Black Lives Matter Protesters Shut Down Bernie Sanders Rally

[Purveyor]

Source: Seattle Times

Originally published August 8, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Black Lives Matter interrupted the planned rally for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at Westlake Park on Saturday afternoon. Sanders left without addressing the crowd.

By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times political reporter

Protesters on behalf of Black Lives Matter interrupted the planned rally for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Saturday afternoon.

The rally at Seattle’s Westlake Park, drawing a massive crowd, ended around 3 p.m. with the Vermont senator choosing to leave after protesters went up on the stage and stayed there, controlling the microphone. As he was exiting and greeting supporters, he asked that they attend the 7 p.m. rally at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Read more: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/black-lives-matter-protesters-shut-down-bernie-sanders-rally/

[jtuck004]

1. Good, good. He chooses to listen. Too bad you are too weak to shut down the Republicans, but

you did help their cause.

Heck of a job, there, eh?

[movonne]

40. I would like to know who is behind this...why berny... has he ever said they don't matter???

[jtuck004]

53. People who are more interested in feeding their egos than solving the problems. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

161. Follow the money.

Plus, Bernie draws the biggest crowds...the narcissists want attention.

[bluestateguy]

2. Free Speech Matters too

and this kind of childishness accomplishes nothing positive.

[840high]

16. It accomplishes anger in

me towards them.

[Bubzer]

177. Totally!

[Shrike47]

190. Gotta agree. Had I been there, with vegetables, I might have thrown it.

People come to hear Bernie, not them.

[questionseverything]

3. bernie has the patience of a saint

earlier in the rally the local blm guy spoke and got a great reception from the crowd...so it is not like their voices were not already heard

he really needs secret service protection NOW

[arcane1]

10. They officially spoke at the event earlier????

This smells.

[questionseverything]

15. earlier it was a man that said he was local blm (i didn't get his name)

but he was very well received by the crowd

these 2 women rushed the stage just as bernie began to speak...shut everything down

he needs secret service protection NOW

[SusanCalvin]

43. This is why I read DU.

I have many questions about those women.

And he does need Secret Service NOW.

[questionseverything]

59. i was really hoping to see him speak

so i had watched the live stream for like an hour and a half

it was a HUGE crowd...when the camera turned i could not see the end of the crowd in any direction

most of the earlier speakers were poc and the whole thing had a festival feel...right up until they shut it down

[SusanCalvin]

68. Most of earlier speakers PoC?

And at least one BLM? And then these women? Something is starting to stink here.

[questionseverything]

88. another poster said....

The woman's name was Marissa Jenae Johnson.

////////////////////////////////

[SusanCalvin]

105. Well,

A Google, even with quotes, sure didn't turn up much. Kind of odd, if she claims (by her actions, at least) to be a prominent member of BLM.

[questionseverything]

113. she is a founder according to this

http://www.youcaring.com/black-lives-matter-seattle-360828

[SusanCalvin]

131. Ah - I didn't hit "more" the first time.

I'd sure like to know if they had any communication with Bernie or his people. To me, NRN was a one-time thing *unless* people didn't listen and respond.

What communication, if any, did they have with Bernie and/or his people, and what was the gist of it if they did in fact communicate? That's what I want to know.

I can see this being justfied (although I currently doubt it) or unjustified - I need more information.

[glinda]

136. He needs Secret Service.

[HappyPlace]

114. Thank you for this!

[appalachiablue]

222. Did the rep. speak on BLM only or SS & Medicare also? This is significant, thanks.

[questionseverything]

225. he explained why ss is so important to black seniors

he said for 42% of elderly blacks their only income is ss

[appalachiablue]

226. Great, I hope we learn who this local Seattle BLM rep. is and see him in the video. Thanks.

[azurnoir]

11. Nope only Hillary and Biden get that former FLOTUS and current VPOTUS

[SusanCalvin]

78. Then something needs to change.

Security being free for some candidates but not others is hardly a level playing field.

Yes, there needs to be some way to determine "serious" candidates.

Hey, wait! Even simpler. Choose to run for office? Start providing your own security.

[totodeinhere]

96. President Obama has the authority to order Secret Service protection for

Bernie now, and he should. It has been done before.

[jwirr]

102. Yes, for President Obama when he was compaigning.

[appalachiablue]

13. Caught 2 speakers incl. Kshama Sawant before Bernie, good to know a local BLM rep. spoke earlier.

What an enthusiastic crowd rallied to support Social Security and Medicare on a Sat. afternoon. Tonight Bernie speaks at another Seattle event, then Portland, Oregon on Sunday and LA Monday. We're on a mission, Go Bernie!
Patience is a virtue and he has it. Also wisdom, strength, maturity and integrity. And major brains!

[appalachiablue]

22. Seattle "Social Security & Medicare Rally" featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders was the event title

and original title of this KIRO TV article 30 mins ago.

Great crowd in Westlake- Seattle City Councilwoman Kshama Sawant and 2 other event Speakers I heard were excellent.



- KIRO TV Video, Report, Watch,

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/social-security-medicare-rally-featuring-sen-berni/nnGDm/

[msongs]

34. the lady in the purple dress (didnt catch the name) was excellent nt

[daleanime]

57. I must have start the live feed after that....

wonder if that will be included when this gets lots of coverage?

[jwirr]

66. I did not see that when I was watching. Are you telling us that BLM had a part in this event other

than this disruption?

And yes he does need protection.

[msongs]

4. having watched the event, a few thoughts...

first of all the organizers must secure and control the stage and microphone as part of running the event and providing a safe place for participants on the stage. evidently there was no control even though it is well known that at least one group of people have promised to disrupt such events.

secondly, telling the audience that they are all racists is not a way to make friends and influence people

some people just can't tell when they've won their moral victory and it's time to move on.

and what does this tell us about the candidate's planning and leadership when it is known this sort of thing will happen and it ends in the candidate leaving.

