122 Replies to "VIDEO: West Seattle High School students join statewide pro-Palestinian walkout"

• D April 23, 2024 (11:10 am)

  I’m so happy my property taxes are being spent to encourage this terrorism supporting behavior.

• Jay April 23, 2024 (11:18 am)

  Much like the Vietnam War protests, these kids are taking an unpopular position but they’re on the right side of history. This article by The Guardian presents evidence of deliberate targeting of civilian children by snipers on a large scale. This is genocide. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/02/gaza-palestinian-children-killed-idf-israel-war

• Arbor Heights Resident April 23, 2024 (11:29 am)

  It’s heartening to see so many young people speaking out on this issue. Good on them!

  • An Israeli in West Seattle April 24, 2024 (6:34 am)

    What issue? The elimination of Israel?

    • JDB April 24, 2024 (1:53 pm)

      Yes, the elimination of Israeli control over Gaza and the West Bank. Israel needs to leave Palestine alone forever. Let Palestine have control over their own resources. Let them leave Gaza without Israel’s permission. Release the thousands of falsely imprisoned Palestinians. Stop stealing their homes and land. Send Netanyahu back to Philly. I mean, the list could go on, but I think a good start is just to stop carpet bombing Palestine. 

    • Israel children April 24, 2024 (2:54 pm)

      The idea of eliminating Israel and allowing Palestine with the authoritarian Middle East to grow in power is dangerous for the entire world. Biden is doing the right thing supporting Israel. The same goes for supporting Ukraine and Taiwan. Unfortunately the blame is on the authoritarian regimes in power for decades and corruption that’s been oppressing and starving their children before this war, for many prior wars. 

• SeattleSteve April 23, 2024 (11:41 am)

  Love to see the younger generation making their voices heard and advocating for a more just world. Hope to see a free palestine in our lifetime.

• Shanti April 23, 2024 (11:46 am)

  This is anti-semitism.

  • Derek April 23, 2024 (12:29 pm)

    Your comment is anti Muslim

    • ltfd April 23, 2024 (9:31 pm)

      Your trolling is antisemitic.

  • R2 April 23, 2024 (12:49 pm)

    Can’t folks be against war and violence without being anti-Semitic?

  • Not In My Name April 23, 2024 (1:09 pm)

    One can and should criticize Israel and not be anti-semitic.  

  • Adult Learning April 23, 2024 (2:14 pm)

    Anti-zionism is not anti-semitism. You, too, have homework for today: learn what zionism is. Jay (see below) spells it out well. 

    • tedherzl April 23, 2024 (3:18 pm)

      Zionism is the idea that Jews deserve a homeland like other ethnic groups, partially for their safety, and that homeland is in the Levant, where they were forced from during the crusades. Antizionism is the idea that they don’t, usually couched in the notion that they are either from Europe (“go back to Poland/Germany/Russia” or the US – Brooklyn??), or that they were better off when the Arabs treated them as dhimmis in Arab countries.  Because we know (through science!!) that Jews originate from modern day Israel, to deny the connection to the land is on it’s face antisemitic. Similarly, to claim that Jews lived better as dhimmis under Arab/Muslim controlled lands is a distortion of history and a refutation of a people’s claim to self-determination, which is meant to undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state, which can be clearly understood as antisemitic.All this being said, Antizionism can theoretically be neutral to Jews, but is almost always antisemitic in it’s modern approach. Funny enough, the term antisemitism was created by the Germans to obfuscate the term Judenhass or Jew-hate, which we need to bring back.Criticizing Israel because Bibi is corrupt and poor leader is one thing. Criticizing Israel because they are trying to destroy Hamas, an actual genocidal organization that is hiding below it’s people like rats in a sewer is something else.  There is a very sad war with a lot of dead Palestinians who would be alive if their government cared at all about them rather than solely focusing their sorry terrorist lives on the destruction of Israel. Please remember that Hamas still wants more October 7ths and will stop at nothing to kill every Jew on the planet. It’s in the charter.Pesach sameach and let our people go.

  • christoph April 23, 2024 (2:16 pm)

    Shanti this is the most inane comment that I have read on this blog in some time. No one is speaking against or showing prejudice towards existence of a Jewish state (anti-Semitism). The are criticizing and condemning the leadership and heinous crimes of government of that Jewish state (being a decent human being). 

  • Ly April 23, 2024 (11:23 pm)

    Shanti – No it’s not.  Quit throwing that word around.

