Thousands gathered at Westlake Park to protest President Trump’s ban on immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, Sunday, January 29, 2017. U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Gov. Jay Inslee, Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib and Mayor Ed Murray were among the speakers at the downtown rally, condemning Trump’s actions.
Those arriving to watch Seattle Mayor Ed Murray’s deliver his State-of-the-City speech next week will need to remove their shoes upon entering, or wear a shoe cover provided at the entrance.
Murray is making a statement a week before his speech. Instead of the Seattle City Council chambers, State-of-the-City will be delivered at the Idris Mosque near Northgate.
The Arabesque-style mosque, competed in 1981, has already served as a place where Seattle made a statement about its opposition to bigotry and commitment to multiculturalism.
In the days following the 9/11 attacks, after a minor incident of vandalism, volunteers organized by the Church Council of Greater Seattle stood vigils of protection outside the mosque, a precursor to the city declaring itself a “Hate Free Zone.”
“Both the city and Idris Mosque are committed to the American ideal of separation of church and state,” said a statement from the Mayor’s office. “With this address, Mayor Murray and Council are standing with Seattle’s Muslim community in their house of worship as we fight state sanctioned discrimination by the Trump administration.”
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Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, second left, speaks at a post-election event of elected officials and community leaders Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at City Hall in Seattle. Murray said the country had elected a leader who has “demonstrated outright misogyny” and displayed “racism and authoritarian tendencies.” Murray said despite the views held by President-elect Donald Trump, Seattle would remain a welcoming city for immigrants, minorities and others. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, second left, speaks at a post-election event of elected officials and community leaders Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, at City Hall in Seattle. Murray said the country had elected a leader
Murray has used State-of-the-City speeches to espouse, proudly and without equivocation, his commitment to social justice and activist government.
The Mayor introduced listeners, a year ago, to Sen. Robert Kennedy’s great 1968 Indianapolis speech, delivered to a largely African-American audience hours after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The theme central to the 2016 speech was racism and measures the city can take, especially in the education and support of young people, toward its eradication.
The speech this year will likely highlight contributions of immigrants who have sought out the prospering, technology-driven city — even though often hard-pressed to afford it.
Murray has implemented such policies as the Seattle Police Department not asking residents about their immigration status. Major Seattle churches and synagogues are moving toward offering sanctuary to the targets of federal raids, if and when they begin here.
The Trump travel crackdown is generating the biggest mass protest movement America has seen since the 1960’s anti-war protests. And such politicians as Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee are products of that era.
Inslee appeared at a post-Ramadan event in a Redmond mosque last year, and spoke last week at a Tukwila mosque.
The Governor is talking like an insurgent, and acting like a politician.
“Washington is leading the resistance and it’s working — starting with blocking Trump’s discriminatory travel ban,” the Governor said Monday on his Facebook page. Readers were invited to “Sign on to oppose Trump’s travel ban.” By signing, they can expect a nonstop barrage of Inslee fundraising emails.
The Murray speech will be delivered on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 9:30 at Idris Mosque, as part of a special meeting of the Seattle City Council. Seating will be on a first-come, first served basis, including an overflow space downstairs.
The speech will be live-streamed on the Seattle Channel.
King County Metro routes 73, 75, 77 and 373 all serve the corner of 15th Ave. NE and NE Northgate Way.
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