Event Reportbacks
March 3rd, 2011 Eyeflush Training
We gave an eyeflush training to a group of folks at the new community center in the Central District. It was well received and we distributed some fliers and basic supplies. A big thanks to the person who donated food and water bottles for folks to use.
February 2011 – Ongoing Anti-Police Actions in Seatle
We have had medics at several of the recent demonstrations against the police. We have treated a couple minor cuts and scrapes, but have not seen any serious injuries or usage of chemical weapons. We did receive one report of someone who was pepper sprayed. An unknown person was there and flushed the eyes of the person who was sprayed. We are very glad to see that folks are coming to these demonstrations prepared to take care of their friends.
February 16 – Anti-Police Brutality Rally and March
We sent street medics (who were unmarked or minimally-marked) to the non-permitted rally and march in response to the announcement that the officer who fatally shot an innocent man in downtown Seattle in August would not be charged with any crime. Though the march was not preplanned and quickly became fractured, the medics did their best to cover all sub-marches.
The medics observed no arrests or police violence (despite a heavy police presence) and treated one patient with an abrasion to the hand following a fall.
February 13, 2011 – Scenario Training
We invited other Cascadia-region street medics to Seattle for an all-day scenario training. Much thanks to the medics who came up from faraway places and our generous (and bloody) volunteer patients!
October 15-17, 2010 – Portland Twenty-hour Street Medic Training
We sent four medics to Portland to assist an allied medic collective with a 20-hour street medic training in an effort to gain training experience and build community in the region.
Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22 – Seattle Anarchist Book Fair
We tabled both days at the book fair and led a 90-minute Protester Safety and Self Care workshop. At the table we provided an array of radical health zines from other medic collectives and individuals. The workshop was based on content and feedback from one we prototyped this spring and will continue to improve. Our workshop was attended by approximately 12 participants. Eye flush training was a hit as always!
As always, the Book Fair was well-organized, full of fascinating books, zines, and art, and provided many opportunities to connect with others doing terrific work around the region. Next time we’ll have our own literature to hand out! Yes!
Friday, August 6 – Dead Baby Downhill
Five street medics provided care at the 14th annual Dead Baby Downhill. We coordinated with ride organizers to help staff a stocked medic tent at the after party. We spread out on bikes to cover the five mile ride from Capitol Hill to Georgetown and treated one patient who crashed during the ride. At the after party we treated a few patients who had incurred abrasions and lacerations on the ride down.
We learned that hanging toward the back of the ride caused us to miss injuries that occurred toward the front of the pack, and are thinking about how better to disperse medics at a bicycle event.
Friday-Sunday, June 11th-13th – Portland Medic Training
5 individuals headed down to Portland for the weekend medic training (including 3 that rode their bikes!) to attend or be patients. Much wonderful dialogue was had between the Seattle and Portland medics about building stronger bio-regional ties between the many different Pacific Northwest Street Medic organizations, and since Seattle medics are getting ready to do their own training in the coming months, Portland promised to send a car or two up as revenge for all the times that Seattle has come down to poke, prod and interrupt them them while their training.
If you are in the Portland area and would like more information, feel free to view their website at http://Rosehipmedics.org
Friday-Sunday, May 11th-13th – Olympia Medic Training
We had 5 individuals drive down from Seattle to either attend or be patients for the Olympia Medic Training. It was a great training, with the two primary trainers from New York and New Orleans respectively. While there, we were able to make some wonderful contacts within that medical collective, and begin talking more about strengthening communications and begin fostering a bioregional network of Northwest street medics.
Monday, May 3rd 2010 – University of Washington Day of Action
Though not a full strike, we were able to provide 6 medics in the case of an emergency. Organizers had been worried that in the event of shutting down intersections, or marching, that they may have needed support. Luckily no injuries were reported and we gave out more water and 2 bandaids this time.
Sunday, May 2nd 2010 – Farmers and Migrant Workers Solidarity March
Several of our members went and gave a hand with this family friendly march in Mt. Vernon. Several hundred people turned out and had a safe and non-eventful march. Props to the organizers for providing loads of water and keeping their participants well hydrated.
Saturday, May 1st 2010 – Immigration Rights and Reform March and Rally
Several thousand turned out and marched from Judkins park to Memorial Stadium in downtown. It was well organized and very family friendly. We had about 10 medics come out and help to provide assistance for this event. We hooked in with their communication, security and tactical teams and split into four groups to cover the front, middle and rear of the event as well as everywhere in between. With no serious incidents reported, we as always played he vitally important role of handing out a water bottle and giving someone a bandaid.
Friday, April 30th 2010 – UW 2 Hour Basic Protest Safety Training
In preparation for the coming May 3rd University of Washington action being organized by graduate students, TA’s, and staff workers – four members of our team provided our collectives first ever medic training on protest basics 101. Topics covered included preparing for an action, red flags to watch out for, things to be thinking about, and of course chemical weapons and eye flushes.
We used this as an opportunity to try and refine a workable short training that we could use for pre-action, pre-mobilizations or just to cover some important basics.
Saturday, April 9th 2010 – Anti Police Brutality March
In response to the police slaying of a young man in Portland Oregon, Seattle participated in a weekend of actions along the West Coast. Up to a hundred people turned out for the event, and SSMC had roughly 8 medics out for this event, organized a jail support line, and later support for 3 individuals arrested by police. Despite a tense confrontation, no pepperspray was used. Several people reported minor injuries including lacerations caused by police bike pedal and spokes used as a barrier to push people back. One of our medics was knocked over by police and was quite upset about it.
Their cases, as well as two juveniles also arrested at the event are ongoing and support is still being organized.
