209 Replies to "UPDATE: Demonstration on westbound West Seattle Bridge"

• AC December 29, 2023 (4:31 pm)

  Always on point! My bus is taking the lower bridge and I was wondering why 

• Mike December 29, 2023 (4:34 pm)

  I just drove past this at 4:26pm. There are 4 cars blocking all of the lanes into West Seattle. Looks like college aged people waving the Palestinian flag. I would 100% avoid trying to cross the bridge for the next hour or two. 

• Fiona December 29, 2023 (4:34 pm)

  What do the people driving home from work have to do with the on going war? reminds me of BLM. 

  • karim December 29, 2023 (4:53 pm)

    To make you aware of what is going on in other parts of the world, usually in an inconvenient way. I’m sorry that your life was briefly disrupted. 

    • 937 December 29, 2023 (5:39 pm)

      I THINK they know. I think EVERYONE knows. Your having a hissyfit and keeping people from getting to their desired locations does nothing for your cause. In fact it deters people from your cause. Get out of the way!!

      • Deb December 30, 2023 (8:24 am)

        Believe it or not there are people who don’t care enough about the world to know. As long as their little bubble is secure all is good. I work at a major medical center and there are plenty of people there who fall into that category. Before you belittle anyone’s comment be aware not everyone stays current.

    • Alki resident December 29, 2023 (6:11 pm)

      Karim Are you convinced people don’t know what’s going on in the world? 

    • Lizardgal December 29, 2023 (7:44 pm)

      What an entitled comment. Presuming your opinion and view is correct and everyone else must therefore be ignorant.some self reflection would do you some good, there are better ways to voice your opinion and blocking roads isnt one of them. 

  • K December 29, 2023 (4:58 pm)

    They vote.  How are the people coming home from work supposed to know the people they voted for are supporting a government that’s committing war crimes if activists don’t raise awareness?  

    • Dr Wu December 29, 2023 (8:45 pm)

      If any group is committing war crimes, it’s Hamas. Free Palestine and remove Hamas.

      • Ly December 29, 2023 (10:54 pm)

        Then you must not have seen all the things happening in Gaza now. Otherwise you would not be so bold with this one sided accusation. 

  • Fiona PR December 29, 2023 (5:10 pm)

    For the record, if any of my friends are reading this, this is not me.  I support free speech and demonstrations, although I’m pleased these protesters were in cars so they wouldn’t be run over by entitled @**holes that think their commute is more important than a life. Fiona PR

    • WW Resident December 29, 2023 (6:51 pm)

      That’s funny you used entitled. That’s what I was thinking about these”protesters” 

  • LP December 29, 2023 (5:44 pm)

    Not sure why folks think civil disobedience is always meant to garner sympathy from the people inconvenienced. Here’s a video about someone talking about criticism against protesters shutting down I-5: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8Qgo6w1/
    What we should feel inconvenienced by is that more and more of our taxes are going towards militarism abroad instead of transportation, education, and everything else that allows us to live comfortably middle class lives here in the beautiful pnw.

    • Historybluff December 29, 2023 (7:33 pm)

      Hey we’re not alone in this world and I think we generally believe in supporting those who want to live the (exact) same comfortable middle class lives as we do. Also civil disobedience in this country is kinda sorta how we have like the theory of civil rights going on.

  • Mr. Obvious December 30, 2023 (6:08 am)

    Given that the US is funding the war and protecting Israel, I’d say the people who use the bridge have quite a lot to do with it.

    • Jade January 1, 2024 (10:55 am)

      Agree.

• Derek December 29, 2023 (4:38 pm)

  Love it! It’s about time some action happened on this side! 

  • spooled December 29, 2023 (5:18 pm)

    What possible influence on Israeli policy do you expect from this dangerous and illegal act in a small town a hemisphere away?  

    • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (6:03 pm)

      You know that Washington Rep. Adam Smith is chair of the Armed Services Committee, right?  

      • Math Teacher December 29, 2023 (7:44 pm)

        Ranking Member. Chair is a Republican.

    • Sheila December 29, 2023 (6:29 pm)

      20,000 people killed, majority of which are women and children.Hospitals, roads, apartment buildings, schools  destroyed. Let’s do Nothing?How can you sit around and do nothing????

      • Resident December 29, 2023 (10:49 pm)

        The same way you sat around and watched Hamas murder, innocent civilians in Israel over the last 10 years.

  • Mike December 29, 2023 (6:15 pm)

    I’m against genocide and do not support governments backed by Iran.

• Carson December 29, 2023 (4:39 pm)

  If I wasn’t already an Israel supporter I am now. 

  • Bummer December 29, 2023 (4:49 pm)

    Found the supporter of genocide. 

    • Historybluff December 29, 2023 (7:36 pm)

      Found the supporter of SA and terrorism because people just like to lump things together. See how that works?

    • Resident December 29, 2023 (10:50 pm)

      There was a great episode on NPR about three weeks ago. This isn’t a genocide. The guy that tries these types of crimes and international court came out and said this is not genocide. Stop using big words that you don’t know what they mean.

  • Derek December 29, 2023 (4:55 pm)

    You support an unjust war because you were inconvenienced a little bit? Weird  12k Palestinians dead since 7th of October.

    • Carson December 29, 2023 (5:43 pm)

      Blocking my wife from getting home will never help me to support you.

      • Marty December 29, 2023 (5:57 pm)

        How incredibly selfish and entitled you are. 

        • Carson December 29, 2023 (6:51 pm)

          And that’s why the Palestinians are losing the support. You can’t intimidate people into supporting you. 

        • Ly December 29, 2023 (10:59 pm)

          “Palestinians losing support”…must be joking with this statement. They never had support from the world because for decades the world turned a blind eye to their suffering. Give me a break. 

      • M December 29, 2023 (6:54 pm)

        The Wife Guy has logged on to share his opinions on genocide.

        • Carson December 29, 2023 (8:02 pm)

          The wife guy was and remains appalled by the murder and rape of innocent Israelis and the obvious response from Israel that Hamas intentionally provoked 

      • Amy December 29, 2023 (7:57 pm)

        I mean she got home right, maybe a bit late? A small price to pay to live in a country that doesn’t prosecute citizens to protest regardless of the message….

        • sixbuck December 29, 2023 (8:45 pm)

          Wrong. Non-leftist protestors get arrested at alarmingly increasing rates. 

    • Gabe Rawlins December 29, 2023 (10:25 pm)

      The US had 2 unjust wars in Iraq and Afghanistan where over 500,000 innocent civilians were killed. Not a peep from people.

      • Neighbor December 30, 2023 (12:23 am)

        You have to be kidding.  Is it seriously your position that in the last 20 years nobody mentioned the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?  I honestly laughed out loud reading that.  Is this satire?

        • Gbe rawlins December 30, 2023 (9:25 am)

          That’s not what I’m saying… I’m saying have you heard about the half a million civilians killed? Obviously people spoke about the US soldiers death and the war in general. 

  • Harv December 29, 2023 (5:01 pm)

    No one in their right mind should be supporting a country that has killed 20k + innocent civilians than were killed in the raid just so you can get home from work on time. 

    • Gabe Rawlins December 29, 2023 (10:27 pm)

      The country you’re living in killed 500,000+ civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan….

    • Resident December 29, 2023 (10:51 pm)

      No one in their right mind should support a country that wants to eliminate the existence of another country and the people that reside in it.