• Question Authority April 23, 2024 (11:51 am)

  I hope they are all noted as “absent without permission” and have to make the time up.  You are free to support the cause of your choice on your own free time, school time is not up to your whim.

  • Jeff April 23, 2024 (11:58 am)

    Without even getting into sides, that’s a pretty rich take from someone going by Question Authority.

  • Denden April 23, 2024 (12:07 pm)

    I went to WSH in the late 70’s. I remember doing the same thing during the Vietnam War. My draft number was 286. ALWAYS question authorities. Always!

    • Under_Achiever April 23, 2024 (4:02 pm)

      the late 70s?  The final draft call was December 1972 with US exiting Vietnam in March of ’73.Question authority indeed

      • Bill April 23, 2024 (4:24 pm)

        Finally! — a cognizant comment!

    • Pookie April 24, 2024 (12:00 pm)

      Late 70’s. The war was over for years and the draft ended before that. Stolen Valor?

      • WS98 April 25, 2024 (1:24 pm)

        Pookie and under_achiever – no need to question someone’s personal experience/valor”US Selective Service lotteries were held from 1969 to 1972 (during the Vietnam war).”https://www.randomservices.org/random/data/Draft.html

    • WS98 April 25, 2024 (9:36 am)

      Perhaps a couple of retractions/apologies are in order? It took less than a minute 30 seconds to find this…

      Vietnam draft lottery data, Dendon’s number is in the N71 column

      N71 gives the results of the lottery held on August 5, 1971, for men born in 1952. The highest lottery number called for this group was 95; all men assigned that lottery number or any lower number, and who were classified as available for military service, were called to report for possible

      induction.https://www.randomservices.org/random/data/Draft.html

  • Gary April 23, 2024 (12:26 pm)

    Jesus calm down. Not everything is about following every rule all the time or leaping in to gleefully punish someone. 

  • Belvidear April 23, 2024 (1:24 pm)

    Please note SPS’s Civic Engagement Activity
    Excused Absence Form for students who engage in these activities https://www.seattleschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/CivicEngagementActivityExcusedAbsenceFormADA.pdf

  • Jesse April 23, 2024 (8:02 pm)

    The Supreme Court case Tinker V. Des Moines gives students the constitutional right to protest in school. 

• bradley April 23, 2024 (11:56 am)

  Hopefully Pro-Israel supporters were invited and included also. I wonder how many of the students will now actually boycott McDonald’s on their lunch break.

• Seattlite April 23, 2024 (12:09 pm)

  How disappointing that these students are being led down a path that supports HAMAS terrorists over the USA’s ally, Israel.  Factual history explains that supporting Palestine dominoes into supporting Iran…neither are USA allies.  I truly hope these students are learning and understanding that they are part of western culture and should be supporting the USA and its western and eastern allies.  Anti-Semitism has no place in 21st Century America.  

  • amd April 23, 2024 (1:00 pm)

    Iran isn’t a US ally because we overthrew their democratically-elected leader and installed a dictator in order to save us and Britain (mostly Britain) some money on oil.  Maybe this generation wants the United States to be a better friend and ally to nations around the world, and take the side of doing what’s right instead of blindly following “allies” (Churchill bears a lot of blame for the US getting involved with Iran in the first place).  Please don’t equate the genocide committed by Israel with Judaism.  Judaism is a beautiful religion that does NOT condone the type of actions Israel is taking in gaza, and most Jews are against the war.

    • Ottomatica April 23, 2024 (1:37 pm)

      And yet I could never get behind trying to “befriend” a nation like Iran where women are so viciously discriminated against. It is possible to be against Israel’s actions while also not being “pro” Palestine or “pro” PLO or “pro” Iran. 

      • Amd April 23, 2024 (3:13 pm)

        Ottomatica, Iran wasn’t like that under their democratic leader.  They became a theocracy only after the US destabilized their government.  It’s America’s fault women in Iran have the conditions they do today.  

    • WSNeighbor April 23, 2024 (1:39 pm)

      But the group protesting today does “support the existence of one Palestinian state” which IS antisemitic bc that is at the expense of the only Jewish state in the entire world. So Seattlite is correct.

