Peninsula — Neighbors are trying to come up with cash to help families of immigrants who’ve been rounded up in federal raids across Pacific County. A newly-formed local group, the Immigration Assistance Committee has given more than $4,000 to help eight affected families with expenses, such as rent, food and…
Posts published in “Uncategorized”
[Ed note: this interview is excerpted from one in a series called “Interviews for Resistance”nconducted by In These Times with organizers and others in Indiana fighting inequality in all its forms. Sarah Jaffee is on the staff of In These Times and writes on labor, social movements, gender and media among…
Matt Lester sat down recently with a Precinct 213 Bernie delegate to the 2016 Thurston County Democratic Convention. Antoine Federici (pseudonym) is a fellow traveler of social movements and first time delegate. Reflecting on his experience, Federici discussed the opportunities and pitfalls of the delegate process, and how to funnel…
On several days in September, a line of sign-holding locals stood along a busy street in Shelton waving to drivers. Many of the drivers waved back, some honked, in a heartening show of support. The drivers were going about the serious business of life in this former lumber town. The…
West Central Park at the crossroads of Olympia’s Westside brims with flowers, fruits, unique gardens, a chess table, bocce courts. In summer it offers a farmers’ market, art and music fairs, movies, outdoor dances and other events. How did this extraordinary oasis come about? Not from the city, nor any…
Our purpose The aim of WIP is to confront injustice and encourage a participatory democracy based on justice in the economic, social, and environmental realms and across races and genders. WIP does this in part by providing a voice for those most affected by systems of inequity and the exclusionary…
In recent years, fossil fuel corporations have targeted Washington and Oregon as locations for fossil-fuel export facilities. A variety of companies presented the state, public ports and cities with proposals to build methanol, propane and LNG terminals, to construct facilities for storing, refining and transporting crude oil, along with a…
The YWCA has selected Karama Blackhorn, Leslie Cushman, Dr. Marie Johantgen, Lamika Lamont and Merrill Angela Williams to receive the 24th annual Women of Achievement Award at a celebration on November 10, 2017. These five women have empowered their communities by leading change and standing up for equity and justice.…
A Port for the people Many people don’t realize that the Port of Olympia serves all of Thurston County, that all county property owners pay property taxes to support the Port, and that Port Commission races are county-wide. That means that all Thurston County voters have the opportunity to vote…
A coalition of leftist and left-leaning groups in Olympia have organized a candidate forum for Olympia’s upcoming city council elections. The forum will take place at Capitol Theater on Sunday, October 15 at 1 pm. The forum will provide an opportunity for leftist and left-leaning residents to hold candidates’ feet…
The Thurston County Democratic (TCD) party believes strong ties between labor and our party are essential to having our government fight for the working class and for all of our citizens. This belief is deeply entrenched in our core party value of supporting “economic justice for all.” Candidates must go…
To be honest, telling the truth has not always been one of my favorite activities. I have made some outlandish mistakes and of course people laughed at me. I’m older now and experience has shown me how my actions affect the world and the people around me. Being clear about…
Olympia now has a centralized service hub—specifically for the people who have historically had the least access to services. The Providence Community Care Center, which officially opened on September 13, provides a space for more than ten community partners who are serving the most vulnerable members of Thurston County. The…
The following was excerpted from emails sent to volunteers for Amahoro House, a hospice for the homeless, by Angela Lee, RN, a project volunteer. Melanie Curry—known on the streets as Pixie Unicorn—passed away this week on the streets of Olympia. She was well loved by our friends at the shelter,…
Dear WIP, Thank you for publishing the piece by Olympia City Councilperson Clark Gilman in the August issue. It is unsettling to me that in a country that is supposed to be a democracy, one that is supposed to be a government “of, for, and by the people” that we…
The materiality of all things political Electoral Democracy (ED) as a form of government is above all a political topic. Reflections on this theme must deal not with the abstract or imaginary, but with the material world, the given society, in which ED exists. In our case, we must examine…
La Materialidad de lo Politico La Democracia Electoral (DE) como forma de gobierno es sobre todo un asunto político. Las reflexiones sobre este tema no deben referirse a lo abstracto o imaginario, sino al mundo material en el que la DE existe en una sociedad dada. En nuestro caso, debemos…
(Review of the book by Joshua Green, Penguin Press, 2017) This book is about Steve Bannon’s role in the election of Donald Trump. It’s an insider’s election travelogue yet it reveals some dynamics that remain important even though the election is over and Bannon is back at Breitbart News. Bannon: …
“It’s chicken,” he said. “It’s just chicken!” He looked at me mutely, asking for confirmation that he wasn’t losing his mind. “As if they’re doing us a favor. That we’re too dumb to know we’re being robbed,” I replied, trying but failing to comfort him. We stood, shoulder to shoulder,…
Olympia Zine Fest invites community members to a three-day celebration of zines and DIY culture. The 3rd annual festival will take place October 13-15 in downtown Olympia. Zines are self-published works, often photocopied, and can be about any topic. Olympia Zine Fest welcomes newcomers and seasoned zine-makers alike. The event kicks off…
On August 15, the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program turned 5 years old with a sword hanging over its head. A group of 10 attorney generals has threatened to file a court challenge to the program, seeking to force President Trump to make a decision: will he eliminate…
Mason County is a unique community, in that indigenous Guatemalan families have found a place in our forest and shellfish industries, have enrolled their children in our local schools and have become involved in our community. According to a survey by Columbia Legal Services, the indigenous worker population in Washington…
De-Escalate Washington has launched a signature gathering campaign for Initiative 940, which would strengthen training requirements for local law enforcement in Washington State in order to resolve conflicts without resorting to deadly force. Statement from OneAmerica Executive Director Rich Stolz: “OneAmerica joins the De-Escalate Washington Campaign, which will work to gather…
Signature gathering for Initiative 940 Every day in Sept. See story p.7 To help, contact Leslie Cushman, 360-280-0087 Sponsor: De-Escalate WA Enter into Stillness Every Friday from 10 am to 7 pm (See p. 13) Brigid’s Well, 1604 Union Ave SE, Olympia. Strengthen loving vision and transformative practices Selena Kilmoyer…
When I transferred to Santa Cruz to study as an undergraduate in the Winter of 1982, I didn’t realize that I was about to witness the future. The Storm of 1982, which combined two days of torrential rains with high tides, killed 22 people, flooded the coastal town of Aptos,…
Last July, when few people were paying attention, Denny Heck, along with most House Democrats, failed to stand up for immigrant rights. They instead voted in favor of continuing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), Trump’s deportation machine. Only 32 House…
Law Enforcement Officers’ Bills of Rights (LEOBORs) came into general use in the 1970’s. Police departments had come under scrutiny in the 1960s as part of the civil rights movement. Many police officers were investigated, and the police unions worked hard to ensure that those officers were treated fairly. Some states…