/Holden area – by the South Transfer Station – is causing trouble between West Seattle and South Park.

5:50 PM: The march from Capitol Hill to downtown started a few minutes ago, CHS’s Justin Carder reports.

Thousands headed to 2nd Ave where mayor will speak pic.twitter.com/c2846vXCsd

— jseattle (@jseattle) November 9, 2018

6:07 PM: Scanner indicates protesters are still on Pine, westbound between 3rd and 9th.

6:14 PM: If you’re outbound from West Seattle – a crash is reported on the eastbound bridge by the Delridge onramp.

6:24 PM: The marchers are reaching their destination on 2nd; here’s the city camera at 2nd and Marion:

6:31 PM: SDOT says that West Marginal/Holden situation has finally cleared.

7:35 PM: 2nd Avenue is clear; the downtown march/rally ended peacefully; the soccer match has begun.

Darlene November 8, 2018 (7:37 pm)

Looking for a spot to put my comments down…passing through Seattle today, stopover, so went downtown and got unwittingly alongside the thousands of loud protesters blocking many blocks of traffic. How sad to see so many people wasting their time with really no outcome when if that many people got together to build tiny homes for the homeless or helped the needy of the community or countless other services that are constructive, lifesaving and meaningful, now that would be change. Not sure we will bother spending time here again, but then maybe we aren’t welcome…

JD November 9, 2018 (9:55 am)

Darlene, I ask two questions respectfully: First, why would you think that those marching *don’t* spend time, effort and money doing “constructive, lifesaving and meaningful” work? Many, many people take multiple actions to tackle the problems in our community.Second, why do you think you aren’t welcome? No one was protesting you or your visit, unless “Darlene” is an alias for Trump or Whitaker. Why are you taking such personal offense to those exercising their rights? Seattle is a great American city, not perfect (no place is!) but still a part of your country. Come on back and visit again, for more than a stopover, and take some time to get to know the historical and current contributions that Seattle and the surrounding Puget Sound area cities make to our nation!

BigLoudWorld November 8, 2018 (9:13 pm)

Well, Darlene, that must have been absolutely horrible for you. Freedom of speech can be terribly loud and at its worst, can even interfere with a day excursion. More importantly, if you can explain how building tiny houses would bring attention to Trump firing Jeff Sessions, it would really help me out.

KAP November 8, 2018 (11:04 pm)

Thank you for your response.

anonyme November 9, 2018 (7:06 am)

In other, more civilized countries, where civil liberties are considered not as inconveniences but as essential to democracy, protests much larger than these are commonplace. Governments are answerable to the people, and free speech is how we make them accountable. It’s not always an effective tool, but it’s all we’ve got, and IMO free speech is under attack. Use it or lose it. While waiting for the other shoe to drop – the firing of Mueller – I think we, as citizens, should be preparing to take to the streets and shut this government down. Free speech vs. tiny houses is a false equivalency. One does not preclude the other.

wetone November 9, 2018 (2:20 pm)

Was this a permitted march/protest ? just curious as current city government said they weren’t going to tolerate these through the downtown streets anymore unless permitted ;)

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