Seattle police arrested 23 left-wing protesters in Seattle over the weekend after violence broke out at a conservative Christian rally. But instead of condemning the left-wing protesters who instigated the unrest, Seattle Democrats and the corporate media are blaming the peaceful Christians who organized the event.
The rally, organized by Mayday USA as part of its “#DontMessWithOurKids” tour, was promoted as a family-friendly event featuring live music, prayer, and remarks from Christian leaders. About 500 people attended the event, which was held in the heart of Seattle’s heavily LGBTQ Capitol Hill neighborhood.
As reported in the New York Post, Mayday USA released a statement saying it refused “to stand idly by while the children of our nation are indoctrinated by a liberal, political, and sexual agenda that seeks to destroy their God-given identities.”
Organizers also made clear that they were not looking for confrontation. Mayday USA spokesperson and Wenatchee pastor Folake Kellogg said, “They say we don’t like people. We’re not the ones throwing things. We’re here to love Jesus.”
Kellogg said the group’s original request was to hold the event at Victor Steinbrueck Park, but the city denied them.
Counter-protesters gathered in equal numbers, waving transgender flags and carrying signs denouncing what they called “fascist family values.” The protest, dubbed “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies,” was promoted by groups including Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity and the Freedom Socialist Party. Protest organizers claimed the Christian rally was a “well-funded anti-trans, anti-queer event led by far-right Christian activists,” and said its location in a “queer neighborhood” was meant to provoke.
Tensions escalated quickly. According to local news outlets, confrontations began around 1 p.m., with left-wing protesters shoving police in riot gear and pelting them with water bottles and other objects. Seattle police reported that eleven people were arrested in an initial scuffle, with more arrests made over the course of five hours as officers used pepper spray to control the crowd.
The police called in backup from Washington State Patrol as the situation escalated. By evening, Mayday USA began to break down their stage and advised attendees to leave in groups for safety.
In spite of the fact that the liberal protestors were the only violent party present at the event, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell released a statement denouncing the Christian rally as a “far-right rally.” He further said it was “held here for this very reason – to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values, in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.”
Harrell went on to say that “Anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did.” There is no evidence that rogue “anarchists” were the ones who started attacking police.
Harrell also directed the Parks Department to review the event’s permit and promised a police after-action report, concluding, “Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness.”
In short, Harrell stands with violent left-wing rioters who attack police over peaceful, law-abiding Christian demonstrators.
The Seattle Times only added fuel to the mayor’s effort to smear the Christian attendees as far-right extremists. The headline of the paper’s cover story detailing the event read, “23 Arrests at Heated ‘Fascist Family Values’ Protest in Seattle.”
The legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom is reportedly considering involvement as the aftermath of the event continues to unfold, according to the Daily Wire.
Russell Johnson, a pastor, wrote on X to call for a public apology and retraction of Harrell’s “bigoted statements about people of faith.”
“You attacked us in public and you will be held to account in public,” Johnson added. He also organized a rally outside City Hall on Tuesday, demanding an apology or Harrell’s resignation.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild also criticized city leaders for allowing the event to proceed in what they called “the heart of ANTIFA land,” a decision they say directly endangered both police and the public.
The guild highlighted the ongoing staffing crisis in Seattle’s police force, noting that over 700 officers have left the city in the past decade due to political decisions and activist pressure. They said the department currently lacks the resources to manage mass demonstrations that erupt into violence and mass arrests, warning that the city’s failure to provide adequate support and authority to officers puts lives at risk.
“Whether it’s our job or not, we were once again ordered to put ourselves into a political quagmire,” the guild said in a press release.
The union also pointed out that nearly 28 percent of Seattle’s remaining officers are eligible for retirement, raising concerns about the future of public safety if political leadership continues to undermine law enforcement. “This is Seattle’s public safety political reality,” the guild emphasized.
While welcoming the mayor’s review of the permit decision for the rally, the guild made clear that political decisions continue to place officers in “untenable” positions, forcing them to confront violent mobs without sufficient support or authority.
“Moving forward, the Seattle Police Department is hiring,” the guild said.
Sarah Katherine Sisk is a proud Hillsdale College alumna and a master’s student in economics at George Mason University. You can follow her on X @SKSisk76.
