Over Memorial Day weekend, an anti-trans group calling itself Mayday USA decided to host an event—called “Don’t Mess with Our Kids”—in Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, where they offered free haircuts to kids. The park is named after Washington State’s first openly gay state representative, Calvin Bruce Anderson. It was no doubt chosen for that reason, and when counter-protesters showed up, they were met with a heavy police presence.
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Chaos ensued when a barricade was knocked over and police officers started attacking peaceful protestors indiscriminately, tackling people to the ground and pepper-spraying them. A total of 23 people were arrested. TERFs purposefully chose a park named after a gay politician to provoke the community and somehow got the protection of the Seattle Police Department, while counter-protesters who were simply holding signs ended up getting attacked.
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Even worse, random citizens who had nothing to do with the protest were attacked by officers simply for being in the area, such as a man who was walking to a hair appointment in Capitol Hill.
You might think this is where the story ends, but it gets worse.
Mayor Bruce Harrell issued a statement in which he refused to acknowledge any fault on the SPD’s part while praising those who didn’t resort to violence. Which is honestly…a response, but expected considering one of his main criticisms concerns increased police spending.
Despite trying to appease everyone, MayDay USA took offense to Mayor Harrell calling it what it is—a “far-right rally” held at Cal Anderson Park—held “to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values.”
MayDay USA took to the steps of the city capitol on May 27th to call on Mayor Harrell to apologize and retract his statement or resign. In a disappointing display, they were also protected by police from counter-protesters who set up barricades while the group threw their little tantrum. The fact that a hate group has far more privileges and rights than the trans and queer people being beaten on by officers while still crying about being treated unfairly is beyond irritating.
We can also see from the citizen footage that cops allowed Mayday USA members into the thick of where the protesters were.
Fortunately, the group eventually packed up and left, but the whole situation was chaotic, and I struggled to find a way to fit all the details into this short piece. The events have sparked a conversation about the SPD’s practices and the need for reform.
Previously, a city councilman asked Seattle’s LGBTQ+ commission to let officers march at Pride in full uniform, but after the events of Memorial Day weekend, I think they should stay the hell away from Pride. Clearly, they think of us as second class citizens, so why should we hold them any higher?
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