Sawant: We’re seeing a mood of rebellion not seen since Vietnam

In her Socialist response to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress last night, Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant reiterated calls for major protests while likening the mood to the Vietnam-era.

“We’re seeing a mood of rebellion not seen since the Vietnam War,” Sawant said.

On Tuesday night, President Trump spoke in optimistic tones about everything from education to the “great, great wall along our southern border,” and a new executive order for a temporary travel ban.

Read President Trump’s remarks to Congress

After his speech, Sawant continued to encourage people to protest the Republican president.

“Trump can be defeated,” she said. “The protests in this very first month were a tremendous starting point, but far more will be needed. We need to disrupt business as usual through peaceful, mass civil disobedience shutting down airports, highways, ICE offices, and prominent businesses.”

Sawant called on supporters to protest as part of the national “Day Without a Woman” strike on March 8 that’s being organized by the same people behind the women’s march in January.

Sawant is also calling for supporters to turn out on May Day.

“In 2006, immigrants brought the tradition of May Day back to the United States,” Sawant said. “Millions marched … and this year, facing Trump’s brutal attacks, immigrants are again organizing en mass.”

Sawant is also calling on workers to step up and help fight Trump by shutting down big business.

“This can not only be done through traditional strikes by the majority of workers at a workplace, but also by many non-union workers by taking the day off, calling in sick, or through other creative means,” she said. “Bottom line, we want the largest show of force on May 1 while keeping in mind that some actions would be too risky for some workers to participate in.”

Reaction to Sawant

The call for shutting down airports and freeways hasn’t sat well with King County Sheriff John Urquhart.

“You shut down I-5, and how is that ambulance … going to get to our trauma center at Harborview hospital? You’re clearly putting people’s lives at risk.”

Dave Ross: President Trump’s big congressional speech was … optimistic

Sawant originally called for the protests in a recent column she wrote for a Socialist magazine. After seeing that, Urquhart told KIRO 7 the city councilmember needs to be aware of potential consequences.

“Civil disobedience in this country goes back to the Boston Tea Party,” he explained. “It’s certainly part of our history and we, as the police, have to respect that. But there’s a second part of civil disobedience and that is the possibility of getting arrested.”

Sawant says her call to action is not about promoting violence, but rather disrupting the economy.

And she wasn’t the only local politician to speak out against Trump after he left the podium Tuesday night. Rep. Pramila Jayapal told KIRO 7 the president’s rhetoric doesn’t match reality.

“I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone because so much of what he talked about sounded good, but it’s in exact opposition to what he’s been doing,” she said.

Still, Americans liked what they heard. Of those who watched Trump’s speech, 76 percent approved, according to a CBS poll.

What did you think?

What did you think of President Trump’s speech before Congress Tuesday night?

— KIRO Radio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRORadio) March 1, 2017

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