In Seattle, a local white supremacist gang announced plans to hold a racist concert in the Ballard neighborhood, followed by a march in the traditionally progressive, LGBTQ Capitol Hill neighborhood on Dec. 6. It appears that they had felt emboldened to come into Seattle as a result of the current political climate. Outraged, a wide range of organizations went into motion. Operating under the hashtag #DefendSeattle, a counter-demonstration was called for Capitol Hill. Liberation News was there.
The Nazi gang had announced their intentions on a fascist website. Other than a date, there were no specifics. Despite thorough investigation, no one was able to identify a venue in Ballard where the racist rock bands were going to play. Thus, at 5 p.m. on Dec. 6, hundreds of anti-fascist demonstrators gathered at Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill to say, “Say it loud, say it clear, Nazis are not welcome here!” After a very short rally, some 600 demonstrators poured into the streets during an intermittently heavy rainstorm, and marched for several hours until police dispersed the march. A popular chant was “Nazis out, refugees in!” At no point were any Nazi gang members sighted in the area, including after the march dispersed. Once again, neo-Nazis turned out to be cowards in the face of mass united action.
