Fairness: a "sickening" concept?

by Nate Jackson Apparently the 1% don’t like hearing from us.

Billionaire Paychex Inc CEO Tom Golisano said, “If I hear a politician use the term ‘paying your fair share’ one more time, I’m going to vomit.”

The idea of fairness makes him sick and he’s not alone.

Big bank CEOs and other 1% elites are kicking and screaming that it’s unfair that we want them to pay their fair share, invest in our communities and treat their workers with respect. Some CEOs are talking publicly about what they really think of the 99% movement.

We’ve been pushing hard and we’ve gotten under their skin. The 1% hasn’t even thought of fairness in so long that they’ve forgotten what it means.

We know that fairness is equal opportunities, good jobs, respect in the workplace and a system that rewards the real wealth creators, the workers, like Gina Peterson and Susie Esqueda.

Peterson has been out of work for half a year. She was a healthcare worker who has been unable to find good work. She’s been looking for a good job and has every right to complain, but she chooses instead to fight for an economy that works for all of us.

Peterson was one of the activists who came with Working Washington to Washington DC and she went out of her way to help others during that week of action. When she saw a need she filled it. When something needed to be done she did it.

She even stood up to elected officials and held her ground while they tried to ply her with nice words and empty promises.

“It’s not just about me, “she said. “We need to change the system so that everyone who wants to work can find good jobs. There’s so many more people back home who are hurting just like I am.”

Susie Esqueda has just had her 47 year old daughter move back in with her because of the lack of good jobs. Her children are facing foreclosure and her own job situation is dire. She lost her job a year and a half ago. She is facing serious issues, but you would never tell if you talked to her. She has a smile on her face and goes out of her way to help others.

She is standing up and fighting instead of just lobbing complaints. She is talking to her neighbors and showing them how to get involved in this fight that we, the 99% can’t lose. She is getting things done.

“I’m worried that the Congress and the 1% are not doing anything for the working class,” she said. “We all need help and I’m going to fight for the change that we need. They need to hear from us.”

Everyone does better when everyone does better. The big bank CEOs and the 1% keep trying to sell that old line that “you’re on your own,” but we know better. Nothing can change until we all work together. It’s like the 1% don’t get that if they paid their fair share and invested in good jobs in our communities everyone would do better.

We’ve been putting on the pressure and the 1% are lashing out. They want us to just be quiet and go away. It’s not going to happen. We’ll keep telling them to invest in our communities with good jobs and respect in the workplace. They’ll keep seeing us in their offices, in the streets and in the halls of our elected officials.

We’ve got the 1% on the run and we’re not giving up..

Kemper Freeman: The Grinch Who Stole Congress

by Nate Jackson What do you call a man who snatches away the things that bring us joy? The Grinch.

Monday morning a group of 99%ers gave a wake up call to a 1% local area "Grinch" named Kemper Freeman. Freeman is a Bellevue real estate mogul who throws around money to political campaigns and politicians who directly affect our health-care, job prospects and education.

He has backed candidates and policy makers, like Rep. Reichert, who voted against extending unemployment benefits for 62,000 people across Washington State.

He’s shoved money into the pockets of national congressmen like Speaker Boehner who is hell bent on slashing Medicare and Medicaid.

Freeman also doled out cash to local area initiative huckster Tim Eyman to stop the State Legislature from closing tax loopholes for big banks and corporate jets.

He is taking from the people who need essential services and giving to those who’ve forgotten what it was like to need a helping hand. It’s like his heart is two sizes too small.

Freeman is acting like “The Grinch” so we showed up to try to get him to open his eyes.

Workers and unemployed folks gathered on the corner of 8th and Bellevue Way right under Freeman’s office. We handed out carol songbooks to passersby and started singing the 99% version of some holiday classics. Songs like “Here comes Kemper Freeman,” “The 12 Days of Working Poor,” and “All I want for Christmas is a Good Job.”

We sang and sang and took our message inside the offices of Kemper Freeman. Freeman tried to stop having to hear from us and blocked off the elevators. We took the stairs. We wanted to see Freeman and let him know that the 99% weren’t going to take his meddling in our democracy anymore.We wanted him to have another chance to “grow his heart.” Instead he shut the doors on our faces.

RJ Williams, sporting a walking stick, spoke to the crowd outside of Freeman’s office.

“We want to know how you can sleep at night,” RJ said. “You buy our democracy when we just want good jobs, health-care and good education. Shame on you.”