  • Scarlett April 23, 2024 (1:25 pm)

     Right now,  Israel is no ally of the United States as it brutalizes Gaza and threatens a wider conflict.  Israel is prosecuting its own agenda and interests – shouldn’t your fealty and devotion be to the USA, not another nation state?  Western culture?  Tell me where you see, because I’m not seeing much of those grand principles that Western culture was based on, but I am seeing a lot of greed and cowardice.  A lot of cowardice.  

  • Scarlett April 23, 2024 (2:36 pm)

    These students don’t support arming Israel with weapons to bomb Gaza back to the Stone Age and, inadvertently or not,  kill innocent Gazans, including children.  You think this is simpatico with some of the noble ideas – art, music, science, ethics – that supposedly underpin  Western culture?  Btw,  Israel is a sovereign nation state and has it’s own interests and agenda, they aren’t the 51st state. 

  • AttyOutlaw April 23, 2024 (3:24 pm)

    One can be pro-Israel; pro-Judaism; anti-Hamas; pro-Palestinians; anti-war; anti-October 7 invasion, massacre and kidnapping; and anti-civilian targeting, all at the same time. Protesting against the killing of Palestinian children and non-Hamas and non-Hezbollah Palestinians does not make the protesters anti-Semitic; it makes them humanists.

• Free Palestine April 23, 2024 (12:10 pm)

  these kids are on the right side of history ! So proud of them. 

  • MRA April 23, 2024 (12:24 pm)

    Are they? and who decides? You? your friends?  Any of your Jewish friends saying the same thing or do you not have any?

    • Mr Henry April 23, 2024 (12:43 pm)

      Agree 100%

    • Martha April 23, 2024 (1:05 pm)

      I have many Jewish friends who support Palestine and condemn Israel’s ongoing terrorist acts. So, yeah. Next question?

    • Not In My Name April 23, 2024 (1:26 pm)

      I am proudly Jewish and support these kids. Over 20,000 innocent women and children are dead! Who are we when the oppressed become the oppressors?  

      • A proud WS Jew April 24, 2024 (7:24 am)

        I am proudly Jewish and I strongly condemn the pro-Palsestinian, Jewish in name only ‘Jews’ What you don’t understand is that Jihad terrorists will happily murder you if given the opportunity.

        • Not In My Name April 24, 2024 (2:19 pm)

          Please don’t dismiss my Judaism because I stand for the oppressed. You tell me I don’t understand… Israel is putting all Jews at risk. Zionism is not Judaism.  I invite you to read this option from the Washington Post: jews-israel-progressive-justice-theology-politics/

    • Justin April 23, 2024 (1:58 pm)

      Yes progressive American Jews are on the right side of history and the State of Israel is on the wrong side of history. Hope this helps.

    • Ella Cropley April 23, 2024 (2:53 pm)

      Many of those kids are jewish. 

  • Latchkey April 23, 2024 (2:34 pm)

    You cannot declare the “right” side of history as it’s happening, it takes many years or decades to shake out. I’m not advocating either side, but this comment is premature.

    • Pete April 23, 2024 (9:05 pm)

      Collective punishment of civilians, 35,000 dead, mass graves, universities being destroyed, the snipers killing kids, the stores being looted. I think that’s plenty enough vengeance tbh. It’s possible to hate Hamas and want an immediate end to the slaughter that is happening right now. 

• WS star April 23, 2024 (12:14 pm)

  I’m glad my Jewish children are already out of school.  Where is their “safe space?”  

  • Educate Yourself. April 23, 2024 (1:02 pm)

    Why would they need one? Have you seen what is happening across university campuses? Have you heard of Jewish Voice for Peace or IfNotNowMovement? Your comment makes no sense and is persuading the fake news that being Pro Palestine is somehow calling for harm towards the Jewish community. 

    • WSNeighbor April 23, 2024 (1:44 pm)

      What is happening at campuses across the country is the exact reason that a safe space for Jews is needed. They are harassing Jews at these protests, telling them to “go back to Poland”, that theyre Hamas’ next victims, etc. This is not propoganda, it’s happening as we speak. JVP and IfNotNowWhen do not speak for all Jews so please don’t tokenize them. 

      • Scarlett April 23, 2024 (2:54 pm)

        A lot of this is propaganda;  yes, both sides are skilled at using good ‘ole propaganda.   That infamous chant that Rep. Stefanik claimed was used on Penn St campus?  Turns out it was false.  Didn’t stop Stefanik from badgering the Penn St president like she was a modern incarnation of Joe McCarthy and his – grotesquely ironically named – House Un-American Services Committee.  
        https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-israel-hamas-ucla-penn-genocide-057006125279 

  • Adult Learning April 23, 2024 (2:19 pm)

    I am sorry you felt the need to take your Jewish children out of school. I know full well that the protesters were definitely not against Jewish people. To the contrary, they align with many Jews against genocide. The protesters spoke specifically about anti-zionist beliefs that have lead to the genocide of Palestinian people. 