    • nonni December 30, 2023 (10:11 am)

      Hamas had an estimated 30 thousand jihadi fighters in Gaza, willing to become martyrs for the cause of murdering Israelis. If they were not such pathetic cowards, they would come out from behind their civilian shields– their neighbors, grandmothers, nephews, sisters– and meet the Israeli military outside of civilian enclaves. Better yet, their leadership, safe in a luxury hotel in Qatar, should be forced to meet in the human rights court with Israel’s criminal equivalent, B. Netanyahu and his nihilist, right wing zealot cabinet.I don’t support the leveling of civilian neighborhoods and the collateral death of ordinary, unarmed families in Gaza, but it is impossible to separate the innocent people from the barbaric militants who show  absolutely no concern for their safety, while claiming to be freeing Palestine for their future state. Every male, adult or juvenile, who participated in the Oct. 7 rape, mutilation and murder of teenagers on a beach, beheading of children in front of their parents, kidnapping of the sick, elderly, babies, and kids who watched their parents burn inside their homes, and torching of infants in their cribs (or, broiling them alive in the family’s own kitchen stove), must stand trial and pay for his crime, if he hasn’t already died under the rubble of a collapsed tunnel or apartment block.

      • Elle December 30, 2023 (12:51 pm)

        Well said!

  • Amy December 29, 2023 (5:04 pm)

    WOW. 

  • GK December 29, 2023 (5:12 pm)

    Amen! I’d never wave flags for people who would kill me for my sexuality.

  • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (6:06 pm)

    So we’ll just kill them all, and let God sort them out, right?  

    • Josh December 29, 2023 (8:42 pm)

      There is no god. The whole idea that there is one and that it prefers those who sing and dance in just the right way over others who don’t is kinda at the root of this conflict. 

      • Wseattleite December 29, 2023 (11:55 pm)

        It takes an unbelievable amount of faith to claim there is no God. To my knowledge that has never been proven, and to state such is simply a belief. It also requires an unbelievable amount of arrogance even to think that if there was a God, people would know how to identify or understand God. 

        • heartless December 30, 2023 (2:45 pm)

          Aside from anything else, WSeattleite, you might want to look up the difficulty in proving a negative.  The burden of proof is overwhelming on proving the existence of something, not the other way around (think about it this way: should you be arrested unless you can prove you’ve never robbed a bank?  Or should you only be arrested if there is proof you did rob a bank?).

      • Seattlite December 30, 2023 (10:00 am)

        Josh…God gave man the free will to sing or dance.  But, most all God gave man the free will to take the path of lightness or the path of darkness.  The only way to understand God and the two paths (lightness and darkness) is read The Bible and and delve into history.  In other words, humans are all individuals who make their own choices unless oppressive politics get in the way.  Having a moral guide is a good thing, because it gives individuals pause when they’re thinking of doing wrong.

      • anonyme December 30, 2023 (11:40 am)

        Josh, I fully agree.  Religion was devised as a way to control the masses, and one of the things it has always been useful for is raising armies.  As for gods (no cap needed – there are lots of them, all mythological) there is zero evidence that such things exist and abundant evidence that they (he, she, it) do not.

        • Seattlite December 30, 2023 (9:03 pm)

          The Bible itself is evidence of God.  Many biblical archeology discoveries of scrolls in the Jordan Valley and the dead sea scrolls which included over 100 pieces of biblical scrolls and a complete Isaiah scroll were found that dated back to 1st, 2nd, 3rd Centuries BC.  

• WSB December 29, 2023 (4:42 pm)

  It was relatively brief, over now.

• WS Resident December 29, 2023 (4:44 pm)

  So disgraceful!

• HoneyBun December 29, 2023 (4:47 pm)

  I am continually perplexed why young folks cannot seem to comprehend that pissing people off does NOT win them over to your cause. In fact, it’s arguably the opposite, if there is any long-lasing impact at all. Also, deliberately slowing traffic to a stop on a freeway is extremely dangerous and will eventually cause accidents and bodily harm. Choose a safe, effective form of protest if you expect my support. 

  • heartless December 29, 2023 (5:35 pm)

    Does it concern you that your argument here would equally extend to Rosa Parks delaying bus service?  And what about those Blacks sitting at white only counters, that sure pissed off a lot of people.  Just something to think about when you complain about protests being inconvenient (in this case, uh, adding 15 minutes to a commute).

    • wscommuter December 29, 2023 (6:37 pm)

      If you don’t understand the difference between what Rosa Parks heroically did – right where the oppression was occurring – and this meaningless act of silliness half a world away from what is happening in Gaza, you should consider reading and understanding history before you trot out your faux-moral superiority.   The tragedy of what is happening in Gaza today is completely and utterly unaffected by this stupid act.  What Rosa Parks did was directly and precisely impactful in the very place it needed to be.  Understanding that difference is why I’m a liberal and not a progressive. Grow up.  

      • heartless December 29, 2023 (9:40 pm)

        Who tells people to grow up?  Don’t be weird.

        Are you asking if I can tell differences between Rosa Parks and these protesters?  Yes.  Yes, I can.

        But, see, my point was, and is, this: protests regularly inconvenience, annoy, and piss off people.  Honeybun, to whom I was writing, argued that “pissing people off does NOT win them over to your cause. In fact, it’s arguably the opposite, if there is any long-lasing[sic] impact at all.”  I was alerting Honeybun to the FACT that protests have done that since time immemorial, and I dare say many of them have been successful.

        As to your various arguments (I mean, sort of) about the efficacy of protests, let me just point out that Rosa Parks never would have dreamt what she was doing was going to matter so much.

        Do I think this protest will matter?  No, not really.  But it might and, beyond that, I just find it really lame to judge protests on how much they inconvenience us.  Especially this one, which was, at most, 15 minutes added to a commute for some people. 

    • 937 December 29, 2023 (10:11 pm)

      Stay tuned for our next episode of comparing apples to asteroids.

      • wscommuter December 29, 2023 (10:26 pm)

        Said better than I could.  Well done.

      • HoneyBun December 29, 2023 (10:56 pm)

        Fact is that these protestors lost more support than they gained by their actions today. That’s what I stated before. That is what I am stating now. Actions that lose support are not sustainable. Oh, and by the way, I never said the word inconvenienced; only you did. Rosa Parks got a criminal record for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman. What sacrifice did these protestors suffer other than everyone else’s time? 

        • Bbron December 30, 2023 (3:28 am)

          the protestors today could’ve been arrested or harmed. just look at all the comments concern trolling for the danger they put themselves in. if folks use being delayed in traffic today as their reason for not supporting Palestine, then they were just waiting for that reason all along and never were gonna be comfortable with the idea of supporting Palestine. if thousands of dead kids won’t convince them…

        • heartless December 30, 2023 (12:53 pm)

          Honeybun,

          “Fact is that these protestors lost more support than they gained by their actions today.”

          Sorry, how is that even remotely close to a fact?

          “Oh, and by the way, I never said the word inconvenienced; only you did.”

          Uh, right, you just said the protest pissed people off.  Apologies for inferring that people were pissed because of an inconvenience.  My bad. 

          Regardless, your point that protests that piss people off are ineffective is just amazingly inaccurate (see my examples of protests that pissed people off AND YET WERE EFFECTIVE).  I honestly don’t understand how you and others (Hi Wscommuter) can’t see that simple truth–my ONLY point has been that protests can piss people off and be effective.  Y’all arguing against that need to realize what a specific and evidenced point I’m making.  I’m not taking sides, not supporting or denigrating, just pointing out that one thing that so many commenters are getting wrong.  A protest is not doomed because it annoys people.  Keep coming at me, but you’ll lose.

    • Jade January 1, 2024 (10:57 am)

      You nailed it.

  • Pelicans December 30, 2023 (12:40 am)

    Thank you for a moment of sanity.

• WSRes December 29, 2023 (4:51 pm)

  How is pissing the majority of the population off by pulling stunts like this supposed to garner support for any one cause? So juvenile. 

• spooled December 29, 2023 (5:13 pm)

  Blocking the road is the fastest way to turn people off to your cause!Plenty of youtube examples to back this up.  It does not matter what the cause is.  You are not going to change minds, win likes, or do jack all for your mission with this behavior.  It is far more likely to discredit your cause or even incur injury.Stand on the sidewalk with a sign all you wish.  Wave from windows or an overpass too if you want!  If i support you I may honk or wave back.  If i don’t agree then you get no wave and we both go about our business.