Since Freeman was hiding in his office we decided to go into the mall itself and spread holiday cheer. We sang our hearts out as swarms of onlookers took out their phones and cameras and some even joined in. People came up to us and asked why we were demonstrating and we told them.

Freeman and the 1% think they can buy our democracy and put policies into place that strip away our education, health-care and social services that we so desperately need. It was time for “The Grinch” to stop playing around with our futures.

The Grinch was snatching hats off our heads trying to dampen our mood, but we couldn’t be bothered. The 1% may think that they can keep us down, but they are sorely mistaken.

Everywhere you look you see people standing up. We are not going to sit back and let the 1% dictate what happens to our families anymore. People are getting involved, getting informed and getting out of the house and into the streets. We need to keep up our momentum and keep going after the people who have been holding us down in direct, peaceful actions.

We are not going to let the 1% have their way without a fight. We will keep pushing for a more fair economy where everyone who wants a job should be able to find a good job that treats them with respect.

We need companies and the 1% to invest in their workers, not hand out more bonuses to CEOs. They need to remember that if they invest in us, the workers, they will get more in return--community respect.

If they grew their hearts and invested in education, good jobs and health-care everyone would benefit in the end. Who says we can’t have a happy ending?

Kemper Freeman is "The Grinch Who Stole Congress"

Nearly one hundred jobless people, students, and others attempt to Occupy Kemper Freeman's Bellevue Office

Wearing Santa hats and singing Kemper Freeman themed Christmas carols, more than one hundred jobless people, students, and others sent a strong message at Bellevue Square Mall: We want our government back from Kemper Freeman and the other Grinches of the 1% who Stole Congress with their multimillion dollar campaign contributions.

Community members have named Kemper Freeman "the Grinch Who Stole Congress" because he has given almost $2 million in the past few years to politicians in Washington State and Washington DC who are backing severe cuts to unemployment, healthcare, education, and other programs which serve the 99%. In fact, Kemper Freeman has contributed so much to grinchy politicians that if his political contributions were a person, that person would easily be in the top 1%.

How the Grinch Cut Unemployment Benefits: Grinch Freeman gave $5,100 to Congressman Dave Reichert, who recently voted to cut unemployment insurance by 40 weeks. This would terminate benefits for more than 62,000 people across the state.

How the Grinch Cut Healthcare: Grinch Freeman invested $2,400 in Speaker of the House John Boehner, who is leading the fight in Washington DC to cut funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare programs.

How the Grinch Cut Education: Grinch Freeman contributed more than $1 million to Tim Eyman initiatives which make it easier for the State Legislature to cut education funding than to close tax loopholes for big banks and corporate jets.

Local community members — joined by a version of Grinch Freeman in full costume — attempted to occupy Grinch Freeman's office but were blocked by Bellevue Square security and Bellevue police. Instead, they shared Grinch-themed carols and stories to try and grow this local grinch's heart a few sizes bigger — and then marched through Bellevue Square Mall to spread the word about Kemper Freeman's grinchy support of elected officials who may take away our unemployment benefits for Christmas.

How the Grinch Stole Congress!

Kemper Freeman and the other grinches of the 1% seem to have stolen Congress from the rest of us with millions in campaign contributions that back a grinchy all-cuts agenda. That's why the State Legislature has made $10 billion in cuts in the past few years. It's also why less than a week ago, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of HR 3630, a proposal which would reduce unemployment benefits for Washington workers by 40 weeks, cutting benefits entirely for 62,000 people in this state and more than 3 million across the country. Congressman Dave Reichert (R - Bellevue), who receives support from Grinch Freeman, voted in favor of this reduction in unemployment benefits.

According to the latest figures from the US Department of Labor:

• Half of all unemployed workers have been out of work for more than six months
• There is only one job opening for every 4 people looking for work
• The unemployment rate has been above 8.5 percent for more than 31 months, longer than at any time since the Great Depression.