    • Bill April 23, 2024 (4:39 pm)

      You need to pay closer attention!

  • walkerws April 23, 2024 (2:46 pm)

    My Jewish children’s “safe space” is alongside these protestors who are calling for an end to the apartheid state of Israel’s terrorist acts. I am so proud of them for being part of this walkout

• Do NOT Win A Darwin Award April 23, 2024 (12:24 pm)

  Maybe these kids should have a life before they protest ANYTHING. Pay some bills, have a crappy job before you protest politics in a foreign country that you will never EVER relate to.
  This is why my kids go to private school.

  • Derek April 23, 2024 (12:31 pm)

    So you don’t want your kids thinking for themselves? Maybe they’re thinking about all those tax dollars you pay contributing to foreign genocides. 

  • WS98 April 23, 2024 (1:23 pm)

    News flash, students in private school (parochial or otherwise) learn about current events and protest. They’re also really good at sorting out fact from fiction/rhetoric. 

  • Jesse April 23, 2024 (8:05 pm)

    Our taxes pay for those bombs. The U.S. has sent billions of dollars to Israel, money that could go to improving our schools. 

  • Karen April 23, 2024 (8:50 pm)

    What does sending your kids to private school have to do with this?! 

• Admiral April 23, 2024 (12:35 pm)

  Just really impactful stuff here in West Seattle – hope their parents offer them the opportunity to fly nearly 7,000 miles away and support the cause on the ground – I am sure they’ll be just as spirited…

  • JDB April 23, 2024 (2:09 pm)

    The last American who went over there to “support the cause on the ground” was run over and killed by an Israeli bulldozer, just fyi.

• Watertowerjim April 23, 2024 (12:40 pm)

  I must have missed their October 7th walkout in support of those Israelis killed, raped and taken hostage by Palestinian Hamas.

  • Pete April 23, 2024 (9:08 pm)

    Our government wasn’t supporting that… 

• Jesse April 23, 2024 (12:43 pm)

  I love seeing this! Free Palestine! 🇵🇸

  • Shanti April 23, 2024 (1:30 pm)

    Yes Free Palestine….From Hamas

• Admiral-2009 April 23, 2024 (12:51 pm)

  I ask what about protesting Putin’s war against Ukraine?  Both these conflicts suck, Putin started the aggression against Ukraine, whereas Israel was attacked by Hamas, a terrorist group, who started the conflict and then hide’s amongst innocent Palestinians. 

  • Brandon April 23, 2024 (6:51 pm)

    Optics and propaganda.

    From the perspective of Hamas, Israel started it by existing, they can convince their populace to support a regime meant to take out Israel and return their land.  Israel can say they are retaliating against people that first attacked them and go so far as to say they will be a victim of oppression until Hamas retires.  All the while enflaming Palestinians with their efforts but drawing support from their populace who feel threatened.  Palestine and Hamas can then claim they’re oppressed.  In other conflict, Russia can sit there and say they’re out to save Ukraine from the westernized corruption that took hold with good intention the support of its own populace yet on the world stage be showcased as the villain. Nato can add countries amassing the Middle East into Asia, and Russia can be criticized for trying to recreate the Soviet Union. Ukraine can say they’re defending themselves and democracy saying the war won’t end until Russia is beat, as they reject peace talks and send more soldiers to war with blank checks from other countries claiming they’re going to be victors if they only get more money.  All sides can say they’re winning at the same time. The people will say they’ve won when the others have lost, few will admit both sides lost.

    One side can say you’re pro israel/palestine/ukraine/russia if you simply criticize the other party or even play the middle.  Who are the arbiters of truth now?  People will settle into any camp and hear one side of the story or the other and be socially conditioned to support one effort and simultaneously be against another when the situations are inherently the same, just because they’re told different.  For example, our very own elected officials on both sides of the aisle are claiming we need to defend Israel and Ukraine from foreign invaders and fund their war efforts and walls past, present, and future while our borders are wide open.  We certainly lost our credibility card.