  • Rara December 29, 2023 (5:22 pm)

    Spooled, I agree. Just irritates people and super dangerous. A gal was killed by a car during BLM on I-5. 

  • Charles Burlingame December 29, 2023 (5:33 pm)

    -a driver trying to use the Edmund Pettus bridge on March 7, 1965

    • Jethro Marx December 29, 2023 (6:17 pm)

      Thank you, Charles.

    • miws December 29, 2023 (6:17 pm)

      Charles Burlingame, that comment wins the internet and would do so no matter what was being protested. —Mike 

  • Twoshoes December 29, 2023 (5:48 pm)

    Everyone “going about their business” while the US continues to fund what every single humanitarian org (including the relatively conservative ones like Mercy Corps) in the world is calling genocide is exactly the problem….There should be no business as usual until the killing stops. 

    • HoneyBun December 29, 2023 (11:08 pm)

      Except the march across the Edmund Pettus bridge was planned, and the protestor’s intentions announced well beforehand, Charles. There would have been no random citizen in a car complaining about the irritating and dangerous march on the bridge. No one other than the marchers and the state police would be on that bridge at that moment in history because by that point everyone knew that it was going to end in violence. Your quip is as much a false equivalence as your ignorance is insulting.

  • Bill December 31, 2023 (5:22 am)

     Purposely distracting drivers should be illegal — distracted drivers are a major cause of traffic accidents!

• SBC December 29, 2023 (5:37 pm)

  West Seattle Jew here. Israel’s genocidal land-grab must be stopped. Glad to see folks raising awareness- free Palestine!

  • nonni December 30, 2023 (10:20 am)

    Guess it wasn’t your cousins burned alive at Nahal Oz, then. Thanks for spitting on their ashes. Hamas thanks you, too. I’m sure they’ll be happy to accept your support for their cause.

    • Bill December 31, 2023 (5:26 am)

      Thanks for the sanity in your reply!

  • Rhonda December 30, 2023 (3:00 pm)

    Well, SBC, you’re not burying murdered family members and fighting for your life in Israel, so your safe-in-the-USA, anti-Israel comment is as hollow as a beach ball.

  • Free Palestine December 30, 2023 (11:19 pm)

    Yes, there are many atrocities happening all around the world currently. But what is happening in Gaza is a genocide of epic proportions. The ramifications affect all humans. 

• Wolfhound 39 December 29, 2023 (5:48 pm)

  I think I was the one who initially called WSB to report that this was happening, as I was only a few cars back. It lasted about 15 mins overall. People in cars were getting very frustrated, as you can imagine. Lots of profanities being screamed toward the line of protestor cars blocking the bridge. I have a few videos as well but I don’t see how I can post them here…? 

  • Vehicle ten December 30, 2023 (6:55 am)

    Wolfhound, I must have been right next to you on your right. I took videos as well. I also called 911 to report. 

    • Stephan December 31, 2023 (9:31 pm)

      I was a few cars behind these protesters. I got home 20 minutes later than usual but still had time to make dinner for the family. One thing that fellow drivers, who are commenting in here, left out was the white van who hit two of the protester’s cars, with force. The protesters were going maybe 2-5MPH and it appeared the white van accelerated to commit both hits. Technically, a hit and run can be constituted as a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or a felony depending on the outcomes of the collision. So if we want to talk about police reports, here is my take. My daughter showed me a twitter letter from a lady who videotaped herself talking about hitting the cars and driving away. I was shocked to see an adult post so proudly about hitting two cars. If we are right about these protesters being younger people, that’s not great modeling of behavior coming from an adult. We as adults in the community are responsible for setting a good example, always. Her name is Katy Faust. I can ask my daughter how to find her on the twitter page if anyone is interested. 

• commuter December 29, 2023 (5:52 pm)

  There is injustice in the world at all times, why is your cause more important than what is happening in Ukraine? Or Libya? Or Sudan? Or Sahel? Or Myanmar? Or any of the other places where there are people dying in conflict? Do you not care about those people too? Or are you supporting a cause that gives you some social justice clout?Until these people realize this is always happening and those of us in our cars commuting home can’t do anything about it while stuck in traffic, they will continue to put themselves in a situation where someone might take exception to their TikTok protest and they might get hurt.Yelling on the highway or a bridge doesn’t enlighten people to the problem. Maybe try engaging them in person where you can have a conversation. Blocking traffic is the cheap and easy protest, but actually trying to change peoples minds by having a discussion is harder, so I am guessing these people have no intellect or social skills based on their performance.

  • A December 29, 2023 (6:05 pm)

    It shows how effective propaganda is. There is a cause you have been programmed to respond to. There are so many worse atrocities, wars, all the time,  all over the world that you have not been made aware of,  programmed or propagandized to respond to.  

    • Mike December 29, 2023 (6:48 pm)

      Joseph Goebbels was a master at propaganda and people are falling for propaganda against Jews again.

      • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (8:37 pm)

        You mean like the claim that Hamas decapitated babies?  The claims that students were calling for genocide of Jews?  The first is unsubstantiated war propaganda and the second claim was debunked by an AP fact check.  That whole congressional hearing smelled of McCarthyism, frankly, and it was asking one to demonstrate their fealty to another country.  The attack against Jewish civilians was savage and horrific enough, it doesn’t need to be embellished by those who are trying to exploit the situation.  Plenty of propaganda to go around. 

        • wscommuter December 29, 2023 (9:19 pm)

          And your view of the systemic rapes of Jewish women during that attack, or do you deny that as well?  How, in your superior view, should Israel have responded to Hamas?  Please do enlighten us.  I’m not smart enough to have the answer to what Hamas did.   But I’m certain you have all the answers.  

        • Ly December 29, 2023 (11:01 pm)

          And…you think the hundreds of Palestinian children and people held in Israeli jails, most without fair trial, don’t endure rape? Amnesty International published a report on this but everyone turns a blind eye to that.  Why? 

        • shanti December 29, 2023 (9:46 pm)

          It’s ignorance like yours that makes Jews in Seattle unsafe.

        • Disturbed December 29, 2023 (10:04 pm)

          “Claims” that students were calling for the genocide of Jews? Why don’t you head down to UW and ask a few of the Jewish students on campus how their experience has been for the last 3 months? Students are shouting to globalize the intifada, that is the genocide of Jews. Students on campuses across the country are declaring the acts of Oct 7 as heroic and joyful. On Oct 7 Hamas tore through Israel and brutalized men, women, elderly, children and babies regardless of where they stood on the spectrum of peace, regardless of their involvement with the government, but simply because they were Jewish. To glorify these actions is supporting genocide. Im sorry but just because something doesn’t fit your narrative doesn’t make it not true. 

  • Twoshoes December 29, 2023 (6:22 pm)

    The difference is that Israel can only do what it is doing because of American cash and weaponry…..billions of dollars and counting. Genocide is happening on our dime and in our name. 

    • MW December 29, 2023 (9:24 pm)

      Bingo. 

  • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (6:37 pm)

    Throwing out silly red herrings isn’t a mark of intellectualism, either.  What do you suggest, a polite discussion over tea and crumpets in the drawing room?  The Geneva Convention forbids the unnecesary loss of civilian lives in war time.  

    • Disturbed December 29, 2023 (10:07 pm)

      And who are you to define necessity? The elimination of Hamas is absolute necessity to Israel’s survival and protection. 

      • Ly December 29, 2023 (11:05 pm)

        Good luck eliminating Hamas. You think Israel or the United States is safer for these actions they’re carrying out in Gaza? You’re not. You cannot kill ideology. How is terrorism born? From grievances and revenge. The United States has engaged, invaded how many countries, killed how many people? Chomsky said, if you want to decrease terrorism, then how about not engaging in terrorist acts yourself. Looks like some Americans here have just NOT learned a thing for the past few decades of unnecessary wars. Pity you all. Good luck getting rid of Hamas. 

