UPDATE: Evening March’s 6th protest in West Seattle, back to talk again with Council President González

9:07 PM: The Everyday March activist group’s Evening March is back in West Seattle tonight, sixth time in a little more than two weeks. On July 24th and August 3rd, they went to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s home in Highland Park; July 27th, to Council President Lorena González‘s home in The Junction; July 30th, to County Executive Dow Constantine‘s home in west Admiral; August 2nd, to City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda‘s home in North Delridge. Each of those nights, the elected officials came outside and spent up to an hour talking with the march’s leaders, mostly about police “defunding.” Tonight is the eve of the City Council’s final vote on initial cuts to the SPD budget (nowhere near the 50 percent this group and others want). We don’t yet know tonight’s destination, but the Evening March asked participants – including the car and bike brigade that block traffic as they march – to meet at West Seattle High School, which they just left. Updates to come; if livestreamers are with them tonight, a stream is likely t turn up here.

9:17 PM: Chanting and drumming, the marchers and their car/bike escorts are southbound on California, inviting spectators ‘march with us.’

(Video courtesy John Bennett)
9:45 PM: Still southbound, approaching The Junction.

10 PM: They’re arriving in CM Gonzalez’s neighborhood now. (And yes, there’s a stream – follow the link above.)

10:08 PM: She has come out to speak with them, while cautioning that she’s feeling “a little under the weather.”

10:46 PM: They’re still talking, with the group seated on the ground and González on the stairs (for audio, you’ll have to switch over to the Evening March’s Instagram live feed), but it’s focused more on technicalities, from “out-of-order” layoffs to the consent decree to future SPD contract negotiators. …. A few minutes, it grows emotional as they berate her for not listening years earlier.

11:14 PM: After more than an hour, and other topics including education funding, the conversation has concluded. Organizers have told marchers they’ll caravan back in cars, rather than walking back to WSHS. (Added: One of tonight’s streamers, PCOMG, has the march video archived here – the conversation begins 1 hour in.)

Just wondering August 9, 2020 (9:22 pm)

So anyone who still has a job, thanks for waking them up!

JB August 9, 2020 (10:00 pm)

This group actually has a great call and response tonight. Very inspiring. If only we could get them out to the gigayacht somehow..
Annoyed parent August 10, 2020 (6:22 am)

I agree! I work every day, I have a toddler and this event woke him up and I had already took so long to get him to sleep due to an unrelated event. It was ridiculous at this time of night. Not fair to the people who work. Also I agree with going to councilpeoples homes! That’s just a violation of privacy.
- Kelkouska August 10, 2020 (10:04 am)
  
  Protests are meant to be disruptive. Why do people who live so close to the city think its supposed to be dead silent every single night? Its very unrealistic. Keep up the good work, BLM! Next time Im joining in to make some commotion with you! #BLACKLIVESMATTER!
  - Another Annoyed Parent August 10, 2020 (2:11 pm)
    
    What is to be gained by being disruptive in a neighborhood at 10PM? Are your chants finding the ears of racists who suddenly realize they should stop being racist pieces of sh–? Serious question here. How is this helping the cause?
    - Kelkouska August 11, 2020 (9:40 am)
      
      Awareness. Move to Buckley or North Bend if you don’t like noise at 10PM. god forbid how will you ever survive!!!!!!!!

Alf August 9, 2020 (9:29 pm)

Guess they want to exert as much pressure before the crazy city council takes their vote tomorrow must admit I have support for SPD don’t think the two are mutually exclusive you can support change but not agree with gutting the department without a planthe city council are gutless, two years ago supported the navigation teams and increase in SPD they are the flavor of the month council

NickG August 9, 2020 (9:31 pm)

WSB, thanks for the link to SeattleProtestNetwork. It’s neat seeing everyone out in the neighborhood. Good luck Everyday March!

Concerned Neighbor August 9, 2020 (9:37 pm)

California and about Charlestown. Loud, annoying. I hope this doesn’t last late into the night. The noise is carrying so far. Its scaring my dog.

