*Original Live Blog Post – See Coverage Recap Below
This is my third May Day in Seattle, at least when it comes to covering it. My initiation came just two years ago. That was the year Seattle Police were underprepared – as they later admitted – and more things than usual got broken. As far as pageviews go, it was one of our bigger days online in a while. My assumption is other media outlets experienced a similar boost. It was a learning moment.
Since that day, from purely a hype perspective, the media-induced May Day circus has only grown.And why wouldn’t it? People eat this stuff up – at least as it’s too commonly sold. This morning, when I dropped my kids off at preschool, one of the teachers asked me if I was going to cover “the May Day crazies.” There’s already helicopter coverage of Westlake. My mother-in-law has come out against May Day violence on Facebook.
Seattle Weekly May Day Coverage Recap:
May Daze: A Recap In Two Divergent Acts By Kelton Sears
Kickin’ It with Kshama: A Walk from Judkins with Seattle’s Favorite Socialist By Tom James
Why We March: The Faces in the May Day Crowd By Morgen Schuler
The wheels, like a self-perpetuating fiasco, are already churning. May Day is bigger than us all now.
It’s kind of a bummer. And in so many ways the way the media covers May Day is to blame. It sucks that some asshole throwing a rock at Niketown will get more play than the legitimate concerns of those participating in today’s workers’ rights march. It’s a disservice that calls for comprehensive immigration reform, an end to inhumane treatment at private detention centers, and an increased minimum wage will likely get drowned out by the media’s infatuation with broken windows and graffiti. It’s depressing that this is what May Day has become, despite all the very legitimate reasons to take to the street in Seattle.
Predictable, sure, but depressing nonetheless.
Yesterday we had an editorial huddle to discuss our coverage. We had no choice. I’m sure every other news outlet had a similar meeting – probably much earlier than we did. May Day is a pre-scheduled spontaneous news event, and it will be milked for all its worth. When it comes to driving web traffic or garnering viewers, the separation is in the preparation, as Russell Wilson might say. May Day packaged as a “showdown” is a proven winner. Expect to see a lot of it. Hopefully we’ll be able to do something slightly different.
I’ll be updating this blog throughout the day and evening, as May Day festivities in Seattle play out. The annual May Day March for Worker and Immigrant Rights will take off from Judkins Park at 3pm. The anti-capitalist march and rally is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. at Seattle Central on Capitol Hill. We’ll be everywhere we can be.
And away we go …
UPDATE: Predictably, the media was in full hype mode this morning. And at a press conference downtown this afternoon, Seattle Police said the threats and rhetoric have increasted this year, which fueled the fire. Here’s a sampling:
Captain Fowler answers #SeaMayDay questions from the media and the public at Westlake Park. pic.twitter.com/sLELmRxVBm
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 1, 2014
RT @BrandiKruse: Media told at Westlake by @SeattlePD that they’ve heard more threats of direct action this yr than years before. #SeaMayDay
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels5) May 1, 2014
“There’s more rhetoric this year than we’ve seen in the last several years.” – SPD #seamayday press conference. Watch live now on KIRO 7
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) May 1, 2014
And here are some of the threats we’re seeing in conjunction with #SeaMayDay
pic.twitter.com/bwEiiMV9vF
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 1, 2014
KIRO 7 reporter @JeffDubois found this scene earlier today at Barrio (@HeavyRestaurant) this morning. #SeaMayDay
pic.twitter.com/APG23osA8D
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) May 1, 2014
One of the #SeaMayDay signs on a Cap Hill building (with a caption added). Watch team coverage today on @KIRO7Seattle
pic.twitter.com/1imV0a8dYk
— Casey McNerthney (@mcnerthney) May 1, 2014
UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: Seattle Weekly’s Tom James is at Judkins Park, where he says there are “two hundred people, maybe, and half that many cops and media.” Sounds about right, at least proportionately. The annual May Day March for Worker and Immigrant Rights, organized by El Comite, is scheduled to leave Judkins Park and head downtown around 3 p.m.
