3/16/2025 meeting

A brief highlight of some actions taken by Southend Indivisible members since our last February meeting:

• No Kings Day on February 17th at Olympia

• Stand up for Science rally on March 7th at the Seattle Center

• Tesla Takedown protests on Saturday, March 15th at U Village

Advice for attending protests

Mac McGregor from the Gender Justice League imparted some basic safety tips for attending rallies and protests:

• Go with a small group. There is safety in numbers.

• Set a place to meet if you get separated.

• Stay on the outside of the crowd, rather than the middle, to avoid trampling.

• Avoid kettling - if police start to corral people, get out.

• Have someone in group designated to looking for exits.

• If recording, have someone watching the person recording.

• Dress strategically and pack a safety kit (e.g., goggles and masks for pepper spray, ear plugs for loud sounds)

• Have a hand free at all times.

• Don't engage with counter-protestors.

• Remember self-care: this will be a long fight. Joy is part of the resistance!

Mac also had the following inspirational advice for the group:

"Every change in history started this way - with a group of ordinary people that refused to stay silent. The question isn't can we make a difference - we already are. The question is how bold we're willing to be to make that difference."

Special Speakers

March's meeting saw several speakers addressing our large crowd of constituents and activists:

• Mohamed Egal, SeaTac Mayor

• Jasmine Ines, Chair of 11th District Democrats

• Adam Smith, 9th District House Representative

• Michael Westgaard, Renton City Council Candidate

Calls to Action

• Interested in volunteering for Southend Indivisible, or hearing about volunteer opportunities in the area? Email us or subscribe to our newsletter. Our volunteer coordinators David Beard and Stefanie Pratt will have a system set up soon to intake volunteers.

• Jan Bolerjack of Riverton Park United Methodist Church has asked for increased donations to help house and assist their migrant community. They could also use volunteer translators, and a volunteer firework team for their July 4th fundraiser.