Did Blocking Traffic in Seattle Help or Hurt the Cause?

On June 23, 2010, 23 protesters were arrested during a demonstration for immigration reform in downtown Seattle. What begun as a protest in front of the Federal Building organized by the Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) escalated when over 200 people moved into the streets, blocking traffic for over 3 hours. "We demand immigration reform, and we feel it is such an issue of moral crisis, moral urgency that we are ready to risk arrest ourselves," said Pramila Jayapal, Executive Director of One America, an immigration rights group.

After the demonstration ended, the most discussed point was whether blocking traffic, which left many drivers stuck for hours during one of Seattle's hottest days, helped or hurt the cause. Ken Schram from KOMO 4 News and the Michael Medved Show deemed the demonstration a bad tactic to win over people's support for immigration reform.

I opened a discussion on Facebook asking people about their thoughts on the recent use of civil disobedience in Seattle. Those in favor referred to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi's successful use of civil disobedience during their fights for justice, while the ones against thought the demonstration was simply a disaster because it alienated the public that we need to support the cause.

Immigration Advocates Escalate Civil Disobedience in Seattle,WA

In the Northwest of the nation, the Washington Immigration Reform Coalition (WIRC) is joining in on the escalation of civil disobedience to push for immigration reform. There is widespread frustration that we are approaching the end of May without a viable bill for comprehensive immigration reform in the Senate, and toward unresponsive local politicians, like Rep. Dave Reichert, Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, and Rep. Doc Hastings, for not taking a stand on the issue.

Yesterday, in Seattle, WA, over 250 people from different ages and ethnicity gathered in front of the federal building around 11 a.m. They then proceeded to march and block the elevator entrances of a 43-floor skyscraper that houses the downtown Seattle offices of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Inside and outside the building, people chanted and demanded an end to the separation of families. Those assembled included One America Executive Director Pramila Jayapal, El Centro de la Raza Executive Director Estela Ortega, and Seattle City Councilman Larry Gossett, who were willing and hoping to get arrested to bring attention to the cause. "I'm willing to take the risk because of the importance of the issue," said Gossett.