BREAKING: FBI opens investigation into targeted violence against Christians in Seattle
“Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.”
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“Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.”
Dan Bongino of the FBI announced on Tuesday that the agency has opened an investigation into "allegations of targetd violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert." This follows an incident on Sunday in which Mayday USA, a Christian group, held a permitted concert in Cal Anderson Park which drew Antifa counter-protesters who then attacked the Christians.
Following the attack, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell condemned the Christian group who was attacked, claiming that they were "far-right" and had no business holding an event in the park due to its proximity to the locus of the LGBTQ+ community. 23 arrests were made among the militants who showed up to harass the Christian event.
"We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion," Bongino said.
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View on X“Today’s far-right rally was held here for this very reason – to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood,” Harrell said following the event on Saturday.
"When the humanity of trans people and those who have been historically marginalized is questioned, we triumph by demonstrating our values through our words and peaceful protest – we lose our voice when this is disrupted by violence, chaos, and confusion," Harrell went on.
This led to calls for Harrell's resignation and those calls turned into a protest on Tuesday where the Christian group protested Harrell and more Antifa and trans activists showed up to protest the Christians.
It was later revealed that, despite Harrell's protestations against the Christian group and his complaints over the location of their event, city officials had previously suggested that the event happen in the park. Event organizers had suggested Pike Street, the location of the iconic Pike Place Market, but an official said that "other Seattle Parks locations" should be considered, including Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill where the event did go forward.
Harrell's condemnation of the event said that the location was a deliberate affront to the "LGBTQ+ communities" and "trans neighbors," but it was actually not the group's first choice, but the location to which they were directed by Harrell's own administration.
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