Sorry for scaring your dog August 9, 2020 (9:57 pm)

Sorry for momentarily scaring your dog. Can you ask it to let us know when would be convenient to stand up for black peoples’ basic human rights?
- K. Davis August 10, 2020 (1:01 am)
  
  Yes; very good. The sneering self-righteousness is so effective. Because if others don’t see things your way, they aren’t “standing up for black peoples’ basic human rights.” That would be the only explanation.
- Hah August 10, 2020 (2:04 am)
  
  A+
- Concerned Neighbor August 10, 2020 (7:18 am)
  
  I’m sure he’d appreciate the consideration. Thank you. Luckily it didn’t go as long as the fireworks did. Appreciate that too.
- ll August 10, 2020 (7:44 am)
  
  How about not at night when people are sleeping? Give me a break! Why should someone be expected to get up and go outside at 10 at night and sit for an hour? That’s ridiculous!
Kelkouska August 10, 2020 (10:05 am)

I live on Cali and Charlestown. Noise lasted ohhhh maybe 10 minutes. Concerned neighbor, how will you ever survive!!!! :-0

Kacie August 9, 2020 (9:42 pm)

The live feed is amazing! Thank you so much! BLM 💕

Barb August 9, 2020 (9:51 pm)

Thank you to this group.

Annoyed August 9, 2020 (9:58 pm)

Going to peoples house should be a hard line in the sand. That is horrible to go and scare their family and neighbors who have done nothing wrong. This group needs to be stopped. Nothing is peaceful anymore. Time for the cops to shut it down. I can hear thrn from my house.

Max V August 9, 2020 (11:51 pm)

Why should the cops do anything, these people are exercising their freedom of speech, sorry it’s a little inconvenient but so is being murdered by police
- me August 10, 2020 (2:57 am)
  
  MAX V – exactly, thank you.
- FedUp August 10, 2020 (10:57 am)
  
  Freedom of speech has boundaries. They can’t block the intersections and impede other citizens from getting to their homes. And that is exactly what happened at 44th Ave SW and Oregon.
  - Limits?!? August 10, 2020 (1:04 pm)
    
    Funny how free speech only has limits when it’s minority inconveniencing you
  - poultine August 10, 2020 (1:44 pm)
    
    > Freedom of speech has boundaries.
    Like what? There are not very many of them (and if you feel compelled to mention “shouting fire in a crowded theater”, I suggest you take the time to read about that case before bringing it up). You may want to look back at the history of civil disobedience in US history, which brought us things we consider right and justified now, but were definitely seen as antagonistic and inappropriate at the time. Check out the Boston Tea Party, or Rosa Parks.
    There are plenty of alternative routes that run adjacent to California, so it’s hard for me to believe that this presented more than a temporary discomfort for anyone. I feel like the noise was commensurate with people who were out drag racing in the neighborhood a couple weeks ago, which I suspect is a much greater threat to general safety than a planned, political march intended to spark a discussion with a local politician.

Andrea August 9, 2020 (9:59 pm)

I can hear them clear over here on 35th and Alaska. So can imagine what people who live along California near the Junction are experiencing

Unconcerned Neighbor August 9, 2020 (11:50 pm)

I live on California and it was nothing. Way less loud and disruptive than the West Seattle Grand Parade with the Seafair Pirates firing cannons and the constant after-midnight concussion booms of local neighbors’ fireworks that have been going off since the beginning of July. Don’t worry about us, we’re fine.
- Resident August 10, 2020 (7:44 am)
  
  You mean something that happens in the middle of the day versus something that happens in the evening after 9. I don’t think they’re comparable.
  - Unconcerned Neighbor August 10, 2020 (2:58 pm)
    
    They are for me. I often am up all night working with customers in Asia and tend to catch up on sleep on Saturdays. An hours-long parade complete with cannon fire on a Saturday morning is extremely disruptive for me. But I live in a city and I’m an adult so I realize that not everything runs on my particular schedule and I deal with it without demanding that the parade be shut down.
- Annoyed at my unconcerned neighbor August 10, 2020 (2:12 pm)
  
  “Don’t worry about us, we’re fine”
  
  Speak for yourself. The collective We is not fine with this.

Edgar August 9, 2020 (9:59 pm)

So glad to see community activism going strong in my neighborhood!

Brenda August 9, 2020 (10:09 pm)

I hope they don’t come to my street. I’m working at 6am.

Edgar August 9, 2020 (10:56 pm)

Earplugs work well!
- Resident August 10, 2020 (7:45 am)
  
  So does not marching through residential neighborhoods.
- Sarah August 10, 2020 (8:30 am)
  
  Sidebar: I’ve been told this my entire life, and it isn’t true! Vibrations. The best luck I’ve had is with noise-cancelling earbuds, which of course will set you back a pretty penny and are nearly impossible to sleep with while wearing.

