#BowDownBernie Action

[Bubzer]

Last edited Sat Aug 8, 2015, 09:48 PM - Edit history (3)

This is not okay.

PRESS RELEASE: Black Lives Matter Seattle ‪#‎BowDownBernie‬ Action

MEDIA CONTACTS: Marissa Johnson [phone] [e-mail]

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

*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

*on edit*
It turns out there are no less than three BLM Seattle groups. The group that Marissa Johnson is associated with is the newest of the three.
https://www.facebook.com/BLMSeattle?fref=nf
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Lives-Matter-Seattle/1537733223161214?ref=br_rs
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-Lives-Matter-Seattle/523804057758154?hc_location=ufi
Thus far, I've received no word from the official BLM organization if this action was sanctioned or not. I will update as I get word.
*Update*
Turns out https://www.facebook.com/BLMSeattle?fref=nf was literally established yesterday (8/7/2015). This reeks.

[sadoldgirl]

1. So the presidential election should be ONLY

about BLM? Good Luck with that, and snubbing
white liberals will truly help them! (Sarc)

[Bubzer]

10. I'm hoping this was not actually sanctioned by the BLM organization.

As it stands, this may set the movement back quite a bit

[Shrike47]

2. So yours is the only cause that matters? At this point, given only 2 options, I'm not with you.

[Bubzer]

8. Right?

I'm not sure if this is a subversion or not... I've asked the official BLM for a comment on its legitimacy.

[winter is coming]

3. They disrupted poorly.

[cali]

4. indeed

[Bubzer]

11. Not only did they disrupt poorly....

An official BLM representative came on stage much earlier to talk about issues, and was well received. Then later, when Bernie was to be on stage, two black ladies came on stage and took over the microphone and made comments about holding Bernie accountable.

[roguevalley]

21. incredible. Bernie has to be crucified for all white outrages while those who actually

practice them get a pass. Someone is disrupting here. Someone needs to investigate this. It could be that they really are just full of shit, this splinter group or they might be someone who believes there's something in it for them if they take out the only person in either race that gives a shit about them and their lives. Given that the pugs don't have a problem if african americans die, its a bit disingenuous for anyone to believe this is about bernie and his career decisions. There's more here than meets the eye. This is just the surface.

[6chars]

26. where there's smoke

people who aren't paying much attention might just see the headlines and photos and video clips and think "Oh, Bernie Sanders - he's the one who has the trouble with BLM"

[Skwmom]

5. Why aren't they pushing CONGRESS to pass criminal justice legislation.

Obama doesn't leave office until 2017.

[Joe the Revelator]

6. "bowdownbernie'? How can we pretend that this is ok? nt

[winter is coming]

9. That's the reaction they wanted. They seemed desperate to stir up outrage. n/t

[Cheese Sandwich]

13. Maybe they want Sanders to scream "Shut Up!" or "What the Hell is Wrong With You People!" ...

And that would be the end of his campaign.

[questionseverything]

27. instead he posted a justice reform package

https://berniesanders.com/issues/racial-justice/?source=twitter&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_content=tweet

i wish we were talking about the specific package...for example i wish he would clearly separate mj from coke,heroin,meth

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

31. Did that just get posted, or was it in place before Saturday's early event? nt

[questionseverything]

32. i believe it is new

i have heard him speak of much of the info before...but i think being written down is new

[HooptieWagon]

29. Which is what their benefactors are hoping.

Paid disrupters. Local media tried to interview them, and got the middle finger. They aren't interested in broadcasting their message, they don't have one. They just want to disrupt a Sanders speech.

[roguevalley]

22. I went to twitter and there at that time was six posts, almost all of them pissed.

[whatchamacallit]

7. Anyone have the feeling they will disappear the moment Hillary gets the nomination?

Hopefully for PoC I'm wrong, and with Bernie gone, they'll direct their efforts more productively. We'll see...

[Hydra]

17. If this is the best she can do

She's not getting the nomination. I do expect it all to disappear as soon as it's clear it's not working. HRC is not likely to keep paying or promising if they can't do their job for her.

[Ken Burch]

20. It goes without saying that HRC will never mention racism again once nominated.

And she'll stop pretending to care about police violence after that and go back to posing in front of phlanxes of (usually white)cops.

[Cosmic Kitten]

12. Hillary Clinton ONLY does PRIVATE MEETINGS

This city is filled with WEALTHY white progressives, which is why Hillary Clinton’ camp was obviously expecting a friendly and consenting audience for today’s campaign visit. The problem with Clinton's, and with WEALTHY Seattle progressives in general, is that they are utterly and totally useless (when not outright harmful) in terms of the fight for Black lives.

LIMOUSINE LIBERALS! Who needs them? amirite!

[jeff47]

16. Roads exist. They can be blocked.

or if you are not willing to be arrested for your cause, you can line them with protesters.

[Armstead]

14. I hope that's just a Tarted up equivalent of a DU screed

[Cheese Sandwich]

15. Will #BowDownBernie be the new #BernieSoBlack ?

[SidDithers]

23. ...

Sid

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. Come on. SURE it's okay (if you're a Hillary Clinton supporter... I wonder what's up with that?).

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. The thing is white or Black liberals are the most likely people to fight for Black people

given a white red neck crowd or other crowds I don't think so.

It all smells fishy

[cali]

24. this is flat out vile. disgusting and oh so ironic

Telling a Jewish man, most of whose paternal family were murdered in the Holocaust to bow down, is fat out inexcusable. What I just read over on Kosovo, is that this is evidently an antisemitic dog whistle. I don't know.that it is, but it is unquestionably deeply ugly.

[onecaliberal]

28. Why does POTUS get a pass from these people?

On edit: if BLM is so disenfranchised with white liberals, perhaps they should petition conservatives. I'm sure they would really help with the police state.

[Bubzer]

33. To be fair, this may not be BLM, but a hit-group claiming to be part of BLM.

There are currently 3 BLM Seattle groups... the one Marissa and her associate are part of was created 2 days ago. It has the appearance of being established specifically to look like an official BLM group, and to attack Bernie. No other BLM group has validated this group's activities thus far.

[Comrade Grumpy]

30. These people can fuck right off. n/t