MYNORTHWEST POLITICS

‘It’s up to us:’ Federal workers take part in Presidents Day rally against Trump administration

Feb 17, 2025, 6:21 AM | Updated: 3:38 pm

Around a thousand people, including federal workers, are protesting on Presidents Day outside the federal building in downtown Seattle in a “Rally to Save Our Civil Services.”

The workers, according to the protesting group in a press release, are “escalating their fight” against Trump and Musk’s “illegal, anti-democratic seizure of public services.”

“We just need to do something and it’s up to us because no one else seems to be doing anything,” protester Veronica Stull told KIRO Newsradio. “Congress is afraid to act. Everyone is terrified of repercussions and something needs to be done. I’m terrified that so many people don’t know what’s going on, that so many people are disillusioned and believe in what they’ve been told by a propaganda news agency, and no one seems too motivated to stop what’s going on.”

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Another protester said her family is considering leaving the U.S.

“I’m very afraid,” Lauren Simonds said. “My family is talking about an exit plan and what country we should go to.”

She added that she believes democracy and the constitution are being threatened in America,

“They’re destroying our safety net services and taking away our civil rights,” Simonds said.

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According to the release, workers from agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, Veterans Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor and Federal Aviation Administration are all taking part.

“All of these workers will be appearing as private citizens, not speaking for their agencies,” the release said.

Contributing: James Lynch and Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio; Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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‘It’s up to us:’ Federal workers take part in Presidents Day rally against Trump administration