Seattle redirected Christian group to stage event in Cal Anderson Park instead of Pike Place Market, then officials called them a hate group

The event, organized by Mayday USA, a Christian group, was originally intended to take place at Pike Place Market. However, documentation provided by Pastor Russell Johnson revealed that city authorities redirected organizers to Cal Anderson Park—a politically charged location known for its role in the 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) and situated in a heavy LGBTQ+ and activist neighborhood.

Tensions erupted early Saturday afternoon when members of Antifa and other left-wing activists arrived to protest the event, accusing Mayday USA of promoting “fascist family values” and intentionally provoking a reaction in the heart of an LGBTQ+ stronghold. Demonstrators affiliated with Radical Women Seattle and the Freedom Socialist Party joined the counter-protest, waving signs that read “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies” and chanting slogans condemning the Christian group.

According to Seattle Police, violence broke out around 1:30 pm, before the rally's official start. Officers reported that Antifa activists began throwing objects at the Mayday USA group, prompting police intervention. Clashes led to 23 arrests—22 adults and one juvenile—for assault and obstruction. The arrested individuals are currently under investigation by King County prosecutors. Mayday USA has stated that none of their members were involved in any violent behavior or taken into custody.

Ross Johnston, co-leader of Mayday USA, voiced frustration over the city’s handling of the event location. He told KOMO News, “If you want us to go there, we will absolutely go there, but it’s just interesting how the mayor has come out against us, against Christians, and has no ounce of support for us.”

Jenny Donnelley, another organizer, emphasized their commitment to peaceful expression and told the outlet, “To say that we attacked people or attacked someone’s viewpoint is completely bogus. We have the freedom of speech... violence is totally uncalled for and not one person from our movement was violent.”

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. SPOG described the situation as “Seattle’s public safety political reality,” citing low police morale, an ongoing staffing crisis, and historical inaction during previous protests. The guild also questioned why the city authorized Cal Anderson Park—known informally as "Antifa land"—as the event site.

“Over 700 police officers have fled this city in the past decade,” the 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.”

Socialist Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck was spotted in the crowd of far-left activists, as well as the former head of the King County Regional Homeless Authority, Marc Dones. In a statement, Rinck blamed the violence on the Seattle Police Department and the “city’s permitting process,” which she claimed “may have played a role in this unnecessary trauma.” She also called the Christians a “hate group.”

Socialist WA Rep Shaun Scott (D- Seattle) further stoked division by writing on X, "We should celebrate Capitol Hill counterprotestors who aren’t letting anti-trans extremists into Washington’s historic stronghold of LGBTQ life without a fight, and are standing up to unaccountable police in the process. Hate has no place in the 43rd Legislative District."

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell's response sparked further backlash. Rather than condemning the violence directly, Harrell criticized the Christian rally itself, calling it “a far-right rally” intended to provoke by promoting values opposed to the city’s. He did, however, acknowledge that “anarchists” infiltrated the counter-protest and incited violence. Harrell announced that the Seattle Parks Department would conduct a review of the permit process to assess whether a different location could have prevented the conflict.

Harrell’s comments drew fire from Christian leaders and conservatives. Pastor Russell Johnson of Pursuit Church, a participating group, accused the mayor of victim-blaming. “The Mayor of Seattle owes Christians in WA State an apology,” Johnson said. “Church people were assaulted. Cops were hospitalized. And the mayor has the audacity to blame Christians for the violence.”

Johnson also pointed to what he called a pattern of selective enforcement by the city. “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.”

Critics further cited the mayor's silence on other recent events, including violent pro-Hamas protests by the student group SUPER UW at the University of Washington. The occupation caused over $1 million in damage, yet the mayor has remained publicly silent.

Assistant US Attorney for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon took notice of the mayor's comments and posted on X, "To deny a group a permit to pray in a public space because of crowd reaction is the classic heckler’s veto, which is barred by the First Amendment. Seattle’s Mayor clearly needs an education in viewpoint discrimination."