Seattle mayor issues emergency proclamation following violent march

A protester wears a helmet with a face shield and a gas mask as he looks on during an afternoon protest Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in downtown Seattle. Hundreds of activists across the U.S. joined the worldwide May Day protests on Tuesday, with Occupy Wall Street members in several cities leading demonstrations and in some cases clashing with police. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Homemade incendiary devices, bags of feces were confiscated – while sticks, smoke bombs, rocks, paint, hammers, and tire irons were used to damage cars and businesses in downtown Seattle.

After violence erupted Tuesday afternoon in a May Day march through downtown Seattle, Mayor Mike McGinn issued an emergency ordinance allowing police to confiscate make-shift weapons.

“Using the emergency powers of the mayor’s office, I am issuing an order for the limited purpose for giving police the authority to confiscate items that can be used as weapons,” McGinn said in a news conference alongside Police Chief John Diaz.

Read the mayor’s order (pdf)

In a march from Capitol Hill to Westlake Park protesters caused, what has been estimated as, thousands of dollars in damage.

According to Seattle Police, some of the property damage includes broken windows at American Apparel and Niketown, Bank of America on Olive, Wells Fargo on 4th Ave, the courthouse, cars in the 1500 block of 6th Ave and in the 500 block of Seneca, Homestreet Bank on 6th Ave.

>>>See photos of the damage caused by protestors

Police referred to some of the protesters as the “Black Bloc,” a group of men and women, donning all black and inciting violence.

They believe several members of the
Black Bloc quickly changed back into plain clothes and blended
in at the park following the march after the press conference in which McGinn stated that there were undercover officers in the crowd at Westlake Park.

Police have made six arrests so far. McGinn’s proclamation said the demonstrations caused a “civil emergency.”

People or businesses who had their property vandalized
should call Seattle Police at 206-625-5011 or file a report online.