The Seattle Police Department (SPD) arrested 23 people on Saturday at Cal Anderson Park when counterprotesters clashed with a religious rally.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the far-right rally was specifically held at the park in Seattle's known LGBTQ+ neighborhood "to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values."
According to the religious organization's Facebook page, the multi-city rally is described as "standing together for Biblical truth and values" under the "#DontMessWithOurKids" movement. The group, which is against abortion and does not support the LGBTQ+ community, is also hosting events in New York, Houston, Miami and Los Angeles.
The counterprotest, involving multiple local community organizations, is picketing under the theme of “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies."
In a statement, Mayor Harrell called Seattle "a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice."
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said the far-right rally was specifically held at the park in Seattle's known LGBTQ+ neighborhood "to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city's values."
According to the religious organization's Facebook page, the multi-city rally is described as "standing together for Biblical truth and values" under the "#DontMessWithOurKids" movement. The group, which is against abortion and does not support the LGBTQ+ community, is also hosting events in New York, Houston, Miami and Los Angeles.
The counterprotest, involving multiple local community organizations, is picketing under the theme of “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies."
In a statement, Mayor Harrell called Seattle "a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice."
