EXCLUSIVE: Seattle mayor's staff coordinated with local faith leaders to brand Christian rally as 'extreme'—all while mayor out of town

Newly released internal emails reveal that Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s staff deliberately framed a Christian-led rally at Cal Anderson Park as an “extreme right-wing” event while working behind the scenes to control public messaging, highlight community disruption, and enlist local faith leaders to bolster the city’s position.

Internal emails obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI illustrate a deliberate strategy from the mayor’s staff to politically isolate Christian organizers by labeling them “extreme right-wing,” during a rally held in May. The mayor’s staff appeared to downplay the role of Antifa agitators, enlisted local clergy to reinforce the city’s messaging, and emphasized disruption to justify intervention. All while the Mayor was out of town, leaving staff and acting leadership to run the city’s response. 

The result was a city-led narrative that framed the rally as extremist, disruptive, and rejected by faith leaders, even as Christian pastors accused Seattle’s leaders of scapegoating victims and caving to Antifa violence.

Key figures visible in the internal emails included:
 

• Jamie Housen – Communications Director, who pushed the official statement to the media.

• Natalie Walton-Anderson – Policy Advisor, providing real-time operational updates from SPD.

• Tiffany Washington – Deputy Mayor, looped in on talking points and faith outreach.

• Greg Wong – City Attorney liaison, coordinating communications.

• Callie Craighead – Digital Media Manager, formatting and posting the statements.

• Karissa Braxton – Staffer tasked with contacting clergy for supportive statements.

With Harrell away, these staffers, not the mayor himself, appeared to be effectively running the city’s crisis response. Harrell and Nelson were not seen weighing in on the statements in emails obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI. The mayor’s office has not returned requests for comment at the time of publication.

The Mayor’s staff also coordinated with local clergy to issue statements condemning the Christian rally and affirming LGBTQ+ solidarity:

• Pastor Carey Anderson (First A.M.E. Church): Praised Harrell and denounced those who “weaponize Christianity.”

• Rev. Reginald Avant (Madrona Grace Presbyterian Church): Condemned “actions of hate by a misguided group of believers.”

• Rabbi Will Berkovitz (Jewish Family Service): Said hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ residents was not God’s message.

• Rev. Alex Booker (Queen Anne Baptist Church): Affirmed LGBTQIA+ inclusion, rejecting “hate masquerading as Christian values.”

• Additional support came from Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown, Rev. Dr. Victoria Carr-Ware, Rev. Dr. Patricia Hunter, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, Rev. Dr. Leslie Braxton, and Rabbi Daniel Weiner, all reinforcing the city’s position.

Emails confirm staff drafted and distributed clergy quotes to strengthen the administration’s narrative.

Harrell’s statement drew fire from Christian leaders and conservatives. Pastor Russell Johnson of Pursuit Church NW, which participated in the rally, accused the mayor of “victim-blaming.”

“The Mayor of Seattle owes Christians in WA State an apology. Church people were assaulted. Cops were hospitalized. And the mayor has the audacity to blame Christians for the violence.”

Johnson also accused the city of selective enforcement. “Antifa gets a free pass from him. I guess pulling guns on pregnant women isn’t enough for Mayor Harrell. He’s now got to blame Christians for a city that he has let go to hell.”

The May 25, 2025, rally was organized by Mayday USA, a Christian group. According to documentation provided by Pastor Russell Johnson, the event was originally intended to take place at Pike Place Market.

City authorities, however, redirected organizers to Cal Anderson Park, a politically charged site known for its role in the 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) and situated in one of Seattle’s most heavily LGBTQ+ and activist neighborhoods.

The relocation immediately made the rally a flashpoint. Members of Antifa and other left-wing activists accused Mayday USA of promoting “fascist family values” and intentionally provoking a reaction in the heart of an LGBTQ+ stronghold. Counter-demonstrators included Radical Women Seattle and the Freedom Socialist Party, who waved signs reading, “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies” and chanted slogans condemning the Christian group.

Seattle Police reported that violence broke out around 1:30 pm, before the rally’s official start. Officers said Antifa activists began throwing objects at the Mayday USA group, prompting SPD to intervene. Clashes escalated, leading to 23 arrests, 22 adults and one juvenile, on charges of assault and obstruction. All cases are under review by King County prosecutors.

Mayday USA at the time emphasized that none of its members were arrested or involved in the violent behavior.

In a strongly worded press release, the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) condemned city leadership, accusing officials of politicizing public safety and failing to act against recurring violence from Antifa factions. The union blasted city leadership for placing the rally at Cal Anderson Park, which SPOG described as “Antifa land,” and warned that officers were once again thrown into a political trap.

“Over 700 police officers have fled this city in the past decade,” SPOG’s statement read. “We were once again ordered to put ourselves into a political quagmire... The city lacks the political will to allow police to use the necessary tools to hold back criminal mobs to protect life and property.”

Despite the violence targeting Mayday USA, the Mayor’s Office issued a statement titled: “Mayor Harrell Statement on Extreme Right-Wing Rally at Cal Anderson Park.”

By embedding “extreme right-wing” directly into the headline and web address of the Mayor’s blog post, the administration ensured the rally would be politically branded from the outset. Staff confirmed they shared this language directly with left-leaning outlets such as The Stranger, Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, The Seattle Times, and local TV stations.

According to records obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Mayor Bruce Harrell was not even in Seattle during the rally.

From May 23, 2025, at 5:00 pm through May 26, 2025, at 3:00 pm, Harrell was out of town. During that time, Council President Sara Nelson served as Mayor Pro Tem. Sara Nelson is not mentioned anywhere in the emails or statements that were released, meaning statements issued in Harrell’s name as well as the messaging strategy around the rally, were likely being crafted and approved by his senior staff and acting city leadership.