SEATTLE — A rally by a pro-life and pro-biologic-gender group at Cal Anderson Park drew numerous counter-protestors on Saturday afternoon and quickly turned chaotic.
A KOMO News photographer recorded multiple physical clashes, as well as bike police making arrests shortly after 2 p.m. Several protesters were led away in handcuffs.
As of 3:30 p.m., police have not released information on the nature or cause of the arrests.
MAYDAY USA, an organization that claims “millions of babies are murdered in the womb every year [and] hundreds of thousands of children are trafficked,” brought its “#DontMessWithOurKids” rally to the park at 2 p.m.
On its website, the group says it is protesting “for our kids, their rights, and their futures. We’re declaring the SANCTITY of human life, the SACRALITY of biological gender, the IMPORTANCE of the nuclear family, and the RIGHT to freedom of religion.”
In response to the Mayday rally, numerous protestors set up in the park at the same time.
The Radical Women Seattle group said multiple organizations and activists were there to protest Mayday’s “fascist family values… with the theme of ‘Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies.'”
Radical Women Seattle stated, “[The rally] is aimed to counter the well-funded anti-trans, anti-queer event that is led by far-right Christian activists. The Mayday USA rally in Seattle is provocatively being held in the heart of the Queer community. It is part of a 5-city national tour. Reactionary preacher and former Spokane Valley state representative Matt Shea, of the “On Fire Ministries,” is one of the prominent supporters.”
Protestors arrived with picket lines, signs, and banners.
“We are encouraging everyone to come out and show their solidarity,” said Freedom Socialist Party leader Doreen McGrath, whose organization is endorsing the picket, in a press release. “Attacks of this kind need to be met with protest every time.”
Other endorsers include Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Puget Sound Mobilization for Reproductive Justice, and Radical Women.
A KOMO News photographer on the scene documented dozens of protesters dancing, singing, holding signs, waving flags, and giving speeches.
The Mayday side was seen standing in a crowd in front of a stage, listening to music and speeches.
However, sporadic clashes and confrontations broke out, and police were seen tackling some people to the ground and handcuffing them.
At 1:46 p.m., Seattle police posted on X that “Officers are making multiple arrests at a protest inside Cal Anderson Park. Orders are being given to protesters to back away from officers and to stop throwing items at officers.”
Shortly after, at 2:42 p.m., they posted an update on X, noting, “Additional arrests have been made inside the crowd. No injuries have been reported at this time.”
This is a developing story, and more information will be added as it becomes available.
