(Image: Alex Garland/CHS)

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.

Counter-protesters told CHS they were at the park Saturday to defend LGBTQ and reproductive rights.

UPDATE 3:58 PM: Clashes have continued in the park with police deploying pepper spray on protesters. SPD reports additional arrests amid thrown objects and reports of toppled fencing around the event.

UPDATE 6:04 PM: Seattle Police have requested “mutual aid” and have been joined by the Washington State Patrol in the park as the rally has continued and protests have continued around it. New rules passed earlier this year by the city council require outside agencies like WSP to follow SPD’s command in crowd control situations.

Rally organizers have been passing around buckets requesting donations from attendees.

UPDATE 7:20 PM: Seattle’s mayor has taken the unusual step of putting out a statement on the day’s police activity lauding free speech — and blaming unrest in the crowd on “anarchists” who the mayor says “infiltrated the counter-protestors group.”

“I am grateful for those who make their voices heard in support of our neighbors without resorting to violence,” Harrell said in the statement. “In the face of an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities, Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness.”

In the statement, Harrell said police asked rally organizers to end the event early because of the conflict “which they did.”

The permits for the rally event are also being scrutinized, Harrell said Saturday night. The mayor says he has asked the parks department to “review all of the circumstances of this application to understand whether there were legal location alternatives or other adjustments that could have been pursued.”

Harrell’s full statement is below:

“Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice. Today’s far-right rally 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.

“When the humanity of trans people and those who have been historically marginalized is questioned, we triumph by demonstrating our values through our words and peaceful protest – we lose our voice when this is disrupted by violence, chaos, and confusion.

“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.

“While there are broad First Amendment requirements around permitting events under free speech protections, I am directing the Parks Department to review all of the circumstances of this application to understand whether there were legal location alternatives or other adjustments that could have been pursued. The Police Department will complete an after-action report of this event, including understanding preparation, crowd management tactics, and review of arrests and citations.

“I am grateful for those who make their voices heard in support of our neighbors without resorting to violence. In the face of an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities, Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness.”

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