Police throw flash bangs, say officers injured by rocks, bottles
Jun 6, 2020, 8:24 AM | Updated: 11:47 pm
Protesters and police at 11th and Pine in Capitol Hill. (Trooper Rick Johnson, Twitter)
(Trooper Rick Johnson, Twitter)
Protests were peaceful across Seattle and the Puget Sound area on Saturday until an incident on Capitol Hill early in the evening. Police told Q-13 that six officers were injured and two were taken to the hospital after people threw rocks, bottles, and explosives at them. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best says they’re reviewing the incident.
See moment-by-moment accounts of Friday’s protests here
Thousands gathered at City Hall in downtown Seattle Saturday morning for a protest led by local medical workers, and began at Harborview. Crowds gathered throughout the city’s downtown core and Capitol Hill. Others marched through Shoreline and along Sand Point Way to U-Village.
Follow live updates Saturday:
11:30pm – Police backed away from the barricade on Capitol Hill. Bright lights shine toward the demonstration at 11th and Pine.
11:14pm – Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay, State Senator Joe Nguyen, and State Rep. Nicole Macri showed up at the demonstration at 11th and Pine Saturday night after a protesters tweeted at politicians.
To stand in solidarity, @GirmayZahilay @votenicolemacri @meetjoenguyen & I are here with the thousands of #BlackLivesMattters protesters. On the front lines. Everyone is peaceful, not pushing, kind, & chanting “I don’t see no riot here, take off your riot gear.” https://t.co/XZ8oB8mb3k pic.twitter.com/kEn4ld9X7x
— Teresa Mosqueda (@TeresaCMosqueda) June 7, 2020
Thank you for showing up on the front line @GirmayZahilay @votenicolemacri @CMTMosqueda @meetjoenguyen! https://t.co/R3Y7kCzDmS
— 43rd District Dems (@43rdDems) June 7, 2020
10:48pm – Seattle Police say six officers were hurt around 7:30 pm Saturday when people threw rocks, bottles, and explosives at officers. Two officers were taken to the hospital. Protesters say tear gas was thrown at them, but Best said it was an OC canister. She said demonstrators near the East Precinct began moving barricades.
10:19pm – The scene at 11th and Pine where protesters and police are facing each other — with National Guard nearby — is relatively peaceful compared to about three hours ago, but witnesses report the feeling is tense.
9:51pm – Demonstrators in the March for Charleena Lyles are heading back towards the Magnuson Park area. NE 45th St and Union Bay Place is back open, according to Seattle DOT.
UPDATE: U District: Demonstrators moving east on NE 45th St at Union Bay Pl blocking EB & WB lanes. #laurehurst #udistrict pic.twitter.com/qqZg24uvPr
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 7, 2020
9:37pm – Police are now shining bright lights toward protesters at 11th and Pine.
9:34pm – Demonstrators at U-Village say the National Guard arrived. The crowd is dispersing back towards Magnuson Park.
9:24pm – Chief Best told media that they’re investigating incidents at 11th and Pine Saturday night. She said demonstrators near the East Precinct began moving barricades. Others started throwing rocks, bottles, and explosives at officers. Best said officers deployed pepper spray and blast balls.
Best told KIRO TV two officers were taken to the hospital.
9:12pm – Hundreds of demonstrators in the March for Charleena Lyles previously at Magnuson Park have arrived to U-Village in Seattle.
The Magnuson Park protesters have now reached U Village and are filling the parking lot. #UDistrict #Seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/2ioB9MrShL
— Nicole Jennings (@nicoleKIROFM) June 7, 2020
9:02pm – Demonstrators near U-Village are moving west on NE 45th.
UPDATE: Demonstrators moving west from NE 45th St at Union Bay Pl NE. Use caution travelling in the U district area and expect delays. pic.twitter.com/O0zXucXd4Y
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 7, 2020
Demonstration on NE 45th St and Union Bay Pl NE moving west on NE 45th St. Use other routes. pic.twitter.com/jM1nrhPn63
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 7, 2020
8:51pm – Seattle Police say demonstrators near the East Precinct on Capitol Hill began moving barricades. Others started throwing rocks, bottles, and explosives at officers. SPD says several officers were injured. They did not tweet about their response. Flash bangs were heard. There were reports of tear gas, but that has not been confirmed. Mayor Durkan and Chief Best announced an immediate 30-day ban on tear gas yesterday.
At about 7:30 p.m. demonstrators outside the East Precinct began moving barricades at 11th and Pine despite multiple requests from police to stop. Individuals began throwing rocks/bottles/and explosives at officers. Several officers injured due to improvised explosives. pic.twitter.com/cbW6hWhIvy
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 7, 2020
8:39pm – After police deployed flash bangs, the scene at 11th and Pine appears to have returned to a relative calm. There have been reports of tear gas, but Mayor Durkan and Chief Best announced a 30-day ban on tear gas on Friday. It’s unclear if it was pepper spray.
8:38pm – Protesters at Magnuson Park are nearing Sand Point Way.
Cyclists blocking the southbound lanes of Sand Point Way to clear the road for protesters. pic.twitter.com/1EQJH0a1xL
— Nicole Jennings (@nicoleKIROFM) June 7, 2020
8:18pm – Hundreds of protesters are at Magnuson Park in Seattle.
Rally for Black Lives happening now at #MagnusonPark. #Seattleprotest #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/e3k7RTAc7I
— Nicole Jennings (@nicoleKIROFM) June 7, 2020
7:47pm – Police have set off flash bangs and ordered crowds in Capitol Hill at 11th and Pine to disperse. Officers are citing a “violent act from the crowd” as the inciting incident.
7:26pm – Roughly 500 people are in Magnuson Park right now for the Charleena Lyles rally. The crowd reportedly plans to march to University Village.
