A group calling itself the Seattle chapter of the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression including former District 3 representative Kshama Sawant disrupted the Seattle City Council Tuesday forcing a short recess as they demanded city officials end “all collaboration” with ICE.

The disruptions came amid an hour of public comment Tuesday afternoon as newly elected council president Joy Hollingsworth engaged in dialogue from the dais with the protest crowd and offered to meet privately.

After repeated disruptions, Hollingsworth called the recess. The demonstrators were cleared out of council chambers when proceedings continued.

Sawant and demonstrators called on Mayor Katie Wilson, Hollingsworth, and the council to announce publicly an end to any collaboration with ICE and Homeland Security as well as initiatives including creation of a local identification card system — municipal IDs — to circumvent federal identification concerns.

After criticizing “labor leadership” and the Democratic Party as her mic was cut off after her allotted time ran out, Sawant led a short chant from the crowd in the council chambers.

“I don’t know if you hear me at all but I’m looking at you, my friend,” Hollingsworth said as she addressed one protester with an offer to meet privately.

Shouting from the crowd continued and Hollingsworth responded by temporarily shutting down the meeting.

When proceedings continued, the D3 rep said she would meet with those who wanted to continue the discussion after the council meeting for anybody to share “their demands.”

The Tuesday meeting was completed without further disruption.

The protest comes as Sawant has targeted the congressional seat of District 9’s Adam Smith.

The moderate Democrat has held the office representing Seattle’s Central District, South Seattle, and an area stretching from Bellevue to Federal Way since he was first elected in 1996.

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