Seattle mayor condemns Christian concert as 'far-right rally' after Antifa militants stage violent protest

A Christian rally and concert hosted by the conservative group MAYDAY USA in Cal Anderson Park on Saturday afternoon descended into chaos after Antifa militants showed up to clash with attendees, resulting in 23 arrests.

The event, branded by organizers as the “#DontMessWithOurKids” rally, began around 2 pm and drew the attention of the radicals for its mission, including defending the “sanctity of human life,” “biological gender,” and “freedom of religion.”

Antifa and left-wing counter-protesters showed up in the park, the same location of 2020's deadly Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), accusing MAYDAY USA of promoting “fascist family values” and holding the rally in a historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood to incite a reaction. Protesters, including members of Radical Women Seattle and the Freedom Socialist Party, chanted, sang, and waved signs bearing messages such as “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies.”

According to the Seattle Police Department, tensions escalated around 1:30 p.m., before the rally's official start, when officers observed members of one group throwing items at another group. Officers quickly moved in to make arrests and were reportedly assaulted by other individuals in the crowd. Eleven people were taken into custody in the initial confrontation.

As the event continued, another 12 arrests were made for assault and obstruction, bringing the total to 23. Among those arrested, 22 adults were booked into the King County Jail, while one juvenile arrested for obstruction was later released.

“Officers remained on scene for the duration of the rally to maintain order,” the department said in a statement. “Troopers with the Washington State Patrol arrived at approximately 5:30 p.m. to support SPD officers.” One officer sustained injuries and was treated and released from a hospital.

Bike police made arrests after activists engaged in scuffles. Fencing was knocked over, and police issued warnings via social media for protesters to stop throwing items and interfering with officers.

In a statement released afterward, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell condemned the concert, not the violence from the Antifa militants, suggesting that the Christian group’s presence was deliberately provocative.

Harrell emphasized his support for the LGBTQ+ community, criticized "anarchists" who “infiltrated the counter-protest,” and called for an after-action report by the police.

“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,” Harrell said.

"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," Harrell went on. 

“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 protections around permitting events, I’ve directed the Parks Department to review whether alternate locations or adjustments could have been made.”

Harrell's remarks sparked backlash from critics who pointed out a perceived double standard in how the city handles protests, particularly those involving progressive causes, which the city seems to favor.

"The Mayor of Seattle owes Christians in WA State an apology for his bigoted remarks after folks who were holding a peaceful worship event at Cal Anderson Park were violently assaulted for the high crime of expressing their deeply held religious beliefs in the form of a permitted worship event on city property," said Pastor Russell Johnson of the participating Pursuit Church. "23 antifa thugs were arrested. Cops were hospitalized. Church people were assaulted. And the mayor has the audacity to blame Christians for the violence."

"The City of Seattle is plagued by chronically inept political leadership and Mayor Harrell is no exception," Johnson said. "Bruce Harrell’s administration is an embarrassment to the Emerald City.

"The Mayor’s niece (and former Deputy Mayor) publicly accused the Mayor of sexism and cultivating a toxic office culture in September of this year. Since Bruce took office, homicide is up 26% and rape is up 12%. Motor vehicle theft is up 38%. Drug deaths are up 89%.

"Bruce Harrell himself was arrested on weapons and assault charges prior to running for public office. He pulled a gun on a woman who was 8 months pregnant because he was upset she took his parking spot.

"The Mayor is on his third police chief since taking office. No one wants to work for him. His own family can’t stand him. And antifa gets a free pass from him. I guess pulling guns on pregnant women isn’t enough for Mayor Harrell. He’s now got to blame Christians for a city that he has let go to hell."

SUPER UW, a group backing Gaza and Hamas that helped orchestrate the takeover of the engineering building at UW, posted a request for bail funds to get their Antifa "comrades" out of jail after they were arrested.

Harrell still hasn’t spoken out against the pro-Hamas activists this month, who caused over $1 million in damage to the engineering building at his alma mater, the University of Washington, during a violent antisemitic occupation.

MAYDAY USA is staging events in five American cities: New York, Miami, Houston, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Their declaration reads: "We, as citizens of the United States of America, are faced with he moral and spiritual decay of our nation. United as Christians across denominational lines..." They commit to defend these "following truths": 

• "We declare the sanctity of human life."
• "We declare that biological gender is sacred."
• "We declare the family is the foundation of a healthy nation."
• "We declare the right to freedom of religion."

"As Christians," they write, "our strong rejection of sin must never become the rejection of people who are also made in the image of God. We share the truth, but never without love."