[jtuck004]

7. What does it tell us when unarmed black folks are being shot and dying in the street, another

last night?

They were wrong, but for once we have a candidate who tries to listen and respect the idea that something needs to change. I give a lot of credit to Bernie for not overreacting. He is actually respecting people. What a concept.

Trump would have them shot.

Had they tried that with Mrs. Clinton they would likely have been in jail.

[SusanCalvin]

55. True, and I think Bernie has the right approach.

Nevertheless, when I read here that a BLM rep had already spoken, my question is, "Who were those women and what were they trying to accomplish?"

[daleanime]

61. You just have to watch the video to see their intend.....

it's fairly obvious.

[passiveporcupine]

106. So, they didn't interrupt anyone but Bernie

Food for thought

[daleanime]

110. Exactly.....

and what they wanted seem to change the longer they were on stage.

[HooptieWagon]

166. Maybe they should take it up with POTUS and DOJ.

That would be the logical choice. Pissing off the public isn't going to gain them sympathy, only make them appear to be loudmouth narcissists.

[rocktivity]

38. DING DING DING! Msongs, you're our grand prize winner!

Telling the audience that they are all racists is not a way to make friends and influence people.

Especially if you don't have a speech prepared and have to be coached by a human teleprompter on the sidelines. It gives the impression that you use the venue as a homeless shelter and are actually annoyed that your sleep was interrupted.


rocktivity

[jwirr]

89. They made it quite clear that us liberal are all racists. The only group in the country that is on

their side. I am feeling sick again.

[MyNameGoesHere]

140. Why?

I don't know if they "Made it quite clear" that liberals are all racists. I don't need BLM to tell me that not ALL liberals are racist. But the insidious racism is the hardest to understand. I get it.

[jwirr]

209. My mixed race family get it also. I am sick because this is not going to solve anything.

[HooptieWagon]

169. Yep. Turning on their allies is a bizarre tactic.

But if they want to fight it by themselves, then good luck.

[HooptieWagon]

197. Okay. We can ignore them.

It's a bizarre tactic they're adopting, but the best response to children throwing a temper tantrum is to ignore them. If they want to deliberately marginalize themselves, so be it.

[alp227]

163. I wonder how right wing incivility is so much more influential than

left wing incivility. Is it because of the already existing critical mass of people who nod along with the right wing noise machine? I know the tactics of right wing media like calling liberals "sheep" or "brain dead" or "stupid" and such.

[djean111]

56. Oh, so now this is on Bernie? Oh, well-played, indeed, But fail.

Bernie expects civility, not heavy-handed disruption. But yeah, he should get some strong-armed security like Hillary has, I see your point.
Or should he just not speak anywhere, knowing that BLM is out to disrupt his entire campaign?

[yeoman6987]

65. Hillary earned that secret service through her position as

First Lady. Senator sanders needs to hire his own security if he deems necessary and currently he must not think it is necessary. If he is the nominee, he will get SS.

[djean111]

69. I meant that he should get his own security. I really don't care about how Hillary got hers. n/t

[jwirr]

94. Well not quite I understand that President Obama got SS protection early while he was running

against Hillary. At that point he was like Bernie just a Senator.

[yeoman6987]

202. True but it was well after Super Tuesday

We'll see. The other thing was that senator Obama (at the time) requested it.

[jwirr]

211. I suspect that Bernie will not request it because he does not want to be the reason these kids

get arrested. Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

[jwirr]

83. Wasn't the event ended before he got a chance to speak? That is what I heard from someone

else that watched it. He walked out into the audience and shook hands after that. What would you have done - they were demanding that he apologize because he did not let them disrupt his last event? What was that even about.

[bowens43]

5. a bunch of fucking idiots.

[7962]

144. + one million. And you've got enough posts to not be called a "troll"

These idiots are only HURTING THEIR CAUSE!!!!!! Its just turning into a "look at me" group. Everyone wants their 15 minutes........

[shenmue]

178. Good luck with that

[cali]

213. they screwed themselves. couldn't be more counterproductive

[V0ltairesGh0st]

6. This is jaw dropping irrationality at it's worst.

eom

[underthematrix]

8. BLM folks should realize by now African Americans

will never support Bernie. I think they should ignore Bernie just like the rest of the AA community.

[Throd]

25. Why should they not support Sanders?

[orpupilofnature57]

31. Because they've drank the kool-ade, of a false image, who does she do for ?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. Actually there are African Americans who are supporting Bernie

never is inaccurate

[jalan48]

149. Te poll I saw said 80% support Clinton.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

156. most not going to come out for her if she is the nominee

Things are different now after Obama. People might say they support her in a poll but actually voting....

[totodeinhere]

100. I don't believe that for even one moment. Many African Americans don't know Bernie very well

yet. But as they get to know him they will realize that what Bernie proposes is just what their community needs.

[RoccoR5955]

139. Who are they gonna support?

Cruz, or Carson?
They are the only "minorities" running.
Really, if they want Cruz or Carson, they are plants, shills for the RepubliCLOWN party.
If anyone in politics has done something for the African American community, it is the liberals.

However, I do get their racist liberal vibe. Having being poor as a kid and living in what one might call a ghetto, I understand the conditions that poor minorities, as well as non minorities have to go through. Even though there are liberals who are backing their cause, they don't know what it's like living in the ghetto, living poor, being target by the police. They feel sorry for the folks who are less fortunate, and do nothing to make these poor folks become part of their community.

