Mayor Harrell called for an internal report after police took heat for disrupting a pro-LGBTQ protest, but the process must be public and rigorous to make a difference.
For decades, the Seattle Police Department has mishandled protest events and crowd control, and the department’s tactics have caused violence. Unfortunately, the same pattern played out last month at Cal Anderson Park.
On May 24th, the police responded to the Mayday USA Christian fundamentalist rally and counter-protests. The anti-trans, anti-gay rally took place at Cal Anderson Park, named for Washington’s first openly gay elected official located in the heart of one of Seattle’s main gayborhoods. The police responded by lining up in protective formation with respect to the fundamentalist rally, pulling counterprotesters out of the crowd to arrest, and pepper spraying protesters already on the ground. This is just the latest example of a dysfunctional police department.
Roughing up and arresting protesters only on one side has led to accusations that police sided with the conservative fundamentalists over anti-fascist counterprotesters.
Mayor Bruce Harrell’s May 24th press release notes that the police department “will complete an after-action report of this event.” Recently, Seattle’s Office of the Inspector General announced it was embarking on a review.
