Media Island International is a far-left fiscal sponsorship, resource, and networking center based in Olympia, Washington. The organization serves as a fiscal sponsor for Rising Tide North America, a radical environmentalist organization that participated in a radical environmentalist set of demonstrations in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 2019, that disrupted traffic. ¹ It also serves as the fiscal sponsor for numerous other radical organizations.

In addition to serving as a fiscal sponsorship organization for various radical groups, it also provides other services such as networking. It owns a meeting place where far-left groups can host meetings and a community kitchen where activists can prepare meals.

It also owns a licensed low-powered radio station, KOWA.

Organization

Media Island International is a far-left organization that works to support radical organizations and promote radical far-left political views. The organization serves as a clearing house for radical groups. Its headquarters hosts numerous videos, magazines, and other literature targeted towards radical organizers and others. ²

Promoting radical-left “alternative” media is a major focus of MII. It complains that most people only have access to “corporate-owned media” and “corporate control of most communication outlets.” It provides access to far-left “alternative media” both locally and internationally. ³

The headquarters also has a library that features a lot of far-left literature for activists. It includes an issue-based research archive that is available for activists to easily search for material. Among the issues that it focuses on are social policy, far-left economics, ecological sustainability, and peace campaigning. All materials are donated by activists. The library is staffed by unpaid volunteers and is only open by appointment. ⁴

There is also a meeting space at the headquarters that it encourages left-wing organizations to use to hold meetings. It posts availability of the meeting space online. The meeting space also has a community kitchen, and MII will occasionally cook meals for the meetings. ⁵

Radio Station

In 1999, Media Island International won one of 500 licenses awarded to low-powered radio stations. With that license, it created KOWA in the Olympia, Washington market. The radio claims to “give voice to individuals, organizations, and movements working for social justice, economic democracy, ecological sustainability, and peace.” ⁶

The radio station is a Pacific Network and features far-left radio programming such as Democracy Now and Hard Knock Radio. The station also syndicates other far-left radio programs focused on social policy, LGBT issues, and feminist issues. ⁷

The radio station is largely volunteer-run. It also actively solicits local music and programming. ⁸

Fiscal Sponsorship

Media Island International serves as the fiscal sponsor for five to fifteen organizations annually. Fiscal sponsorship it allows organizations to use MII’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status instead of going through the time and expense of gaining independent status. Groups using fiscal sponsorship do not file tax documents independent of the fiscal sponsor. ⁹

One of the most notable organizations Media Island International sponsors is Rising Tide North America. In 2016, it funneled nearly $24,000 to the group. The money was used to support protests at Standing Rock against an oil pipeline, among other projects. ¹⁰

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9. “Projects”. 2019. Media Island International. Accessed September 23. https://www.mediaisland.org/projects.
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