U.S. Representative Hides From His Constituents In A Bar's Kitchen
BELLINGHAM RESIDENTS TELL REP. LARSEN: NO VOTES FOR GENOCIDE!
Yesterday, Bellingham anti-genocide protesters disrupted Representative Rick Larsen’s campaign fundraiser in order to confront him for his support of US and Israeli war crimes in Palestine, stifling the Representative’s attempts at a planned speech for his supporters.
The local protesters outnumbered the attendees for the event, loudly chanting and beating drums in the alley outside throughout the duration of the event, holding banners saying, “END THE OCCUPATION! NO $ TO ISRAEL! END THE APARTHEID!!!”and“STOP THE GENOCIDE! NO USA TAX $ FREE PALESTINE NOW”, as well as orchestrating powerful chants saying, "Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes!"
Inside the event, protesters loudly interrupted his attempts to curry support from attendees, telling him, “No votes for genocide!”, “Israel makes Jews unsafe!”, and “Larsen doesn’t care about 16,000 dead children!”
Larsen attempted to evade the disrupters, eventually fleeing into the venue’s kitchen, where he remained until calling the BPD to escort him out of the venue.
The event at Boundary Bay Brewery in Bellingham, WA was part of Rep. Larsen’s Campaign Kickoff Week, one of five fundraisers spread across the five counties in the 2nd district. The fundraiser was planned in order to garner support for the 2024 election cycle and to celebrate his work as the Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The protest highlighted Rick Larsen's complicity in Israel's genocidal campaign in Palestine, the rise in violence against marginalized people in our community, the amount of money sent to aid in colonization which could be used for housing, education, and healthcare in the 2nd congressional district, as well as the far-reaching impacts of ecocide - an environmentally destructive form of colonization.
Larsen, a staunch Zionist, receives significant campaign funding from both Boeing and AIPAC. Boeing's defense sector manufactures bombs that are sold to Israel, which Israel then uses billions in US aid money to purchase. AIPAC is Israel's powerful, well funded US lobbying group, and the only lobbying body in the US which exists to further the agenda of a foreign government.
At least $1,445,013 of Bellingham’s tax dollars go to Israel each year. This number does not include tax dollars included in the many multi-billion dollar Israeli aid packages that have been authorized by Congress since October 7. AIPAC, along with weapons manufacturers such as Boeing, Raytheon, Honeywell, and Northrop Grumman, have collectively contributed over $450,000 to Rep. Larsen since his election in 2001.
On April 20, 2024, Larsen voted YES on legislation that provided $13 billion to replenish U.S. stocks of equipment and weapons sent to Israel’s military, supporting U.S. operations in the region and funding Israel’s missile defense systems. Larsen also voted YES on a March 22, 2024 bill which cut funding for UNRWA.
Rep. Larsen currently has a score of “F” from Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization advocating for legislation supporting the human rights of the Palestinian people.
This was originally posted by Bellingham Action For Palestine on their Instagram Page. You can follow them here!
Thank You CODEPINK
Bravo!