    It’s all useless death funded by outside interests, namely taxpayers of each country’s people manipulated by their leaders, who are too stupid to realize when you play an eye for an eye, everyone goes blind. But that keeps the kickbacks going and so we censor and spin.

    • Scarlett April 24, 2024 (11:32 am)

      Brandon, thanks for saying what needed to be said.  Personally, human nature being the horribly flawed experiment gone wrong that it is,  I think people will go to any length in the name of self-interest and self-aggrandizement to rationalize their beliefs, even to the point of rationalizing the killing of innocent children.  One only needs to look at the pitiful dissembling on this thread for evidence. 

• Tara April 23, 2024 (12:52 pm)

  My daughter texted me from WSH this morning that organizers told the kids, “Do not interact with zionists.” To many of us that means don’t talk to people who believe Israel has right to exist, i.e., most Jews.  Happy Passover, indeed.

  • Derek April 23, 2024 (1:15 pm)

    And what about Arabs on Eid? Did you say sarcastically “happy Eid Mubarak” when they spoke out against their family members being attacked in hospitals?  I would like to see proof of this too. The organizers, from what I can tell, emphasized this being inclusive.

  • Jay April 23, 2024 (1:54 pm)

    Zionism is completely separate from Jewish ethic or religious identity. It’s a radical belief that most US Jewish people so not support. And those who oppose Zionism aren’t opposing the right of Israel to exist, they’re protesting the colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. Opposition to Zionism is not antisemitic, a massive portion of anti-Zionists are Jews themselves. Such as Jewish Voice for Peace.

    • WSNeighbor April 23, 2024 (2:27 pm)

      JVP is NOT most Jews or even a large representation of Jews. Nor do they represent the majority of anti Zionists. Stop tokenizing them! They are loud but they are NOT the majority.

    • dazman April 23, 2024 (3:22 pm)

      Most Jews are zionists and zionism is the belief that Jews deserve a homeland which we would call a liberation philosophy these days. It’s not radical at all, unless you think that countries shouldn’t exist, at which point it seems that you are the radical. 

  • Adult Learning April 23, 2024 (2:07 pm)

    Your homework for today is to learn about what a zionist is. The protesters were against zionism, and allied with jewish people. Not all jewish people are zionists (as you will soon learn in your research, hopefully). 

• DubSEACombatVet April 23, 2024 (1:01 pm)

  Palestinians (not HAMAS) were cheering and celebrating in the street after the October 7th massacre and hostage taking in Israel. Palestinians (not HAMAS) were cheering and celebrating in the street after September 11th, 2001. These “innocent” Palestinian civilians have done nothing, NOTHING to stop or even slow down the terrorist regime they have enabled for decades. This combat Veteran (me) can take a one second look at this situation and know EXACTLY who the enemy is. It’s not our only ally in the Middle East, it is not the only democracy in the Middle East, it is not the only tolerant (LGBTQIA+) country in the Middle East… It is the terror sponsoring, ally to Iran, intolerant, despotic regime of Palestine/Hamas/Iran. This is war… Wars have objectives, as this one does. 1) Return all the hostages 2) Eradicate Hamas  //  In a nut shell Palestine/Hamas F’d around, and is finding out what that gets you … Stand with our ally…. STAND WITH ISRAEL!         

  • SpecialK April 24, 2024 (4:10 pm)

    I could not agree with you more! 

• WSRes April 23, 2024 (1:09 pm)

  I am friends with several Israelis living there. It’s so disappointing to see how everyone has forgotten the terrorism they suffered under Hamas. The kids are on the wrong side of history with this one. Hamas is devoted to the eradication of the Jewish people. It’s written right in their charter. 

• April April 23, 2024 (1:10 pm)

  Good for them for protesting in what they believe in! This is not antisemitism, this is not pro Hamas, This is about killing innocent people and genocide! Shame on the adults for knocking them down!!!

  • Matt April 23, 2024 (2:04 pm)

    I think much of the pushback against those who are pro-Palestine is because what they would like to see happen would lead to the destruction of Israel; put another way, those crying out against alleged genocide in Palestinian want to stop it by triggering genocide in Israel. A genocide-for-genocide swap is not the best argument if you want to be taken seriously.

• Jon April 23, 2024 (1:15 pm)

  Chag Pesach Samech.

