Rantz: Seattle activists livid protester arrested for vandalizing City Hall
Aug 12, 2019, 5:48 AM | Updated: 8:50 am
The Seattle Police Department finds itself in another unwinnable woke controversy, this time for arresting a girl who was allegedly breaking the law. Only for progressive activists, the law isn’t supposed to apply, or they’ll redefine the law to justify their actions.
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Just before the weekend, area youth protested over inaction on climate change. Part of the protest involved spray painting a message on Seattle City Hall, including, “Strike for our future.”
A 13-year-old girl was handcuffed and removed from the protest for the vandalism. This drove the small crowd wild. They harassed the cops, calling them “authoritarian” for arresting such a young girl.
It’s almost like vandalism is illegal. pic.twitter.com/X7rVil9xY9
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) August 12, 2019
Twitter activists claimed the kid thought the substance used to tag the property was sidewalk chalk, but it turns out it wasn’t. Indeed, one protester on Twitter said, “Only reason I didn’t do it too was my mom is an atmospheric chemist and got suspicious of the smell and asked to look at the can.” This kid was smart to not vandalize the property.
Woke-Twitter came to the girl’s defense, with attorney and local activist Nikkita Oliver bizarrely claiming the girl was arrested for “for exercising her First Amendment Rights.” No, she was arrested for vandalizing City Hall. Just because you like the vandal’s message, doesn’t mean it’s protected from punishment. And her age doesn’t imply an automatic get-out-jail-free card.
Since this girl was filmed crying at the arrest for her alleged crime, activists slammed the cops online.
Handcuffing a minor who did graffiti/accidental graffiti @SeattlePD ? These are good kids, it was an accident. You could tell by Zoe’s reaction, tell by her remorse. Disappointing police overreaction. 😞#ClimateEmergency #ClimateCrisis #YouthStrike4Climate #FridaysForFuture
— Shauna Chapman (@ShaunaChapmanUK) August 10, 2019
Sounds like something @MayorJenny would approve. This is fascism.
— Todd B. #IStandWithIlhan (@ToddBohannon) August 9, 2019
This is a massive overreaction from the law enforcement. Hope they feel super important and real BIG cuffing a 13 year old.
God only knows what they would have done if Zoe was a person of colour.
What happened to community policing theory?!
— Gareth Lawes (@garethlawes) August 10, 2019
Actually, since the girl appears white, if she wasn’t arrested, this very same Twitter activists would probably claim she got a pass because of her skin color.
Protesters harassing cops for intervening after vandalism. https://t.co/FxO2Tg0rVw
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) August 12, 2019
Unfortunately, the cops were in a tough spot. By not intervening, the vandalism could have gotten out of hand. The crowd was angry and needed a disincentive to continue their illegal behavior. And an arrest can have that impact.
I feel bad for the girl. I don’t like to see kids crying, nor do I like to see kids get arrested. I see her more as a victim of an upbringing that tells her the ends justify the means, even though she could have made the exact same impact that Friday without vandalizing property. And besides, we know she won’t be charged. If Seattle won’t send repeat criminals to jail, then it isn’t going to spend much time on a kid with spray paint. So this will be chalked up (pardon the pun) to a life lesson.
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And if you’re outraged by the arrest, instead of going after the cops, remind your kids that when you break the law, you risk going to jail. It’s a simple message that should get your kid to protest lawfully.
Update: According to the Seattle Police Department, two people were arrested in relation to the vandalism incident. A 25-year-old man was booked into jail. The 13-year-old girl was released to her parents.
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