    • Bill December 31, 2023 (5:32 am)

      When has the “Geneva Convention” ever won a war?

  • Pelicans December 29, 2023 (11:10 pm)

    Commuter, Best statement and argument I’ve read since early 2020 about civil disobedience and getting a message across. Making dedicated efforts to peacefully discuss your causes in person, in a calm setting, , involves prolonged personal effort, time and the ability to interact with other humans.  To talk, rather than put everyone on blast. Can modern humans do this anymore? Blocking traffic is a lazy, cheap, sensational and antagonistic way of accomplishing nothing except getting on the local news and alienating people who might have been receptive to your message otherwise.All it gets you is 45 seconds on the 5 o’clock blues, and the antipathy of those you inconvenienced. 

• Scarlett December 29, 2023 (5:53 pm)

  No doubt the same type of individual who whined about anti-Vietnam war protestors as sons, brothers, uncles and fathers came back in pine boxes.   If you don’t think the military industrial complex calls the shots in this country, you hopelessly naive or deliberately fooling yourselves.  

  • CarDriver December 29, 2023 (7:21 pm)

    Scarlett. It’s the “military industrial complex” that is controlling car hijackings;burglaries;retail theft; drugs on the street??? Is there anything they don’t control over our lives? Really???

  • Sassy December 30, 2023 (10:33 pm)

    Scarlett: I truly believe the MIC is the elephant in the room. How much money (our taxes) goes to weapons manufacturers? Do we even know the names of the corporations that make these weapons? They take more than the common companies we deem the most popular and known in tech, music, media, etc. They are never in the news … on purpose. Wars make money … for select businesses. It’s in their best interests to keep them going. And they have deep pockets and strong lobbyists. 

• Marty December 29, 2023 (5:55 pm)

  If you’re inconvenienced just imagine being bombed into oblivion every day for 3 months. Your wife was late getting home? How very tragic… now go back to supporting your genocide you sad person.

  • Gabe Rawlins December 29, 2023 (6:44 pm)

    Imagine being a young adult enjoying a music festival in the desert and getting brutally slaughtered….

    • Ly December 29, 2023 (11:07 pm)

      Imagine living in an open air prison that is Gaza? Oh wait, you don’t know because you know NO one from there and you think all theee atrocities are from one side and only  began Oct 7th. It didn’t. 

      • Gabe Rawlins December 30, 2023 (6:41 am)

        So it’s okay to slaughter men women and teenagers at a music festival because the only country in the world that would give Palestinians even a sliver of land doesn’t treat them well? Got it. 2 wrongs make a right.Why has Egypt, Lebanon or any other country in the world even volunteered so much as an inch of land to give to the Palestinians if they’re so widely loved? Or if they’re so oppressed on humanitarian grounds?

  • Jason December 29, 2023 (7:10 pm)

    👏👏👏

• Robert December 29, 2023 (6:20 pm)

  The comments are perfect. Two groups of people talking past each other. For example, It would help if the one side could acknowledge how awful the civilian deaths are and provide money for relief. And it would be wonderful for the other side to acknowledge that if Egypt took in refugees and Hamas did the honorable thing and surrendered — many lives would be saved. Maybe reading articles that offer some balance would help – https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/29/opinion/israel-hamas-war.html

  • Ly December 29, 2023 (11:10 pm)

    Egypt says they don’t want to take in Palestinian refugees because most of them would be denied the right to return. Heck, my friends Palestinian grandparents who left during the great catastrophe Nakba of 1948 are still waiting for their right to return. They cannot. 

    • Robert December 30, 2023 (7:30 am)

      Yes, we all have excuses for bad behavior.  Egypt’s real reason is that it doesn’t want Hamas within the country because they are terrorists. Poland, Germany and other nations saved many Ukrainian lives.

• TJ December 29, 2023 (6:22 pm)

  Well Palestine’s elected government, Hamas, has been calling for genocide by wanting to eliminate Israel. There was a cease fire, but Palestine broke it by attacking Israel, who has responded. Hamas needs to be wiped out once and for all. And the Rosa Parks and lunch counter protests comparison is stupid. Those occurred here in the US and in the south on racist policies in this country. This war is on the other side of the world. Get a life 

  • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (8:45 pm)

    And the settlers, a very hard-core militant Israeli sect, are doing their part to heighten tensions?  By the way, our tax dollars are being used to fund this offensive in Gaza, so it does concern all of us.  But you know, “get a life.”

    • Bill December 31, 2023 (5:37 am)

      Oh! — those horrid “hard core militants”  — they were just so well armed!

  • Gabe rawlins December 29, 2023 (8:48 pm)

    Clinton had Arafat at the white house 7 times and proposed deals that were always turned down.

    • Ly December 29, 2023 (11:13 pm)

      Yes, and then Netanyahu’s right wing supporters screamed during a rally against the Oslo Accords that they would take down Rabin in “blood and fire”. And they did.

      • Gabe Rawlins December 30, 2023 (6:43 am)

        You’re deflecting. SEVEN TIMES in the 90s the leader of Palestine was offered SOLUTIONS and refused because he wanted to wipe Israel off the earth. They don’t want a solution if it involves Israel existing.

        • Math Teacher December 30, 2023 (10:52 am)

          But this is not true. In 1993’s Oslo Accords, the PLO officially recognized Israel’s right to exist. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1993-2000/oslo

• Gabe Rawlins December 29, 2023 (6:36 pm)

  I wonder what would happen if they tried this in Palestine

  • Stephan December 31, 2023 (8:45 pm)

    What an idiotic comment. Considering the governments committing these atrocities are Israel and the US, I highly doubt anyone would be “trying this” in Palestine. Palestinians currently hardly have access to fuel, so your point is entirely irrelevant and ignorant on every level. Shameful.

• Alkilocal December 29, 2023 (6:38 pm)

  Thanks wsb for the quick updates.My 2 cents from being a clinician in the ED and seeing more of my fair share ….Any person(s), nation, affiliation, or religion that supports or condones horrific sexual violence, violence against women, reduced education and freedoms for girls and women, and plain generalized proponents against womens’ rights need to step aside and have a good look and understanding of what causes and overall affect on humanity they are supporting, regardless. Thank goodness it got cleared fast so it didn’t escalate. Blocking the right of way is not safe, creative, or a way of garnering sympathy from many.

  • LivesInWS December 29, 2023 (7:42 pm)

    Very good points.

  • Read A Book December 30, 2023 (8:24 am)

    Your ignorance and/or racism is showing. “Any person(s), nation, affiliation, or religion that supports or condones horrific sexual violence, violence against women, reduced education and freedoms for girls and women, and plain generalized proponents against womens’ rights.” How do you know these things all apply to people in Palestine? It’s not Al Qaeda or ISIS controlled land. There is no more violence against women in Palestine as there is here in this country with the prevalence of domestic violence. Please educate yourself further before assuming all of the Middle East and its people is the same. 

    • Jethro Marx December 30, 2023 (1:43 pm)

      Is this taken from a book or some source?   

      “There is no more violence against women in Palestine as there is here in this country with the prevalence of domestic violence.”

      I love books.  The point attempting to be made is that support for Hamas, or any religious government in Palestine, comes with a side of oppressing (sometimes violently) many groups we typically think are worth protecting here in America. In fact, we make special laws that call out and try to make amends in some awkward way to women, racial and religious minorities, etc. 

      Of course, supporting the current Israeli government comes with a heaping side of collateral deaths and comments like those here saying “too bad about those civilians but that’s what you have to do to human shields.”

      Both sides are violent and dehumanize the other. This is why it’s so easy for all of these commenters to spew hateful words at each other.

    • Neighbor December 30, 2023 (4:05 pm)

      They condoned a hell of a lot of sexual violence and abuse of Israeli women on Oct 7. Is it only of concern if it’s happening against Palestinian women?

