SEATTLE, WA – Leave it to the city that brought the likes of CHOP/CHAZ to life earlier this summer to be the same city to host groups trying to have the Seattle Police held in contempt for having to use pepper spray during a declared riot on June 25th.
1/2 ACLU_WA files motion requesting federal judge in #BLMSKC v #Seattle crowd control weapons case hold @CityofSeattle in contempt, claims @SeattlePD violated injunction targeting peaceful protesters indiscriminately + medics, observers & press @KIRORadio #seattleprotestscomms pic.twitter.com/NMkTjEP9X8
— Hanna Scott (@HannaKIROFM) July 28, 2020
Of course, the groups are trying to point to contempt due to the June order by a judge that barred the use of chemical irritants during protests. However, in that same June order, the judge also stated that police can use teargas and pepper spray in the event of a riot in order to preserve life and protect the general public.
According to a motion filed on July 27th by the groups the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County and other activist entities, they allege that the SPD had fired blast balls and pepper spray into a crowd of people that were merely engaged in property destruction.
Furthermore, the SPD had declared the protest a riot, after businesses were vandalized, fires were started, and officers got injured by members of the riotous crowd.
Whether or not the motion will pick up any steam remains to be seen, because the court rulings regarding police intervention in riots have been all over the place lately in Washington state.
Here’s the background on the riot from July 25th that these groups are trying to get the SPD in trouble for.
After a protest-turned-riot wreaked havoc in the streets of Seattle, the assessment of the numbers of arrests and officers injured is showing 45 people taken into custody and at least 21 officers injured during the chaos that played out on July 25th.
Seattle protests: Several arrested, 21 officers hurt during Saturday demonstrations https://t.co/LSxzZOsPnG
— wake1up (@n2oneness) July 26, 2020
Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best addressed the press at 11:00 p.m. on the evening of the 25th to describe the events that played out during the riot. Among the 21 officers assaulted or injured during the riot, Chief Best stated that one officer was transported to the hospital for treatment after sustaining a wound from an incendiary device.
Most of the hurled projectiles and explosives took place at the intersection of 11th Avenue and East Pine Street, according to police. Reportedly five trailers were set on fire at a construction site during the mayhem, as stated by Chief Best.
The police chief also said the likes of cars getting spray painted, tires slashed, and even broken into took place alongside the officer assaults, arson and other acts of criminal damage.
Here’s Law Enforcement Today’s previous report as the madness was happening on July 25th.
Those “peaceful protesters” started early in Seattle on Saturday, with a riot being declared well before dark.
Around 1,000 people gathered at Seattle Central College in Capitol Hill near East Pine Street and Broadway to join in “solidarity” with the riots occurring in Portland.
ANOTHER TAKEN AWAY: More people detained. @komonews #Seattle #SeattleRiots #SeattlePolice #CapitolHill #Riots #Police pic.twitter.com/moDU0M7EPM
— Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) July 26, 2020
The group marched past the now famous Seattle Police East Precinct blocks from the school.
Part of the precinct is adorned with fresh damage from explosives. Police have reportedly used chemical agents to disperse the crowd, which only partially accomplished the goal.
MASSIVE GATHERING: Just eyeballing here, but gotta be close to a thousand people gathering on lawn of Seattle Central College at Pine and Broadway. Getting ready to march through #Seattle @komonews #seattleprotest #seattleprotests #CapitolHill #SeattlePolice #Police pic.twitter.com/q6ooF2TaZm
— Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) July 25, 2020
Perhaps this is because rioters have become quite organized, carrying gas masks with them.
At the time, police and rioters were at a standoff outside of the East Precinct. Several arrests have allegedly been made.
ANOTHER. @komonews #Seattle #SeattleRiots #SeattlePolice #CapitolHill #Riots #Police pic.twitter.com/ar1LuFIx0w
— Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) July 26, 2020
Additionally, part of the group made their way west to the King County Juvenile Detention Facility.
Local KOMO news reported:
“A demonstrator threw some sort of incendiary device into a window of a construction trailer at the site on East Jefferson Street and 12th Avenue, causing the trailer to catch on fire.”
The Seattle Fire Department reported that five trailers were set ablaze. The trailers were for the Detention Facility, which is currently under construction. To get to the trailers, rioters had to break through an erect fence.
Due to the ongoing damage and public safety risks associated with this incident, SPD is declaring it a riot.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 25, 2020
Protesters were heard shouting:
“No new youth jail!”
Additionally, groups of people were seen busting out windows to the Detention Facility, and the vehicles around it.
Reporters have shown the massive amount of garbage left behind by these progressive rioters.
WHAT A MESS: Debris, trash, water bottles. @komonews #Seattle #SeattleRiots #SeattlePolice #CapitolHill #Riots #Police pic.twitter.com/ghQrQD1r4d
— Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) July 26, 2020
Live footage from behind police lines shows chaos ensuing from rioters who are refusing to disperse. They can be seen throwing things at officers as well as busting out windows.
Chants can be heard, including:
“Hands up, don’t shoot,”
and:
“Nazi’s go home,”
and:
“You should be ashamed!”
So far there are reports of three officers injured, one taken to the hospital.
While the chaos reign here in Seattle, Mayor Jenny Durkan has spoken out. Not against the violence and destruction, mind you, but against President Trump bringing in federal agents to actually stop it. This, of course, after Durkan and the City Council has attempted to tie officers’ hands in doing so.
“I cannot overstate it enough, what is happening is frightening to me. It is frightening that you would use federal agents for political purposes.”
Durkan, along with other big-city mayors facing federal intervention, said that the President is “purposefully targeting Democratic cities.”
I have shifted up to Seattle today to follow a large demonstration that’s in solidarity with Portland.
I’d estimate a crowd of 2,000 already. They just torched construction buildings at the site of a new youth detention center.
Meanwhile, feds are here https://t.co/rPuSTAuKkt pic.twitter.com/jWvFqipRo4
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) July 25, 2020
It likely appears that way because Democrat-run cities are the only ones who are losing control.
Originally, the day of the riot was supposed to be the first day that Seattle Police were banned from using chemical agents. The ban was blocked, however, pending further review from a federal judge.
BREAKING: Seattle police have declared a riot and deployed flash-bang grenades on Capitol Hill where some protesters are clashing with police, while most remain peaceful. https://t.co/YlWjeUvGqc
— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) July 26, 2020
Prior to the riot starting on Saturday, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said:
“In the spirit of offering trust and full transparency, I want to advise you that SPD officers will be carrying pepper spray and blast balls today, as would be typical for events that carry potential to include violence.”
Check back for more updates from Law Enforcement Today.
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