Seattle’s growing public safety crisis deepened Saturday as counterprotesters—labeled “anarchists” by the mayor—shut down a religious rally at Cal Anderson Park, overshadowing new data showing modest progress in rebuilding the city’s depleted police force.
The rally, organized by On Fire Ministries and focused on the “#dontmesswithourkids” movement against transgender ideologies, was interrupted by left-wing activists in Capitol Hill, a neighborhood known for its LGBTQ activism and its role in the 2020 Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.
The Seattle Police Department arrested 23 individuals after violence erupted at the event. Organizers, including Russell Johnson, claim they were steered to Cal Anderson Park by Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office, despite their preference for Victor Steinbrueck Park. Harrell later denounced the rally as “far-right,” claiming it was held to provoke, a characterization that religious leaders say amounts to religious bigotry.
The controversy comes as the Seattle Police Department (SPD) presented new hiring data to the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, revealing 12 more hires and seven fewer separations than projected from January through March. SPD estimates it could hire as many as 76 new officers, but current funding only supports a fraction of that goal, leaving the department under-resourced as staffing continues to lag behind pre-2020 levels. Over 300 officers have left SPD since 2020, and the police guild warns that Saturday’s violence could fuel another “Summer of Violence” like the 2020 riots.
The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild condemned the city’s leadership for allowing anarchists and violent agitators to dictate public safety policy, accusing officials of undermining the department’s efforts to protect the city. With 284 officers eligible for retirement, the department faces a potential mass exodus if political leaders continue to enable lawlessness.
Pursuit Northwest has announced a “Rattle in Seattle” rally at City Hall on Tuesday to protest what it calls the city’s anti-Christian bias and the suppression of religious freedom. As tensions rise, the city’s leadership remains under fire for its failure to maintain order, protect constitutional rights, and support the men and women of law enforcement.
