Back in 2013, Dan Savage and Dominic Holden, then the paper’s news editor, called for Seattleites to join a protest at the Russian consular residence—the home for the person who runs the Russian Consulate of Seattle, which today was shuttered by order of the Trump administration.
Why were Dan and Dominic urging people to the Russian consular residence barricades in 2013? And why did then-Seattle mayor Mike McGinn show up with an anti-Putin placard? Let’s take a trip down ye olde memory hole…
Protest Russia’s Anti-LGBT Laws TOMORROW in Front of the Russian Consular Residence (Sep 2, 2013)
We don’t have to tell you how bad it’s gotten in Russia for gay people, but if you needed more confirmation, today we have news that Russia is raiding the homes of gay people as part of their crackdown on illegal gay activity. They’re even asking folks to report suspected gays to the police. We can’t do that much from Seattle. But we can boycott their products, and we can take our message directly to the consulate.
Dan Savage is going to this event—he’s been rallying folks around it this week—and I’m going to it. I’ve put this on Facebook, lots of people I know have are going, and lots of people I don’t know know are going. Please join us.
Russian Official Furious at Seattle Mayor for Protesting Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws (Sep 17, 2013)
One of four Russian consuls general living in the United States sent an agitated letter to Seattle mayor Mike McGinn asking why he recently joined a “misleading” protest against Russia’s anti-LGBT laws and the upswing in anti-gay violence there. Andrey Yushmanov says he was “unpleasantly surprised” by seeing online photos of the mayor holding a “Stop Putin” sign in front of Yushmanov’s gated Madison Park mansion. “I would appreciate it if you could clarify whether your support of the protesters reflects the official position on the authorities of Seattle?” Yushmanov pressed.
Murray, Godden Disagree With Council President for Staying Silent on Russia’s Gay Hate Law (Sep 18, 2013)
Even though gay activists from Russia say that attention from the US will help halt the country’s anti-gay rapes, beatings, and murders, Seattle City Council president Sally Clark has said the city shouldn’t take a position on the issue by passing a resolution. Today the Seattle Times backed up Clark, because a resolution, which would oppose the recently passed anti-gay laws in Russia, aren’t part of the city’s “core work.”
But at least one other council member disagrees…
Then Ed Murray, who has been endorsed for mayor by a majority of the city council (including Godden today and Clark last month), also said at the same press conference today, “If I were mayor, I would ask the council to sponsor a resolution or proclamation.”
Sally J. Clark to Gay Russian Teenagers: Drop Dead (Sep 18, 2013)
What the fuck is going on here?
More of the same. For four years members of the Seattle City Council have been playing this game: refuse to work with the mayor then turn around condemn the mayor for not getting anything done. When people notice what they’re up to and attempt to draw attention to the game they’re playing—when angry posts like this go up—accuse the mayor of being “divisive.”
So here’s what’s up with Sally J. Clark: She is so blinded by her dislike for the mayor—she long ago endorsed his opponent—that she couldn’t bring herself work with the mayor for two minutes on a joint resolution “expressing the City of Seattle’s official position regarding anti-LGBT laws in Russia.”
Before we depart the memory hole, here’s Holden’s response to the idea that a Seattle City Council resolution on Russia was “off topic.”
That’s an interesting argument from the City Council—they only adopt resolutions relating to city business—because the council also passed resolutions recently that oppose federal approval of genetically modified salmon, support a statewide initiative to label genetically modified foods, back marriage equality in Washington State, and seek an end of the Iraq war. Then there are resolutions denouncing the oppressive regime in Burma, seeking an end to Aprtheid in South Africa, calling to end Apartheid yet again, supporting democracy in South Africa, and asking for the release of Nelson Mandela and new congressional sanctions. That was all “directly relate to city work,” huh? Were the current and previous councils wrong to pass all those?