Former Seattle council member alleges Indian consulate staff assaulted her
Feb 7, 2025, 5:01 PM | Updated: 5:21 pm
Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant addresses supporters during her inauguration. (Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images)
Former Seattle City Council member and socialist Kshama Sawant is claiming she was assaulted by staff at the Indian consulate in Seattle on Friday, according to The Hindu.
The Hindu reported a consulate staff member grabbed a worker’s phone, causing a scuffle, while another staff member allegedly tried to engage in a physical fight.
The organization Workers Strike Back posted on X that it was conducting “a peaceful sit-in” at the Consulate of India after Sawant said her visa was denied for a third time.
NOW: Kshama Sawant and members of Workers Strike Back are engaging in a peaceful sit-in at the Consulate of India in Seattle, demanding answers for why @cmkshama’s visa has been denied a third time, and why she has been told that the Modi government has placed her on a “reject… pic.twitter.com/a7nZk7HUeL
— Workers Strike Back (@wrkrsstrikeback) February 7, 2025
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The consulate also posted on X, saying it was “forced to deal with a law and order situation.”
Today, the Consulate was forced to deal with a law and order situation arising from the unauthorized entry by certain individuals into the Consulate premises after office hours.
Despite repeated requests, these individuals refused to leave the Consulate premises and engaged in…
— India In Seattle (@IndiainSeattle) February 7, 2025
It did not name Sawant but stated individuals “refused to leave the consulate premises.”
Local authorities were called in and “further action is being initiated against the trespassers,” it added.
According to The Hindu, Sawant was denied an emergency visa to India to visit her sick mother in Bengaluru. She told the media outlet the consulate did not give any explanation except that her name was on the “rejection list.”
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This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here.
