‘Ignore them’: John Curley warns protesters to disregard Gas Works Park religious concert

A religious concert in Seattle has changed its location from Cal Anderson Park to Gas Works Park after a previous concert was met with protesters, resulting in several arrests.

KIRO host John Curley pointed his finger at the many ways groups can keep their relevance in the media through public controversy, highlighting that ignorance is bliss when it comes to a march through the city.

“I think they’re just instigating problems,” Curley said on “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “If you really oppose them and you don’t like what they talk about, the best thing you can do is to ignore them.”

Religious concert moved to Gas Works Park

The next religious gathering is scheduled for August 30, after the City of Seattle approved a permit that allows the group to congregate peacefully within the park.

“If you don’t like these people, completely ignore them,” Curley said. “If you go down there and scream, yell, throw stuff at them like they did before, mess around with the police and get arrested, that’s exactly what they want. They want you to get mad.”

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) reported 23 arrests at the previous religious gathering at Cal Anderson Park in May, and at least 30 people were detained.

“They want the media attention. If they came to Gas Works Park, had their rally, and no one showed up, this thing would go poof. It would be a failure for them,” Curley said.

The “Let Us Worship” group is continuing its “Revive in 2025” tour across the country. Other stops the religious group will make include Yakima, Montana, Texas, Idaho, Utah, and Canada.

“Don’t go there, because here’s what the news coverage would be on this, if you don’t show up and you don’t protest: silence. We wouldn’t cover it; there would be nothing there,” Curley said.

Immense public controversy sparked from the previous Let Us Worship gathering in May, leading to Mayor Harrell saying “anarchists” had infiltrated the counter-protest and incited violence.

The event plans to include a march through the streets from Cal Anderson Park toward Pike Place Market throughout the day, and later finish at Gas Works Park for a concert at 5 p.m.

“Oh my god, they’re going to march down the streets,” Curley said. “OK, well, then it won’t be silent like I predicted earlier; the police will be called out. They’re all going to be there. People will throw stuff at them.”

SPD said it will monitor the Gas Works Park event, and park gates will close at 10 p.m., consistent with new security measures implemented earlier this summer.

“It’s going to be the same old story, and again, they win if there’s any video of somebody being arrested,” Curley said.

Contributing: Luke Duecy, KIRO Newsradio

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.