UPDATE 3:07 p.m.: The march has left Judkins Park. Here are some of our photos from the scene so far:
A lovely, sunny May Day at the playground pic.twitter.com/SozFb6Zb7M
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 1, 2014
Colorful May Day drums kicking off the procession pic.twitter.com/C61k3glV8B
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 1, 2014
UPDATE: SW: You guys having a good day so far? “Yea!”
May Day: coming soon to a downtown near you pic.twitter.com/ZY9yvbzpNS
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 1, 2014
“We were goin to the store to get dish soap when we saw all these cops & were like ‘what the hell is this? Awesome'” pic.twitter.com/yKGLUIQPpY
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 1, 2014
UPDATE 3:51 p.m.: According to our reporters on the scene, the crowd is in the low hundreds, and “feels smaller than last year.” No official crowd estimate is available. So far the message of the march has revolved around human rights, immigration reform and the minimum wage, though there has been very little mention of Mayor Murray’s minimum wage plan in organized speeches. Seattle Weekly’s Tom James says there’s a “fair police presence,” along with a lot of organized blocks of people – like unions, labor rights groups, etc. not to mention a lot of kids and parents.
Ohm Campbell, who’s participating in this afternoon’s march, tells Seattle Weekly he’s a Communist in Seattle on a trip up from California. “I’m more interested in supporting this one,” he says when asked whether he’ll also be involved in tonight’s anti-capitalist march. “Because I support immigration reform.”
UPDATE 4:19 p.m.:
The turnout stretches the entire length of a city block #MayDay2014
pic.twitter.com/XUyFXJLfdz
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 1, 2014
Meanwhile, much of the media remains focused on potential conflict (and a Starbucks closing early) …
.@ParellaLewis reports: Law enforcement deploy K9s to keep #SeaMayDay safe http://t.co/6TpKdWLicq
#Q13FOX
pic.twitter.com/uqkiIku3dP
— Q13 FOX News (@Q13FOX) May 1, 2014
Starbucks on Capital Hill closing two hours early tonight. #Q13Fox
#SeaMayDay
pic.twitter.com/ZxAGolybFQ
— Tina Patel (@tina_patel) May 1, 2014
SPD are already everywhere around Westlake Park for #SeaMayDay. Apparently, so are taggers. pic.twitter.com/vSr0AUBpic
— Gary Horcher (@GaryHorcher) May 1, 2014
Despite concerns @Uber_SEA drivers could be targets this #SeaMayDay – looks like plenty of drivers on streets #Q13FOX
pic.twitter.com/xxz8c5iYD9
— Travis Mayfield (@TravisMayfield) May 1, 2014
UPDATE 4:41 p.m.:
Seattle Weekly’s Morgen Schuler spoke with 29-year-old Leah, who says she’s marching today, “in solidarity with immigrant families and workers.””I think this struggle is something that effects us all, and should be meaningful to us all,” she says. “I don’t want to see families continue to be torn apart.”
UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: Seattle Weekly’s Tom James reports the march – which has “gotten bigger” – continues to head toward Westlake. James says “there are no obvious troublemakers,” as opposed to this time last year.
UPDATE:
#MayDay2014 procession entering 4th ave has nearly doubled in size since it started in Judkins Park
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 1, 2014
UPDATE 5:17 p.m.: Jordan, a 29-year-old chalk artist, says he’s currently between jobs but usually works in air conditioning repair. He came to May Day to learn more about the politics behind it. “Honestly, I don’t really know. I’ve never been to May Day,” Jordan says when asked why he’s at Westlake today. “I figured I’d come down and see it. Somebody told me there was a parade and kind of a party.”
UPDATE 5:29 p.m.:Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant has taken the stage at Westlake.
Kshama Sawant introduced as “the honorable Kshama Sawant!”
— Anna Minard (@minardanna) May 2, 2014
Now speaking: @cmkshama. “We need our own voices… To demand an end to deportations.” #SeaMayDay
pic.twitter.com/17WuNmKYoL
— Lindsay Cohen (@lindsaycohen) May 2, 2014
“I’m honored to be here as one of the only councilmembers openly representing immigrants and workers.” -Kshama Sawant pic.twitter.com/QGsEfG5nww
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 2, 2014
“The proposal by the mayor today is a result of the direct pressure of our movement. The reality is, it falls far short.” -Kshama Sawant
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 2, 2014
Crowd boos details of mayors $15 hour proposal as @cmkshama reads them off #SeaMayDay
#Q13FOX
— johnhopperstadQ13FOX (@JohnHopperstad) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 5:44 p.m.:It appears we have our first “unexpected march” of May Day 2014.
