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Irene H. Hull
Irene Hull (91), a long-time Council House resident, moved to Washington in 1942. Born in Kansas and raised in California, she worked in a Vancouver shipyard. She became one of the first female labor union organizers to fight for equal rights for women in the workplace. She has spent a lifetime in the labor movement and helped found the Coalition of Labor Union Women.
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Censored to comply with prior restraint granted to Council House directors by Judge James A. Doerty Washington Superior Court.
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Affirmed by
Chief Judge
Mary Kay Becker Court of Appeals
in an unpublished opinion.
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Washington Supreme Court reversed both decisions.
(30 Mar 06)
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Hull had a checkered career in the Communist Party which she joined in 1942. She left over political differences in 1950 then rejoined in the late 1960s. In 2002, she shared memories and observations about her years in the party during videotaped interviews with four other current members. Manuscripts and Special Collections Library at the University of Washington has archived those tapes.
King County Labor Council, honored her by celebrating her ninetieth birthday and many years of activism at the Seattle Labor Temple (21 Feb 03).
Washington State Labor Council adopted several hard-hitting resolutions in the fight against ultra-right ideology then convention delegates honored Hull for her long-time union activism.
In 1995, she received the Washington Women in Trades Active Advocate of the Year Award as a founding member and bookbinder in Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Local #87.
Hull has stood at the forefront of the debate over importation of cheap prescription drugs for elders from other countries. She has moved from arguing about the practice to implementing it. She had a slipped disc but could not afford pain medication so she took a bus trip to Canada to buy medicine. Otherwise, she said: "I just have to live with pain that is at times excruciating and that's the way it is".
A civil rights worker, she has marched in honor of Martin Luther King in every event since they began in Seattle. She has lived in Seattle Central Area and recognizes the needs and progress of black community members. She protested against both the Gulf and Iraq wars.
Hull solicited signatures at Council House for a petition about American policy on Iraq. Initiated by Congressman James McDermott, the petition called for open debate on the proposed war on Iraq. More than fifty of the approximately 150 Council House residents signed that petition.
She presented her petition at a residents’ association meeting and solicited signatures. According to another participant, Felippe Jacques (a Mitchell Kapo) silenced her then publicly ridiculed her before he reported her to Mitchell. At another public meeting, Hull again solicited signatures.
Mitchell wrote a letter of reprimand:
SAM-02-0920-0000. I know we have spoke [sic] about this before but it appears that you continue to solicit signatures for petitions during Council House gatherings. This is unacceptable and we have received complaints from residents that during Kat Ramsburg's going away party you did just that. We ask that you STOP soliciting during parties and dinner time.
Our residents, want to enjoy themselves and not be solicited. We do NOT allow solicitation inside the building, nor have we ever. In fact, it's quite rude while someone is trying to do a performance and you are talking or trying to gather signatures. Inside our building, which is private property, during a Council House sponsored activity it is NOT appropriate.
If you have any questions please see me.
Jacques then coerced Hull into writing a “confession” of wrongdoing to Mitchell and other residents. Mitchell has collected similar confessions in the past to use as eviction blackmail threats.
In effect, Hull wrote an apology under duress for exercising her constitutional rights. Ironically, Mitchell’s challenge to the petition coincided with McDermott’s trip to Iraq. McDermott’s mother, Roseanna (94) lives at Council House. Hull wrote her somewhat tongue-in-cheek apology thus:
IHH-02-0926-0000. It has been called to my attention that I may have done something quite improper. In my concern about the danger of having this country forced into a war in Iraq. I wrote a statement to send to our Congressional Delegation.
In my enthusiasm about the large number of people who signed the statement, and the number who thanked me for my efforts to let our Congressional Delegation know about our concerns, I may have done the very thing that I have disapproved of others for doing.
If I did circulate the statement during the program while we were "saying goodbye and good luck" to Kat, that would have been unpardonably rude. Someone reported to Steve that I did this. I do apologize to any and all, especially to Kat. I believe I did go into the dining room to show the statement to people there. I didn't realize this would be objectionable, and I am sorry. It won't happen again.
I have always thought I gave people the right to say "no" if they did not wish to sign or discuss a matter. I do not believe I have argued or inferred that they did not have their right to their opinion.
I do hate to think that those of us who believe in our Democratic Processes will not be able to discuss on the premises here at Council House. I have been so pleased that Congressman McDermott is doing all he can to defend our Country and our Civil Liberties.
I would like to have our new Legislators in the 43th District to come to listen to our concerns about our state issues. I also hope that Congressman McDermott will be able to come back to the state to tell us what he learned in Iraq. Sometimes we get only a part of the facts in the daily newspapers. If anyone wishes to talk things over I will gladly make myself available.
Mitchell consistently objects to pamphlet distribution and petitioning that does not conform to an extreme right ideology. He instructs his thugs to distribute pamphlets and solicit signatures for petitions that support his own ideology and his thespian performances - an avocation on which he spends most of his government subsidized time.
The letter to Hull typifies the pathologic lying and propaganda that residents have unfortunately begun to accept as normal. Indoctrination through coercive persuasion over an extended period generally has that affect. [Thespian Liar]
As a direct result of her solicitation, Mitchell told Hull that he does not allow solicitation inside the building “which is private property” despite federal laws that apply to the building and the First Amendment to the US Constitution. That amendment guarantees her right to assemble and to petition:
First Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Moreover, Seattle Municipal Code clearly prohibits landlords from preventing residents from initiating and having contact with other tenants or distributing political or religious tracts. [Prohibited Acts by Owners]
[Nmesis]
Pseudonyms replace real names to comply with an unconstitutional restraining order granted by Judge James A. Doerty to Council House directors. [Court-Facilitated Terror] Real names appear for people who signed waivers which Contra Cabal lawyers then filed for them with the court. About ten percent of Council House tenants have now signed waivers to protest the denial of their right to self-determination. Other tenants can download a waiver form then complete and mail it to Elena Luisa Garella, Attorney-at-Law, 927 N Northlake Way #301, Seattle, WA 98103.
Lawyers and journalists may request further information and court documents by email. Readers can obtain names and addresses of Council House Directors at [List of names and addresses of Council House directors].
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