I also think that there is a part that the Black Lives Matter folks don't get. They don't understand that Bernie came from a poor family, and he understands a lot of these issues, and has worked for them for a long long time. That's more than I could say for any other candidate.

Oh well, live and learn.

[azurnoir]

9. BLM called people in the crowd “white supremacist liberals” for asking them to let Sanders speak?

unreal

[arcane1]

12. That's not protesting, nor is it heckling. That's trolling. n/t

[ctsnowman]

127. Exactly!

[glinda]

143. Intentional agitation.

[winter is coming]

215. It's almost as if someone was hoping to get video "proving" that

Bernie crowds don't like African Americans. Hmm...

[stillwaiting]

64. It's very, very sad. I have nothing but compassion for what Black people are going through.

It saddens me that some black people think that I might be their enemy.

I really don't understand, but I'll keep on trying to do so.

[jwirr]

101. Well said. Thank you.

[840high]

93. Jesus H - how to win friends and support.

[7962]

147. See post #5

[azurnoir]

176. well........

3. bernie has the patience of a saint

earlier in the rally the local blm guy spoke and got a great reception from the crowd...so it is not like their voices were not already heard

he really needs secret service protection NOW

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1170643

[geek tragedy]

14. Is there no security?

If it's a campaign event, then if people try to commandeer the stage, the way to handle it is to have them escorted off.

This seems like some wannabe's who saw the attention the BLM protest at NN got and thought they could get themselves a piece of the action. They seem like trolls, not activists--calling a crowd "white supremacists" because they want to head Bernie speak at his own event is beyond crazy.

[daleanime]

72. Could be wrong....

but I don't think it was Bernie's event. It was a local rally to celebrate SS and Medicare, although I could be wrong. If I am I hope some one corrects me.

[arcane1]

97. I've seen other posts that this was a separate event that the was invited to speak at

But it's not an "official" event, which is what he's having later today.

[daleanime]

107. That's my understanding also....

but I have been know to be mistaken.

[arcane1]

109. Welcome to the club :)

[restorefreedom]

17. methinks this is not just about the blm movement

bernie is the only one being silenced.

food for thought.

[arcane1]

20. And nobody can honestly claim he's a freakin' white supremacist.

No one could be that uninformed.

[restorefreedom]

26. they are definitely informed

and their agenda is becoming more clear. ironically, the disrupters within the blm movement might end up hurting the goals of the more mainstream efforts.

but then gain, there is really only one goal here, at least of the disrupters

hillary *cough cough* in the white house *cough cough*

[passiveporcupine]

76. wish there was a way to follow the money. nt

[restorefreedom]

119. probably is

for someone who knows where to dig.... this would be a good story for a reporter who can't be bought

[glinda]

146. Rachael??????? Yoo hoo!!!!!!!

[jwirr]

135. If they do they have forgotten one little fact. His grandparents were killed by a freaking white

supremacist in Nazi Germany when he was small.

That is one of the reasons I cannot believe they are targeting him and telling him to apologize for racism.

[nashville_brook]

21. +100000

[restorefreedom]

27. glad i am not the only one who thinks this. nt

[nashville_brook]

47. it's making the whole BLM movement seem partisan and petty

it's sad for BLM.

just a couple of people using the label of BLM are cheapening the whole movement for using this as a partisan cudgel.

i don't believe this is the whole BLM "movement." it's just whomever believes they can use the label to advance their agenda.

[SusanCalvin]

58. I'd really like to know more about those women. nt

[nashville_brook]

86. i'd really like to know what The Real Black Lives Matter movement stands for

is there an organization or is it more like Anonymous, where anyone can claim to speak for the group?

b/c, if there is an organization, it's time to hear what the official stance on this is. will there be protests of any other candidate other than Sanders? Has BLM decided to drop their focus on law enforcement oversight? why is Bernie Sanders public enemy #1?

[SusanCalvin]

92. True.

There's something to be said for leaderless "organizations" (I am forever grateful to OWS), but if you have no leadership, then anyone can say anything and claim to be you.

[nashville_brook]

104. i watched our local occupy go to shit b/c of the crazies

and i have to suspect that's a danger for BLM as well.

our local BLM protests have been ad-hoc, and fairly well organized thru coalitions of existing orgs reaching out to membership. if a couple of people in my town decided to disrupt a Sanders event and say they're doing it in the name of BLM, there wouldn't be a spokesperson to respond one way or the other. there's no board to convene.

[SusanCalvin]

108. Yep.

There's sometimes something to be said for hierarchy, or at least a modicum of organization/communication.

[7962]

150. BLM has jumped the shark. And bad cops everywhere LOVE it. nt

[MisterP]

157. may I ask what sort of crazies?

here my worry isn't "extremism" in BLM but partisan chicanery under guise of race

[840high]

41. Yes.

[zeemike]

48. It smells of dirty tricks to me.

And it follows the Rovien principle of attack their strength.

I suspect we will see more of this.

[bvf]

117. Exactly. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

171. Follow the money.

Who funds BLM and Hillary?

[zeemike]

182. I would love to know that.

But who will do it?...there is no journalist that will.

[6000eliot]

217. Well, we all know that black people can't possibly act for themselves,

so it must mean this is a dirty trick funded by Hillary Clinton. How condescendingly racist this response is, and I don't care if it gets alerted on.

[daleanime]

77. It's hard not to see it that way....

[cantbeserious]

115. ^^^ This ^^^

Seems like an organized attempt to silence him and his message to these eyes and ears.

[truthisfreedom]

18. Whoever was in charge of this BLM stunt should be reprimanded and shunned.

Completely against their own self-interest and the interest of Progressives that are on their side.

Congrats to Bernie for keeping his cool.

