Contextual Notes |
On August 20, 2017, the organization Americans For Refugees & Immigrants (AfRI) called for a demonstration against white supremacist violence, the Trump presidency, neo-Nazism, anti-Semitism, racism, as well as the influence of Sebastian Gorka and Stephen Miller in the White House. This rally was held in response to the Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 11 and 12, 2017, where Heather Heyer was killed. AfRI decried President Trump’s response to the “violence, misogyny, anti-Semitism, and racism in Charlotte” as “lukewarm”, according to their Facebook page. The event was also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Washington Congressman Adam Smith, and the Truman National Security Project. Demonstrators gathered at Westlake Park to hear speeches from Michael Ramos, of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Ross Cohen, of the Truman National Security Project, Cary Moon, candidate for Seattle Governor, Sheley Secrest, Vice President of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), Chris Vance, former chair of the Washington State Republican Party, Rabbi David Basior, of Kadima Reconstructionist Community, and Rabbi Jim Mirel, rabbi emeritus at Temple B’nai Torah. |