• Odd son December 29, 2023 (6:54 pm)

  People act like Israel is the only one doing the killing. Hamas attacked Israel but everyone is supporting Palestine. There is evidence Israel knew about the attack and stood down so they would have a reason to attack. It has been tit for tat for generations. Gimme a break. I agree with the others that blocking traffic is not getting people on your side. And as far as Rosa Parks. Apples and oranges. Of course Rosa Parks is important but that was a US related issue.. not a foreign country, culture, political region like Israel/Palestine/Gaza.

  Not good to assume you are educating people by protesting but it’s your right to protest (legally) not blocking traffic.

• Big Dave December 29, 2023 (7:02 pm)

  If someone has a problem with what’s going on over there, they SHOULD protest. Over there. 

  • Karim December 30, 2023 (8:27 am)

    People in Gaza have tried in the past. They were met with snipers and gunfire. One example: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/toll-for-gaza-protests-rises-to-59-as-baby-dies-from-tear-gas-with-more-protests-expected/2018/05/15/ee4156f8-57c6-11e8-9889-07bcc1327f4b_story.html

• Where's The Logic December 29, 2023 (7:11 pm)

  While I’m sympathetic to the situation, I don’t support what these particular protesters did. It’s less about inconvenience, and more about safety of the protesters and others especially on a bridge that has had issues. Also, my inconvenience is someone else’s crisis. What would have happened if emergency vehicles were stuck not able to get to their destination? What would have happened if someone trapped in the traffic was having a medical issue? What happens to the parents needing to reach their kids? I get that these problems are nothing compared to what’s going on in the Mideast, Ukraine, or any other part of the world. Logic would dictate that if you want to bring attention to the situation AND rally support for your cause then maybe other methods could be used.

  • Kadoo December 29, 2023 (7:29 pm)

    Amen! 

  • Alkilocal December 29, 2023 (7:41 pm)

    “Where’s the logic”Thank you for the empathy. We all have our own emergencies- it’s nothing to compare to Sudan, Ukraine, or the Middle East- but to block an artery of traffic is dangerous, disrespectful to others, and increased the stress of others causing conflict and crisis (we have no idea what this s happening to others around us)well put- thank you.and thanks WSB!! Tonight has kept you on your toes. Let us all be safe. 

  • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (9:28 pm)

    I wish there was another way, but Israel is literally bombing Gaza back to the Stone Age.  This isn’t even a Russian-Ukraine conflict where both sides are armed states, this is one side leveling an impovenshed strip of land and killing non-Hamas civilians, in contravention of the Geneva Convention and in contravention to everything we hold as decent and moral.   How else do we get people’s attention?  There has been deafening silence from mainstream churches in West Seattle and so-called Christians who probably have the scriptures on their bedstand.    

    • Where's The Logic December 29, 2023 (10:22 pm)

      Scarlett, you make some good points, but I’m not sure I entirely understand your position. If the sole purpose of the protest was to get people’s attention then that was achieved. However, I believe the true objective is to end the violence and conflict. Yes, protests are meant to be disruptive, but creating more conflict to solve conflict seems counterintuitive. Also illogical is the notion that those who did not support the protest must support the genocide or hold negative conservative ideologies. As others have mentioned it wasn’t the message, it was how it was delivered.

  • Derek December 30, 2023 (2:41 pm)

    This is what protesting is. Protesting is about halting society to get eyes on injustice. Civil Rights era did this. You cannot concern troll “what if emergency vehicles needed through!” because the point is to stop infrastructure. I mean traffic is on the bridge all the time for many reasons, I’m so sorry you were slightly inconvenienced. People are being bombed in Gaza in the name of Zionism… a random person needing to get home takes a back seat here. Anyone can concern troll any event w/r/t traffic jams.

    • Where's The Logic January 2, 2024 (8:01 pm)

      Derek, I think you missed the point of my comments. I am not sure why you felt the need to call me “concern troll” just because I don’t have the same perspective as you. I get you and others feel passionate and angered about what’s happening to the Palestinian people. As I mentioned before, creating more conflict doesn’t solve conflict. One of my favorite lines from Star Wars is, “only Siths deal in absolutes.” And no Derek I am not saying you or others are Sith Lords, but some of the responses seem very either you are with us or against us. There is no middle ground or other ways to achieve the objectives. You incorrectly assumed I was talking about my inconvenience, when I was making the argument that others will find it difficult to support a cause when certain tactics are used with indifference to the disruption or harm it may cause.  Unfortunately nothing changed in the Middle East, when of course it needs to. I see more differences than similarities to the Civil Rights protests. One of the major differences, is the role of the internet and social media. There is plenty of disinformation, bias, and group think. In case you are not familiar with the term, group think occurs when a group of individuals reaches a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation of the consequences or alternatives. I challenge you and others on both sides, to pause, take a breath, be civil, find common ground, and try to be more empathetic to the other side.

• Selective outrage December 29, 2023 (7:36 pm)

  Where were the protesters during recent atrocities in Myanmar and Sudan? Against Russia’s continued assault on civilians in Ukraine? Or the atrocities committed by Hamas? https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.htmlThe selective outrage is disgraceful and beyond hypocritical

  • Scarlett December 29, 2023 (9:09 pm)

    Hamas atrocities have been condemned.  But of course, you don’t hear about violence from fanatical, militant settlers. Some of us have been calling for a cease-fire in the Ukraine-Russia conflict for several years with the hope of some acceptable compromise, or tentative compromise, can be worked out.  Pouring more money and weaponry into Ukraine is only ensuring more death on both sides.   But the permanent war state machine is lucrative, look at how the global energy situation has tilted in the U.S. favor with Europe forced to import more liguified gas from – surprise, surprise – from the U.S.   This is all geo-political manuvering and no one gives a damn about the average Ukrainian, or Russian. 

• WSOwl December 29, 2023 (7:51 pm)

  I support Israel and don’t support a ceasefire.

  • Lauren December 29, 2023 (9:10 pm)

    So you support genocide. Got it.

    • 🍉 December 29, 2023 (9:52 pm)

      Exactly 

    • Resident December 29, 2023 (11:00 pm)

      I think the person supports the ability to live a life, not in fear of being attacked on a daily basis from an enemy who has stated they want to wipe out your entire existence. I’m pretty sure that’s what he means.

      • Karim December 30, 2023 (8:35 am)

        what you’ve described is Israel. Good job. Maybe this interview with a West Bank settler will illuminate things.
        https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-extreme-ambitions-of-west-bank-settlers

• 🍉 December 29, 2023 (7:55 pm)

  These comments are so disappointing. I’m really surprised to discover that I’m surrounded by so many WSites who seem to support genocide. Either you’re not watching the same videos I’m watching or you’ve somehow convinced yourselves that killing 10k children is okay. 

  • Lizardgal December 29, 2023 (8:34 pm)

    That’s a broad stroke view. I think it’s more folks don’t like the way in which the message was presented. Like here is my opinion and I’ll shout it at you and block the roads. There are more mature ways to have a debate and this feels like entitled one directional thinkers. 

    • 🍉 December 29, 2023 (8:55 pm)

      Actually, people are doing all kinds of mental gymnastics in these comments to justify the continuation of this genocide. Also demonstrations are meant to be disruptive. Have you ever protested before? 

      • disturbed December 29, 2023 (10:20 pm)

        What you call mental gymnastics to justify genocide, others call mental gymnastics to protect a country’s right to defend itself when attacked and live in peace from terrorism. There have been three offers to end the “genocide” just this week and all have been rejected by Hamas. So it seems like people need to take a hard look at who is really putting innocent Palestinian lives at risk here. 

      • Lizardgal December 30, 2023 (6:30 am)

        Disruptive protests offer little dialogue.set up a stall at WS market and have a real conversation.put your  face out there and your “educated”  views so a healthy debate can occur. Honking a horn and waving a flag, and disrupting residents to shout your view at them. Wow !

