A far-right Christian rally in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park—a space beloved and defended by the city’s queer community ended in violence, with 23 people arrested following heated clashes. The rally, part of Spokane-based Mayday USA’s #DontMessWithOurKids tour, drew immediate outrage for its anti-trans and anti-abortion messaging.
LGBTQ advocates gathered in force for a counterprotest, defending trans youth and reproductive rights with chants, signs, music, and dancing. But things took a turn. Seattle police say they responded around 1:30 p.m. after seeing objects being thrown. According to their official report, officers were assaulted while making arrests, prompting them to use pepper spray. Twenty-two adults were arrested for assault and obstruction, along with one juvenile. One officer was hospitalized and later released.
State troopers were called in to help. Capitol Hill Seattle reported that tensions escalated after bike officers pushed into the crowd using bicycles and batons. Protesters say police escalated a peaceful demonstration aimed at rejecting what they saw as an attack on queer public space. Nearby, the Mayday rally featured speeches against gender-affirming care and chanted Christian prayers.
A donation bucket was also passed among attendees. Mayor Bruce Harrell said the rally was “to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs inherently opposed to our city’s values.” He claimed that anarchists infiltrated the counterprotest and announced investigations into the city’s permitting and police response. Harrell emphasized Seattle’s commitment to its queer residents.