Irritated August 9, 2020 (10:09 pm)

They can’t do this during the day? I respect the movement and their right to protest, but this is a bit much.

WSB August 9, 2020 (10:54 pm)

They protest in the daytime too. (Morning March)
Jeremy Fountaine August 10, 2020 (8:26 am)

I’m sorry, I’m sure they can call you to schedule a protest that works for your schedule next time so it’s easier for you to ignore them.
- Irritated August 13, 2020 (4:51 pm)
  
  Oh you sure burned me. Consider me schooled.

MrsT August 9, 2020 (10:10 pm)

Right now is the perfect time to tune in to that live stream and hear the conversation between the protesters and the councilwoman. It is quite civil.

Azimuth August 9, 2020 (10:14 pm)

I’ve tried watching Twitch a few times now and… I just can’t.

Michael August 10, 2020 (12:04 am)

Do you not know how or do you just not like the content?

Unconcerned Neighbor August 9, 2020 (10:22 pm)

I also live around California and Charlestown, and the noise literally lasted less than 5 minutes. My dog is also reactive to noise and I put down the windows and gave him a rawhide to occupy himself. It was fine. Nothing like our neighborhood’s entitled white “patriots” who fire off their personal arsenal of fireworks for weeks on end every summer. Now THAT is loud and annoying and lasts late into the night, night after night.

Sarah August 10, 2020 (8:39 am)

Many of my neighbors who do that are liberal, just dudes who like an excuse to blow stuff up. It’s clearly inconsiderate, but certainly not isolated to one race or set of political beliefs.
- Unconcerned Neighbor August 10, 2020 (2:49 pm)
  
  In the neighborhood that I’m referring to, it is white people, because the neighborhood is very nearly all white. I’m not referring to all of society or even all of West Seattle. And I refer to them as “patriots” because every year the explanation for their illegal behavior is that they are celebrating freedom. It’s entitled asshattery, and it is much more disturbing to me than the occasional noisy march through my neighborhood by a group of people who have good reason to make noise.

JKK August 9, 2020 (10:33 pm)

Not everyone knows where CM Gonzales lives. Would be nice to know exactly where these people are since living nearby and would like to avoid the situation.

Rockatansky August 9, 2020 (11:15 pm)

Watching the live stream now. Not a big fan of this council member but you have to feel for her. Gonzalez looks tired…. I think this is what’s called a “struggle session” A young man is lecturing her on city finances, who they will go after next, and looking for her advice on how to concretely defunding police by 50% next year. This is who’s running the city right now.

Diane August 10, 2020 (12:06 am)

The Black Lives matter movement has gone off base. How is demanding to reduce Chief Carmen Best’s salary by half fall in step with caring about African American women and pay equity. Pay equity is huge for women especially African American women. Do people want her to leave and go to another city and we end up with a white male Police Chief?

ReasonablEd August 10, 2020 (2:29 am)

Did anybody see anything in that live stream that seemed to be factually correct?

ScubaFrog August 10, 2020 (6:18 am)

The council’s going to have vote down 50%. Then pick a real number perhaps, where they reallocate funds, instead of defunding (expecting SPD to answer mental health calls is unfair to the SPD and patient, let’s have trained psychiatrists on call for example). 50% is an emotionally-reactionary number to a horrific event, but let’s cut our noses off to spite our face.

onion August 10, 2020 (7:07 am)

The defund crowd has become counterproductive. Moderates not welcome.This is an interesting proposal for a path to reform https://policingequity.org/images/pdfs-doc/CPE_RoadMap.pdf

Resident August 10, 2020 (7:47 am)

In all seriousness if there are people here that would like to organize Or be part of an organized march to go to the same council members homes in support of the police then post comments here below mine. If there are enough of them I will organize a march to the council members homes to talk about not defunding the police. I think it is time that our voices are also heard and that there is a conversation on both sides of this issue and not just a one-way conversation.

Winston Smith August 10, 2020 (10:48 am)

I’m in
FedUp August 10, 2020 (11:02 am)

I’d march to the council members homes to talk about how ridiculous the “defund the PoPo” movement is.

