Seattle Mayor McGinn’s wife arrested at immigration protest
Nov 7, 2013, 12:51 PM | Updated: 1:21 pm
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn’s wife was one of 30 people arrested at an immigration protest in Bellevue Thursday morning.
About three dozen women gathered at the downtown park and then marched to the state Republican headquarters where the number grew to about 100 women.
Bellevue Police spokesperson Carla Iafrate said about 40 women went into the building.
“The property manager asked them to leave – gave them a warning. There were about 20 to 30 people who refused to leave the building, so we started the process of arrests,” said Iafrate.
Among the women arrested was Peggy Lynch, McGinn’s wife. The presidents of the Washington Education Association and American Federation of Teachers Washington were also arrested, according to One America with Justice for All.
“Too many immigrant workers are left in the shadows, their work exploited as they live in fear,” said Lynne Dodson, the Secretary Treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and one of the women arrested.
Iafrate said the women were arrested for first degree criminal trespass.
The protest, organized to coincide with a national movement, was aimed at demanding Republicans pass immigration reform.