May Day marches: Violence after peace

Peaceful march attended by thousands followed by chaotic demonstration by dozens

By VANESSA HO, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 1:33 am, Friday, May 2, 2014

(Ed. note: This report contains graphic language.)

A peaceful May Day turned into a long, violent evening, with some among hundreds of "anti-capitalist" protesters clashing with police, banging on cars, setting fires and smashing a bus window as they marched through Capitol Hill and downtown Seattle.

Seattle police made nine arrests. One suspect allegedly threw a brick at officers. Police confiscated a gun from another suspect. They used pepper spray on a bottle-throwing crowd in Belltown.

Among other things hurled at police: Firecrackers, a beer can and spit.

The violence came after thousands of marchers marked International Workers' Day with a peaceful walk from Judkins Park to Westlake Park in downtown Seattle. That march was not marred by fights with police and vandalism, as it had been in 2012.

But as the sun began to set, "anti-capitalist" protesters gathered in Capitol Hill. During their long, aimless-feeling, round-trip march to and from the neighborhood, protesters tried to enter Interstate 5.

They tried to protest at the Youth Services Center, but were repelled by police. They stopped in front of the KIRO building in Belltown and got angrily excited about "corporate media." They yelled at a window, someone suggested they smash it, and then everyone left.

Protesters looked hot and sweaty in hoodies and bandanas, on a day when the temperature hit a record 85 degrees in Seattle.

"I believe in transformative justice and community accountability," said one masked anti-capitalist, who marched with a big, pink banner that simply said "Fuck off."

"These cops that are surrounding us right now are just the later generations of the slave catchers that caught slaves before; you know, it's just a continuation. It's modern-day slavery and that's what we're fighting against."

Earlier in the evening, the demonstration felt like a wandering summer street party, but with bad music and surly people. They lobbed a beach ball. A trio pushed a sound system on wheels, and a man banged un-rhythmically on a skillet swinging from his shoulder.

Demonstrators walked into traffic, swarmed drivers stuck in the crowd and beefed with photographers, police officers and at least one masked "superhero." 

The march had worried business owners in downtown and Capitol Hill, where May Day vandals have damaged property in the past. Many stores closed early and increased security. Thursday's protesters smashed a Metro bus window, but largely left businesses alone. 

"Our number one priority is where anyone can march and protest and get their message out in a safe way," said Seattle Police Capt. Chris Fowler earlier in the evening, as he walked calmly down Sixth Avenue, behind the crowd. The police presence was massive, with officers on bikes, in riot gear, from other agencies, and ready by the busload.

"At some point, they'll get tired of doing what they're doing and end up going home."

By late night, the crowd did seem more tired and irritable, even while chanting, "All cops are bastards." Many sat in the middle of an intersection in Capitol Hill, which was probably a nice break after shouting and walking for four hours in the heat.

There were complaints that the people in Walgreens were "assholes" because there were no public restrooms. The beach ball had turned flabby.

But when protesters set Dumpsters on fire in the middle of Broadway and Pine, many declared victory. They chanted, "We won tonight."

The arrested suspects, all men, range in age from 17 to 37. Their arrests covered alleged property damage, obstruction, malicious mischief and five assaults.

Last year, police arrested 18 people from a crowd that pelted them with rocks and bottles.

Seattle police noted a marked uptick in anti-authority rhetoric leading up to this year's May Day events, said Fowler, in charge of the department's response to the demonstrations.

The Associated Press and Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen contributed to this report.