JUST ANNOUNCED:
We Are Rising Rally, where workers from across the state will risk arrest in peaceful civil disobedience. Workers and supporters will begin gathering in downtown Bellevue at Main St & Bellevue Way SE at about 5:00 pm.
Complete list of upcoming times and locations:
- 12:00 pm: Rally in view of Lake Washington, WA-$15, Bellevue, and beyond: East Portal Viewpoint Park: 1400 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, WA 98144. Most convenient vehicle access to trail is at S Irving St & 35th Ave S
- 12:45 pm: Marchers head out across Lake Washington: 100+ workers and supporters march over WA-$15 (formerly known as I-90), across Mercer Island and into Bellevue.
- 2:45 pm: Brief rally: ‘”The Eastside is rising”: Enatai Park: 3519 108th Ave SE, Bellevue
- 4:15 pm: Protests and strikes at fast food locations in Factoria, Eastgate, and the Bellevue Square area. Watch #strikepoverty on twitter for details as protests roll through the city.
- 5:00 pm: Downtown Bellevue: Culminating rally, including civil disobedience: convene at Bellevue at Main St & Bellevue Way SE
Today is the day: workers from Bellevue & beyond are rising up and striking poverty
Workers are rising today. More than 100 workers & community supporters rising up from across the region will be rallying and marching across I-90 — which is being renamed WA-$15 for the occasion. And workers from across the state are ready to do whatever it takes, including acts of peaceful civil disobedience, to defend and expand their $15/hour victory in the face of an aggressive campaign by big business groups desperate to turn back the clock on history.
A year ago, not many people took the first Seattle fast food strikes seriously. Look where we are a year later — and just imagine what next year could bring.
Key times and locations below. More details to be announced at 11:00 am kickoff, including events continuing through 5:00 - 6:00 pm. You can follow the progress of our march — and more — at workingwa.org.
11:00 am: Announcement and kick off
McDonald’s (First Hill): 1122 Madison St, Seattle, WA 98104
Fifteen workers and community supporters will announce their plans to take bold action to defend Seattle’s $15 law and symbolically kick off their campaign to expand their movement to strike poverty across the state.
12:00 pm: Rally in view of Lake Washington, WA-$15 (formerly I-90), Bellevue, and beyond
East Portal Viewpoint Park: 1400 Lake Washington Blvd S, Seattle, WA 98144. Most convenient vehicle access to trail is at S Irving St & 35th Ave S
Supporters will rally with marchers at East Portal Viewpoint Park, in view of Lake Washington and WA-$15 (formerly known as I-90).
12:45 pm: Marchers head out across Lake Washington
100+ workers and supporters begin the march over WA-$15 (formerly known as I-90), across Mercer Island and into Bellevue.
2:45 pm: Rally to Strike Poverty: Eastside Rising
Enatai Park: 3519 108th Ave SE, Bellevue
Marchers arrive at Bellevue’s Enatai Park for brief rally before heading to strikelines
More information:
Before the first raises under Seattle’s minimum wage law have even taken effect, it’s already under attack by corporate interests. The International Franchise Association, a DC lobby group for global franchise systems, has filed a legal case to try and take our $15 away, because they think it isn’t fair to McDonald’s! And initiative profiteer Tim Eyman is currently trying to raise more than $1 million for a ballot campaign to attempt to repeal our law.
These corporations can see that the tide is turning, and they’re trying desperately to turn it back.
That’s exactly why fast food workers with Working Washington have committed to do whatever it takes to protect our victory in Seattle, and expand the strike poverty movement to workers across the state & across the country.
Today, it begins.
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Contact: Sage Wilson, Working Washington, sage@workingwa.org
Working Washington unites low-wage workers to fight for a fair economy where everyone can support themselves, afford the basics, and contribute to the economy. We launched the fast food strikes that sparked the fight for $15 in Seattle; we helped lead the successful campaign to pass $15 in SeaTac; and we work in coalition with unions, faith groups, and grassroots organizations to hold corporations & politicians accountable to community needs.