Unexpected March forming on 23rd Ave S, in the vicinity of S. Jackson St. Now moving eastbound on Jackson St. pic.twitter.com/wcG5sfi6Ww
— seattledot (@seattledot) May 2, 2014
UPDATE TO PREVIOUS UPDATE:
Anti-violence march following CD shootings has also started at 23/Union http://t.co/jXF6A2V8eD — about 30 to 40 in the street per #scanner
— jseattle (@jseattle) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 5:48 p.m.:Has it been mentioned lately that there’s a possibility things will get destructive and scary for viewers at home?
Masked protesters have arrived at Westlake. #SeaMayDay MORE PHOTOS >> http://t.co/nYl1E6EP4w
pic.twitter.com/rW9BG4tpfg
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) May 2, 2014
Spotted on Pine Street: these three, wearing black and covering their faces with bandanas. #SeaMayDay
pic.twitter.com/CH54KLP2eJ
— Heather Graf (@HeatherGrafK5) May 2, 2014
First group of Fawkes-masked folks have arrived at SCC for #seamayday. Umbrella to keep away sun. pic.twitter.com/UevCmEyEl3
— Jon Humbert (@jonhumbert) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 6:02 p.m.:According to Seattle Weekly’s Tom James, the festivities at Westlake are winding down and the media is turning its attention on Capitol Hill and the scheduled 6 p.m. “anti-capitalist march.” James says Sawant spoke to the crowd for about ten minutes, mostly about Mayor Ed Murray’s freshly unveiled minimum wage proposal (as noted above). Sawant noted that while Murray’s proposal wasn’t enough, it’s important to recognize what a big step the grassroots effort to raise the minimum wage has made already. James says Westlake drew a “big, peaceful crowd,” with one KING 5 reporter telling viewers at home there was “no violence reported here at all today.”
UPDATE 6:05 p.m.: Apparently the media isn’t the only outfit gearing up for tonight.
OH at Starbucks at westlake: Barista: how’s your day been? SPD: not bad, just the calm before the storm pic.twitter.com/UArmtM3BuB
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 6:19 p.m.: SPD Scene Commander Capt. Chris Fowler confirms there have been no arrests made so far.
—
UPDATE 6:23 p.m.: A group of protestors, some of them masked, have left Seattle Central Community College.
Small group marching east from Broadway down Pine Street.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
Masked marchers on the move at Seattle Central College. More than 100. #SeaMayDay Headed east on Pine
— Steve Miletich (@stevemiletich) May 2, 2014
Group with masks and bandanas over faces just left SCCC and headed east. #SeaMayDay
#Q13FOX
pic.twitter.com/NL6araySZY
— Q13 FOX News (@Q13FOX) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 6:23 p.m.:The Capitol Hill march has split into two groups, according to SPD.
Group has split at Spruce Street. Some members of the group continued on 12th. Second group broke off toward 14th. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 6:49 p.m.: Marchers are heading downtown, according to KING 5’s Chris Daniels. Meanwhile, The Seattle Times’ Mike Lindblom says the crowd has grown.
Crowd size has grown to over 300 including media and the curious.
— Michael C. Lindblom (@MikeLindblom) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: 7:09 p.m.: What’s being described as a small group of marchers is heading north downtown. Many media members are using the opportunity to make funnies.
@komonews There are more people playing volleyball at Greenlake!
— Josh Kerns (@joshkerns38) May 2, 2014
Maybe the anti-capitalists are marching toward the tunnel to help out with the digging. #SeaMayDay
— Manuel Valdes (@ByManuelValdes) May 2, 2014
How many people is that? 30? RT @seattledot: Update: Marchers heading NB on 2nd Ave close to Seneca http://t.co/kxsSrkZ9T8
— MyNorthwest.com (@Mynorthwest) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: SPD says one arrest has been made.
