Seattle police brace for thousands of May Day protesters
Apr 28, 2015, 8:24 AM | Updated: 10:11 am
Police expect three events on May 1, one is organized by anti-capitalist anarchist that will begin on Capitol Hill. (AP)
(AP)
Seattle’s police are bracing for what has become an annual day of crowds and tension in downtown Seattle.
The annual May Day march is this Friday, attracting thousands to downtown Seattle. But other events have been planned to coincide with the marches. Some have resulted in property damage in the past and police are anticipating the proper moments to intervene.
“It’s the minute they start moving into violence of action, or serious property damage,” Captain Chris Fowler told KING 5.
Fowler is in charge of police response during the protests. He said that last year’s response was better than in previous years, and he hopes that this year will go smoothly. Seattle police will be present at the marches on bicycles and in plain clothes.
“It doesn’t matter what ideology they have,” Fowler said. “We have to take action to protect the other protestors, the other citizens and the officers.”
Three May Day events are scheduled for Friday, including a Black Lives Matter event and the May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights. A third protest is planned by anti-capitalist anarchists to begin on Capitol Hill.
The largest of the marches, for workers and immigrant rights, will begin at St. Mary’s Church and end at the federal courthouse. It will be the 14th year of the march.
To handle the crowds, Seattle’s police are watching other protests nationally, to better their own response. No Seattle police officers are being allowed to take the day off on May 1.
The day of May 1 has attracted peaceful protests as well as violent outburst in the past in downtown Seattle. Widespread property damage was seen throughout downtown in 2013.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
