Sawant: It’s our duty to call for peaceful and powerful protests
Nov 11, 2016, 9:02 AM
Kshama Sawant player a big part in an anti-Turmp march this week. (AP)
(AP)
Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant is catching flak from across the country after helping organize an anti-Trump rally that caught the nation’s attention.
Some leaders are even wondering whether it’s safe to visit the Emerald City right now. But Sawant defends her decision.
“I think it is our moral and political and historic duty to call for peaceful and powerful protests against Trump’s agenda,” she told KIRO 7.
Monson: Protesting, Sawant’s message does more harm than good
Sawant encouraged people to protest the election of Donald J. Trump during a packed post-election rally at Seattle Hall Wednesday afternoon.
“I appeal to you, [Wednesday] at 4 o’clock, at Westlake [Park], let’s have a massive protest, and tell America we do not accept a racist agenda,” Sawant said. “And let’s make sure on Inauguration Day … let’s do a nationwide shutdown and occupy inauguration!”
Thousands of people responded to the Facebook event to protest Trump in Westlake Park. More than 2,000 people said they went.
The protest and march lasted hours, with the crowd cheering things such as, “Hey hey ho ho misogyny has got to go.”
But Sawant wasn’t finished.
“On Inauguration Day, we are going to shut it down!” Sawant said later that night.
That incited a reaction from the crowd.
#BREAKING: #Seattle councilwoman @cmkshama calls on protesters to shut down @realDonaldTrump's Inauguration Day. https://t.co/JdHc4hIiaP pic.twitter.com/I1QgC0lCn5
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) November 10, 2016
Both the Downtown Seattle Association and the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce say they support the protests, as long as they remain peaceful, KIRO Radio reports.
Anti-Trump protests didn’t stay peaceful for long. Another round Thursday night took a turn for the worse, especially in Portland, Ore., where thousands marched and some destroyed property and lit fires.
Though some argue that protesting is not the solution, those protests could continue into the weekend and beyond.
Meanwhile, president-elect Trump is blaming the media for the nationwide upset.
Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016
