On March 26 in Tacoma, approximately 200 people gathered on the UW campus there to speak up for salmon and orcas – and call on our elected officials to restore a resilient, freely-flowing lower Snake River as part of a larger regional plan to save salmon from extinction and invest in our region’s communities.

Attendees were inspired by materials created as part of the NWAAE project – including posters (artwork courtesy of Alfredo Arreguin and Britt Freda) and t-shirts and stickers (artwork courtesy of Sue Coccia). We were honored to have Sue in attendance, accompanied by her son, Frank and his wife Silvana. In addition to being family, they are also business partners in EarthArt International – and big supporters of SOS – and restoring the Northwest’s salmon and orcas.

Here's an article that appeared in the Tacoma New Tribune about our rally and raucous march—with music, banners, salmon mobiles and life size orca sculptures courtesy of the Backbone Campaign — to the nearby offices of Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Derek Kilmer.

Tacoma News Tribune: Activists rally in Tacoma for Northwest salmon