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Last night while watching OakFoSho's stream of the latest in Occupy Oakland's FTP (Fuck The Police) marches I saw people coming out from their houses to cheer and thank the protesters for chanting (among other things) "From Oakland to Greece; Fuck The Police".

Today about 70 people rallied against war and sanctions on Iran at Westlake Park in Seattle and marched to the offices of KIRO-TV near Seattle Center in Belltown.

From the event description posted on Facebook:

"Join us in visible street protest to say no to U.S. war on Iran. Protests planned in over 30 cities so far. Take a minute and read the call for mass action below and spread the word quickly.

As much as we try to, we can't eliminate the problems we face by making them less visible. The earth warms as we drive to work, the homeless find shelter away from the public when dropped off at the county line, the children of those less able to afford good housing still get substandard educations and those who become ill still tax our emergency rooms even if we prevent their entry into hospitals.

(Mass arrested at a YMCA in Oakland)

Yesterday Oakland police followed and harassed a protest march by Occupy Oakland, including pushing marchers with batons and knocking over a young woman on a bicycle and arresting her for damaging the pavement with her arms, eventually sparking a few protesters to respond by throwing bottles at officers telling them to disperse. Police responded with flashbang granades, rubber bullets, beanbag rounds and tear gas.

Senator Murray,

I'm a resident of Seattle and I'm concerned about ACTA.

This treaty will not reduce copyright infringement. What it will do is encourage countries around the world, including our own country, to pass laws stifling free speech, freedom to run legal software on hardware they own and to prevent "the progress of science and useful arts".

EU, Iran, Sanctions, oh my!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/23/eu-ambassadors-iranian-oil-e...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/23/iran-oil-embargo-mean-war
http://rt.com/news/iran-eu-sanctions-oil-419/
http://rt.com/news/iran-close-strait-hormuz-embargo-455/
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/120123/eu-embargo...

In short: call your representative and senator and tell them to discourage the president from attacking Iran.

Washington State set to declare that gay people may have feelings for one another:

On Saturday January 21st around 300 people rallied in Westklake Park in Seattle and marched against the Citizens United ruling and demanded a constitutional amendment allowing states and the federal government to regulate election spending.

(source: Rick Barry at http://www.flickr.com/photos/f8stop/sets/72157628974287761/with/6739290473/)

Here is some stunning footage from pfailblog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGju4u7yVRA

My response:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb7esHCjkxM

If you're not already following this streamer from the bay area on twitter you should:

https://twitter.com/#!/PFailBlog

This isn't what democracy looks like. Seriously folks.

Yesterday aproximately 100 protesters rallied at 23rd and Union in Seattle's central district against police brutality and then marched to the East Precinct.

(protesters lighting torches symbolizing those killed by police)

The full rally and march can be seen here and here.