Seattle police officers targeted and arrested @tariqraouf.bsky.social last night after an Apples Against Apartheid protest at the U Village Apple store. Ra’ouf, a former Apple worker, is a prominent Palestinian journalist and organizer. They were released a few hours later and are ok now.

NEW: In an investigation for @realchangenews.bsky.social, I found that Seattle’s UCT storage program rarely returns belongings collected at sweeps to homeless people. Only 1 in 15 instances, or 7% of the time, led to property going back to its original owners. Most was disposed of after 70 days.

The decision of ABC to censor and cancel Jimmy Kimmel in anticipation of state retaliation shows the fundamental weakness of capitalist media ownership. Those who control the means of news production care far more about their status and wealth than lofty journalistic principles.

Ta-Nehisi Coates: “What of the writers, the thinkers, and the pundits who cannot separate the great crime of Kirk’s death from the malignancy of his public life? Can they truly be so ignorant to the words of a man they have so rushed to memorialize? I don’t know.”

It’s official: the United Nations Commission of Inquiry concludes Israel is committing genocide. The UN body calls on nations to stop sending weapons to Israel, ensure people within their jurisdiction aren’t aiding or inciting the genocide, and hold those who are accountable.

ICYMI: A human rights watchdog alleges federal agencies have grossly violated international law and the rights of Washingtonians. Read more @realchangenews.bsky.social: www.realchangenews.org/news/2025/09...

Horrific news from Yemen as Israel targeted the offices of two newspaper buildings, killing 25+ journalists. These were cold, calculated assassinations with no prior warning. Journalists are not a target; End Israel's war on journalism!

Simply baffling to watch the WSJ mishandle such a sensitive story and not do their due diligence. A complete disregard for journalistic ethics. www.theverge.com/politics/777...

It was an honor to interview Dr. Cornel West on spirituality, hope and what it looks like to fight for collective liberation amid a time of rising fascism. Pick up a copy of @realchangenews.bsky.social to read the full interview.

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Attacked Boat Near Venezuela Multiple Times to Kill Survivors American officials said the repeat drone strikes were carried out by Special Operations Command, and more attacks could come soon. theintercept.com/2025/09/10/u...

Seattle is poised to significantly expand police surveillance after the city council passed two ordinances 7-2 allowing new CCTV cameras throughout the city to aid crime investigations. Advocates have warned of the potential of ICE to covertly access footage to target immigrants.

In the past 24 hours, Israel has bombed: • Palestine (Gaza) • Syria (Homs, Latakia, Palmyra) • Lebanon (Hermel, Bekaa) •Tunisia (aid flotilla) and now • Qatar (Doha)

This is a very neat way to put a name and names and face to the Seattle cops with the most allegations of corruption and abuse. Consider supporting @divestspd.bsky.social’s reporting

NEW: The @uwchr.bsky.social found that ICE and CBP are disappearing Washington residents. What does this mean? Read online at Gossip Guy, or find it in print @realchangenews.bsky.social later this week: gossipguy.net/ice-and-cbp-...

Today it’s a year since Israeli military shot, in the head and from a distance that would have involved a sniper, Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi—a dual U.S. and Turkish citizen and then a brand new graduate of the U of Washington at a peaceful protest in the West Bank. www.realchangenews.org/news/2025/04... 1/2

Video report: No Azure for Apartheid held six protests in August to put pressure on Microsoft to sever ties with Israel’s military amid its war on Gaza, widely considered a genocide. Police arrested 27 protesters over the course of the demonstrations and Microsoft fired 4 workers for participating.

Excited to help honor @mhgreen3000.bsky.social & @florangelad.bsky.social of the @soseaemerald.bsky.social with the 2025 @realchangenews.bsky.social Editorial Excellence Award. Both have made profound contributions to Seattle, blazing a path for many to follow. www.realchangenews.org/news/2025/09...

NEW: 16 months ago, a young Palestinian locksmith went to help unlock a car. He's been in detention ever since. The FBI interrogated him. After refusing to become an informant, he was put in high-security as "retribution." He's not convicted of a crime—but ICE will neither free nor deport him.

seriously, there is no evidence whatsoever that Weiss is capable of writing a news story, much less running a news organization. the actual quality of the writing at The Free Press is barely a notch above AI slop.

The lack of commemoration of this important anniversary by Western Allied powers is an indictment of their ruling classes’ contempt for history. Those who fail to learn its lessons are doomed to repeat the mistakes.

About 50 people are rallying outside Seattle City Hall to call on the city to build 500 units of new shelter from homeless people. Participants include many SHARE/WHEEL shelter residents as well as mayoral candidate Katie Wilson and city council candidate Adonis Ducksworth.

Extraordinary news from @theintercept.com: As Seattle PD was looking to sign a $1.8 million contract with Fusus for its Real Time Crime Center, the company offered testimony from an Atlanta PD officer. But it did not disclose that the cop was on the board of Fusus. theintercept.com/2025/09/02/a...

New post: 62 Seattle-area journalists and media workers have signed on to an open letter demanding an end to Israel’s killings of Palestinian journalists in Gaza and calling for their protection. Thank you to all who signed. gossipguy.net/60-seattle-j...