[concreteblue]

19. This sh!t is starting to smell......

This si starting to smell like a good old fashioned Nixonian rat fu(&1NG.......
Can we please find some way to get to the bottom of this sh!t...both by having Bernie meet with these people AND doing some oppo on the instigators and their contacts?

[ruffburr]

63. +1

[DirtyHippyBastard]

23. How umm, counterproductive (?)

Seems childish and mean to go about things this way. By disrupting a rally for a sympathetic candidate who has recently been addressing your issue in every public speaking engagement he has been part of. To do this after one of the BLM members spoke at this very rally is more than a little suspicious, and will make me look at this group as a shill for Capitalist Clinton from here on.

[passiveporcupine]

24. I am all for BLM, but this is not right

They are pissing people off, and looking childish and disrespectful. What they are doing to Bernie now is really not fair (yes, this is more like trolling) and they are going to lose a lot of the support that was being given to them lately.

Bernie is not the only one who needs to "listen".

They don't want to hear what he has to say. It will never be good enough for them, because it's not about his "message" any more (maybe it never was). It's about just shutting him down.

This is just sad and crazy.

[appalachiablue]

45. Yep just sad and crazy at an otherwise excellent SS & Medicare event with several speakers.

Whether this is the best venue for BLM I'm not sure. Bernie has listened as requested by BLM today and by posters here who have said they feel more heard and welcomed by HRC and supporters. So there is some of it.

[Thespian2]

118. I agree

The people interrupting are being paid by someone...Corporate America is definitely afraid of Bernie and will find some way to stop him...the BLM folks are causing people like me to suspect their true agenda...which seems to be stopping Bernie...if they get Hillary, they will be truly sad...she is corporatist who cares principally about herself...

[restorefreedom]

129. +100000 nt

[MissDeeds]

165. +1000000

And who benefits most by Bernie's message being silenced? Follow the money...

[MissDeeds]

160. You nailed it

Very well said!

[Bonhomme Richard]

28. Why do I get the feeling they are doing this at the behest of.......

Hillary.

[840high]

44. Trust your feeling.

[nolabear]

50. Oh please.

That's making things up out of whole cloth. Hillary doesn't need to do it and it would be a foolish and dangerous thing to do.

[questionseverything]

70. who else does it benefit?

[840high]

95. It certainly benefits Hillary.

[MissDeeds]

112. Yep

It will be interesting to see if any of these protests take place at any of her appearances.

[jwirr]

128. Doesn't have to be Hillary. The biggest losers if Bernie wins or even if he builds the movement he

is working on are the corporations and the banksters.

[totodeinhere]

191. The Clinton's are not above using race in either direction. Remember Bill's racist remarks

during the 2008 South Carolina primary campaign.

[Bonhomme Richard]

67. The whole thing stinks and doesn't make any logical sense.

I have learned to trust my instinct.
Disclaimer..I haven't decided who to vote for yet.

[glinda]

151. Because it makes no sense is why it stinks. Exactly! It is a

set up or it is an uniformed groups of crazies. all the reason Bernie needs body guards.

[nashville_brook]

75. doesn't actually have to be "from Hillary"

to function that way.

these are likely just low-level local activists using the BLM organization for an excuse to disrupt. and...just b/c someone say's the words "black lives matter" doesn't make them an ambassador of the group. i think they're using the BLM brand to advance their own agenda, and someone from BLM needs to speak up and distance the movement from this shit.

[juxtaposed]

91. occam's razor

[HereSince1628]

167. Unfortunately the bias that leads to a CT is also a short straight line.

Our brain needs to resolve the question why, our brain works on what we think is important, not necessarily evidence.

[restorefreedom]

130. always trust your gut. nt

[totodeinhere]

193. Yup. Remember HRC making this comment?

[d_b]

205. Well, there's one way for us to find out

Let's see which other candidates hey pull this shit with.

[4139]

29. BLM will go after republicans only AFTER Hillary gets the nomination, until then it's Bernie

[Sunlei]

30. I want all the D contenders to sit down with the Black Lives Matter group & have a talk.

Soon, set a date same as next R debate. Lets talk about the real issues in America.

[BillZBubb]

142. I want all the D contenders to tell BLM to go pound sand...

until they can learn to behave like adults and learn how to be politically effective.

[7962]

152. Their actions dont deserve any recognition. Dont reward childish insolent behavior. nt

[HooptieWagon]

188. Give in to a temper tantrum?

Yea, that'll work <rolleyes>

[rocktivity]

32. If they keep this up, they're going to hand Bernie Sanders

the black guilt vote.

Let's see if they're brave enough to spread the wealth and interrupt another candidate for a change -- especially a GOPer.

Thank goodness there's another event.


rocktivity

[Rosa Luxemburg]

37. Black Lives Matter are choosing the wrong candidate to hit on

but who is instigating this?

[fasttense]

35. I know the protesters identified themselves as BLM members but how do we know?

All we have is their word for it. Is there a roster or list of known participants? How do we know they are NOT paid political operatives? Why are they hounding Bernie the one candidate who actually marched for civil rights? This is strange. I think something else is going on then what it appears like.

[Cosmic Kitten]

39. It was recorded, right? Review the recording and ID those involved

[passiveporcupine]

121. Why is the AA group willing to forgive Hillary and Bill

For standing for things that were very harmful to blacks. But they cannot forgive Bernie for not making his campaign all about them from the get go?

[HooptieWagon]

189. They can be BLM [i]and[/i] paid, you know.

I'd bet on it.

[Cosmic Kitten]

36. We need identities and accountability.

Hundreds of people were denied an opportunity
to hear from their candidate, and a mockery was
made of the BLM movement.

Who was responsible?
FB and twitter accounts, please.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

46. The only team that is pushing this anti Bernie thing with African Americans is...

the Hillary team. O'Malley, Webb wouldn't. In fact the Republicans aren't that interested.