Song Lyrics:

Here Comes Kemper Freemam (to the tune of Here Comes Santa Claus)

"Here comes Kemper Freeman, Here comes Kemper Freeman, Right down Bellevue Way, Boehner and Reichert and all their cronies are pulling on the reins. Families crying, children screaming No one sleeps tonight. Hang your hopes and say your prayers 'Cause Freeman comes tonight"

Twelve Days of Working Poor (to the tune of 12 Days of Christmas)

"On my 12th day of working poor, Freeman gave to me: 12 months of suffering cuts in unemployment benefits 10 days to vacate fewer teachers 8 grocery coupons no health insurance a cut in my hours 5 past due bills cuts to Medicaid no hope for raises poverty wages and no presents under the tree"

Today: Bellevue office of "The Grinch Who Stole Congress" to be occupied

Local Grinch helped steal Congress for the 1% with millions in campaign contributions

With extended unemployment benefits set to begin expiring at the end of the year, local community members are taking the call for "jobs, not cuts" straight to the place where the real power seems to lie: the office of a key local grinch of the 1%.

Community members will occupy the Bellevue office of a leading local grinch who has given almost $2 million in the past few years to politicians in Washington State and Washington DC who are backing severe cuts to unemployment, healthcare, education, and other programs which serve the 99%.

When: Monday, December 19th at 12 noon

Where: Bellevue Square Mall. We will meet outside the Crate & Barrel (555 Bellevue Square NE) for about 10-15 minutes of grinch-themed carols before we proceed to the local grinch's nearby office.

What: Grinch in full costume will join local jobless people, students, workers, and others to occupy the office of a key member of the 1%. They'll share carols and stories and try and grow the grinch's heart a few sizes bigger.

How the Grinch Stole Congress!

The grinches of the 1% seem to have stolen Congress from the rest of us with millions in campaign contributions to push a grinchy all-cuts agenda. That's why less than a week ago, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of HR 3630, a proposal which would reduce unemployment benefits for Washington workers by 40 weeks, cutting benefits entirely for 62,000 people in this state and more than 3 million across the country. Congressman Dave Reichert (R - Bellevue), who receives support from our local Grinch, voted in favor of this reduction in unemployment benefits.

Unemployment insurance is a lifeline for thousands of people who struggling in the tough economy. It's also a popular program with broad support among economists and the public. And yet Congress has failed to pass an extension of these benefits, which are set to begin running out at the end of the year.

More information:

According to the latest figures from the US Department of Labor:

• Half of all unemployed workers have been out of work for more than six months
• There is only one job opening for every 4 people looking for work
• The unemployment rate has been above 8.5 percent for more than 31 months, longer than at any time since the Great Depression.

Working Washington is bringing people together to fight for a fair economy. We are speaking out to demand that our political leaders do what it takes to invest in good jobs and move the economy forward. We need jobs — not cuts to funding for education, health care, and other services. For more info, visit workingWA.org

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A week of action in DC and we’re just warming up.

by Nate Jackson

500 white carnations rest on the steps of the capitol building as thousands of the 99% walked silently by on our way to Speaker Boehner’s office. As Speaker of the House, Boehner can do a lot to jam up our democratic process— if we let him.

It's time for Congress to get us back to work by investing in our communities and offering help to those who need it.

That’s why we walked down the streets of Washington DC, across the National Mall and up to Capitol Hill.

Leading the way was a large group of Occupy DC activists who played drums and danced in the streets. We kept the beat and moved our feet while spreading our message. We stopped for a rally at Upper Senate Hill Park.

Faith leaders from Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions took the stage and talked how faith of any kind cannot be separated from the struggle for social justice and fairness.

Rev. Wallace Charles Smith put it plainly.

“Unemployment is not an economic issue,” he said. “It’s a moral issue. Unemployment is not just a number; it’s people who are suffering.”

When we arrived at the Capitol Building, we marched past in silence, a nod to the unemployed who have felt like they have been ignored and forgotten by their elected officials.

Christina Sherry from Seattle marched with the 99% because she wanted to see real change.

“I’ve been unemployed for over a year now,” she said. “There needs to be a fundamental change in how this economy works and how the government works. It needs to work for me, for everyone.”

When we arrived at Speaker Boehner's office, we sat down, squeezing ourselves into the small space on the steps of the Rayburn House Office Building. We shouted up at Boehner, and we're certain he knew we were there. He tried to shut us out by locking his doors, but we are the 99%, and he's supposed to work for us. We will not be ignored.

For the whole week, we were fighting to Take Back the Capitol for the 99%

On Tuesday, we marched on 99 house representatives and demanded they stop bickering and start putting the people first. Some of the representatives talked to us, some ran away, but they all heard the message. We need good jobs now for the 99%.

We stormed K Street, the base of dozens of 1% lobbying firms that pour money into the pockets of our legislators, and made them stop and listen to us on a busy Wednesday afternoon. They locked their doors as they did not want to answer to the thousands of us who have been hurt by their purchase of influence.

