Editor's note: Shannon Blood of Olympia wrote this piece following an intense week of protests at the state capitol earlier this month. She reports protesters were denied access to the House of Representatives gallery and evicted from the capitol rotunda, while the media was blocked from reporting on the eviction proceedings by the Washington State Patrol. It was written on Sunday, April 10, 2011.

It has been an intense week for activism in Olympia. I have been privileged to spend some time supporting the activism efforts this week. It is so important that citizens have a place and a space to share their concerns and to voice their needs. I want to share with you my take on what has been happening:

First, I am so proud of the committed citizens and grassroots organizers who have for several days and nights maintained a presence in the Rotunda and on the Capitol grounds. They have used their voices, their time and energy, their creativity, and most of all their care and concern for our state and nation's most vulnerable citizens to send a clear message to elected officials and the public. We MUST take care of our children, our elderly, our disabled, our poor, and ensure that everyone has access to basic life-sustaining needs. Our state CAN do this by closing tax loopholes and reforming our regressive tax structure to create a just and balanced budget.

I am also writing to say that for the majority of the protests and rallies and sleep-ins, the Washington State Patrol and General Administration (GA) employees have been respectful and courteous. I was proud of the Senate's response on Thursday night (4/7) when they worked closely with citizens to ensure they had continued access to the Rotunda, so their voices were heard, despite the lockdown after several Service Employees International Union (SEIU) members were arrested while protesting the harsh impacts of the budget cuts to the services for the mentally ill and elderly that their members care for each and every day.

I was deeply disappointed on Saturday night (4/9), however, by several actions, not least of which was the removal of these citizens from the Rotunda as they continued their peaceful protest:

1. GA employees denied citizens free access to the House of Representatives viewing gallery while the House was in session debating the budget.
2. GA employees told citizens the viewing galleries were full, when they were clearly not full at all.
3. Washington State Patrol blocked an official KIRO media reporter from entering the building to record the "eviction" proceedings.

My understanding is these citizens were told they could continue their sleep-in protest Saturday night, just as they had for several nights before. However, once the House was out of session and the Representatives were gone, a different thing happened. Joyce Turner, Director for GA, read a statement from Governor Gregoire informing them they must leave the premises. I believe the timing of that decision was to ensure the citizens would not have time to respond, or receive the support they had been getting from their elected officials to maintain their presence. I also believe the timing was an attempt to keep the action from being reported on by the media to the wider public.

These citizens were taking part in the democratic process, and meeting with their elected officials to make sure the voice of the people -- not just the corporations -- were heard. I am very displeased that this process was interrupted. I am asking each of you to make your voice heard in support of these committed individuals. The democratic process belongs to all of us. Your voice is crucial to creating the sort of community we want to live together in -- even if we are on polar opposites of the political and philosophical spectrum. Please speak up -- call, write, e-mail -- your elected representatives and tell them what is important to you.

For Washington Folks:
[url=http://www.leg.wa.gov]http://www.leg.wa.gov[/url]
Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000