May Day 2019: What to expect, avoid, and look out for today

Apr 29, 2019, 10:26 AM | Updated: May 1, 2019, 1:34 pm

MyNorthwest.com

KIRO Radio and MyNorthwest are following the protests here.

The Seattle tradition of May Day 2019 is upon us. That means all the usual activity will descend upon the city on Wednesday.

The 20th Annual May Day March for the Rights of Immigrants and Workers will peacefully work its way through downtown. After that, self-proclaimed anarchists generally attempt to ruin everything for everyone and/or walk aimlessly around town.

According to Sergeant Sean Whitcomb with the Seattle Police Department, the event will be “super well-staffed.”

“We are planning for a First Amendment event on Wednesday May 1st,” he said. “We will provide traffic control and public safety service to support this event.”

The workers’ rights march is from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday. Staging will be at 20th Place South and South Dearborn Street at noon.

It will begin at Judkins Park, and is expected to reach the U.S. District Courthouse by around 3 p.m. An ensuing rally is scheduled to continue until 7 p.m.

The route starts on South Jackson Street, heading along 20th Avenue South, East Yesler Way, 12th Avenue, Madison Street, Broadway, East Pine, 6th Avenue, and 7th Avenue, and wrapping up at Stewart Street. Roughly 650 people are expected to attend.

May Day 2019 route
The planned route for Wednesday’s march, as laid out by SDOT

The Mariners are also playing the Chicago Cubs at T-Mobile Park at 3:40 p.m., with an expected attendance of 35,000. SDOT warns of increased travel times as a result.

A spotted May Day history

Of course, what May Day, sadly, has become known for in Seattle is the evening activities. This is when anarchists gather for their own march. Their message … that’s never really been well conveyed. What is known is that this event generally prompts property destruction and sometimes confrontations with police.

Things were relatively peaceful in 2018. The same for 2017, when right wing and left wing demonstrators found something they can agree on and bond over — marijuana. But violence and destruction broke out in previous years. A Wisconsin man was arrested for throwing Molotov cocktails following May Day 2016.

Whether it be a peaceful day, or otherwise, Seattle officials say they are prepared. Whitcomb says that Seattleites should also be prepared for the day.

“Residents and business owners can expect to see additional officers in the field,” he said. “We do ask for people to plan for delays and make alternate plans for any business that they may need to attend to.”