FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/15/2014
Councilmember Kshama Sawant
Councilmember Sawant statement on Eastside Catholic students’ petition delivery to Archdiocese
SEATTLE – Councilmember Kshama Sawant issued the following statement in response to Eastside Catholic students’ petition delivery to Archdiocese:
"I stand in solidarity with the students at Eastside Catholic School who walked out of classes in protest and have continued to rally for the reinstatement of their Vice Principal Mark Zmuda. I am concerned not only by the unjust way Mark Zmuda has been treated, but also by the school administration’s threats to discipline students if they continue their protests, violating their freedom of speech. I applaud the students for broadening their struggle to defend all LGBTQ rights within the Archdiocese of Seattle’s school system.
"I, and many others, have been inspired by the principled stand taken by the students. History has shown that collective action of this kind has effectively combated so many forms of discrimination in our history and helped secure victories for marriage equality, civil rights, and women’s suffrage. The widespread practice of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation must be opposed everywhere it occurs. It destroys lives and sows divisions among workers and young people in our society."