The scene in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 for the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

The scene in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 for the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

‘We’re not giving up our ferries’: Hundreds rally at the Capitol

Juneau officials speak on importance of ferry system

Hundreds gathered outside the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday shouting cries to “Save our state!”

The Alaska Public Employees Association held a Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally to protest the governor’s proposed plan to stop public funding for the ferry system in October. Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget would cut the ferry system’s funding by 75 percent in the next fiscal year, and he has commissioned another study to look into options for privatizing the service.

“They might as well produce a bill that sends us back to territorial days because that’s what they’re trying to do,” said City and Borough of Juneau Assembly member Michelle Bonnet Hale.

Several legislators and public officials spoke on the steps of the Capitol, leading chants and preaching the importance of the Alaska Marine Highway System.

Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, took to the megaphone, and told the crowd, “Our job is to get the message through loud and clear to the administration: We’re not giving up our ferries.”

Hundreds of people attend the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Hundreds of people attend the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Last week, a record number number of people testified before the House Transportation committee on the ferry system. According to numbers provided by Stutes, on Tuesday, 484 Alaskans signed up to testify to the committee, the highest recorded on any topic since the Legislative Information Office began tracking testimony. Another 133 testified on Thursday, bringing the total to 617. There were so many people in attendance that an overflow room was needed at times. Additionally, 241 submitted written testimony.

[Read more here: Frustrations run high as many testify in support of ferry system]

“Thank you all for coming out and setting a record for public testimony in the Alaska Legislature,” said Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, as he spoke at the rally. “Traveling freely around our country, and in this case our state, is part of who were are. It connects our cultures… it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about commerce, if we’re talking about school kids, if we’re talking about sports, if we’re talking about culture. The AMHS is what connects us in coastal Alaska.”

He said that many legislators from around the state were also in attendance at the rally, because the ferries aren’t just important for Southeast Alaska, they are for the whole state.

Many young people were also holding signs and advocating for the ferry system.

Hundreds of people attend the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

Hundreds of people attend the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

Helena McAlister, 14, is a student at Thunder Mountain High School. Her dad, Ryan, works for the ferry system. She said she plays flute in the band at TMHS, and they travel on the ferries for events. She’s scheduled to go to Ketchikan in April with the band.

Irene Morris, with her sign, attends the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Irene Morris, with her sign, attends the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

“Most of the travel for my school, they use the ferry system,” she said. “So it’s very important that we keep it funded.”

There were many Juneau officials present at the rally. Rep. Sara Hannan, D-Juneau, was also a featured speaker.

“It’s not about what we pay,” said Hannan, referencing some supporters of the governor’s plan who have pointed out that the ferry system costs more than a highway. “It’s about what it will cost us if it’s gone.”

Another CBJ Assembly member, Carole Triem, said in an interview with the Empire, “I think that we all know that the road system is important to all of Alaska. And we all know that the marine highway system is important to all of Alaska. It’s weak leadership to be pitting the two against each other, and to be pitting regions against each other, when what’s good for Ketchikan is good for Kenai is good for Kotzebue. A strong ferry system is going to help all of Alaska.”

Hundreds of people attend the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

Hundreds of people attend the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

“Go get some food and go trap a legislator,” said Shannon Adamson who works for Masters, Mates & Pilots and helped organize the rally. She said this will be the last public event for the next few weeks while they wait for legislators to do their jobs and hopefully work to save the ferry system.

After the rally ended, several Alaska Native women led a group in singing the “Canoe Song,” which they said was a spontaneous decision.

“We were thinking, we always call the marine highway the big blue canoe, so it was impromptu,” said Nancy Barnes, who is Alutiiq and Tsimshian. “We’re all connected. Living here in Juneau, I just worry about our rural communities.”

Barnes and her friends Della Cheney, a Haida woman from Kake, and Nancy Keen, who is Tlingit, led the song.

“We’re just happy to be here for the blue canoe,” said Cheney.


• Contact reporter Mollie Barnes at mbarnes@juneauempire.com.


Tony Tengs, a retired ferry worker, attends the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Tony Tengs, a retired ferry worker, attends the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The scene in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 for the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

The scene in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 for the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

The scene in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 for the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

The scene in front of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 for the Alaska Public Employees Association’s Save the Alaska Marine Highway System rally. (Mollie Barnes | Juneau Empire)

More in News

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management)
Assembly OKs concrete lease in Cooper Landing

The vote came amid widespread community opposition to the agreement

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.
Easter eggs, bunnies arrive on the Kenai Peninsula

There are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with the Easter bunny or seek out some eggs

Flier for Bear Awareness and Electric Fencing Workshops. (Provided by Defenders of Wildlife)
Local workshops to focus on managing bear attractants, electric fencing

The series will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, in Hope, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

A person walks up the steps of the Alaska Capitol, Jan. 16, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Some KPBSD schools could benefit from internet bill passed by House

If House Bill 193 becomes law, an additional six KPBSD schools would be eligible for the state’s grant program

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A veterinarian with Greater Good Charities escorts dog Maggie into a free spay/neuter clinic at the Moose Pass Fire Station on Thursday.
Moose Pass rallies behind free spay and neuter clinic

The clinic was put on by Greater Good Charities Good Fix program

Signage marks the entrance to Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski student arrested after school shooting threats

The juvenile student faces charges of terroristic threatening

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bjorkman farm tax relief bill clears Senate

The bill is now up for consideration in the House

Most Read