[daleanime]

85. Hard to tell.....

but from what I saw on the live feed, looked like a couple of thousand easy.

[questionseverything]

103. not hundreds...thousands were denied

[elias49]

49. What a pity. Someone may have learned something.

Why doesn't BLM descend on DC instead? That's where legislation is currently being crafted.

[mikehiggins]

51. Looks like the swiftboating is on full bore. Doubt it will work with Sanders, though.

One reason he uses so few notes in his appearances is that he knows what he is about, and doesn't need polls or focus groups to determine his direction.

And a lot of us old folks are going to wonder why anyone is picking on this messy haired old guy.

Bad optics folks.

[PADemD]

54. Just shut off the MIC if an authorized person gets on stage.

I would be pissed if I traveled to hear Bernie and someone interrupted his speech.

[jwirr]

60. I do not think this was a planned rally for Bernie. That will be later tonight. This was a rally

about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. All the speakers talked about it. He was asked to attend and speak about his idea for expanding them.

This was not his event.

[djean111]

73. The event was advertised as featuring Bernie.

I do not think for one instant they they would have shown up if he was not there. And why interrupt just Bernie?
No, they are after Bernie.

[jwirr]

145. I agree.

[House of Roberts]

74. The Seattle Times called it a Bernie Sanders Rally

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/black-lives-matter-protesters-shut-down-bernie-sanders-rally/

I'm not saying they are correct, just trying to help.

[appalachiablue]

98. It was officially a Rally for Social Security and Medicare featuring Bernie & other speakers.

In early June I saw Bernie speak at a Public Policy Forum in the DC area, it was not a campaign rally- same deal.
This made for an interesting event, don't know how effective though. Great crowd, I heard several excellent speakers.

A poster upthread mentions there was a local BLM rep. man who spoke officially to the enthused audience earlier, as part of the program, before I tuned in. This is targeting Sanders clearly.

It was wonderful how Bernie took time to meet and greet many folks when walking through the crowd at the end.

[jwirr]

148. Yes, I read that and they are incorrect. His rally starts later tonight.

[appalachiablue]

80. Correct. It was a Rally for SS & Medicare with several excellent speakers before Bernie.

The media is only Now titling the event as a Bernie disrupt, unlike an hour ago, esp. local KIRO TV that I watched the event on who changed their story lead.

Great crowd, and upthread someone mentioned there was a local BLM rep. man who officially spoke to the receptive audience earlier in the program.

In early June I was fortunate to attend a packed house Public Policy Forum in the DC area that included Bernie as a speaker. It was Not a campaign rally.

[Divernan]

82. 3 major Seattle papers announced this would be a Bernie rally

Fri Aug 7, 2015, 07:03 PM
Star Member Divernan (12,897 posts)

Presidential candidate Sanders to find friendly territory in Seattle visit (headline)
Good, positive local news coverage from 3 main Seattle papers, the Seattle Times, the Puget Sound Business Journal and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/presidential-candidate-sanders-expected-to-draw-crowds-in-seattle-visit/

Is Seattle Bernie Sanders’ kind of town? The Democratic presidential candidate brings his fiery, anti-corporate rhetoric to Seattle on Saturday for two rallies that could attract thousands.(subheadline)
Seattle is friendly territory for a candidate like Sanders — and organizers expect thousands from across the state will pack two events: a 1 p.m. Social Security event at Westlake Park and a 6 p.m. campaign rally at Edmundson Pavilion.

As the first 2016 contender to publicly campaign in Washington, Sanders’ visit contrasts with recent secretive stopovers by other candidates. Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Jeb Bush each slipped into the Seattle area this year to mingle at penthouses and mansions with donors who paid thousands of dollars to attend. Sanders’ only scheduled fundraiser is a small, $200-a-person meet-and-greet at Capitol Hill’s Comet Tavern.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/presidential-candidate-sanders-expected-to-draw-crowds-in-seattle-visit/

Bernie Sanders expects avid Seattle crowds Saturday (headline)

The Bernie Sanders phenomenon comes to Seattle Saturday with an address at Seattle's Westlake Park, a University of Washington rally and a $200-a-person fundraiser at the Comet Tavern.

It will be the first Northwest campaign appearances for the Vermont senator, who's been Hillary Clinton's most vigorous challenger for the Democratic presidential nomination.

His first event is at Westlake Park for a 1 p.m. "celebration" of Social Security and Medicare. Sanders, a 73-year-old independent who is challenging Clinton from the left, has called for a national single-payer health care program. At 6 p.m., Sanders holds a rally at the University of Washington's Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Sanders' campaign says his July 29 nationwide series of "meet-ups" drew 105,000 participants, and that Washington state had the third-highest concentration of these meetings in the nation with 120, after California and New York.
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/08/04/bernie-sanders-is-raising-money-at-the-comet-tavern-on-saturday-no-medina-mansion-for-him/

Bernie Sanders is raising money at the Comet Tavern on Saturday: No Medina mansion for him(headline)

Sen. Bernie Sanders is carrying his campaign for the 2016 Democratic nomination to the historic Comet Tavern on Capitol Hill Saturday, eschewing the usual presidential path to Medina, Hunts Point, Laurelhurst and waterfront mansions.

Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush, he’s not. The Sanders campaign will charge for the event, $1,000 to host and $200 to get in the door at the “Meet and Greet,” with doors open at 4 p.m. and the event at 5 p.m.

But it’s a far cry from the $50,000 to sit at the head table at last year’s Clinton Foundation fundraiser, or the candidate’s $2,700-a-head June event in Madison Park. A penthouse “Roundtable” with Bush in June carried a $12,500 price tag. Brunch with President Obama on a recent Hunts Point foray set guests back $17,200.