NEW: Microsoft workers and allies with No Azure for Apartheid held 5 protests in a week to pressure the tech giant to cut ties with Israel. 27 were arrested and 4 were fired, but some signs show Microsoft is feeling the heat. Read @realchangenews.bsky.social: www.realchangenews.org/news/2025/08...

46 Seattle journalists and media workers have now signed onto our open letter condemning Israel's killings of Palestinian journalists in Gaza and calling for their protection

Today I joined more than 30 fellow media workers and journalists in Seattle to condemn Israel’s systematic attacks on Palestinian journalists in Gaza. We cannot stand idly by while our colleagues are killed.

Why is CBP arresting Washington firefighters while they're working? www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Interesting day in Seattle politics: UFCW 3000 endorses progressive challenger Katie Wilson outside the Lake City Fred Meyer set to close in October. Incumbent Mayor Bruce Harrell holds a press conference at City Hall with MLK Labor, touting the $15 million settlement for 16,000 Uber Eats workers.

BREAKING: Microsoft workers and allies with No Azure for Apartheid have launched yet another protest at the Redmond HQ today, occupying Microsoft Board President Brad Smith's office and holding a sit-in. This is the group's sixth protest this month against the company's contracts with Israel.

INBOX: the Seattle Office of Labor Standards has secured a historic $15 million settlement for 16,000 Uber Eats delivery workers over violations of the city’s “PayUp” gig worker laws.

“The @aajaofficial.bsky.social joins the @pressfreedom.bsky.social and other journalism organizations in calling for the international community to hold Israel accountable for the continued targeting of journalists.” Good to see, but more action is needed www.aaja.org/2025/08/25/a...

Shame on Israel and the U.S. for continuing to target and assassinate journalists. This is what happens when you don’t hold Israel accountable for its constant war crimes

Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza FAO, UNICEF, WFP & WHO reiterate call for immediate ceasefire & unhindered humanitarian access to curb deaths from hunger & malnutrition.

VIDEO: @uwchr.bsky.social and @laresistencianw.bsky.social on the 16 enforced disappearances by ICE & CBP in Washington State since Trump took office. These include deportations to CECOT in El Salvador, South Sudan, transfers to Guantánamo Bay and families being held for weeks without legal counsel.

America is a country with deep authoritarian roots. Even a cursory glance at its history would reveal the EuroAmerican settler proclivity toward violence and totalitarian behavior.

Microsoft workers and community members are gathering in Redmond, WA for the third day in a row to protest the company’s ties to the Israeli military. They have set up a vigil to honor the 60,000+ Palestinians who have been killed by Israel in Gaza over the last 22 months.

The @uwchr.bsky.social released a report today documenting 16 cases of enforced disappearances by ICE in Washington State since Trump took office, including 14 individuals and two families. These are serious abuses in which the state denies info about those detained and deny them basic legal rights.

Agents have detained Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a disabled U.S. military vet and outspoken critic of U.S.-led war, after his naturalization hearing today at the Tukwila, WA ICE office. His wife, Melissa Chaudhry, ran against Rep. Adam Smith last year on a pro-Palestine platform.

The 18 protesters who were arrested today at the Microsoft campus remain in jail right now, though their comrades are working on bailing them out. Activists say that police acted in an aggressive and brutal manner. They are holding a protest march tomorrow at 4pm.

UPDATE: Microsoft workers and their allies returned to the Redmond campus today to re-establish the protest encampment calling for the company to cut ties with the Israeli military and its war on Gaza. By around 2 pm, police arrested approximately 18 protesters and forcibly dispersed the camp.

It’s Wednesday and it’s our birthday! 🎉 On this day in 1994, the very first issue of Real Change hit the streets. 31 years later, we’re still here, bringing you street-rooted, community-powered journalism every single week. 🗞️ In the paper this week: 👇

#OnThisDay in 1994, the first issue of Real Change was published in Seattle. historylink.org/File/2716 @realchangenews.bsky.social

Is it time for Seattle to start its own chain of city-owned grocery stores? Perhaps one for each council district?

BREAKING: death of anti-ICE protester in Los Angeles @lapublicpress.bsky.social is reporting Skid Row resident Adrienne Villa was found dead in her jail cell while in LASD custody at the courthouse, hours after pleading not guilty to over a dozen charges of alleged assault/battery on a cop.

The death of journalism in Gaza. LA Public Press condemns the weekend deaths of five more journalists, calling the 237 total deaths evidence of a systematic war on press freedom. lapublicpress.org/2025/08/the-...

BREAKING: Current and former Microsoft workers have started an encampment at the company's Redmond, WA HQ to protest its ties to the Israeli military amid the war in Gaza. A recent report revealed that Microsoft servers store intercepted audio from 1 million phone calls a day made by Palestinians.

After years of setbacks, the Seattle left finally emerged out of the political wilderness in this month’s primary. Read my brief summary of the election results in @realchangenews.bsky.social: www.realchangenews.org/news/2025/08...

Around 200 people rallied in downtown Seattle to demand Israel lift the siege on Gaza. Many brought pots and spoons to condemn the intensifying man-made famine. Speakers called on the U.S. to stop sending weapons to Israel, 22 months into its war, widely described as a genocide.

We must speak out about our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza like Mohammed Qreiqeh and Anas al-Sharif, who are being murdered by Israel. On Thursday, I spoke at a rally in Seattle condemning Israel’s impunity and the complicity of Western media. Here is an excerpt of that speech. We must do better.