Kshama Sawant leaves May Day activities for council meeting

The Socialist councilmember who pushed for a resolution to protect Seattle workers from repercussion if they participated in May Day protests, and previously called for protesters to disrupt airports and freeways, spent part of her May Day at work.

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After speaking at Judkins Park during an International Workers Day rally, Kshama Sawant headed back to the city council chambers.

Though it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when Sawant left the May Day activities, she was undeniably present during the full council meeting on Monday. The meeting was held while the annual march for workers and immigrant rights was underway.

It was probably a difficult decision to make. Sawant had to choose between sticking with the May Day activities or heading back to the chambers to vote on a resolution that shows the council is in favor of a city income tax. The council unanimously approved the resolution. The resolution does not make any Seattle income tax official. Rather, it expresses the council’s intent to “adopt a progressive income tax targeting high-income households.”

During discussion of the resolution, Sawant took time to wish everyone a happy May Day.

“First, I want to wish all the working people in Seattle happy international workers’ day. Happy May Day,” she said.

“I will be voting yes on this resolution because, obviously as you all know, I very much support the issue of taxing the rich to pay for essential social services and to make life livable for working people as a whole.”

You can hear her statement in its entirety below.

As for her original calls to shut down freeways, which she later walked back on, it looks as though people got the message from the Washington State Patrol. A few ramps connecting I-5 and Seattle surface streets were shut down temporarily by law enforcement but were reopened after the march that Sawant picketed for peacefully went by.

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