RT August 10, 2020 (8:21 am)

Just a side note about caravaning back in cars……..not a great idea during this pandemic.

Bean August 10, 2020 (9:00 am)

I think this is very disrespectful to both the Councilwomen and to the people that live in her neighborhood. Does this have to be at 10pm?

Kelkouska August 10, 2020 (10:08 am)

Yes Bean. Protests are meant to be disruptive so people take notice. which you clearly have! :-) BLM all day, all night.
Mj August 10, 2020 (11:34 am)

Not peaceful, I think it is extremely disrespectful which is one of the many problems with this movement. Folks work, kids sleep, we have rights
- Kelkouska August 10, 2020 (11:46 am)
  
  here is the first amendment of the constitution if you need a reminder. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
- Foop August 10, 2020 (12:01 pm)
  
  Your rights don’t include being undisturbed by free speech expression. We have the right to protest when and how so long as our protests don’t harm others or infringe on their rights. Sitting in your house in silence is not a right, it’s a privilege. You chose to live in proximity to other people so you chose to endure the mundane problems of population density, including the sounds of people existing. If you are inconvenienced by these protests, you should help us work toward change that would make these protests unnecessary for people living in fear
  - Fitzychick August 11, 2020 (8:59 am)
    
    It goes beyond sitting in silence in your house. The July protest at the council president’s home blocked off an arterial intersection for nearly two hours. At least three bus routes use that intersection. The rights to peaceably assemble and to free speech do not include that kind of disruption and danger to public safety. I agree with the person who said (or implied) that the movement is not doing itself any favors by alienating people who agree with the cause but not the tactics. As much as I disagree with the city council on many things, and as incompetent as I believe them to be, I view these marches to public servants’ homes as intimidation and harassment. Yes, the black community deserves the same respect, but two wrongs do not make a right.
    - ally cat August 11, 2020 (2:15 pm)
      
      Protests aren’t about being convenient.
      
      It’s a protest.
      
      Disruption is part of how protests work.
      
      https://www.martlet.ca/why-disruptive-protests-are-the-protests-we-need/
      
      These kinds of comments complaining about the protests just make people sound rather unaffected by the issues precepting these protests. It’s offensive.
      
      The issues are greater than these minor inconveniences and your personal disapproval and likely white fragility.
      
      Others voices are more important than yours at this time. Suck it up. I’m sure it’s hard for some of you to understand this, but it’s true, and it’s important to try and understand this.

Bradley August 10, 2020 (10:11 am)

I guess we should all knock on the CM’s doors since they don’t respond to e-mail or voice messages.

FedUp August 10, 2020 (10:51 am)

Amazing that West Seattle High School will allow a non-permitted demonstration to congregate at the school but the Seattle Public Schools won’t allow officers to use the parking lot.

WSB August 10, 2020 (11:48 am)

The parking lot is not gated and anyone can drive or walk in. I doubt anyone was at the school Sunday evening to give permission. This group tends to meet up in large public lots pre-marches, depending on where they’re going, and park or school lots are likely to be empty. In the WS marches we’ve covered, the meetup spots included Madison MS, Highland Park ES, WSHS, Bar-S Playfield.

K E M August 10, 2020 (11:27 am)

So damn grateful for these protesters, and would welcome them to my street any day or night. This is the hard slog necessary to bring change. Black lives matter, and hell yes defund SPD.

ally cat August 11, 2020 (8:14 am)

Sharing this for the protestors, stay strong… ✊🏼

Still I Rise

BY MAYA ANGELOU

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Fawkes August 20, 2020 (3:10 am)

Hey shout out for SPN <3 For anyone who is upset, we AGREE!! We’re all upset. We need to acknowledge that none of the protesters WANT to be out there protesting for black lives, we wish it wasn’t so. Unfortunately, we DO need to rise up against a SYSTEM that kills. So your anger is valid but seemingly misdirected, BE ANGRY at the ones who instigated this uprising — the police, and the systems they protect and uphold. If it weren’t for the police, these protesters would be going about their lives, helping out in their community and taking care of each other…without the protesters these cops would be KILLING PEOPLE and remain unchallenged in their onslaught. If there is any hope in this bleak nightmare we face it is them and it is us. So, some are loosing sleep, and some are losing lives. Whats the bigger inconvenience?

Sorry, comment time is over.