SEATTLE MOVEMENT WINS RESOLUTION BANNING CASTE DISCRIMINATION

to Seattle City Council, and collecting more than 1,400 petition signatures in support of this historic ordinance.

This victory was only possible because working people built a powerful, organized movement independent of the Democratic Party and big business. At every step, we faced opposition and attempted delays from Democrats on Seattle City Council, including from so-called “progressives” who refused to speak out publicly in support of the ordinance and provided excuse after excuse for not fighting alongside caste-oppressed people who have faced widespread discrimination for generations. As late as the morning of the vote, “progressive” Democrats were considering bringing an amendment that would have delayed implementation of our movement’s legislation for an indefinite period of time.

Caste oppression has been used for 3,000 years by the ruling class in South Asia to divide and exploit oppressed people. Just like racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression, it is a brutal tool of the