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Seattle Councilmember gives Socialist response to President Trump's speech

SEATTLE — After President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant gave a Socialist response.

During her speech, Sawant encouraged non-violent civil disobedience, like the throngs who showed up to airports around the country to oppose Trump’s travel ban.

But she said the movement should not be limited to fighting defense against the president, but rather working to improve access for women’s reproductive health care, and for immigrant rights, among other causes.

In an interview with KIRO 7, she said, “I do not want to work or find common ground with a right-wing bigot, somebody who is attacking immigrant families, ripping families apart.”

Sawant reacted to particular promises Trump made, including the implementation of paid family leave.

“My question is how? How, when you’re about to deregulate businesses that are already deregulated?...There’s absolute nonsense and it’s actually misleading to people. He is a liar and a con man, and we need to fight against him,” Sawant said.

A group of about 40 gathered to watch Trump’s speech, followed by Sawant’s response. While most oppose the president’s views, a Trump supporter came too.

Brina Sanft, the chair of the Seattle King County Trump campaign, said she was invited to attend.

“I really want people to listen to what the president is saying,” Sanft said. “Every time he says something positive, they’re booing him in the back. They don’t even listen to what he’s saying.”

She told KIRO 7 the speech was unifying and that the president was trying to make the world a better place.

Most of the others in the audience were concerned about many topics Trump talked about.

Many of them groaned at his mention of a wall along the Mexican border and the formation of a new group called VOICE: Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement.

Linde Knighton, who identifies with the Progressive Party, said, “I would like to see that go back a couple hundred or thousand years. And see if they can start cleaning up the victims of crimes that were committed by immigrants 1492 on.”

Others felt the strongest reaction to what was left unsaid.

Lee Colleton, a member of Socialist Alternative said, “The thing that really worries more than anything was his lack of mentioning of anything about climate change.”

Sawant encouraged everyone in the room to participate in a rally on March 8 at 6 p.m. at Westlake Park on International Women’s Day. She also called for anti-Trump demonstrations on May 1.