• Scarlett December 29, 2023 (8:25 pm)

  Good god, conservatives, stop embarassing yourselves with non-sequiturs, red herrings, straw man argument and the usual simpleton talking points you’ve vacuumed up from conservative talking heads.   What happened to conservatives who could think, and reason?  The stunning decline of the conservative mind is a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions.   

  • 🍉 December 29, 2023 (8:30 pm)

    👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • Resident December 29, 2023 (11:02 pm)

    I’m not a conservative and I support Israel. What is your issue with conservatives? What does it have to do with this conversation? I support a country being able to defend themselves for my government that is declared they want to wipe them off the face of the Earth.

  • 😂 December 30, 2023 (7:49 am)

    …the talking points from your TikTok #freepalestine scroll. 

• Rhonda December 29, 2023 (9:07 pm)

  The hateful anti-Semitism in the Seattle area is disturbing and sad.

  • Kim December 29, 2023 (10:22 pm)

    Please do not conflate anti-semitism with anti-zionism. There is a genocide being carried out by Israel, supported by the U.S. Anything we can do to try to disrupt the slaughter should be acknowledged and supported! I say thank you to brave people who act in protest. 

    • Rhonda December 29, 2023 (11:23 pm)

      Kim, if they did that Palestine flag-waving in front of a Jewish household or a synagogue they’d be arrested and charged with a federal hate crime. It’s the same as burning a cross in front of a black church or displaying a swastika. And, yes, being “anti-zionist” IS anti-Semitic because Israel is the Jewish homeland to most of the world’s Jews.

      • Kim December 30, 2023 (7:43 am)

        And homeland to all Palestinians. Sorry, Rhonda. I’m Jewish. Lived there. Speak the language. At its most basic level, who could ever support the carnage against innocent civilians? This will haunt us forever. 

      • Karim December 30, 2023 (8:39 am)

        Zionism is actually anti-semitic, Rhonda. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/mar/07/debunking-myth-that-anti-zionism-is-antisemitic

      • Nothanks December 30, 2023 (9:00 am)

        I’m Jewish and I will never not be sick of people assuming I have any real relationship with Israel or its government. Not all Jews are israelis, the idea of homeland is ridiculous, most of us (American Jews) were born here in America.the Israeli government and Zionist movement is awful, committing war crimes, and oppressing Palestinian people. Many many Israelis are also against bbs actions and government, so stop comparing pro Palestinian actions to anti semitische. They are not the same. Bad bad take.

      • Scarlett December 30, 2023 (9:53 am)

        Rhonda:  This is cheap political blackmail and something that a few national talk hosts have been pushing recently, one is particular whom I won’t name. Apparently the many Jews here and in Israel who don’t support the war in Gaza are all self-hating anti-Semites. Btw,  I’m not getting on my knees and pledging my allegiance to any other nation state; it’s difficult enough with the USA.  

        • Rhonda December 30, 2023 (4:17 pm)

          Scarlett, you would’ve been right at home in 1930’s Germany. Your excuses for your anti-Semitism aren’t working.

    • Neighbor December 30, 2023 (3:45 am)

      Kim, that is incorrect. You can be critical of Israel’s government without being anti Zionist. Being anti Zionist means that you don’t believe the state of Israel has a right to exist and that Jews don’t have a right to self determination. Denying the Jewish people that right is antisemitic. Many Jews and Israelis are very critical of the Israeli government – and as they should be. It doesn’t mean that they don’t have a right to exist in Israel. It’s the same as many people in the US were critical of Trump as president without being anti American. 

  • 937 December 29, 2023 (10:39 pm)

    When it’s been graffiti’d onto key bank in the junction and not called out here and other places – it really is no surprise that anti semitism is condoned and encouraged. 

  • Scarlett December 30, 2023 (9:08 am)

    Maybe you should convene another McCarthy-like congressional hearing and demand that everyone demonstrate their fealty to not even America – but another country.  Maybe we can appoint Rep. Stefanik can badger and bully everyone like the incarnation of Joe McCarthy.  Maybe we can also demand that everyone unquestioningly support our trillion dollar  British Empire  with bases in 80 countries, and other countries you’ve never heard about.  You know, the British Empire, American colonists escaped from. 

  • Scarlett December 30, 2023 (9:24 am)

    There are many Jews who are opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza.  

• Insertname December 29, 2023 (10:24 pm)

  Hmm. I support everyone’s right to assemble and protest when done thoughtfully. What exactly does this accomplish? Anyway, is the ‘Barbie’ movie worth watching? 

• Bbron December 29, 2023 (10:36 pm)

  reminder: if you think criticism against Israel or questioning the validity of Israel’s existence is anti-Semetic, you are supporting an anti-Semetic trope. Judaism and Israel are not equivalents. additionally: Palestine is not Hamas. we as Americans should be able to look over our recent history to see that anti-terrorism thru bombing and invasion only results in radicalizing more civilians. i don’t understand how people can rationalize that because the Middle East is far away that we as Americans have no skin in the game; we’ve sunken trillions of dollars into that region because of goals of geopolitical influence. the US has a direct connection to Israel, and conflicts like this usually end up having global ramifications. get your heads out of the sand.

  • Neighbor December 30, 2023 (3:53 am)

    Bbron, You can and absolutely should be critical of Israel’s government, just as many of us are critical of the US government without saying that the US shouldn’t exist anymore. But to question the validity of Israel’s right to exist absolutely is antisimetic bc it is denying Jewish people’s right to self determination and it is erasing the Jews indigenous history and right to the land. 

    • Bbron December 30, 2023 (1:13 pm)

      neither the West or US have supported any landback movements throughout history except Israel. why is that? questioning the establishment and continuation of Israel and it’s current apartheid is not antisemitism.

  • Adam December 30, 2023 (7:30 am)

    Yeah, so bombing Palestine creates more terrorists, right? Then you’ll understand my confusion when attacking a concert and brutally murdering and raping and kidnapping the concert-goers creates supporters. I guess I just don’t see how it all adds up. I know you can just flip the conversation back to other things you had pre-loaded, lots of slogans and non-sequitors and false equivalencies. But let’s try and stick to the argument. The folks in Hamas would literally murder, rape, and imprison you just for espousing progressive ideals. In fact, in their minds progressive ideals are what’s ruining this planet and must be destroyed. So what are YOU protecting? Not the actual Palestinian citizens. It’s terrible what’s happening there, but where were all of you prior to Oct 7? Where were all of you when Hamas grabbed control and decided that gays could be thrown off the roofs of buildings? When women can be enslaved and murdered for showing too much hair or face? Driving? Learning and reading? This isn’t Pro-Israel or Anti-Hamas, I’m just generally confused by why now? Why not before? I wish there was a way to look this up, like a vast trove of information somewhere to support some of those things. For now I’ll just have to rely on the direct quotes from Hamas about their actions and intentions. The rest of you can use wild suppositions and terrible mental gymnastics. 

    • nonni December 30, 2023 (10:54 am)

      You haven’t imagined it, Adam. The Iran-sponsored propaganda machine has kicked into high gear, perfectly timed with the Iran-sponsored Hamas approach to state building. It has infiltrated our most intelligent centers of higher learning, where even the esteemed professors seem to have forgotten the events of the past century in Europe and the Middle East. The current (P)ally cohort’s pseudo outrage is partly over the idea of their hard-earned two dollars and sixty-three cents in taxes being used to buy a couple of bullets for a Jew to use in self-defense against a self-proclaimed genocidal martyr the outraged ally has been programmed by social media to see as an oppressed brown person. Jump on the bandwagon, brainwashed bleeding hearts, and enjoy the ride, and when the jihadists already here in the U.S. start extending their attacks against Jewish institutions and start setting fire to your ‘Infidel’ institutions, then maybe you’ll regret having supported antisemitic rhetoric. Look up Black September.

