A group demonstrating in support of the U.S. Postal Service, and protesting the cutbacks to the agency, try to get the attention of motorists on Avenue D in Snohomish in front of the shoppng center that includes the post office on Saturday, Aug. 29.
Doug Ramsay
SNOHOMISH — Drivers honked and folks waved as a group gathered in front of the post office and stood along Avenue D to express gratitude to post office employees and support the U.S. Postal Service.
The Saturday, Aug. 29 demonstration of support was the second one during last month, following the first on Aug. 22.
USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s plans to cut costs in the mail service mean leftover deliveries are being delayed instead of being carried on extra trips to get delivered, employee opportunities for overtime are being cut, and mail sorting machines have been reduced at USPS warehouses — all only months before the 2020 election.
Sue Davis, a Snohomish resident, felt the need to show her support for the post office and decided to take action.
“I put out the word to some friends and on Nextdoor (an app) and eight other people showed up,” Davis said. “One lady just said, ‘I figured there would be something, so I showed up.’ ”
Abiding by social distancing guidelines, 10 individuals participated in the first demonstration.
“Basically we just stood spaced apart in front of the post office,” Davis said. “I thought maybe we might chant something or move around a little but people pretty much stood. We talked with those who went by who wanted to know what was going on. We got a message right away that the postal employees were quite happy that we were there.”
Davis added that the employees came out and took pictures with the supporters.
According to Davis, the first demonstration got attention and people showed up the next week on their own.
She explained that when she arrived Saturday morning, there were already people lined up along Avenue D with signs.
44th District State Rep. John Lovick and Snohomish City Council member Linda Redmon were among those in the group of supporters.
As the demonstration moved off the street and in front of the post office, supporters were able to spread more awareness to the issue.
“Two people asked us why we were doing that. And we had to explain what we felt was going on (with USPS),” said Davis. “And one lady came up, and sort of surprised us, but asked us if we were trying to stop people from using the post office? We would say ‘no, no, no, no, no! Please use it! We want this to remain a good quality postal service that we all use.’ ”
Davis explained that some people had no idea what was going on and it was important to inform people of the issues and shed some light on the situation.
Davis said the group of supporters informed people with “what we had heard was going on, that sorting machines were being taken out and dismantled, that trucks were being forced to be on time whether they had any mail in them or not. The packages were being left at the post office and that some overtime had been reportedly cut.”
According to Davis and other supporters, it is not a protest. The goal is “to show the postal service workers that we support them and to get awareness (for) this problem so that people can comment to the members of Congress that this is important to them,” she said. “We need people to know what’s going on and that basically my feeling is that demonstrations are one of the basic building blocks of change in our country.”
Talks of politics and similar demonstrations at surrounding post offices could be heard as customers walked in and out of the building, picking up or dropping off mail, slowing down to read the supporters’ signs.
The signs read; “I wish this was fake news,” “Hands off USPS,” and “Don’t let the mail fail,” and “Jail DeJoy.”
“Jail Trump and there goes the problem,” a man said quietly under his mask.
Those passing by expressed their gratitude as well.
“Thank you all so much for what you’re doing, it’s a great thing,” said a woman leaving the post office after dropping off a package for delivery.
“If you feel strongly about this too, contact the members of Congress,” said Davis.
“Oh, don’t worry, I have,” the woman replied as she got into her car.
It is unsure if another demonstration will be organized in Snohomish again, but according to Davis contacting members of Congress and letting the postal workers know they are supported are both ways to help with the problem.
