Police declare riot at Seattle protests, make arrests

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


Updated 1:08 am CDT, Sunday, July 26, 2020

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle police declared a riot Saturday following large demonstrations in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood and deployed flash bangs and pepper spray to try to clear an area near where weeks earlier people had set up an “occupied protest zone” that stretched for several blocks.

Authorities said rocks, bottles, fireworks and mortars were thrown at officers as they attempted to clear the area over the course of several hours stretching into Saturday night.

Via Twitter, police said they arrested at least 45 people for assaults on officers, obstruction and failure to disperse. Twenty-one officers were left with mostly minor injuries.

Earlier, protesters in Seattle broke through a fence where a youth detention facility was being built, with some people setting a fire and damaging a portable trailer, authorities said.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Police-declare-riot-at-Seattle-protests-make-15434752.php

[ananda]

1. I wonder why Seattle is not ...

more like Portland.

This is the kind of violence Trump wants
so he can advance his agenda..

[dustyscamp]

4. It's red meat for Trump's base

[ananda]

7. I know.

This worries me.

[stillcool]

11. who is perpetrating the violence?

I don't know why people assume, when there is so much evidence to the contrary, that white supremacists have no part in the violence. It's not enough to have it on video, or have the police reports...it's like covid, and voting,...numbers don't count.

[progressive nobody]

2. Hmm, is this a way to get the paramilitary group into Seattle?

I think we know the answer. At least my thinking.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. That group is already there and part of the reason for declaring a riot.

City police have limits on what they can do, including limits on use of tear gas.
Unless they are facing "rioters".
Thus calling a protest a riot lets them use tear gas.

Also, they have to follow ( theoretically) certain steps when arresting people. Miranda, police name, badge number, etc.

Except that now they are also working with Trump's Storm Troopers made up of quite a few Federal police type agencies.
Those troops do not have to follow arrest procedures. They have no rules, basically. And that supercedes local police rules
when they work together. Sadly, in many of the protest cities, the cops are happy to join up with Fed. goons.
which of course is the reason people are marching against the police in the first place.

Good news is local and Fed. level troops are really screwing up, then lying about it, then getting caught lying about it,
and now a lot of lawsuits have been filed.

[Maxheader]

3. Worked there for boeing..

Actually in Renton...lived in Bellevue. Went into Seattle quite a bit. Pikes fish market

was extraordinary.! Probably will be again...And the crowd? As diverse as any...no

tension. I think there are a lot of places in this country , where people felt comfortable ,

safe being around each other...One of the worst times in our history...perpetuated by

the gop...

[Chainfire]

5. I wonder if assaults on officers

means something to the effect that the "rioters" were hitting police, in their knuckles, with the protesters faces.

[maxrandb]

8. The protesters were throwing "Mortars" at the police?

Umm, I don't think Mortars are "thrown" and I also think that if civilians actually have Mortars, we've got serious issues with the right to bare arms.

[LudwigPastorius]

9. Large fireworks...

dangerous in themselves, but using the word "mortars" makes it sound more like a military response is required.

?t=27

[manicdem]

10. Large fireworks

They're probably referring to M80's and other large fireworks. Those are very dangerous and can blow off body parts. Many fingers and hands have been blown off by people using them recreationally. Probably more powerful stuff out there nowadays.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. Portland news reported "commercial grade" fireworks.

It needs to be emphasized that the violence is being done by radical left groups, that most of the protestors are just marching and gathering, that there are kids in the group.

[Calista241]

13. They are technically mortars.

Anything launched down a tube with an explosive charge, whether a military shell, or a pyrotechnic device, like a firework is classified as a mortar. They're even labeled 'mortars' by the manufacturers.

Fireworks propelled out of a tube are highly dangerous. They are explosive, can burn at over 2000 degrees, and can be designed to burn for a period of time. This is what exploded on camera when rioters tried to storm CNN center a few weeks ago. In an enclosed area like that, fireworks can cause significant hearing damage, severe burns, any many other ailments.

[Calista241]

15. It needs to be emphasized that if you're tearing down a fence, trying to burn down a gov't property,

deploy a shield wall, or have fireworks, firearms, and other agitating devices, you're a rioter and need to be disowned by our movement.

[Marthe48]

16. Well said

There are people protesting police brutality. And there are rioters. And probably some wingnuts hoping to destroy the protesters support by staging violence.