• KP April 23, 2024 (1:19 pm)

  As a WS resident, I am SO proud of these principled students for demonstrating that business as usual cannot continue as their government actively funds and diplomatically covers for apartheid Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. It’s a bad faith argument to claim Anti-Zionism is anti-semitism because Zionism is NOT the same thing as Judaism. The film Israelism, provides a great perspective on this from American Jews. If you’re reading this and have come to a new understanding thanks in part to actions like the ones these students are taking, it’s okay to change your mind with new information. You are important for creating a safer world for EVERYONE. Add your voice, withhold your dollars, pressure your elected officials, attend marches, make art, talk to your neighbors. 

  • dazman April 23, 2024 (3:24 pm)

    Zionsim is not the same thing as Judaism but Jews have been prosecuted enough and deserve a homeland. To deny that is antisemitic.

    • Melissa April 23, 2024 (4:43 pm)

      It is not antisemitic to believe that the state of Israel should not exist as it currently exists. I believe that theocracies are – universally – a bad idea. And I’m a Jew.

      • nonni April 24, 2024 (10:43 am)

        Israel is a theocracy?

• Noelle April 23, 2024 (1:22 pm)

  Hamas is a terrorist organization. These protests are in essence supporting Hamas.Palestine & Israel are both beautiful countries full of wonderful traditions, history & kind people. Peace is possible when Hamas is removed from power.  

  • Adult Learning April 23, 2024 (2:23 pm)

    Please spend some time drawing a map of Israel and Palestine. There will be peace between Palestine and Israel when they can learn to coexist together rather than resort to the kind of racist extremism that leads to mass genocide on either side. 

    • Noelle April 24, 2024 (7:47 pm)

      Peace can only grow in Trust. Can the citizens of Palestine, or anyone, Trust Hamas?  I hope the hostages come home soon. 

• WSNeighbor April 23, 2024 (1:46 pm)

  I hope they are also protesting for the release of the 133 hostages that are on their 200th day of captivity in Gaza so that this war can finally end. 

• Lauren April 23, 2024 (1:52 pm)

  The kids are alright ❤️

• DRW April 23, 2024 (2:04 pm)

  Cease Fire First.

• There is a famine in gaza April 23, 2024 (2:17 pm)

  1) these kids aren’t “supporting Hamas” or being anti-Semitic. They are opposing ongoing US support for the current Israeli regime and its ongoing bombardment of Gaza.2) the current Israeli regime, led by Netanyahu and the far right extremists, has crossed line after line and committed war crime upon war crime. 3)  Hamas is a violent terrorist group. No one is erasing or forgetting the atrocities they committed or what they are. 4) there is a famine in Gaza. Children, babies, and adults are STARVING TO DEATH. I’m not talking about Hamas terrorists. I’m talking about innocent people caught in the middle. Israel, as our ally, and as a supposedly decent and democratic nation, has an obligation to stop bombing these people. And the US must stop supporting them as long as they continue to bomb innocent people and allow this famine to expand. 5) that is what these protests represent. You are motivated by your biases if you say otherwise. You are grasping at a way to silence criticism of Israel’s government when you call these protests anti-Semitic and seek to ban these protests. And frankly, THAT is anti-American. 

• Y April 23, 2024 (2:33 pm)

  Perhaps they should take a field trip to the Holocaust Museum

  • Adult Learning April 23, 2024 (3:30 pm)

    Perhaps you should? Mass genocide is wrong, no matter which race it’s happening to. Right now it is happening to Palestinian people. How are people not getting this..

• Gina April 23, 2024 (2:58 pm)

  The lunch time for WSHS is 11:45-12:45 and the campus is open, probably minimal impact on attendance. 

• Alki resident April 23, 2024 (3:37 pm)

  I hope those kids can do a car wash soon so they can travel to Palestine and let them know they support them. 

  • Derek April 23, 2024 (4:00 pm)

    Pretty sickening that you want kids to enter a war zone because they peacefully protested over here. 

  • helpermonkey April 24, 2024 (8:56 am)

    What a disgusting thing to say, Alki, although I expect nothing less. Good to see another trumper on here supporting genocide as long as it’s on what they consider the right side. Gross. 

    • Alki resident April 24, 2024 (5:28 pm)

      So sad you can call someone a trumper out of the air and completely miss anything I said. But thanks for the laugh. 

• Person April 23, 2024 (3:42 pm)

  A protest is fine, but choosing to do it during Passover was a distasteful choice. This has the appearance of being hateful towards Jews and does not build bridges. 

