Working Washington organized a rally with University of Washington students, labor unions, and the Occupy Seattle folks to protest state cuts in a context of needed infrastructure repair. Everyone gathering on the University bridge to symbolize the repairs needed to other bridges. Washington doesn’t have a great record with bridge problems. From Galloping Gertie in Tacoma, to the sinking 1-90 Bridge between Seattle and Mercer Island, sinking Hood Canal Bridge, and the slew of problems with the SR-520 “Evergreen” Bridge there is a record of problems and current need. There’s been a lot of political problems finding funds to replace the SR-520 bridge, and I guess it’s federal stimulus money which will do the job.

Another graduate student and I went to the rally at Montlake and Pacific, by the UW campus. We then marched to the University Bridge, watched by three helicopters. The sun sets early up here, and so through my pictures were taken between 4:00-5:00PM, they are all dark. Because it is Seattle in November, it was raining. My fingers were numb, so changing the settings was hard. But here are a few pictures, in case you would like to see them.

At Montlake and Pacific – Labor Rally

At Montlake and Pacific – Labor Rally

At Montlake and Pacific – Labor Rally

At Montlake and Pacific – Labor Rally

Heading to the University Bridge

On the University Bridge, Meeting the Occupy Folks

On the University Bridge

On the University Bridge

On the University Bridge

On the University Bridge deck

By all accounts, there was no violence. I stayed until 5:30 before walking back to Capitol Hill. I don’t like lingering at protests, and I was nervous about potential violence. There was none. The police stayed away. This is in contrast to Tuesday night, where an 84 year old activist was pepper sprayed by police. Seattle is a bit unusual for the Occupy movement, in that it has formal support from the city council, but similar in that it has opposition from business owners and neighbors who do not want them camping there. It is a loophole in the Washington State law that does not explicitly prohibit camping that permits them to remain at Seattle Central Community College, but the college is seeking legal ways to kick them out. We’ll see what happens.