      • Bbron December 30, 2023 (1:40 pm)

        look up the Nakba. to claim others aren’t referencing history 🙄 to claim that Israel is equivalent to Judaism 🙄 to claim that US weapons are going exclusively for self-defense 🙄

        • nonni December 30, 2023 (5:16 pm)

          Okay. I’ll play along. The nakba was the result of the religious leader of the Muslim Arabs in Palestine (Hitler’s lapdog, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem) entreating his people to skedaddle to the coast and keep their heads down while the surrounding Arab nations sent their armies in to annihilate the brand-new State of Israel. Rather than accept Transjordan as a sovereign Palestinian state–the first in history– they figured they would wipe out these Zionist interlopers  in a matter of days and then celebrate their bloody triumph in Jerusalem, because they would rather cut off their own heads than share the land with Jews.Meanwhile, some 800,000 Jews who had lived in some of those surrounding Arab lands (some of them there since fleeing 15th century matanzas in Iberia) fled their homes for Israel. But you probably knew that.Judaism is a religion.  It was the religion of the Hebrew people who lived in the kingdoms of Israel and Judaea, in times preceding the Roman Empires invasion and renaming of the region as “Syria Palestina”. You probably knew that, too. Israel is not a religion, although it was founded under the premise of being the one place on earth where Jews would be safe from exile, extermination and the outlawing of their religious practice, which are things that happened multiple times throughout the history of the Jewish people, as recently as under the U.S.S.R., but most notablyand spectacularly under Hitler. Zionism is not a religion, but the mid-19th century-initiated movement to restore that singular place on earth.US dollars overwhelmingly support the sustainability of Israel’s Iron Dome system, which downs Hamas rockets before they can land on Israelis, who some people seem to think should just sit there and take it. The US also seems to appreciate having  a democratic ally in a testy, terrorist-haven region of the planet, even if that ally is currently being led by a megalomaniac who refuses to tamp down on religious extremist violence among his own citizens, and who is deaf to international calls to halt further  annexation and settlement-building activity.Let’s hear your constructive ideas for resolving this conflict and preventing the further tragic loss of life on both sides. I’m all ears. I’ll shut up, so I can listen intently.

        • Bbron December 30, 2023 (9:05 pm)

          @nonni i think something that is missing from your history is the existence of Arab Jews living in Mandatory Palestine. Zionism is the result of Russian and European Jews fleeing their homelands and using religious pretext to guide what they should do. the supporting of this displacement and movement of Jews by Britain, US, and other European powers itself was antisemetic. essentially saying: “you do not belong or have loyalty to where you have lived for generations”. land has been colonized and populations displaced throughout history, you are correct, but we cannot do anything about the past, yet the ongoing colonial project of Israel is happening right now, and we can hope to change and avoid what we know is wrong. why is it that the only landback movement that folks are interested in based around the peoples that lived in an area thousands of years ago when there are many much more recent examples of colonial seizure? ¶ US also supplies the many munitions being dropped and detonated in Gaza. i wouldn’t have brought up US supplying weapons if it was entirely to the Iron Dome. the pointillism that the US has engaged in within the Middle East is one of if not the sole cause of it’s instability and it being a “terrorist-haven”; continuing that practice serves US capitalistic endeavors but can precipitate harm towards civilians. ¶ you already brought up good things to do to bring peace: “tamp down on religious extremist violence among his own citizens”, “halt further annexation and settlement-building activity”. if calls for this don’t work, then stop giving aid. these are things that only exacerbate tensions and conflict. move to a solely defensive posture, open up humanitarian corridors, an immediate and permanent ceasefire. solve the issue with overwhelming peace. we as people in the US should know first hand you don’t stamp out resistance movements or extremists with force. we’ve fought too many wars for too many decades to not learn this by now.

  • Scarlett December 30, 2023 (8:45 am)

    Finally, THANK YOU! 

• Admiral-2009 December 29, 2023 (10:43 pm)

  Hamas hides amongst innocent civilians and wants to remove Israel from the map.  The level of atrocities on both sides is unfortunate.  Blocking a major highway creates a significant safety hazard that is unacceptable and those that did this need to be fined and held accountable.

• Welp December 29, 2023 (11:23 pm)

  So….tell me 2024 is an election yr without telling me 2024 is an election yr.Boy oh boy, cant wait! Everyone gets to pretend to the victim of something. Virtue signaling, crying, finger pointing, pointless protests. Sounds fun!On a serious note, no one should be in favor of war. No one should justify violence. Both sides are wrong. Hamas jeopardized lives in Palestine by foolishly bringing a knife to a gun fight. Then, Israel’s govt overreacted with over the top violence. It’s not the people of Palestine nor the people of Israel committing these acts. Its an extremist militia group (Hamas) and a war hungry govt (Israel) committing these acts. Not civilians. The people on both sides are innocent and are victims.It’s good to remember that govts, militaries, and extremist groups are often the ones committing the violence that then later gets blamed on entire nations of civilians.Today, in the US, supporters of both sides are coming across as blood thirsty, tribal, bigots. The true stance that shows you have a heart is simple: the “no war” stance.Live and let live when it comes to which make believe God you worship. It’s silly and childish to fight over which imaginary deities are better.Rooting for peace means rooting for your opponent’s civilians to live life however they want. Try it. Anyone picking a side today is clearly not trying it.

  • TheRightOne December 30, 2023 (7:27 am)

    Congrats on perhaps the biggest virtue-signalling flex of all. Saying there is nothing you would fight for or defend is a morally bankrupt stance.

  • Brandon December 30, 2023 (3:13 pm)

    Finally someone who sees through the “you’re wrong!” “no you’re wrong!” trap everyone is in. The point is to divide and socially manipulate people. Wake up, youre being played and losing the game. People are crawling over each other to defend killing the other crowd before they kill someone else. The response to that killing will just be more killing. Eventually it will turn to your doorstep and you’ll play victim when your justification as aggressor will simply apply to the other party and youll fall back on a morally superior double standard saying “theyre wrong” showing your true color of hate for the other. Again, wake up.

    An eye for an eye means everyone goes blind.

    To equate morality on a scale where both sides are in the wrong is laughable. There’s retaliation and conflict resolution. Then there’s senseless endless war. For an issue going on for many decades its clear who is morally bankrupt, and its sad that innocents become victims of traditions of hate being passed down the generations prolonging the issue and not learning a thing through history. In their country and ours.

    • SpotOn December 30, 2023 (7:23 pm)

      Brandon nailed it. Mic drop, walkoff homer. Spot on, Brandon. Thank you.

• Tired of the BS December 29, 2023 (11:26 pm)

  Where did Hamas get the money to purchase the weapons they used against Israel?  Where did Hamas get the money and materials to dig the tunnels that exist through out Gaza? Maybe following that money will provide some very interesting answers. What if that money would have been spent on the Palestinian people on bettering their lives…

• Wseattleite December 30, 2023 (12:06 am)

  It seems to be lost on some people that Hamas is the democratically elected leader of Gaza. The people there chose to put Hamas in power, along with their stated goal of destroying Israel. The people of Gaza put Hamas in power, and they are the ones that need to kick them out. 

  • Karim December 30, 2023 (8:45 am)

    “Hamas’ absolute rule of Gaza is not what the Palestinians voted for back in 2006. In fact, since the median age of Gazans is 18, half of Hamas’ subjects weren’t even born when the election took place.”https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/was-hamas-elected-to-govern-gaza-george-w-bush-2006-palestinian-election.html

  • D December 30, 2023 (8:52 am)

    That fact is lost on most people. Also lost is the absence of any Palestinians or these Pro-Palestinian social clubs protesting Hamas and what they did in October. That means they implicitly approve of what happened.

  • GmaWA December 30, 2023 (10:33 am)

    I’m dating myself here, but I’m wondering if not voting for Hamas was like telling Joe Frazier he couldn’t sing.

