Letter to the Editor: Who Funds Indivisible, and Who Is Behind the Burien Group?

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by verified Burien resident who asked to remain anonymous.

[NOTE FROM EDITOR: Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Highline Journal.]

Dear Highline Journal Editor:

According to another publication’s announcement, Burien now has its own Indivisible group. They say they are “peaceful and nonviolent” and were formed because of concerns about ICE.

 But after the violence at the June 10 ICE protest in Burien, promoted by Des Moines Indivisible, I have questions.

 Burien Indivisible held its first public meeting Sept. 9 at the Burien Library, and here’s what their website says:

 “Burien Indivisible is a group of everyday people in the Washington State communities of Burien, White Center, and Normandy Park striving to:

• preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and our American democracy
• help form a more perfect union
• assist members of our community in need
• coordinate synergistically with other like-minded community groups

Burien Indivisible is dedicated to ensuring that all associated activities are peaceful and nonviolent.”

Editor’s note: The Sept. 9 meeting was originally scheduled for Boulevard Park Library and was later moved to the Burien Library in downtown Burien.

But what about the dark money behind Indivisible? The national Indivisible organization has received millions of dollars from the Open Society network founded by George Soros, according to public funding records.

So who is funding these Indivisible groups here in South King County? Where is their money coming from and who is behind them? If these groups are coming into Burien, organizing protests and now holding meetings in our public libraries, Burien residents have a right to know who is paying for it.

Now read the story published in The Highline Journal about a violent attack at a “nonviolent” protest:

UPDATE: Burien Veteran, 80, Says He Was Surrounded and Thrown to the Ground at ICE Protest

The longtime Burien resident says he attended to peacefully express support for ICE before an incident that investigators have confirmed resulted in an assault report.

The Highline JournalKatie Kresly

There was video taken of this attack. The King County Sheriff’s Office investigated it, investigators said the suspect punched the 80-year-old veteran several times, and the suspect was later identified and arrested. The man identified as the suspect was wearing a shirt that read “Anti-Fascism - No Kings in America.”

So yes, I have questions when an Indivisible group is created in Burien and tells us it is “peaceful and nonviolent.”

An 80-year-old military veteran was exercising his First Amendment rights nonviolently at this protest and ended up surrounded, punched and on the ground. The June 10 protest was promoted by Des Moines Indivisible. Who were all these people? What groups were they associated with? Was the man in the anti-fascism shirt connected to Indivisible or another group? Who invited them to Burien and who is taking responsibility for what happened?

The protesters said they were there because of ICE issues. According to information available at the time, the group did not have a city permit to block the sidewalk at Ambaum and 148th. So again, who invited them to Burien?

The city of Burien’s Mayor failed to say anything at a City Council meeting, that I am aware of, about an 80-year-old military veteran being attacked in her city. Why? Why wasn’t this worth mentioning? She just swept it under the rug.

A Southend Indivisible group already exists, so what is the connection between these groups? Are they connected? Are the same people involved?

Burien should not be promoting, allowing or encouraging groups to come into our city, block our sidewalks or streets without permits, bully or harass residents physically or mentally, or interfere with the rights of people who disagree with them. First Amendment rights do not belong only to the people you agree with.

And the King County Library System should be asking questions too about the groups using our public libraries for political organizing. Who are these groups? What are their affiliations? What are they organizing? Our public libraries belong to everyone, including the people who don’t agree with Indivisible. 

Indivisible does not preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and our American democracy if it does not respect the First Amendment rights of people who disagree with it.

Shame on the Burien Mayor for not speaking publicly about an attack on an 80-year-old military veteran in our city. And shame on the King County Library System if it does not do a better job of knowing what kinds of groups are using our public libraries for political organizing and what they are organizing for.

Deeply Concerned Burien Residents

[NOTE FROM EDITOR:  If you wish to submit a story, photo, article or letter, please email us at info@thehighlinejournal.com  Even if you wish to remain anonymous, please include your name and phone number so we may contact you privately. We look forward to hearing from you.]