Support the Transit Riders Union!

Grassroots Fundraiser for the Transit Riders Union

The Transit Riders Union (TRU) is a democratic organization of working and poor people — including students, seniors, and people with disabilities — taking control over our lives and building up the power we need to change society for the good of humanity and the planet. 

TRU organizes and fights for economic and mobility justice in the Seattle area. TRU builds grassroots power to tackle systemic problems like rising transit fares and a car-dominated transportation system, rising rents and homelessness, and a tax system that hits working and poor people the hardest.

Transit Riders Union has received a Community Organizing Grant from the Peace Development Fund and all of the money raised from this fundraiser will be added to that grant to help support their organizing in 2020.  Please make a contribution today to support the Transit Riders Union and read more about their work below. 

"This funding will power TRU’s grassroots organizing team to build our base, deepen relationships with diverse allies, and win the goals of our ambitious “ORCA for All” campaign.  

We’ll be pushing to pass Seattle legislation requiring that large employers subsidize transit for all their workers, including lower-wage, part-time, and temporary workers who are much less likely to receive employer-provided transit benefits.         

In 2020 we’ll also continue convening the “Move All Seattle Sustainably” (MASS) Coalition (masscoalition.org); work to defend and expand funding for transit in Seattle, King County, and Washington; and fight to make our tax system more progressive, since poor and working people are disproportionately taxed to fund public services like transit."

TRU's Response to COVID-19: 

"The Transit Riders Union has rapidly shifted our focus to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. We’re working with allies to push the City of Seattle to pass a comprehensive economic relief package with new progressive funding, to fill the gaps left by inadequate federal and state aid and prevent cuts to vital programs and services. 

We’re keeping our members and volunteers engaged through phone calls and virtual meetings and discussions, and rallying direct support for the people who need it most, such as collecting groceries and donations for a 24-hour shelter for homeless women.

We’re advocating to make sure that "essential workers" and others who still depend on public transit in these times have enough bus and train service, while also standing up for the health and safety of drivers."

Website: https://transitriders.org/ 

Photography Courtesy of Alex Garland

Transit Riders Union is a 2020 Community Organizing Grantee of the Peace Development Fund and is a participant in Grassroots Funding Week, a week-long crowdfunding campaign that supports several social justice organizations from across the country. Read more about Grassroots Funding Week below:

Monday: Economic Justice Rising 

Transit Riders Union

Arriba Las Vegas Workers Center 

Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights 

#GivingTuesday: Invest in Community Organizing 

As part of #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving in response to COVID-19, all the money raised on Tuesday, May 5th will be distributed evenly to all of the participating groups. 

Click here to give to all participating groups. 

Wednesday: Celebrating Culture, Building Solidarity

API Equality - LA 

Spencer Pride, INC 

International Traditional Games Society 

Taller GiRASOL 

Thursday: Taking Back Our Cities

Downwinders at Risk 

Community Movement Builders

Phoenix Local Organizing Committee 

Friday: Beyond Incarceration 

Women Against Mass Incarceration 

American Indian Prison Project Working Group 

Unchained

For more information, visit: www.peacedevelopmentfund.org 

The Peace Development Fund works to build the capacity of community-based organizations through grants, training and other resources as partners in human rights and social justice movements.