6:53pm – Protesters are beginning to gather at Magnuson Park, rallying in honor of Charleena Lyles. A large crowd remains at 11th and Pine as well.
6:01pm – I-5 has been reopened at Mercer. Protesters continue to gather at the 11th and Pine barricade near the East Precinct in Seattle.
5:29pm – Protesters in the U-District have been spotted blocking the intersection of Northwest 45th Street and University Way Northwest.
UPDATE: Demonstrators at U District blocking the intersection of NE 45th St at University Way NE. Use other routes. pic.twitter.com/lXfKce6OLo
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 7, 2020
4:48pm – Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County called for a statewide march and general strike in a Saturday press conference.
BLM Seattle-King County made the announcement in a press conference, calling for marches in Seattle and across Washington on June 12.
Marches and protests in the state up until now had not been organized or sanctioned by either of two groups in the region operating under the “Black Lives Matter” moniker. Read more.
4:28pm – MyEverettNews.com reports roughly 900 demonstrators protesting in Everett, assembled in front of City Hall shortly after 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, a crowd of hundreds is once again gathered at the 11th and Pine intersection in Seattle near the East Precinct.
Huge crowds are gathered outside the east precinct police station in Seattle's Capitol Hill. https://t.co/TiqdAvrexS
— KIRO Newsdesk (@KIRONewsdesk) June 6, 2020
3:56pm – Downtown Seattle protesters are moving east on Pine at 9th Avenue toward Capitol Hill.
UPDATE: Demonstrators are moving east on Pine St at 9th Ave towards Capitol Hill. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/jZ1tPebm5x
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
3:38pm – The West Seattle protest at the Alaska Junction has concluded.
3:11pm – Protesters in downtown Seattle are moving toward Westlake Center.
3:00pm – A large crowd is gathered for a protest in Shoreline, with Councilmember Chris Roberts calling it the biggest crowd he’s ever seen in the city at a non-sporting event.
Possibly the largest crowd ever for an non-sporting event in Shoreline.
— Christopher Roberts (@ElectRoberts) June 6, 2020
2:53pm – Both northbound and southbound I-5 to Mercer are being closed due to ongoing protests near Seattle Center.
#TrafficAllert. Both NB and SB I-5 to Mercer are being closed due to protest.
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) June 6, 2020
2:24pm – Protesters are beginning to gather under the Space Needle in Seattle.
2:11pm – Protesters previously in downtown Seattle have now Boren and Pike, and are continuing northbound.
UPDATE: Demonstrators have reached Boren Ave at Pine St and are headed NB. Use other routes. pic.twitter.com/qpKHRhnFVo
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
1:55pm – Speakers are addressing the crowd at a West Seattle Protest at Easy Street Records.
Many signs. Now a speaker talks about West Seattle – calling out neighborhoods to represent. Delridge Way, baby! yells some guy. pic.twitter.com/fIiieVpI0T
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 6, 2020
1:32pm – Protesters are currently blocking the intersection of California Avenue Southwest and and Southwest Alaska Street, lying down on the ground in honor of George Floyd.
There is also a group of demonstrators at California Ave SW and SW Alaska St blocking the intersection. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/YtqKgusPUG
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
1:05pm – Saturday’s West Seattle protest has begun, and is moving southbound on California Avenue Southwest at Southwest Admiral Way.
UPDATE: Demonstrators on California Ave SW at SW Admiral way moving SB, use other routes. Use caution #westseattle for additional peds on the roads. pic.twitter.com/KraL6byqCU
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
12:37pm – Councilmember Kshama Sawant put out a blog post Saturday calling on Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign.
“Jenny Durkan has failed the working people of Seattle since day one of her administration,” Sawant said. “She has now abused her power, and harmed thousands of ordinary people on the streets – all in defense of big business and the status quo of racism and inequality.”
Sawant also threatened to introduce articles of impeachment in City Council if Durkan doesn’t step down.
12:21pm – Optimism Brewing in Capitol Hill is again allowing protesters to use its bathrooms and charging stations, as well as its beer garden.
Our bathrooms, charging stations & beer garden are open for protestors today starting NOW! We'll likely be here for you until 9pm again.
It's been great to see everyone's faces again. Keep up the good fight. No beer for sale. #seattleprotest #seattleprotests #seattleprotestcomms pic.twitter.com/f74ZJkxe0P
— Optimism Brewing Co. (@OptimismBrewing) June 6, 2020
12:18pm – Protesters were last reported headed north on Pike Street. A vigil for members of the black community killed by police also began at noon at Cal Anderson Park.
Demonstrators are headed NB on Pike St. Currently located at Terry Ave and Pike St. pic.twitter.com/AJdXfZDspu
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
11:35am – Demonstrators are now beginning to disperse. According to SDOT, “a majority” are now headed northbound on 4th Avenue. Others are moving eastbound on Madison and Cherry Street.
Demonstrators are dispersing throughout the city with a majority heading NB on 4th Ave. The rest of the group is headed EB on Madison St and Cherry St. pic.twitter.com/wD9mHzNor6
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
11:13am – Protesters are now gathered near City Hall in downtown Seattle.
10:41am – Demonstrators now span James and Cherry Street from 4th Avenue to 6th Avenue.
Demonstrators are blocking James St and Cherry St from 4th ave to 6th Ave. pic.twitter.com/5CxCt2Ag3t
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
10:01am – Medical worker protesters who started marching from Harborview Medical Center are blocking all lanes of James Street from 4th to 9th Avenue.
Demonstrators are blocking all WB/EB lanes of James St from 4th Ave to 9th Ave and all corresponding NB and SB lanes in between. pic.twitter.com/cy8IJcOvOg
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) June 6, 2020