We crashed high powered fundraisers for representatives and presidential candidates who have proven over and over that they would step on the backs of the 99% in order to get elected. In fact, we had a red carpet rolled out with unemployed workers lying under it.

We are not going to stop fighting.

We pledge to continue the fight for a fair economy. We want the unemployed to find good jobs, workers to be treated with respect, and policies like extending unemployment insurance that help us get back on our feet when we’ve slipped.

We want to not just survive, but thrive and the only way we can do that if we continue to work together and keep fighting.

The week of action in DC was exciting, gratifying and educational. We’ve been recharged and fired up and we are taking this fight to the 1%. We won’t just sit around and wait for crumbs to fall from the plates of the 1%. We want a seat at the table.

We deserve it and we’ll keep pushing.

Thousands descend on "K" Street Lobbyists

by Nate Jackson Working Washington and other west coast community groups marched down from the National Mall to the infamous “K” street singing gospel songs, chanting and spilling out into the street. We were headed to a big 1% lobbying firm on our way to “K” street to make sure they got the memo. We were going to shine a light on their influence of our legislators. They are elected by us, and should be working for us.

“K” Street is the main hub of 1% lobbyists in Washington DC. It is home to dozens of firms who are hired by special interest 1% groups to influence, cajole and sway our elected officials. They look out for the 1% and leave the rest of us behind. Not this time. We had a message for them. Enough is enough.

Susie Escada, a woman from Tacoma lost her job. She has been working for 50 years.

“I just lost my job a year and a half ago,” she said. “I came to Washington DC because no one is hearing what we are saying. Congress is not willing to help the middle class or the working class anymore.”

Escada has been living off of unemployment insurance and it is nearly running out. This economy hasn’t just affected her; her daughter has had to move back in.

“How demoralizing,” she said. “My daughter is 47 years old and can’t find work. She had to move back in with me. Something needs to be done because they aren't listening to us.”

Hunter Marshall, a nursing student from Seattle came to DC because he is finishing school and has no prospects for a good job.

“It used to be that nursing was a steady job,” he said. “Health Care was supposed to be the golden ticket to a good job with good benefits. It’s just not the case anymore. It’s really hard to find a job right now.”

The problem is that our elected officials were too busy listening to the 1% lobbyists or looking out for their own special interests instead of doing the work for which they were elected, doing what is best for us, their constituents. That is why we were marching today on “K” Street.

Spirits were high as onlookers stopped in their tracks as we took over street after street. We were fired up and we were not going to be deterred. We swarmed by big banks, 1% lobbying firms and sub-prime mortgage lenders. We yelled “shame!” as we stopped by the big corporations like Wells Fargo and Citi Bank who got bailed out while they kicked us out of our homes.

The firms up and down “K” Street circulated warnings and memos to their workers and partners warning that the people were coming. There was extra security, locked doors and a massive police presence. They did not want to be held accountable by the 99%, but it was too late.

When we got to “K” street we were joined by other groups from the entire protest and our numbers rushed into the thousands. We shut down the intersection on “K” street and brought our message of jobs, not cuts directly to the people whose very job it was to cut jobs for the 99%.

We sang “We shall overcome” with a chorus of thousands. We chanted and danced in the streets. It was wonderful. Everyone helped each other and kept each other safe.

A few of us decided to make a stand. They locked arms in the middle of the intersection and refused to move. They were teachers, construction workers and clergy, unemployed and unafraid.

They were arrested, but not defeated. It was a choice to stand up for the 99% and show that the 1% have been holding the rest of us captive. The 1% lobbyists on “K” Street had the ear of our elected officials, but they never expected the people to show up to challenge that. It’s a challenge that we can and will win.

Congressman Reichert hears from the 99%: we want jobs, not more of the same

We came to Washington DC with one goal in mind: show and tell the legislators how hard this economy is for the 99%. Dozens of us took our message straight to Representative Reichert's DC office.

Reichert to his credit decided to talk to us-- this time. It was unexpected, but appreciated and we wanted to share our stories about how this economy is just not working for the vast majority of us.

Jamel Moxey talked about how this economy was hurting his parents so bad that they were looking into moving back to Honduras, a “third world country” in his words.

Vanessa Godfrey, a public school bus driver, could not believe that we were cutting budgets to education.

