Author: Benjamin Peterson (Benjamin Peterson)

On March 15, 2017, I sent the following letter to Mayor Murray, Sheriff Urquhart, and Chief O’Toole, opposing the eviction of the Central District’s Umoja PEACE Center. Dear Mayor Murray, Sheriff Urquhart, and Chief O’Toole; I am writing to urge you to immediately halt the physical eviction of the UmojaFest PEACE Center House, a pillar of […]

On March 8, 2017, over a thousand people braved wet and cold weather to rally on International Women’s Day in Seattle. The energy at the rally demonstrated the emergence of a new women’s movement in America. Amidst renewed attacks by Trump and the Republicans on abortion rights, trans rights, and health care, millennial women and […]

On February 28, 2017, Trump gave his first address to joint session of Congress. I gave the socialist response. Tuesday February 28, 2017 Sisters and Brothers, In just five weeks, Donald Trump has unleashed a series of vicious attacks on one group of Americans after another: From his Muslim ban to the ramping up of […]

On February 22, 2017, Trump issued another toxic executive order, this one rescinding Title IX protections for trans students. Grassroots movements have succeeded in winning better protections in Washington state than in other states. The Gender Justice League has noted that “Washington State Schools must obey the Washington Law Against Discrimination and the HCA Guidance […]

Since Trump’s inauguration, millions of people have protested in opposition to Trump’s xenophobic, Islamophobic, racist, and bigoted agenda. Civil disobedience and temporary shutdowns of airports nationwide on January 28 won the release of immigrant detainees, and played a decisive role in defeating Trump’s attempted Muslim Ban. The success of such non-violent direct actions shows that […]

On Thursday, February 16, 2017, I sent the following letter to security workers at Amazon and their labor allies who are organizing for workplace rights and against Islamophobia. These workers will hold a pray-in demonstration tomorrow, February 17, 12 pm, at Amazon HQ. Dear Amazon security officers and allies: As a Seattle City Councilmember, a socialist, a […]

After the pepper spraying and brutal treatment of protesters at SeaTac, my office and I are working with the National Lawyers Guild to propose legislation to prevent the SPD from participating in outrages like this in the future. If you witnessed or were the victim of police violence and/or harassment, and would be willing to […]

Today our movement won a major victory against Wells Fargo, Big Business, and the corrupt financial sector! First and foremost, I want to thank the Standing Rock Sioux, and those who joined them on the ground in North Dakota. I want to thank the #NoDAPL Seattle movement – Indigenous activists, 350 Seattle and a multitude […]

Emergency Mass Rally Against Trump’s Muslim & Immigrant Ban! TONIGHT! 5:00 PM at Westlake Plaza (400 Pine St) Release All Immigrant Detainees! No Ban! No Wall! No Deportations!   Sisters and Brothers, Yesterday was an historic day of national resistance to Trump’s hateful attacks on immigrants, Muslims, communities of color, the environment, and ordinary working […]