A handful of arrests as May Day protesters return to downtown

May 1, 2013 at 10:26 AM

Posted by Mike Carter



Flash bangs explode in a crowd near 5th and Olive at about 8:15 in downtown Seattle. (Photo by Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 8:22 P.M.: Capt. Chris Fowler, the incident commander, said police are deploying pepper spray canisters to disperse the crowd.

“It’s a safety issue,” Fowler said.

Crowd continues to head east on Olive, toward Capitol Hill.

UPDATE AT 8:12 P.M.: Police are now herding protesters east on Olive Way. Police using flash-bangs to move the crowd. Objects, including a skateboard, are being thrown at police.

Police continue to use pepper spray to clear the crowd.


Flash bangs between police and protestors go off at 5th and Olive around 8:00. (Photo by Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 8:06 P.M.: Seattle police say they plan to give the official order to clear the streets. Things could reach a head soon.

UPDATE AT 7:59 P.M. Police are making more arrests at Olive, between Fourth and Fifth. Police are also using pepper spray for the first time.

UPDATE AT 7:54 P.M.: The two men taken into custody were apparently assaulting a TV cameraman, police say. One was reportedly on a pogo stick (the protester, not the cameraman).

UPDATE AT 7:48 P.M.: Seattle police are making a couple of arrests at Fourth and Pine.


Police work to divert a crowd of protesters around 7:45 in Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. (Photo by Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 7:35 P.M.: The crowd has come full circle. They’re now at Westlake Park, where the “festivities” began this morning.

Still no arrests.

UPDATE AT 7:28 P.M.: Police say some are throwing metal pipes and other objects at windows.


Police create a barrier with their bicycles as protesters deploy smoke and march downtown near Sixth Ave. and Pike St. downtown. (Photo by Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 7:25 P.M.: Group now at Sixth and Pike and Niketown, epicenter of last year’s violence when self-proclaimed anarchists — some wearing Nikes — broke windows. Heavy police presence there today.

Someone set off a flare.

UPDATE AT 7:20 P.M.: Crowd heading west on Pike over the freeway.

Police say the broken window was at Sun Liquor. A police source says demonstrators may have taken bottles.


Protesters head West on Pike Street. (Photo by Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)


A sizable contingent of police follow demonstrators on bike. (Photo by Dean Rutz / the Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 7:12 P.M.: Even the superheroes got hosed with Silly String. Oh, the humanity.

Crowd continues to march toward downtown, although the marchers don’t seem to know where they’re going.

A window was reportedly broken at East Pike and Belmont. Still no word of arrests.

UPDATE AT 7:01 P.M.: The group has now stopped at Pine and Broadway. Heavy police presence.

Many in the crowd are unhappy with the media. A KING-TV reporter was doused with Silly String.

UPDATE AT 6:56 P.M: Marchers have left SCCC and are heading west along East Pine toward Broadway, possibly in a route that will take them downtown. Police say some in the crowd appear to be lighting flares or some type of smoke devices.

Someone set off firecrackers.

Thus far, no arrests.

UPDATE AT 5:33 P.M.: The rally at the federal building is breaking up and many people are making their way up Capitol Hill for what’s labeled an “anti-capitalist” rally and march.

It’s set to begin at 6 p.m. at Seattle Central Community College.The route of that march is unclear as organizers did not obtain a permit from the city, according to Seattle police. It was during last year’s anti-capitalist march that dozens of protesters wielding sticks, hammers and rocks went on a noontime rampage.

A large group of Seattle police bicycle officers were seen heading up to Seattle Central CC a short time ago.

Seattle police say there have been no arrests.


Thousands of demonstrators rally at the federal building in downtown Seattle for the 13th Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights. (Photo by Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 4:58 P.M.: Marchers are beginning to arrive at the federal building in downtown Seattle. The march is several blocks long so it will take some time for all to reach their destination.

Things are still peaceful, although some members of the crowd — generally people with bandannas over their faces — are taunting some police. The officers are not reacting.

No arrests.

The highlight of the march was covered by this SPD Tweet: “Brief disturbance earlier at 5th & Jackson between superheroes & clowns. Everything’s under control.”


Police line S King St. as the 13th Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights passes at about 3:45 Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)

UPDATE AT 3:25 P.M.: In what may be the first sign of potential trouble, Seattle police say they have recovered rocks and bricks possibly placed in advance of today’s May Day events. Police say the objects were recovered in the East and West precincts.

Meanwhile, police are lining the route as marchers may their way to downtown. Still peaceful.






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