  • Derek April 23, 2024 (3:55 pm)

    I can help you with this: it wasnt hateful. The genocide is occurring right now. Doesn’t matter what holiday it is. Israel also has Christians and Muslims and Atheists supporting genocidal occupation. It’s not a religious-state. It seems weird to paint Israel with the broad brush conflation of all things Judaism, that’s like not protesting in America on Easter or something.

    • WSNeighbor April 23, 2024 (7:38 pm)

      The war (not a genocide) has been going on for 6 months. But they decided on the first day of Passover to hold a state wide protest. Oh and remember one month ago when the world was pleading for a ceasefire so that Muslims could celebrate Ramadan in peace? Do you see the double standard?

      • evanpetersnottheactor April 24, 2024 (8:36 am)

        “Peace” to you is not having to see people protest against the bombing of an entire population by our tax dollars during your holy time.

        “Peace” during Ramadan was not having Palestinians being bombed during their holy time.

        I’m not seeing the double standard here.

• AL April 23, 2024 (4:04 pm)

  @WSB “Protest against genocide” would be a better way to describe the demonstration than “Pro-Palestine”. I feel like the title of this article brought on a lot of assumptions and inflammatory responses that genuinely misunderstand the purpose of the demonstration. 

  • Personwhowasattheprotest April 23, 2024 (5:33 pm)

    The blog didn’t show everything we were trying to say! The people recording were only there at the start for about five minutes. We were protesting for a ceasefire and to stop the murders of civilian children. Hope this could help clarify. :)

    • WSNeighbor April 23, 2024 (7:39 pm)

      But did you also protest for the release of the hostages so that that ceasefire could happen? Or are you only holding Israel accountable for this war? 

    • BelvidereMom April 23, 2024 (9:42 pm)

      That may be. But when you marched past me, the crowd was chanting “Free, free Palestine.” I’m curious what that means to you (genuinely, I’m not being sarcastic). If it’s about stopping the death, injury, and destruction in Gaza, why not have a pro-peace walkout? A pro-ceasefire march?My son said he talked to some of his 2nd period classmates who were thinking about participating. He asked them what happened on Oct 7, and they had no idea. Not saying they did participate, but it gives a general idea of the level of student interest/ knowledge. A ceasefire will be achieved immediately when Hamas releases the remaining hostages, and surrenders. A ceasefire has to be agreed to by both sides.

      • Brian April 24, 2024 (7:47 am)

        No one can truthfully say what happened on 10/7 because the narrative is purposefully murky and unclear. It’s by design. 

• wsgal April 23, 2024 (4:04 pm)

  Proud alumni, good on these kids for speaking out. 

• Brandon April 23, 2024 (4:36 pm)

  And yet, just think how many will vote for the military industrial complex and forever wars in their first election.

• human April 23, 2024 (5:22 pm)

  Agree completely. Words matter: So much of this inflammatory rhetoric and argument could be avoided if we refer to what I believe this movement is about: It’s Against Genocide. And right now, the genocide happening in Gaza that has already killed 24,000 fellow human beings. 

  • Shanti April 23, 2024 (6:28 pm)

    Oy Vey with the fake news.

• Mike April 23, 2024 (6:26 pm)

  Careful people, you’re treading on familiar water.https://www.history.com/news/how-the-hitler-youth-turned-a-generation-of-kids-into-nazis

• drahcir April 23, 2024 (6:26 pm)

  Hamas is a terrorist organization hellbent on killing innocent Israeli citizens, they must be eliminated. 

  Benjamin Netanyahu is a terrorist Israeli leader hellbent on killing Palestinians, whether they be Hamas or not, he must go. 

  The only reason Netanyahu is perpetuating this onslaught is to save his own skin; he knows he will be ousted the second this “war” is finished. His radical right-wing government will soon be toppled. 

  There is plenty of blame to go around. 

  Hamas did not build hundreds of miles of tunnels, under stores & under homes, stock piling weapons & bombs without the knowledge of Palestinian leaders in Gaza.  Perhaps they were afraid to speak up or stop them but you don’t build miles of tunnels, seeing weapons being delivered, military training (by Hamas in Gaza) without the PLO knowing about it, they are complicit. 

  Likewise, Israel elected Netanyahu, their politicians allowed him to change their judiciary to a more radical agenda.  Israeli citizens are responsible for enabling a radical right-wing government to execute civilians. 