“We work our tails off,” she said. “We the non-teaching staff keep our schools running and they just keep cutting. We can’t afford it; our kids can’t afford it. We have to tell these politicians to get their priorities straight.”

He thanked us for coming all the way out to DC and for being a part of this process. But he didn't have much else to offer. In response to our stories from the front lines of the economic crisis, Congressman Reichert started rifling off talking points about how the economy really needs more corporate tax handouts, more spending cuts. At one point he even admitted that “someone” was going to be hurt. The Congressman was a gracious messenger, but his message was more of the same old plan that we know doesn’t work. We’ve tried it and it just makes things worse.

Gina Peterson, an unemployed former Nurse’s Aide for over 18 years, flew all the way from Seattle to DC to speak face to face with her legislators. She was bundled up against a surprisingly warm DC winter afternoon, and asked to talk to Reichert after he finished his remarks.

“I had to stay stuck In a job that wasn’t moving me forward,” she said. “Then when I got laid off I had nothing to fall back on."

Gina had wanted to further her education throughout her career, but bills, sub living wage pay and long hours sapped any chance to pursue her dream.

“We need good jobs that let us have a future,” she said. “If I do find work there’s no way I can stop working until I die.”

Reichert listened to Gina's story…then  again put forth his plan for more of the same — specifically, to give more tax breaks to corporations.

Corporations are taking in more profits than ever, and they don't need even more from us. After all, we the workers are the ones who create wealth. We are the ones who pave the roads, build the power grids and supply the resources that corporations then buy and sell, trade and deal. Without us there is no wealth.

It shouldn't be that hard. We need our elected leaders to focus on the real crisis this county faces, a jobs crisis. We have given and given and we are reaching our breaking point. We need to work right now and we need good jobs to take care of our families.

It’s time that our elected officials started giving something back — besides more of the same.

The 99% reclaim the Capitol.

by Nate JacksonDavid Ludden, a Working Washington activist, was firing up the crowd that gathered on the steps of the capitol in Olympia.

“They keep giving out tax loopholes,” he said to cheers from the 99%. “We’ve had enough. We can’t afford anymore big tax breaks for the super-rich and big corporations.”

Ludden was interrupted as a group of people in: top hats and necklaces, tiaras and bolas and wads of cash spilling out of their pockets, rushed the stage and demanded to be heard.

A man wearing a top hat, monocle and chewing on an over sized cigar, brandished his diamond tipped cane and shouted into the microphone.

“A break? Give me a break and I mean a tax break,” he said. “We’ve been here talking to the legislators, that we own, and we gave them our agenda. We want to keep our tax breaks.”

The 99% shouted for the 1%* to get off the stage.

“I’m going to lead you in a little chant,” he said. “Banks got bailed out..Huzzah!”

He was kicked off.

The 1% had come down to Olympia to make sure their agenda was presented to the legislators. They had walked around the capitol handing out their three pronged plan: slash health care, gut education spending and continue to give big banks all the money they wanted.

One member of the 1% even got to talk to a representative of the Lieutenant Governor.

Sporting a red scarf, top hat and dinner jacket he gave the agenda to a legislative aide.

“We need to keep the poor people down,” he said waving his hands in a dismissive gesture. “We have to keep those 99% folks down. We don’t want to fund health care, or education or services. We just want to stay rich.”

The 99% weren’t going to take it laying down, so we decided to march over to the offices of the Association of Washington Business, a pro 1% lobbying group with an office minutes away from the Capitol Building, to let them know that the 99% were sick of high paid lobbyist determining the course of our state. Of course, when we arrived the AWB locked their doors and barred the entrance. They couldn’t care less about what the 99% wanted.

Susan Wilkinson, a superstar Working Washington activist, spoke to the crowd gathered outside the offices of the AWB.

“We are here because the 1% won’t listen,” she said. “We are noisy and we are not going away.”

Office workers from the AWB looked out from behind darkened glass and pulled out their cellphones to ask what they should do with this crowd of the 99%.

We cheered her on.

“We are the ones who make everything happen for the 1%,” she said. “We deserve to be heard.”

*Special thanks to Joshua Welter and the good folks at Washington CAN for playing the parts of the 1%.

Whose Capitol is it anyway?

by Nate Jackson

The 1% don’t cast many votes, but they seem to own the Capitol anyway. They certainly pay for it, with their huge campaign donations and their army of corporate lobbyists.

