Cascadia today: Trial of Spokane 9 goes forward + coexisting with beavers + Seattle sumo wrestling
Trial of Spokane 9 protesters moves forward
RANGE Media reports that judge Rebecca Pennell refused to dismiss charges against three of the nine protesters who are being charged with felony conspiracy charges for protests against ICE in Spokane last June. Defense attorneys claim the charges amount to criminalizing First Amendment rights to protest.
Top level Trump regime officials clearly see this as a pivotal case in criminalizing dissent: a motion filed by acting US attorney general Todd Blanche via US attorneys sought to “exclude any argument or statements that Defendants’ conduct was a proper First Amendment protest." According to the Guardian, the case has already prompted one long-time US prosecutor, Richard Barker, to resign in protest. The case has striking similarities to the conviction of protesters in Prairieland, Texas acccused of being an "Antifa™" cell.
The trial is set to begin on May 18 – Cascadia Day.
Death at Amazon facility: "everyone is replaceable"
If you have some time, definitely give this investigative article at Western Edge a read. It's about how the company responded when someone working at at Amazon distribution center in Troutdale, Oregon collapsed and died. Workers were told to keep working. Not surprising considering the facility has been subject to OSHA complaints and has the worst employee injury rate of 23 major distribution centers.
Ryan Haas
Judge rules OR employers don't have to cover abortion
OPB reports that a federal judge in Oregon ruled against a state law that requires that employee health care programs cover abortion and contraception. The judge ruled in favor of the group Oregon Right to Life, which claims it should get an exception for religious reasons.
Sorry folks. Medical professional agree that abortion is health care and everyone has a fundamental right to those if they choose. Christian zealots can go cry into their holy water or whatever and not force that choice upon others.
Coexisting with beavers in Oregon
KLCC has a report on how communities in the Corvallis area are learning to co-exist with beaver dams, which were long thought of as a nuisance that floods creeks– but now can be managed with notch exclusion fences that allow some beaver pond water to escape.
Sumo wrestling in Seattle's international district
KUOW has a great feature on Rain City Sumo, a sumo wrestling club in Seattle's international district, which is preserving the unique Japanese sport but also breaking from its traditions – including opening tournaments to people of all sizes and genders.
“When I start in a bout, I feel like Zen. There’s people cheering, but it quiets down and you calm down, and then it’s fast. It’s like all my power, all my thinking disappears, and I’ll just charge.” --Ailleen West, competitor
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andy
Do you appreciate Cascadia Journal's exclusive reporting on the ways the Pacific Northwest is pushing back against US fascism? If you have the means, please consider a paid subscription of just $5 per month. Each subscription helps me produce original reporting and opinionated notes on Cascadia's fight to build a more resilient and autonomous bioregion. And to those who already subscribe, thank you! --Andrew