Sanders is speaking at an early afternoon Social Security rally in Westlake Park, sharing the stage with leather-lunged voices of the Seattle left (and folk singer Jim Page). He has an early evening rally at Hec Ed Pavilion at the University of Washington. A similar rally, three weeks ago in Phoenix, drew 11,000 supporters.

[jwirr]

164. Read closely. Paper number 1 say 2 rallies but then goes on to say one is a Social Security rally

and the second one is Bernie's campaign rally.

Paper number 2 calls the Social Security rally his first event but does not call it his rally. They do say that the 6 pm is his rally.

Paper number 3 calls the first event the Social Security rally and the second one his rally.

The first one was sponsored by someone else and it was totally about social security, Medicare and Medicaid.

The last rally of the night was planned by Bernie's campaign.

[Divernan]

172. I agree he was not responsible for security at the afternoon rally.

My point was that anyone who desired to attack him publicly knew they would have the opportunity to do so at the afternoon rally at which he was scheduled to speak.

[SusanCalvin]

62. For the nonce,

based on what I have seen so far, I really think "Black Lives Matter" "protesters" should be in quotes.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

71. I am not a racist

I am for Bernie's positions 100%, I am also for the goals of Black Lives Matter, but maybe they should be expanded on to say
ALL LIVES MATTER!

[SusanCalvin]

116. Of course they do, but

no, please, to that a slogan. Some groups have *way* more of a head start than others.

[jwirr]

168. THAT has already been discussed the last time and NO it should not.

[NaturalHigh]

79. They really know how to make friends and influence people.

That's for anyone who might not have gotten it.

[NYCButterfinger]

84. It's disappointing that they have to interrupt Sanders' rallies, but it is for a cause

The Black Lives Matter group should protest Republican events as well. They are doing it for a good cause, the Black Lives Matter group, but all lives should matter in the U.S. I hope that they can respond well to the backlash that they will face from the media and others once this story is revealed later in the day.

[NaturalHigh]

90. People do all sorts of stupid things in the name of a cause.

[bbgrunt]

185. I agree. I just question which "cause" they are doing it for.

This is profoundly disturbing and if BLM is trying to shut Bernie and his followers down, then one has to question who is using them to betray their own cause.

[dreamnightwind]

122. So you're saying they should protest all of Hillary's opponents

Hmm... Noted.

[NYCButterfinger]

192. They should have a dialouge with ALL presidential candidates, regardless of party

Period. Don't go after Bernie Sanders, have a discussion about racial issues in this country with ALL of the presidential candidates.

[dreamnightwind]

195. OK. Seemed odd to me how you left out HRC from your post. - eom

[passiveporcupine]

133. Why Bernie?

Ever since the NN derailing, he's been talking about many things that need to change to help blacks and other minorities. Why are they still attacking him?

If it was for "a cause" and it was OK to interrupt Sanders, who is on their side, then it would also be OK to interrupt all the dem candidates.

Sorry...not buying it any more.

[glinda]

154. To dissuade people from showing up if this happens a lot.

[SHRED]

81. Shut off the mic...

...and where was security?

Are people running these events incompetent or what?

[punguin54]

87. Just a guess...

Sounds to me like something Rove or Darth cheney would pull off.

[marlakay]

99. This whole situation is so distressing

I am so upset that people can't listen to my candidate, and that somehow information on all Bernie has done isn't getting theough to them, to where they feel its ok to try and ruin his campaign.

Is there no other forum where big crowds are? Obviously they chose this one because it was loose.

Try to get away with this at any republican event or Hillary's and be thrown in jail.

I am white so yes I can't possbly know how it feels to be threatened everytime you step out of your house. But I care, in my own way I care. I have always felt we are all the same inside and hate seeing others treated different.

Stuff like this just makes me mad, confused. After watching how awful they have been treated by cops lately I get the anger, I just don't get why they are taking it out on Bernie, unless they really believe Hillary or someone else will help them more so take him down like Meagan tried with Trump.

[Keep-Left]

111. how stupid

I cant think of a better person to help the movement and you shut his rally down.

I hope they were arrested

[PeteSelman]

120. The Clintons are as vicious and vile as anyone in politics.

They play hardball for keeps. It's pretty sick really but that's the game.

[shenmue]

180. Ha!

And they were where?

I didn't see them on that stage.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

218. Tony Soprano wasn't present for all the hits. (n/t)

[roamer65]

198. They are bad, but not as bad as the Bush Crime Family. N/t

[chknltl]

123. Of course i am reading this......

....while standing in line for the 6pm event for Sanders at Seattle's Hec Ed Pavilion! It looks to be a sold out event too! Broght my new Nikon and if i get it in there will be photos for ya DU.

[Arugula Latte]

124. What a stupid event to target.

There are so many racist horrible groups and people in this country and yet they target someone who fought for civil rights and is on their side.

What the hell were they thinking?

[Depaysement]

125. Like white progressives are the problem . . .

. . . And pissing us off is the solution.

I smell foul play.

[rocktivity]

126. UPDATE: They've issued an apology

Cue the Vonage theme -- and let's hope Bernie's evening rally goes better.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141170737


rocktivity

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

132. Looks like 'They' is one person who runs a webpage.

Here's what was posted on a DIFFERENT webpage.

This is from the BLM Seattle organization FB page - not a community page.

Black Lives Matter Seattle
48 mins · Edited ·

PRESS RELEASE: Black Lives Matter Seattle ‪#‎BowDownBernie‬ Action

MEDIA CONTACTS: Marissa Johnson [e-mail]

Black Lives Matter Seattle organizers and supporters take over Bernie Sanders’ rally at Westlake on Saturday, August 8, 2015.