Officers have made 1 arrest at Broadway and Pike #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
Standoff with police at Broadway and Pike got physical for a moment, cops using bikes to form mobile fence. pic.twitter.com/NQ6rhZV5cL
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 2, 2014
UPDATE 7:36 p.m.: Here’s some video Morgen Schuler took of Seattle Police using bikes to push the crowd back at Broadway and Pike, shortly after the arrest was made. UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: What’s May Day without silly string?
Media and cameras getting silly stringed pic.twitter.com/jmnYzaZ4sW
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Seattle Police say they’re working to break up a “moving fight” between “anarchists” and “superheroes.” It figures …
Officers moving in to break up a moving fight between superheroes and anarchists. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
Former RC Superhero El Caballero & Power Ranger attempt to break up crowd & got rushed, police had to barricade them pic.twitter.com/06YKxqH6gm
— Seattle Weekly (@seattleweekly) May 2, 2014
@seattleweekly It’s starting to become an annual tradition.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Seattle Police say no arrests were made in the “superhero” vs “anarchist” scuffle.
Officers were able to separate the superheroes and their black-clad adversaries. No arrests made. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: 8:16 p.m.: By some accounts the crowd of protestors has grown considerably.
8:12 pm. About 1000 to 1200 marchers headed north on 4th, then east on Wall. Outdoor patrons at restaurants took photos and continued meal.
— Erik Lacitis (@ErikLacitis) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Seattle Weekly’s Tom James reports that from his perspective there are about 200-250 marchers, engaged in what he calls an “impressively calm” protest. “They’re just kind of marching around,” James says. “Cops are just letting these guys do it.”
—
UPDATE: Well-known local business owner Dave Meinert is getting in on some of that sweet May Day marketing action.
Anarchists, The 5 Point has shot of whiskey and a can of Hamm’s for $3.50. Maybe stop by on the way to Amazon
— David Meinert (@davidmeinert) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: And we have our first reports of pepper spray.
Heated up RT @WilsoNews: First pepper spray deployed, 6th and Battery, http://t.co/ptpR34VJp9
#seamayday
— jseattle (@jseattle) May 2, 2014
Suspects in the crowd threw bottles @ officers near 6/Battery. Officers deployed a small amount of OC spray in response. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Seattle Police says a gun has been recovered during a May-Day related arrest downtown. No further information available at this time.
Officers have recovered a gun from one person arrested in the crowd at 6/Battery. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Seattle Police say a third arrest has been made. Meanwhile, “anarchist” are reportedly changing into more formal attire.
Officers are making a 3rd arrest near 6/Virginia. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
Officers report seeing anarchists making a wardrobe change into suits and ties. #SeaMayDay
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Reports of rising tensions and pepper spray are coming in.
#SeaMayDay
#SPD using pepper spray after arrests at 6th and Battery, @HenryRosoff on scene @KIRO7Seattle
pic.twitter.com/bVWsRbo2J3
— Linzi Sheldon (@LinziSheldon) May 2, 2014
Scene is the most tense it’s been all night. Watch LIVE >> http://t.co/Dr5JrNy2xi
#SeaMayDay
pic.twitter.com/SRvWt3Shi5
— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) May 2, 2014
UPDATE: Jesus … they’re still going.
UPDATE: At long last May Day 2014 in Seattle may be winding down. Seattle Police say some protestors are stopping for burgers at Dick’s on Capitol Hill. UPDATE: According to Seattle Weekly’s Tom James, the scene is “basically a street carnival now.”UPDATE: James says the crowd has been blocked from going back down and is now, basically, “just hanging out in the street” on Capitol Hill. “Unless something very dramatic happens, I think this is going to peter out pretty quickly,” he says.UPDATE: With that, it would seem May Day 2014 in Seattle will come to the end. Scorecard (as far as we know): At least three
10 arrests, multiple pepper spray incidents, one anarchist-on-superhero scuffle, a couple damaged cars, one brokent Metro bus window, one gun confiscation, several costume changes, and countless Dick’s cheeseburgers consumed. UPDATE: Also one late-night bonfire on Capitol Hill that just wouldn’t end.