  Lastly, the USA can not have it both ways.  We need to force Israel to back down, period.  I’m not in favor of radical protests like closing highways & access to the airport; that is stupid, unproductive, & you’ll likely lose favor from those that oppose what is happening in Gaza today.

• TJ April 23, 2024 (6:41 pm)

  Just to be clear, by definition there is not genocide occurring in this conflict. It’s a pretty harsh statement that is being thrown around that isn’t reality. Apparently many schools had walk outs today, and on the radio earlier they had a student from a different school on yelling that Israel has had a campaign of genocide for decades against Palestine. The population of Palestine in 2000 was under 3 million, and now is almost 5.5 million so obviously there isn’t genocide occurring. People throwing around that garbage while ignoring the Jewish people were experiencing true genocide 80 years ago. This could all end if Hamas gave up power and released the remaining living hostages. Don’t forget Hamas was elected by a overwhelming majority after declaring their goal of destroying Israel. And while people like to bash the US, they also seem to ignore that we also are giving more aid to Palestine than their neighbor allies who supposedly care. Egypt for one, who also won’t take any refugees in while sharing a border 

  • Seattlite April 23, 2024 (8:16 pm)

    TJ…Your post is 100% factual.  I feel that some Americans are not searching for facts but, instead, are just picking up the baton of hearsay which is extremely dangerous and ignorant.

  • wut April 23, 2024 (8:43 pm)

    Huh? The aid package isn’t even voted by Senate and half of it is for Israel to bomb Gaza and West Bank more. US just sent baby cleats to block flotillas of aid to Gaza too. And Israel bombed the last batch being sent. So get your facts straight. Your numbers are also way off. Population percentage to world population is what matters. How many did US or <insert country> population have in your arbitrary end point? That matters. Because it’s about the RATE of deaths. And that’s why genocide is appropriate. 

• Tired of the BS April 23, 2024 (8:26 pm)

  I wonder how much better the Palestinians would be if Hamas hadn’t spent valuable resources on building tunnels and rockets and used them to better their lives.  I would be more supportive of the Palestinian cause if they were more vocal about removing terrorists from power.

  • Brandon April 23, 2024 (9:54 pm)

    Had to point this out here as a devil’s advocate. Just because people don’t speak out does not mean they are for said action. Plus, there are many reasons why someone might not speak out, fear of reprisal, sense of normalcy, blatant censorship.  To say Israel is justified in doing whatever they want because the majority of Palestinians are “quiet” about it is the exact same as saying all of the US should be at fault our own leader’s actions we may not like. What’s to stop Iran or another country from attacking the US and all its citizens because the elected officials are all in on supporting Israel.  Regardless of anyone disagreeing now, they are the representatives at the moment, so by that logic, we’re culpable and fair game to be targets, no? Or is there a BS double standard here?

• Millie April 23, 2024 (11:26 pm)

  Perhaps, we could all calm down and allow these young people develop their thinking skills.  Fairly certain they discussed sides of the issue before deciding to walk-out of class.  As with all things, there are two sides to every issue.  Previous Israeli and Palestinian governments agreed to a two-nation policy. In truth, it is often, individuals and groups living outside countries with conflicts that “fan the flame”.   In my trips to Israel, and listening to the day-to-day conversations, I was fortunate to learn both sides wanted to live in harmony and peace.   Going back in history to the Vietnam War period, if we had listened more to protesters and returning soldiers/sailors/pilots, there could be fewer names on the walls of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.   WIthout knowing History we tend to repeat the same errors, witness the recent elections in Europe, Africa and the volume of disagreement between peoples.  Can we really not live with each other without conflict?

• Andrew April 24, 2024 (12:21 pm)

  A little late to posting here, but this is a good article it’s explains quite a bit. https://www.vox.com/2024/4/24/24138333/columbia-student-protests-gaza-nyu-divest-faculty

• Tired of the BS April 25, 2024 (12:10 am)

  Brandon’s soapbox is so high, he’s probably suffering from hypoxia.  Alternatively, your argument for a populace not saying anything could be a reason why authoritarian regimes come into being or last as long as they do. And then…Why doesn’t Iran attack the US and it’s citizens? I imagine it is the fear of that country’s destruction by the US. Some may call it deterrence…

• Salman April 25, 2024 (7:51 pm)

  Very comforted to know that so many of my neighbors passionately support this:https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1246593844/israel-gaza-palestinian-boy-shot-food-aidproud of these west Seattle high school kids, and their parents.

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