‘It’s scary’: Seniors take to Admiral Junction corners to protest federal cuts

“It’s scary.” That’s why, Roxie told us, she organized some of her Brookdale Admiral Heights neighbors for a protest this afternoon. The federal changes aren’t the only things that scare her – inaction by concerned citizens, she said, is scary too. So this was the action taken today by about two dozen seniors who stood and sat on multiple corners at Admiral/California, about half a block south of their building.

Their signs addressed a variety of areas of concern, from Social Security to the Veterans Administration to chief cutter Elon Musk.

They drew a fair amount of honking from people in passing cars. Organizer Roxie, by the way, is 90 years old, and said she had a history of political involvement back when she lived in Montana. She’s not interested in going back there, though – she’s worried that if Social Security is cut, she’ll have to get family there to take her in.

Workdowntown March 29, 2025 (5:23 pm)

You go gals!!! Love it.

onion March 29, 2025 (5:34 pm)

Rock stars. Dylan Thomas said it best:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Kris March 29, 2025 (5:44 pm)

Love this!!

WSI March 29, 2025 (6:17 pm)

So proud of our Brookdale Admiral Heights neighbors! Come on West Seattle, let’s join with these patriots and help amplify their voices! Next Sat, 4/5 – Nationwide Mobilization! Come to the Seattle Center and join your neighbors from West Seattle, Seattle, Burien, Tukwila, SeaTac, North Seattle, and countless others around the Sound, around Washington, around the entire US – even London!

M. March 29, 2025 (6:30 pm)

Who’s going to tell them D.E.I. has done nothing positive?

SpringIsHere March 29, 2025 (6:51 pm)

Your attitude is doing nothing positive.
bolo March 29, 2025 (8:06 pm)

“Who’s going to tell them D.E.I. has done nothing positive?”

In fact, you are correct.

D
E
I

As in:

Deport
Elon
Immediately

:-)
- The blame game March 30, 2025 (4:20 pm)
  
  How does one deport a legal American citizen? What did Elon do to anyone?
  - Lagartija Nick March 30, 2025 (6:27 pm)
    
    Fun fact, Elon came here on a student visa then he dropped out of college and started a business. Which was/is illegal and a common pretext for current deportations. So yes, his citizenship can (and should) be revoked.
Bbron March 30, 2025 (9:47 am)

A part of corporate DEI practices include addressing and combating ageism. If you erode parts of DEI, other parts are bound to follow. I’d say it’s pretty easy to see why older folks would support it; allowing those that want to work not get pushed out cause of age. Empathy is a learned and practiced skill. I’d take some time to practice each day if I were you.
Lagartija Nick March 30, 2025 (10:20 am)

When you oppose DEI initiatives you are explicitly stating that no minorities are qualified for any given job. So my question to you is when exactly is a minority person qualified for any given job?
- Fitz4 March 31, 2025 (1:57 pm)
  
  So… when you oppose anything Trump is doing to “make America great,” does that mean you are un-American? Faulty logic all around.People are qualified for a job if they are qualified for a job. Putting someone in a position they aren’t ready for isn’t good for anyone.
Firefighter March 30, 2025 (11:19 am)

You, apparently! I double dog dare you Mr MAGA to go tell the old folk yourself that you agree with their suppression and hastened death by the Great Evil. Go ahead – you might be surprised what you learn by talking to those you seem to fear so much.

CarDriver March 29, 2025 (6:50 pm)

M. Evidently, you’re not. Why?

Citizen Joe March 29, 2025 (6:52 pm)

They have me convicted. If they are out protesting, what’s my excuse?

WS Guy March 29, 2025 (7:04 pm)

What are they protesting? SS and Medicare benefit cuts are not even on the table.

bill March 29, 2025 (10:46 pm)

You are not paying attention to the news about the effects of staff cuts at the Social Security Administration. Applying for benefits or resolving problems is becoming enormously difficult.
CapitalWon March 30, 2025 (9:08 am)

The easiest answer to your question lies on the signs they are holding in the pictures. But bill is also correct, some services may not be getting a direct cut, but it is a common tactic to make a service so difficult to use that the general public loses faith in it. When a ship sinks, there are not many in the chaos that question who drilled a hole in the hull, until it’s too late.
Anne March 30, 2025 (9:11 am)

Are you living in the real world at all?
North Admiral Cyclist March 30, 2025 (9:12 am)

WS guy, you are apparently still operating under the old rules- where we in the U.S. had the rule of law and checks and balances between branches of government. In today’s world, the president’s administration believes they are above the law. They sidestep the legislative budgeting process and attack government programs (that do not benefit them) by kneecapping the agencies with staffing cuts. So SS and Medicare benefit “cuts” are absolutely on the table. With those cuts, the billionaires and mega corporations can be given further tax cuts.
anonyme March 30, 2025 (11:22 am)

WSGuy, do you realize that old does not mean dead? That intelligent people who have had and continue to have full lives can remain engaged in the issues of the day? That freedom of press, the erosion of human rights, and the dismantling of democracy affects people of every age? That it’s possible to care about those who aren’t members of your specific demographic? And, btw, Medicare and Social Security are very much on the table. Elon has declared it so. I think this is potentially a powerful protest model; I can’t imagine that even Trump would think it a good PR move to start arresting 80 year-old protesters, but you never know.

