Photos by Sam Smith
We had a surprisingly good turnout to Saturday’s Midnight March for Metro, considering the lateness of the hour, the remoteness of the location, and how cold and wet the the weather was. Over 50 people were counted, including County Councilmember Larry Phillips, who graciously accepted his constituents’ invitation to share in their suffering (and equally graciously forgave being introduced as ‘Larry Gossett’ by the event MC!).
Besides residents of Magnolia, Transit Riders Union members came out, as did members of SHARE/WHEEL, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587, including president Paul Bachtel, and members of Socialist Alternative. In addition, members of the Anti-Fascist Marching Band showed up and treated marchers to spirited renditions of union songs and jazz standards.
Fellow Rider Jim McIntosh, long-time Magnolia resident and founder of the Magnolia Transit Riders Group, said, “Wow, what a night! I’d say it was one of those Life’s Moments for me.” Duff Badgely, the Magnolia resident who originally challenged Larry Phillips to walk the route, and played a leading role in organizing the event, said, “I’m amazed.”
This event is an excellent milestone for the Seattle Transit Riders Union. Our first demonstration, which brought together the founders of the original group, only had a handful of attendees — despite sunny weather, the threat of 17% service cuts, and two solid weeks flyering and postering downtown. A year-and-a-half of dedicated organizing later (all of it unpaid!), we can turn 5 times as many people out to protest a small neighborhood service cut. Just think of the forces we’ll be able to mobilize next year if the state legislature fails to give us a local funding option, and Metro is forced to go ahead with those cuts of 17%!
And when people get organized to save public transit, what is to stop them from getting organized to save other social services, or to fight for better working conditions and wages?
