Dennis Kucinich showed up?
Oh yeah, that really happened.
Our action against Chase bank yesterday was a huge success. Not only did Rep. Kucinich join us, but the Seattle teachers who organized this event went into the bank to administer a pop quiz to the bank manager on the recession - as in who has caused our budget woes. Hint: the answer is not school teachers. Of course the police arrived to escort the teachers out of the bank but we held a peaceful protests with no arrests and no property damage (unless you count sidewalk chalk as property damage. The bank didn't appreciate it but the police just asked us to stop).
I have to give my respect to Social Equality Educators, specifically Jesse and Dan (who you will see in pictures below) for the hard work and their determination to get inside the bank and make their point. Being outside was important too, but these guys were willing to risk arrest to carry out the teach part of "teach chase a lesson".
Photographs below, credit to Jennifer Lee Hall for taking them.
Representative Kucinich speaks to the crowd
Dan and Jesse, Seattle teachers and organizers for this protest
A Seattle high school student talked about how she couldn't sign up for classes she needs for graduation (like foreign language) because they have been cut.
Seattle school teachers who took part in the protest
We left a little artwork behind...this is my favorite
I think Jamie Dimon might be a liar
This action was the result of a coalition of several local activist groups. The reason for the action was CHASE pays no state taxes through a loophole that allows banks based in WA to avoid paying taxes. Though CHASE is not based in WA, WAMU whom they acquired during the bailouts was and thus they are still given the credit.
Teachers in Seattle are already facing layoffs that are likely to increase as the state balances the over $5 billion budget shortfall. In addition to this the legislature is considering a pay freeze for teachers.
We had a fantastic list of groups involved! See below:
Sponsored by the Seattle Education Association, Social Equality Educators, SEIU Washington State Council, Working Washington, and MLK County Jobs with Justice.
Endorsed by: Activists for a Better World, Bring Our Billions Home Campaign - FOR, Community Alliance for Global Justice, El Comité Pro-Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social, International Socialist Organization, Moveon.org, Poets West, USUncut Seattle, SNOW, and the Washington Fair Trade Coalition
Update - here is a link to a video from a local news station Watch here