If you walked past Fremont Abbey Wednesday evening, you saw the line wrapped around the block. Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s “Republican Shutdown Town Hall” on Oct. 8 drew neighbors from across the district, filling the Abbey’s top floor to capacity, with staff scrambling to add extra chairs.
Jayapal opened by saying she would have preferred to be in Washington, D.C. during the shutdown, but was glad to connect directly with constituents at home. She said Republicans sent their members home earlier than Democrats, arguing this signaled an intent to force the shutdown while Democrats stayed to continue working.
The conversation ranged beyond the shutdown itself. Jayapal pointed to lawsuits brought by Washington state officials against Trump administration policies, saying they’ve already saved residents millions of dollars. On immigration, she emphasized the importance of protecting families and acknowledged the fear many Latino families live with due to ICE enforcement. When asked about Seattle’s new surveillance laws, she said she had spoken with city leaders and urged residents to stay engaged with Seattle City Council on privacy protections. She also discussed climate change and healthcare as ongoing priorities.
For those of us in Fremont, the event connected federal policy to neighborhood concerns, from surveillance technology debated at Seattle City Hall to protections for immigrant families in our community.
Colleen Kaminski, President of the Fremont Neighborhood Council Board, attended and described the atmosphere as “very joyful, very filled with hope.” She noted Jayapal’s message to attendees: “The Trump administration relies on us giving up, and she’s not going to give up.”
Disclosure: The author serves on the Fremont Neighborhood Council Board.