Christian group sues Seattle over 1A violations, Antifa violence at rally

A Christian group behind a nationwide religious revival tour has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Seattle, Mayor Bruce Harrell, and Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, alleging that city officials violated their First Amendment rights by denying them a downtown permit and forcing them into an unsafe location that ultimately led to the shutdown of their event when it was attacked by Antifa.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Mayday USA, spans more than 45 pages and claims that the city’s decision to deny their original permit along Pike Street was rooted in bias against their religious beliefs. According to court filings, the group applied on February 6 to hold their rally between 1st and 2nd Avenues, the same location they had successfully held a similar worship event the previous year.

But in mid-March, the city officially denied the permit, citing space and safety concerns.

City officials suggested that Mayday relocate to a park, naming Cal Anderson Park, Westlake Park, or South Lake Union Park as alternatives. In April, the group reluctantly accepted Cal Anderson Park, a site long associated with Antifa and left-wing activism, and the epicenter of the 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) occupation.

Mayday’s lawsuit details how counter-protesters and Antifa activists intentionally targeted the Cal Anderson event. One female protester allegedly stripped to thong underwear and twerked in front of children receiving free haircuts, while cursing at event staff and minors.

Other agitators reportedly destroyed stage equipment, ripping down banners and knocking over sound gear. Protesters wearing Kevlar vests and gas masks surrounded children’s areas while carrying gas canisters, creating an atmosphere of intimidation.

Seattle Police ultimately ordered Mayday to shut down the rally early due to escalating violence, effectively silencing the group for the rest of the afternoon.

The lawsuit also targets Mayor Bruce Harrell’s public statements, which described the event as a “far-right rally” held “to provoke a reaction” in the heart of Seattle’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Plaintiffs argue that Harrell’s comments, paired with the city’s permitting decisions, show intentional discrimination against their beliefs.

“Mayor Harrell’s press release, combined with his own hostile and unconstitutionally discriminatory statements, was designed to demonstrate that the City was permitted to shut down Plaintiffs’ speech and silence their views because they are inherently opposed to our city’s values.”

The lawsuit claims Harrell further sought to undermine the group’s reputation by enlisting local clergy to publicly criticize Mayday’s beliefs.

The lawsuit claims that these disruptions violated Mayday’s First Amendment rights to free speech, free exercise of religion, and peaceable assembly. It also accuses Mayor Harrell of targeting the group in public statements, including one labeling the rally as a “far-right” event intended to provoke a reaction in Seattle’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood.

The suit lists five counts against the city, Harrell, and Chief Barnes: violations of the Free Speech Clause, Peaceable Assembly Clause, Free Exercise Clause, Establishment Clause, and Equal Protection Clause. Plaintiffs are seeking changes to city permitting ordinances and assurance that public streets, such as Pike Street, remain open for all groups regardless of belief.