Police again deployed chemical weapons and flash bang grenades on nonviolent protesters Saturday night, but by midnight four Seattle City Councilmembers were standing at the East Precinct barricades using their bodies and voices to de-escalate police. A petition calling for Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign or face removal by the Seattle City Council gained more than 7,000 signatures in just a few days.
Councilmember Kshama Sawant (District 3) added her name to the list with a statement issued at noon. From the barricades Saturday night, Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda (District 8, at-large) hinted that much of the Seattle City Council may join that call on Monday.
“We have a list of demands [Mayor Durkan] has not met, including her commitment to not use tear gas,” Mosqueda said. “So, these demands haven’t been met. I don’t see another way. We are going to have to make a statement on Monday.”
