Politics & Government

Q&A With Occupy Seattle Activist And Greenwood Resident Sarah Svobodny

Acquitted Occupy member speaks out

Sarah Svobodny was one of the Chase 5 who were acquitted last week by a Seattle Municipal Court jury of criminal trespass for an Occupy Seattle protest at a Chase Bank in downtown Seattle last November.

How old are you, what's your hometown, where did you go to school?

I am 31, and I am from Moorhead, MN. I went to school at University of Wisconsin Stout for two years, and then moved out to Seattle. After taking two years off and working, I finished my degree at Western Washington University in Bellingham. I received an art degree, concentrating in metal sculpture and photography. I currently live in Greenwood.

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Why did you join the Occupy movement?

After years of inspiration as well as frustration that came from being a part of many different activist organizations and protesting lots of different things, I wanted to be a part of something bigger, more cohesive. Occupy seemed like a place for many people of all different backgrounds and goals to work on gaining more power, as people, together. 

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Why did you and the other protesters choose Chase Bank as a target?

One of the things that struck me the most about Chase bank is the direct involvement they have with the police. Around the same time that the police kettled and arrested 700 protesters in New York, during an Occupy Wall Street protest, Chase bank donated $4.6 million dollars to the NYPD. This was the largest donation in NYPD history. Jamie Dimon (Chase bank CEO) then issued a public "thank you for all the hard work" to the police department. It is so incredibly obvious how these two institutions support each other. I have realized that the police are not here to protect us, and the banks are not here to serve us. They are both here to keep the oppressive forces of capitalism in place, and to keep us all quiet when we have objections. 


What were you charged with after your arrest?
We were charged with first degree criminal trespass.


Why do you think you were acquitted?
I think it was a combination of things. One of the jury members spoke to the media and stated that the jury based their decision on the fact that they could not determine beyond a reasonable doubt that we unlawfully remained in the building knowingly. He said that being arrested does not constitute guilt. This is true, and it is also true that we felt that what we did was lawful based on the blurred line between public space (where we have protected free speech rights) and private space. One of our arguments was about Chase receiving such a mass amount of government and taxpayer money and how this makes it hard to call Chase a private space. I think that these arguments, along with the highlighting of the symbiotic relationship between the police and the banks, possibly had an impact on the jury. 


Do you feel vindicated, by the verdict?
I feel good about how this trial ended up. However I know that I would feel like our actions were justified even if we were found guilty. The verdict is sort of an irrelevant judgement on an action that we felt was right to do. The big banks themselves have had no accountability for all of the destruction that they've created, and the police are constantly being let off the hook when they abuse, harass and even when they kill people. Therefore, in my mind, the court system, as well as the balance of power in our society is not logical, right, or humane. So the fact that we were favored this time, bears little weight on any justification I may feel about my actions and beliefs. 


Are you going to continue with the Occupy movement and do you think it is an effective tool to put pressure on banks and corporations?

Yes, I will definitely continue with the Decolonize/Occupy movement. Spring is coming, and I think more people are waking up. Certainly, there is a resurgence in energy and inspiration that's been happening. I don't know if this movement in particular is an effective tool in putting pressure on banks and corporations. But I think it has definitely changed the conversation and awareness around these issues. It has also helped to radicalize people and inspire them into actually taking action against these institutions. This is important. If everyone decided to just accept things the way they are, nothing would ever change. 


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