Thousands of people marched in Seattle today. Along the way, we spoke to some about why they were marching and what they think about the current state of civil rights and police brutality in Seattle. See more photos from today's march here.

"I'm out here every year," Mathews said at today's march, "I bring my grandkids out trying to teach them how important it is to fight and stand up for the things we believe are right."

Mathews said she believes the biggest civil rights issues facing people in Seattle involve access to housing, jobs, and opportunities for young people who've been in jail.

"It's amazing how many kids are incarcerated and have nothing when they come out," she said. "They can't get a decent job. I'd like to see that change... so they get the chance to start over. It's like they torture them for the rest of their lives."

And what about the current state of civil rights in Seattle? How are we doing? Mathews says she believes that in some ways, things are worse today than in the past.

"In the '80s," she said, "things were a lot different and a lot better. People cared about one another—all different races. Now, to me, it's like the march grows bigger, but a lot of issues are not being addressed properly. As far as change is concerned, it's more like a roller coaster than a straight line up."

Williams said she was homeless for about 10 years and has since worked with homelessness nonprofits. Williams said the city should focus on opening more shelter beds, particularly for homeless people ages 15 to 25. "If we're trying to end homelessness by 2020," Williams said, "we need to start with the younger generation." (Williams has written about this issue.)

Because of Seattle's wealth and growth, "people all over the world are looking at this city," Williams said. "We have the ability to make change and to show people the right way... but it's only been getting better for some. I want to see it get better for everybody." 

Williams said she's been "assaulted and tased extra hard for no reason" at the hands of police and believes there's a disconnect between the leadership and the rank-and-file in police departments.

"In reality, I think people higher up are trying to do things to make change," Williams said, "but the officers out here on bikes—excuse my language—do a suck-ass job. The laws apply to everyone, but they don't really care. They feel that because they have the badge, they have the right to override those laws."

"I feel like I walk around Seattle with a lot of privilege," Layla said waiting for the march to begin outside of Garfield High School. "I feel very safe here. That is exceptional. The biggest issue that concerns me is the rate of youth incarceration. It's really fucked up. I work with these kids and it scares me to think... they'll be targeted because of what they're wearing or the music they listen to."

Layla said rising rents—especially in the Central District—are also a central civil rights issue for Seattle.

"We need to find a real solution," Layla said. "Many candidates ran on that platform of being interested in creating real change [on housing affordability]. Now we'll see."

Hussein and the two other UW students with whom she attended today's march are members of the Oromo people, an ethnic group in Ethiopia. They said they attended the march to raise awareness of that group's current clash with the Ethiopian government over urban expansion.

"We hope awareness is raised around this issue, people will become aware, and [the US government will] stop supporting the Ethiopian government," Hussein said.

In Seattle, Hussein said the city should enact rent control, stop the new youth jail, and spend more on programs for young East Africans—all issues she believes are especially important for South Seattle.

"Oromo Americans or Somali Americans may be struggling to find their identity," Hussein said. "We need more space for those youth, more role models, and better funding for youth activities centers."