Seattle’s Democratic Mayor blamed Christians for violence after leftist protesters attacked a peaceful prayer rally, resulting in 23 arrests and one injured police officer.
Key Takeaways
- A pro-life prayer vigil with 500 attendees at Cal Anderson Park was violently disrupted by leftist counterprotesters, resulting in 23 arrests.
- Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell condemned the Christian rally, claiming it was intentionally designed to “provoke a reaction” in an LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
- The MayDayUSA event, part of a five-city tour promoting family values and sanctity of life, had obtained proper permits and coordinated with authorities.
- Despite acknowledging “anarchists” instigated the violence, Mayor Harrell directed a review of the permit approval process for the Christian group.
- Event organizers maintained their rally was peaceful and focused on prayer, family values, and helping trafficking victims and post-abortive individuals.
Prayer Rally Meets Violent Opposition
The MayDayUSA prayer vigil at Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park drew approximately 500 Christians who gathered to promote traditional family values, the sanctity of life, and support for those recovering from abortion, addiction, and human trafficking. The peaceful assembly, themed “#DontMessWithOurKids,” included speeches, worship music, prayer, free haircuts for children, and bicycle giveaways. Despite obtaining proper permits and coordinating with local authorities, the event soon faced aggressive opposition from hundreds of leftist counterprotesters, including members of Seattle Democratic Socialists of America, Radical Women, and the Puget Sound Mobilization for Reproductive Justice.
Tensions escalated rapidly when counterprotesters began throwing objects at rally participants, forcing police intervention. The Seattle Police Department arrested 23 individuals—22 adults and one juvenile—during the clashes, and one officer required medical treatment after being injured in the confrontation. Despite clear evidence that the violence originated from the counterprotesters, Seattle’s leadership would later place blame on the Christian organizers rather than those who initiated the physical attacks.
Mayor Condemns Christians, Not Violent Protestors
In a stunning display of political bias,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell issued a statement criticizing the Christian prayer rally rather than condemning the violent counter protesters. Harrell characterized the peaceful Christian gathering as a “far-right rally” deliberately designed to provoke conflict. His office released a statement that pointedly avoided condemning the violence perpetrated against the Christian attendees, instead suggesting that the prayer vigil organizers were responsible for the chaos that ensued.
“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,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
While Harrell acknowledged that “anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence,” he directed his criticism at the Christian organizers and announced an investigation into how the event received approval in the first place. The mayor instructed the Parks Department to review “whether there were legal location alternatives or other adjustments that could have been pursued” to prevent the Christian rally from occurring in that location, suggesting that expressing traditional Christian values should be restricted in certain parts of the city.
Rally Organizers Defend Peaceful Purpose
Event host Jenny Donnelly strongly refuted the mayor’s characterization of their gathering, emphasizing that their organization had followed all proper protocols. The Mayday USA event, part of a five-city tour focused on family values and the gospel, was designed as a peaceful prayer rally that included community outreach. Evangelist Ross Johnston, a co-host of the event, clarified that their mission was religious in nature and that they had no intention of causing disruption or conflict in the community.
“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,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
The Seattle Police Officers Guild supported a review of the incident but noted that Cal Anderson Park has a history of being a hub for ANTIFA activities. The situation highlights a troubling pattern in progressive cities where traditional Christian values are increasingly characterized as provocative or dangerous, while leftist violence is excused or minimized. Despite the mayor’s suggestion that Christian beliefs are “inherently opposed” to Seattle’s values, the rally organizers maintained their right to free speech and religious expression and indicated they would continue their planned activities in other cities.