JustSarah March 29, 2025 (8:23 pm)

Absolutely love seeing this. Thank you, Brookdale residents! You surely inspired many people today.

Lauren March 29, 2025 (8:33 pm)

Love this!!

Grutzbo March 29, 2025 (9:30 pm)

M. One thing DEI has done is increase the awareness that we are not fully utilizing the talent available to our workforce and economy. Hiring companies and managers are more likely to expand their candidates pool making the companies and economy stronger and more competitive. Dare I say making America greater. Some DEI activities may have two sides and deserve more scrutiny. But they have done something positive.

KJ March 29, 2025 (9:40 pm)

Love this, thank you to our neighbors for taking a stand for what you believe in!!

Star55 March 29, 2025 (10:03 pm)

We will be at the Seattle Center on April 5th. Wish we knew you were out today, we would have been there with you. Great job. We are all in this together.

Ronald Foust March 29, 2025 (10:35 pm)

This new administration claims to have cut over 1 trillion in the deficit (DOGE) The firings he has made has increased the unemployment rates and canceled essential services.Musk is stepping down as DOGE leadership…Apparently he’s satisfied with his damage 🤷🏻‍♂️

I love elongated in a cage March 29, 2025 (11:33 pm)

Thrilled to see this. They are striking a nerve many feel these days. Their advocacy pierces the sense of malaise and helplessness many have adopted silently, maybe sharing privately with friends, but not organizing on. We watch as our last bastion – courts – are now under attack. These folks out today have warmed my heart. They remind me that, with organization around ideas, we can accomplish what we want, we need not be any more, and we must act.

WS mom March 30, 2025 (12:11 am)

Thank you, Roxie!

Reed March 30, 2025 (8:27 am)

Directly relevant to the topic at hand, let’s all recognize and be aware that our city council representative Rob Saka is going along with the right wing play book, so much so that Fox News picked it up:

https://www.foxnews.com/media/seattle-city-councilmember-introduces-resolution-acknowledge-failure-defund-police-movement.amp

Randy Winn March 30, 2025 (11:29 am)

Thank you SENIOR PATRIOTS for showing us the way!

When DOGE/Musk/Trump cut the Medicare that funds so much of our senior care system, who is ready to let their mom stay at their house?

Who is ready to provide Dad with memory care?

Do I see anybody raising their hands?

Nobody?

I appreciate some people love Trump. That’s the way love is; love is love and no-one can talk you out of it.

But is your love of Trump so great that you’re ready to kick granny out of senior living ?

The King March 30, 2025 (5:42 pm)

SS and Medicare have been predicted to run out of money within a decade for years now. The target has shifted by a couple of years here and there. Maybe these cuts are necessary? Nobody else has addressed the fact actions needs to be taken rather than just do nothing.
- Bbron March 30, 2025 (7:50 pm)
  
  social security can pay out 80% of benefits indefinitely
- k March 30, 2025 (8:02 pm)
  
  The cuts they’re making right now are to administrative systems, so the benefits themselves won’t be touched (in the near term), but they’re dismantling everything that makes payment possible at any benefit level. This will affect disability as well, which is an important safety net for those who are unable to work due to their disabilities.
- anonyme March 31, 2025 (7:18 am)
  
  There has been a simple and obvious solution to the potential Social Security insolvency problem out there for a very long time: remove the income cap on the Social Security payroll tax. The current limit is $176,000, meaning that the wealthy pay a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of us. And then to add insult to injury the wealthiest man in the world, the dude who is slashing the structure of government and proposing cuts to SS, pays no income tax at all.

carolei March 31, 2025 (10:40 am)

I’m wondering if we can organize a demonstration in West Seattle for noon on April 5? I’d like to go to the one at Seattle Center, but I’m old and I’m not sure if I could handle standing in a large crowd for a lengthy period of time. Maybe we can have a local protest for those who would have trouble leaving West Seattle?

Admiral-2009 March 31, 2025 (4:10 pm)

anonyme – agreed solving the insolvency issue is easy simply raise the retirement age as people are living significantly longer now than when SS was first implemented! And if nothing is done SS can still pay 80% of benefit by cutting everyone’s benefit by 20% that is the most equitable and fairest way to do it.