Today BLM Seattle, with the support of other Black organizers and non-Black allies and accomplices, held Bernie Sanders publicly accountable for his lack of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and his blatantly silencing response to the ‪#‎SayHerName‬ ‪#‎IfIDieInPoliceCustody‬ action that took place at Netroots this year.

Bernie’s arrival in Seattle is largely significant in the context of the state of emergency Black lives are in locally as well as across America. The Seattle Police Department has been under federal consent decree for the last three years and has been continually plagued by use-of-force violations and racist scandals amongst their rank and file. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has refused to push any reform measures for police accountability, not even the numerous recommendations of his self-appointed Community Police Commission. The Seattle School District suspends Black students at a rate six times higher than their white counterparts, feeding Black children into the school-to-prison pipeline. King County has fought hard to push through a plan to build a $210 million new youth jail to imprison these children, amid intense community criticism and dissent. The Central District, a historically Black neighborhood in Seattle, has undergone rapid gentrification over the past few decades, with Black people being displaced from the only neighborhood that we could legally live in until just years ago. While white men profit off of the legalization of marijuana, our prisons are still filled with Black people who are over-incarcerated for drug offenses.

This city is filled with white progressives, which is why Bernie Sanders’ camp was obviously expecting a friendly and consenting audience for today’s campaign visit. The problem with Sanders’, and with white Seattle progressives in general, is that they are utterly and totally useless (when not outright harmful) in terms of the fight for Black lives. While we are drowning in their liberal rhetoric, we have yet to see them support Black grassroots movements or take on any measure of risk and responsibility for ending the tyranny of white supremacy in our country and in our city. This willful passivity while claiming solidarity with the ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ movement in an effort to be relevant is over. White progressive Seattle and Bernie Sanders cannot call themselves liberals while they participate in the racist system that claims Black lives. Bernie Sanders will not continue to call himself a man of the people, while ignoring the plight of Black people. Presidential candidates will not win Black votes without putting out an explicit criminal justice reform package. As was said at the Netroots action, presidential candidates should expect to be shut down and confronted every step along the way of this presidential campaign. Black people are in a state of emergency. Lines have been drawn in the sand. You are either fighting continuously and measurably to protect Black life in America, or you are a part of the white supremacist system that we will tear down in the liberation of our people.

On this, nearly the one year anniversary of the ruthless murder of Mike Brown, we honor Black lives lost by doing the unthinkable, the unapologetic, and the unrespectable. Out of radical love for our Black brothers and sisters, we put our lives and our bodies on the line to testify to their persecution and resilience. We join together in Black love to #SayHerName and declare that #BlackLivesMatter, understanding that our love will disrupt the complicity and corruption of our anti-Black society; GOP, Democrat, and otherwise.

There is no business as usual while Black lives are lost. We will ensure this by any means necessary.

With the strength of our ancestors and for the future of our children,

Black Lives Matter Seattle Co-Founders

Marissa Johnson and Mara Willaford

#BowDownBernie
#SayHerName
#IfIDieInPoliceCustody
‪#‎NotOneMoreDeportation‬
‪#‎FreePalestine‬
‪#‎MikeBrown‬
#BlackLivesMatter

[dragonlady]

158. Thank you for finding this

Very enlightening.

[glinda]

159. Sounds like angry Republicans.

[villager]

134. Good work! Keep shutting down leftists and progressives! Leave right wing racists unimpeded!

Great tactics -- will doubtless yield the same spectacular results for the left in America as they always have before!

[truebrit71]

138. Right? Bunch of short-sighted rocket scientists in that group....

.... talk shit about a guy that's been walking the walk for DECADES....

Brilliant...

[BillZBubb]

137. Once again BLM proves they are politically clueless jerks.

Not one of the big mouths showed up in Cleveland to shut down the Trumpathon.

[RoccoR5955]

141. They knew that they would get shot if they showed up

At the Cleveland Circus.

Or, they are Carson, or Cruz supporters, and are shills for the republiCLOWN party.

[7962]

153. I'd think they're more likely Hillary backers!

[RoccoR5955]

155. We simply don't know that. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

199. Are they disrupting Hillarys events?

What billionaire is funding both BLM and Hillary?

[tooeyeten]

162. Bernie is not the enemy

Not sure why he is a target, and what this accomplishes.

[Old Crow]

170. After stealing microphone:"You're never going to hear Sanders speak unless I hear silence here NOW!"

Sounds like all the attention has gone to someone's head. And I don't mean Bernie Sanders.

This. Is. Effing. Ridiculous.

Bernie Sanders is NOT "the man." Bernie Sanders's supporters are not "white supremacists."

Get a clue.

[Larkspur]

173. The video from this event proves BLM is run by narcissistic bullies, not movement activists

They will no longer have my respect.

Bernie's campaign needs to work with event organizers to do a better job of securing the event, especially the stage access and microphones. People went to this event to hear Bernie speak on Social Security not listen to BLM bullies.

[Old Crow]

175. +1 Could not agree with you more. (N/T)

[onecaliberal]

174. WTF

[CentralMass]

179. I would bet that there is some funding of ths going on behnd the scenes.

Hillary and Bill were the targets in 2008. Its Bernie this go around. Something smells.

[restorefreedom]

184. the comment thread at wapo is interesting

many suggesting that this is an unofficial act to further hillary's campaign and backed by soros.

don't know how that would ever be proven, but many are thinking something stinks here..

[bbgrunt]

186. something definitely stinks here. Soros or Koch?

[CentralMass]

201. +1

[Agnosticsherbet]

181. I support and applaud #Blacklivesmatter's demand for true equal civil rights.

Equal rights must come first.