• H20K9 December 30, 2023 (5:39 am)

  ‘traffic cameras as the video feeds remain broken (SDOT has no ETA on a repair)’  SDOT always the weakest link.  So inept and uncaring.  Aside from a zoning commission that would embarrass 19th century Deadwood, SDOT remains the biggest detriment to livability in Seattle.

• Na December 30, 2023 (7:48 am)

  Read the book “From Time Immemorial.”  You will be enlightened if nothing else.

• Mellow Kitty December 30, 2023 (8:42 am)

  Reading these comments it’s no wonder the world has gone to s***. All I see is mostly hatred and vitriol for each other. 

• Deb December 30, 2023 (9:03 am)

  937 believe it or not there are people who blow off world events. As long as their little bubble is secure all is good. I work at a major medical center and many people there fall into that category. Before you belittle anyone’s comment try to be aware not everyone is current.

• JDB December 30, 2023 (9:12 am)

  Geez, with the way a lot of y’all think the Palestinians deserve collective punishment for the actions of Hamas, I wonder if you realize the United States government and military are guilty of super heinous war crimes across the globe, and with your reasoning, this means all Americans should be k*lled? I mean, we do live in a democracy…

  and for everyone saying “this kind of thing doesn’t work,” this is the biggest discussion on the blog since pickleball…seems like it’s working to me.

  • WW Resident December 30, 2023 (9:36 am)

    Yeah, it’s working. It’s just not the flex you think it is

• Lola December 30, 2023 (9:20 am)

  I was caught in this last night.  I was just coming up to the curve by Walking On Logs and it came to a halt.  I thought maybe it was the lights were off or something.  Got to Fauntleroy & 35th and it seemed fine.  I wonder if they turned up 35th?  

• K December 30, 2023 (10:18 am)

  These protestors got everyone talking about Palestine instead of whining about the $2 it costs to park in the Junction or pickleball, so I’d say the demonstration was a success.  Hats off to you, folks!

  • Stephan December 31, 2023 (9:01 pm)

    You are right this conversation holds importance for the community. Shows that some people care about where their tax money is being allocated. It wont be me caring more about pickleball than humans. That’s deeply ugly behavior. Disappointed to have so many zionists in our neighborhood and will bet most participating in this dialog are parents. This generation and younger ones following should not know the hate adults in these comments hold for fellow human beings. Especially, human beings who have had their human rights stripped away- greatly by the hands of our government’s involvement. I doubt the people spreading hate would still be if their food, water, shelter, safety, culture and families were compromised to the level that Palestinians are experiencing right now. 

• :) December 30, 2023 (11:44 am)

  4 cars stopped on the bridge for 15 minutes.  a day later and there’s 163+ comments on this discussing the whole thing.  They clearly know what they’re doing.

• the truth December 30, 2023 (11:50 am)

  Israel will remove hamas from power, Israel will occupy and govern Gaza from now and into the foreseeable future and there is nothing you pro Palestine   people can do about it….remember Gaza voted in hamas to govern them in 2007!

• Scarlett December 30, 2023 (12:42 pm)

  There hasn’t been a single moral argument presented here to defend what Israel is doing in Gaza, at least to this extent.  If Japan had made it absolutely clear that they would not surrender in WWII, would we have been justified to drop more atomic bombs on more Japanese cities?  What’s the price of getting one Hamas fighter – ten innocent civilians? Most of the defense of Israel, the government, has been deflection, strawman arguments and ridiculous attempts to brand everyone as a bigot – ironic because they are often the same who scoff at “woke-ism” are now accusing everyone of anti-Semitism.  What we do know, without doubt, is that innocent lives are being lost in Gaza and that our government and indirectly we Americans are supporting it.  It is not bringing back the hostages and it is not making Israel more safe.  

  • Zoe December 30, 2023 (3:56 pm)

    Read the NYT article about the sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas during the invasion and to hostages. What would you have them do? What would the US do if that happened on US soil?

• evanpetersnottheactor December 30, 2023 (12:55 pm)

  Well great, looks like the WSB has become Nextdoor. Definitely thought comments were somehow checked before being posted but I’m seeing a lot of comments in here containing statements that have been proven to be false.

  WSB, if you can’t keep up with the fact checking, turn off the comments for posts like this. You’re allowing harmful disinformation to spread amongst the community without moderation. I love you but do better than this in the future, please.

• Scarlett December 30, 2023 (1:08 pm)

  Since someone brought up “propaganda”  in a previous post, there’s this:https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-israel-hamas-ucla-penn-genocide-057006125279Don't take anyone’s word, find out for yourself.   Some advice an older gentleman gave me when I was much younger, and it turned out to be the best advice I ever received.  car to buy.   And double that in a very emotionally charged environment such as war where all parties – yes, both Israel and Hamas –  have plenty of motivation to stretch the truth.  

  • nonni December 30, 2023 (3:46 pm)

    Nice cherrypicking, but that hardly amounts to ‘case closed’. Read this if you are committed to more than a 30-second soundbite.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/10/hamas-covenant-israel-attack-war-genocide/675602/  

    • Scarlett December 30, 2023 (5:14 pm)

      You said “case closed,” I didn’t.  You mangled my comment into a convenient soundbite to suit your whims.  I presented a fact check that demonstrates the adage that in war, truth is the first casaulty.  

• BeachTeach December 30, 2023 (2:33 pm)

  It would not matter WHO was creating an unsafe  situation blocking traffic….. doing so would INSTANTLY make me against your cause.

• Peace maker December 30, 2023 (3:06 pm)

  Regardless of nationality these wars need to end and everyone needs to learn how to really love each other. Love not war I’m sticking to that we all need ☮️ peace

• Zoe December 30, 2023 (3:51 pm)

  I really hope the college aged folks read the article in the NYT about the brutal sexual violence that was beyond the beyond that Hamas committed during its attack and with hostages. Read it and then let me know what you think Israel should do. I’m not Jewish but I completely understand their reaction to 1000 Hamas fighters brutalizing women in the most horrific ways. 

  • Scarlett December 30, 2023 (5:25 pm)

    Well, Zoe, I would say trust but verify.  There is a lot of unsubstantiated claims that are floating around right now.   I just offered a debunking of the claim that students were calling for the genocide of Jews at Penn St and UCLA – no, they weren’t.  In fact the chant was accusing Israel of genocide.  The horrific claim that Hamas were beheading babies? That’s apparently false too.  And yes you better believe there is misinformation coming from the Hamas camp as well.   
    Given the times we live in, if your mother said she loves you, I check that out too.  

    • Bill December 31, 2023 (5:44 am)

      You’ve had almost three months for your vaunted “trust but verify”  — I’d suggest that you get started!

    • Zoe January 1, 2024 (8:05 am)

       Just to note the New York Times did an in-depth investigation into the brutal sexual violence committed by Hamas on Oct 7. I trust the NYT investigative team. I don’t agree with what is happening to the Palestinian people but this article makes me understand the response. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html 

      • WestSeattleBadTakes January 2, 2024 (10:57 am)

        I trust the NYT investigative team. I don’t agree with what is happening to the Palestinian people but this article makes me understand the response.

        You “understand” this response? Seriously?https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-bomb-investigation.html

  • Jeff December 30, 2023 (11:04 pm)

    Why the ageism Zoe? I am anti-Palestinian genocide and I am 48 years old. I agree with the protesters!

• Losing My Religion December 31, 2023 (4:21 am)

  Religion has been, and will continue to be, the primary cause of war and oppression throughout history. 

• Matt January 1, 2024 (10:05 am)

  Seems to me the point of a protest is to raise awareness AND bring people to your side. The reaction by the pro-demonstrators to negative feedback about their methods shows their immaturity. It doesn’t matter what you think of people who are mad to be inconvenienced, the truth is that it is the response you’re getting to your methods. Don’t like that? Protest in a different, more effective way. Organize marches or something. You aren’t going to change minds by squealing at them about privilege or just jumping to accusing them of supporting genocide; might make you feel better but you’re just pushing them further away.

Sorry, comment time is over.