Join us on Wednesday November 30th to highlight the 1% agenda in Olympia and speak out for what the 99% want: jobs, not cuts. But be warned: we expect representatives of the 1% to hold a counter-demonstration, so be on the lookout for ballgowns, top hats, and signs calling for still more cuts.

The State Legislature begins a special session this week to consider $2 billion in new cuts to critical state programs — cuts that come on top of the $10 billion they’ve already cut over the past few years.

We’ve sacrificed enough and we have a different vision for Washington.

We want something better for our state. That’s why community groups, working people, students, faith leaders, and others will be coming to Olympia this week for a week of action to Occupy the Capitol. Together, we’ll raise our voices and say “enough is enough — we need jobs, not cuts.”

Thousands gathered at the Capitol on Monday, starting off the week of action with a bang. There will be more action today. Then on Wednesday, Working Washington will be in Olympia to call attention to the agenda of the 1%.

Join us this Wednesday, November 30 in Olympia. At 10 am, we’ll meet in the Columbia Room in the legislative building in Olympia at 10 am and spread the word about what the top 1% really want from our state. Then at 12 noon we’ll rally on the steps of the Capitol and shine a public light on what the 1% has been doing all these years and call to account those who do their bidding.

The 1% may show up with their caviar and monocles and their proposals to slash education, health care and other public services. But we won’t back down.

Join us.

Night of a Thousand Voices for Jobs Not Cuts

by Nate Jackson

You can’t stop a movement whose time has come.

More than a 1000 of us gathered across from Husky Stadium to stand up for jobs, not cuts. We stood in the rain and sleet and cheered as speakers from the community took the microphone to tell why they were there to march with us to the University Bridge to fight against the fundamental problems in our economy: the continuing lack of good jobs, cuts to education, health care, and other service programs. We can’t afford to sit around any longer.

Larry Gossett-King County Council-member, Dusty Hoerler a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters union, Grace Yang a Registered Nurse from UW Medical Center, Jamel Moxey-a Bellevue College student, Sunni Wissmer-a UW student and Reverend Doctor Leslie Braxton of Mt. Zion Baptist Church all spoke about the importance of fighting together to make lasting change.

The speakers also pointed out that we need good jobs, a vibrant education system, quality health care and services that can get our economy moving again for the rest of us.

The 1% are doing just fine, but the rest of us are still struggling.

Three years after the big banks and Wall Street crashed our economy; we are still hurting for good jobs, education and services that will enable us to take care of our families.

We’ve had enough and that’s why such a diverse group of folks came together. Our diversity is our strength. We can do great things when we are united and take collective action.

We took our message to the streets peacefully, but with a presence that could not be stopped. We stomped down Pacific Street and onto the University of Washington campus where students spontaneously joined us as we headed for University Bridge. Chants and music lead the way as the rain continued to fall, but our spirits were high.

News choppers flew overhead as we arrived at the University Bridge. Reporters and bloggers interviewed us as we continued to chant, dance and celebrate. We were live on TV and radio and we all were saying the same thing. We need good jobs, not more cuts.

We can put people to work right now doing the work that needs doing and those good jobs would feed other industries in our local communities. It’s a win/win situation.

We marched to the University Bridge because it is one of the over 300 functionally obsolete or structurally insufficient bridges in King County alone. We need the good jobs that repairing, replacing and updating those bridges can bring to the community.

It’s not just about the bridges. It’s about the underlying problem with our infrastructure as a whole. Schools are raising tuitions, millions cannot afford good health care and we are worried about our families’ future as bills pile up and our paychecks break down.

We’ve shown what the 99% can do when they work together and today we are going to be giving out posters, flyers and signs to show that you are part of the 99% with us. On Friday, November 18^th we will be on King County college campuses, UW, Bellevue, Seattle Central and Green River. This weekend you can find us across King County in libraries, parks and transit centers.

You’ve shown your strength and your dedication. Be proud and declare it.

Special thanks to the many supporters who helped make this event such a success! Martin Luther King County Labor Council, OneAmerica, SEIU, Somali Community Services, Teamsters 117,Washington Community Action Network, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), CURB (Communities Uniting Rainier Beach), Martin Luther King Celebration Committee, NAACP Seattle/King County Chapter, PINW (Peoples Institute Northwest), POCAAN (People of Color Against AIDS Network), Rainier Community Empowerment Coalition, Tyree Scott Freedom School, YUIR (Youth Undoing Institutional Racism), and many more.