[blackspade]

183. WTF?

How in the world does this help BLM?
Especially since a BLM speaker had already spoken to the crowd?

This was super shitty.

This is looking more and more like a set up to either throw the election to Clinton or the GOP.

[Bubzer]

187. Turns out this was a targeted attack against Bernie Sanders

This is the woman speaker who was there.
She has posted the following:

Black Lives Matter Seattle ‪#‎BowDownBernie‬ Action

*snip*

This city is filled with white progressives, which is why Bernie Sanders’ camp was obviously expecting a friendly and consenting audience for today’s campaign visit. The problem with Sanders’, and with white Seattle progressives in general, is that they are utterly and totally useless (when not outright harmful) in terms of the fight for Black lives. While we are drowning in their liberal rhetoric, we have yet to see them support Black grassroots movements or take on any measure of risk and responsibility for ending the tyranny of white supremacy in our country and in our city. This willful passivity while claiming solidarity with the ‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ movement in an effort to be relevant is over. White progressive Seattle and Bernie Sanders cannot call themselves liberals while they participate in the racist system that claims Black lives. Bernie Sanders will not continue to call himself a man of the people, while ignoring the plight of Black people. Presidential candidates will not win Black votes without putting out an explicit criminal justice reform package. As was said at the Netroots action, presidential candidates should expect to be shut down and confronted every step along the way of this presidential campaign. Black people are in a state of emergency. Lines have been drawn in the sand. You are either fighting continuously and measurably to protect Black life in America, or you are a part of the white supremacist system that we will tear down in the liberation of our people.

https://www.facebook.com/marissa.jenae.johnson

[roamer65]

196. She sounds like the Mao Tse Tung hour from UBS on the movie "Network". N/t

[HooptieWagon]

194. Who is paying them?

[tblue]

200. Let's say they succeed and snuff out his candidacy

Where the hell does that get anybody?

I'm black and a big supporter of Bernie. Like most of you, I appreciate and understand what's behind BLM's frustration and rage. I just don't understand the target. Or the goal in pulling something like this.

Sit down with Bernie and tell him what you want. If that doesn't work, then go to Plan B. You don't start there. And you don't beat up on what you perceive is an easy target, especially one that is in no way responsible for the problems you want to solve, unlike almost every single Republican politician.

Disheartening. Bernie doesn't deserve to be treated like this. If we knock him out of the race, I really fear for what's to come.

[romanic]

203. BLM is turning into OWS with all of this egotism

I don't see these cowards pulling this crap with Queen Hillary, Trump the Toupee and the other losers over on the right. If they want to be big and bad, go interrupt their rallies. Til then, I will side-eye the hell out of these so-called "protestors" and their divide and conquer tactics.

[d_b]

204. he needs security.

otherwise, this shit will go on and on and on

[onehandle]

206. Plan #125789w392-B went off without a hitch.

I was just on the after-party conference call with Hillary.

She is very pleased with the results of her plan.

Genius.

[George II]

207. Was George Soros on the call too?

[George II]

208. Sanders needs to wake up......

This event was supposed to have been about Social Security and Health Care, the event later in the day was supposed to be about Climate Change and Income Inequality.

I guess being in a city that is only 7.9% Black or African American (according to Seattle.gov) he doesn't have to worry about racial issues.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

219. Social Security, health care, climage change and income inequality...

affect blacks just like everyone else. Try again.

[George II]

221. But he's evading the direct issue that has been dogging him for a month, just ....

...dancing around the fringes of it. Time to address it head on.

[Needa Moment]

210. I wish that BLM

Wouldn't waste their efforts in this realm and focus more on the the peoples justice of putting cliven Bundy away for a long, long while. Now that poc should serve and repay all he owes us for stealing & moochimg off all the rest of us.

[YOHABLO]

212. Why didn't they jump on stage during the Republican ''debate''?

This is so inappropriate and they are messing with the wrong side of the fence. How ignorant can these people be?

[frazzled]

214. Presidenting isn't easy

and it's not always fair. You don't always get to talk about what you want to talk about, you sometimes get attacked for things beyond your purview. But it's part of the deal. It's not for the faint of heart—not that I'm saying Bernie is faint of heart; he's not. But he will have to deal with what gets put on his plate if he becomes president, whether he likes it or not. We need to understand this.

[840high]

216. I just watched the video - made me sick.

[Alkene]

220. Divide and conquer. Guess who wins.

[Chisox08]

223. This was counterproductive

Why attack the candidate that is on your side the most? Bernie has the best record on Civil Rights and standing against the growing militarization of the police and the war on drugs. This seems politically motivated to help one candidate over the other in the primaries.

[CheddaD]

224. understandable frustration poorly channeled.

As a Caucasian, I can only conceptually understand the rage of those black Americans who are politically active by voting consistently for Democratic candidates, yet have seen little improvement in the treatment of African-Americans by the State since the Civil Rights era. Schools and the Justice system are still failing too many African Americans. And I grasp why some would want to put Democratic leaders on the spot even more than Republican candidates. In fact, they should be asking Democrats "what am I getting if I vote for you?" If that question is not answered, the African-American community will return to low numbers of voters.

For all I know, these young women may have had real difficulty getting their agenda addressed. Candidates have been mostly silent on this issue. However, after the moderator graciously responded to their threats by giving them the microphone, I think they could have achieved something useful by simply asking "Senator Sanders, during your speech, please tell us what, if elected as President, you plan to do to ensure that Black Lives Matter as much as any other life in this country?"

Anger that has no constructive end benefits only the ego of the individual, and only momentarily.

[Nye Bevan]

228. Yay! Shutting down Bernie Sanders campaign rallies is a *great* way to end racism!

Keep up the good work, BLM!