History

100 Years of Seattle Activism

The surprising history of Seattle’s century-long fight for human rights.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1972–74: Native Activists Fight for Their Rights to Fish

Plus: Students-turned-protesters occupy a Beacon Hill schoolhouse—known today as the El Centro de la Raza community center.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1999–2003: Progressives Protest the Global Trade Agenda and the Invasion of Iraq

As the Left formed a united front, street protests in downtown Seattle brought the WTO conference to a standstill.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1956–69: Seattleites Stand Up for Racial Justice

The region’s civil rights movement relied not only on African Americans, but activists from many ethnic groups.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1935–42: Locals Protest Anti-Interracial Marriage Laws and Japanese Internment

The only known newspaper to have decried internment policies in the area, maybe even the West Coast, was Bainbridge Island Review.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1917–24: Seattle’s Anti-WWI Women and the General Strike Make News Worldwide

Plus: Washington voters reject the Ku Klux Klan.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

History

100 Years of Seattle Activism

The surprising history of Seattle’s century-long fight for human rights.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

2015–17: Kayaktivists Confront Big Oil and Washington Confronts Trump

To be continued.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

2012–14: Seattle Pushes for Legal Weed and a $15 Minimum Wage

And paved the way for dozens of other cities and states that have since followed suit.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1991: PNW Riot Grrrls Stage a Revolution

Northwest bands like Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney and Bratmobile pioneered feminism’s third wave.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1982–84: The Trident Nuclear Submarine; Grassroots HIV Care

Plus, an occupation at Colman Elementary leads the way for the Northwest African American Museum.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1970: Anti-Vietnam Protests Break Out—But the Dude Abides

Plus, protests at Fort Lawton make way for the Day Break Star Indian Cultural Center.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1968: Birdwatchers and Mountaineers Defend the Wilderness

“They were then the fightingest and scrappiest outfit around.”

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1953: Filipino Cannery Workers Strike

During the McCarthy era, workers stood up to the Red Scare by refusing to bar Communists in union leadership roles.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

100 Years of Activism

1931: Unemployed Citizens Erect Hooverville

Pictured: Seattle’s Hooverville, as seen in March 1933, settled near where the Seahawks and Mariners stadiums stand now.

11/21/2017 By Madeline Ostrander and Valerie Schloredt

Post

Democracy 2.0

Social change pioneer Sarah Schacht helps citizens and government talk. No mass protest messages, please.

03/18/2009 By Valerie Schloredt