EVHaste
Howdy fam! You know the drill.
I’m at #NoKings in #Seattle today. I’m hoping to do another piece on protest art; and I’ll say, so far I have not been disappointed!
If you see me, don’t be afraid to say hi. I don’t bite (usually)
If I have any live observations (and I already have a few), I’ll thread them here. Heads up to flex that mute button for a few hours it if it’s not your jam!
EVHaste
I can confirm I am the first human for Central. Cap Hill represent! 🏳️🌈
EVHaste
A little ways away, there is some live performance art. A band of jesters are escorting “his royal heinous” Donald Trump, and making loud noises to distract onlookers from a clown who keeps dropping the Epstein files.
EVHaste
Some pre-gathering photos should be appropriate. So here’s what they apparently mean by the neighborhood sorting. In the distance you can see signs for North Shoreline, East Side, etc.
What caught my eye is the construction. The orange block lettering, suspended on netting, is the style of a specific local organizer: The Backbone Campaign.
If you read my coverage of Hands Off last year, you might recognize them as the massive “declaration of independence” folks.
https://evhaste.com/2025/04/22/the-antifascist-art-of-handsoff-seattle/
EVHaste
The photo that I forgot to attach. Lol. Scatterbrained
EVHaste
There’s a lovely xylophone band on the ground level.
They’ve gotten a couple of hecklers since I’ve been standing here, unfortunately. They dealt with it as gracefully as could be done. One guy, wearing camo, could be heard yelling “you forget where you come from. Where do YOU come from” as he left.
If you see the band, share some love, okay?
(Photo omitted since they’re getting hassled already)
EVHaste
Across the way it does look like there’s a concert in progress. Folks around me are covered in colorful dusts and paints.
I had to double check my calendar to make sure it wasn’t Holi.
I’m so tempted to walk through and get spattered but I feel like that might make interviews more difficult later. lol
EVHaste
I usually walk with the marches I’m covering, but for health reasons I can’t this time. So I’ve just arrived at Seattle Center and expect signal to degrade as folks gather.
I’ll try to keep you posted. :D
EVHaste
Here’s an interesting logistical change from last year; today’s main event, which will be held after the march at Seattle Center, is focused on connecting attendees on a per-neighborhood basis to each other.
I think this is a great idea, at least in theory, which seems pointed at the usual “protesting is performative” cynicism.
I’m on my way ahead now to see how that’s going to work.
EVHaste
There have also been some program changes that I didn’t expect. With the exception of AG Nick Brown, who helped open ceremonies at Cal Anderson, I’m told there are no elected official speakers.
According to the Indivisible media folks, this was a “deliberate choice”, although they didn’t elaborate on the criteria.
If I had to wildly speculate (which I don’t, but I will) I imagine that last years invitees suddenly pivoting into campaign speeches probably influenced this.
So, a welcome change.
EVHaste
Highlights so far; whenever I ask anyone what the most impressive art they’ve seen is, they all unanimously point me to one of two places.
The first is a group of that has made a Statue of Liberty costume, which is standing at least twice the highest of the folks wielding it. Eavesdropping on the crowd, I can already hear that folks are using them as a meeting landmark. lol!
EVHaste
Second is a stunning hand-made drag ensemble by Patty Trauma. Red white and blue, Trump-evoking makeup, and a cake— of the “let them eat” variety— shaped to resemble a machine, probably an old timey voting machine. It had a strip of “I voted” stickers coming out of it.
No photos for Fedi yet because I haven’t been able to do my usual consent/redaction cleanup, but you bet I did get some.
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