Yesterday, Communities for Our Colleges (C4C) brought 107 students, educators, and community members from across Washington State to Olympia for our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Action — not just to honor Dr. King’s legacy, but to push back against proposed budget cuts to higher education. Participants traveled from Yakima, Grandview, the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Seattle, Bothell, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, and Tacoma to send a clear message: cutting higher education weakens our economy, narrows opportunity, and undermines democratic participation. On a day rooted in the fight for racial and economic justice, we came together to demand bold public investment in students, communities, and our shared future.
Dr. King reminded us that “the time is always right to do what is right.” On MLK Day, we honored that legacy not with words alone, but through collective action: elevating student voices, advancing our policy agenda, and demanding bold investments in higher education rather than harmful cuts.
A Statewide Movement, Rooted in Student Leadership
The day began at the Washington State Labor Council, where participants gathered to build relationships, receive legislative updates, and ground themselves in shared purpose. C4C leaders reminded the room that we are a statewide, multiracial coalition of students, faculty, staff, unions, and community organizations, organizing to protect, fully fund, and transform Washington’s community and technical colleges so they work for the students who rely on them most.
Through facilitated conversations, participants connected their personal experiences to C4C’s policy priorities: Affordable College for All (HB 2098), data privacy protections for undocumented and mixed-status students (HB 2132), and expanded support for parenting students (SB 6227). These conversations made clear that behind every policy demand are real people navigating tuition costs, childcare, transportation, fear around data sharing, and the daily struggle to survive while pursuing an education.
From the Labor Council to the Capitol Steps
Just before noon, the group marched together to the Capitol Campus, carrying signs, chants, and a shared message: No cuts to students. Fund higher education. On the South Steps, students, educators, and allies gathered for a powerful rally that centered lived experience and collective demands.
Student speakers shared stories that put faces and voices to policy debates.
Dianecka, a high school student planning to attend community college, spoke about affordability and access, saying, “I don’t believe your knowledge or your worth should be defined by the university you attend, but by what you truly know and what you are capable of doing.” She described how fees, transportation, and confusing processes can derail students’ plans before they even begin, and emphasized that free college would open doors not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
Nimi, a Running Start student pursuing her associate degree, shared how cost-free credits have made it possible for her to dream bigger. “Running Start has been life-changing because it’s the reason I’m able to take these classes right now,” she told the crowd. “Every free credit I earn now takes some of the financial weight off later.” She also highlighted how even “free” programs still come with hidden costs that make state investment in student supports essential.
Reyna, a parenting student returning to college after more than a decade away, spoke powerfully about balancing school, work, and raising her young daughter. “Survival is the biggest barrier,” she said. “When your basic needs aren’t met, school becomes almost impossible.” Reyna called on lawmakers to pass SB 6227 and invest in parenting students, noting that “when Washington invests in parenting students, it’s not just helping parents — it’s helping children, families, and entire communities thrive.”
Denise, a college student and advocate for undocumented and mixed-status students, underscored the importance of data privacy protections. “No student should have to choose between getting help and protecting their family,” she said, explaining how fear around data sharing keeps many eligible students from applying for financial aid. Denise urged lawmakers to pass HB 2132 so students can pursue education without fear.
Educators and union partners echoed these calls, reinforcing that higher education must be treated as a public good, not a privilege. Representative Julia Reed joined the rally to speak in support of cost-free college and the need for sustained public investment in students.
Throughout the rally, chants rang out in English and Spanish — “The people united will never be divided” and “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” — reflecting the multiracial, multilingual coalition demanding change.
Turning Stories Into Policy Change
Following the rally, participants headed into the Capitol for over two dozen meetings with legislators, organized into teams that met with representatives from across the state. Students led these meetings, sharing their stories directly with lawmakers and calling for support for cost-free college, parenting student success, and strong data privacy protections.
For many participants, this was their first time navigating the legislative process. Learning how decisions are made — and how collective action can influence them — is a core part of C4C’s power-building strategy. MLK Day was not just about one day of action; it was about building long-term civic leadership among students and communities.
Carrying Dr. King’s Legacy Forward
Dr. King warned against the “tranquilizing drug of gradualism” and called on us to confront injustice with urgency and courage. Yesterday’s MLK Day of Action was a reminder that the struggle for racial, economic, and educational justice is ongoing — and that students are leading the way.
As Washington faces budget decisions and conversations about the future of higher education, C4C will continue to organize across regions, uplift student leadership, and demand policies that allow students not just to enroll, but to learn, survive, and thrive.
To everyone who traveled, spoke, organized, interpreted, cooked, chanted, and showed up: thank you. This is what democracy in action looks like.
