LOCAL NEWS
23 people arrested at Cal Anderson Park when rally, counterprotesters clash

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the far-right rally was specifically held at the park in Seattle's known LGBTQ+ neighborhood "to provoke a reaction."

Author: Adel Toay, Olivia Sullivan
Published: 2:20 PM PDT May 24, 2025
Updated: 8:17 PM PDT May 24, 2025

SEATTLE — The Seattle Police Department (SPD) arrested 23 people on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park when counterprotesters clashed with a religious rally.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the far-right rally was specifically held at the park in Seattle's known LGBTQ+ neighborhood "to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values."

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In a statement, Mayor Harrell called Seattle "a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice."

Harrell said anarchists joined the counterprotesters, which resulted in violence and arrests. He said the event organizes shut down the event early after being asked to do so.

jseattle
24 May 2025

Seattle Police make multiple arrests during counter-protest of fundamentalist church group’s rally in Cal Anderson Park — UPDATE

With reporting by Hannah Saunders

Seattle Police moved on counter-protesters at a fundamentalist Christian group’s rally Saturday afternoon in Cal Anderson Park. Multiple arrests and injuries were reported.

Groups were in the park to protest against a provocative rally organized by a Spokane fundamentalist church. CHS reported here on the planned “#DontMessWithOurKids” rally.

The clash with police came hours into the gathering as a phalanx of bicycle police moved into position near the front of a large crowd of counter-protesters near the rally stage and suddenly advanced on the crowd using their bikes and batons.

SPD said officers were being targeted by objects they say were being thrown by the protesters as the department reported the arrests in the park via social media. Protesters had also reportedly popped a balloon at the church group’s rally in the moments before the melee.

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