Hundreds of people came out in Seattle on June 10 to say “We stand with our Muslim neighbors.” The demonstrators, coming from a diverse range of organizations and communities, united to show their opposition to the anti-Muslim hate group “ACT for America” which was holding a nationally coordinated day of racist rallies.
The actions in Seattle took on extra significance because the Portland June 10 ACT demonstration was shifted to Seattle in the aftermath of the killing of 2 men who stepped up in defense of a Muslim teen and her friend on the Max train in Portland.
Organizers from a wide range of groups gathered for a flurry of meetings leading up to June 10, resulting in a strong, united message of solidarity. Gathering at the nearby Occidental Square Park, anti-racist demonstrators marched to City Hall where the bigots were holding their rally. Joined by the Noise Brigade, people kept up a steady stream of chants, whistles, drumming and even truck/train horns which largely drowned out the hateful message. The bigots were corralled on the lower City Hall plaza, behind a row of riot cops and barricades.
As the racist rally wound to a close, the anti-racist protesters burst into cheers and sang “Na-na-na-hey-hey-good-by!”
Maintaining unity and discipline, the solidarity marchers marched back to Occidental Square Park. Some of the alt-right extremists followed the march and were allowed by police to start some fights–after which Seattle police arrested only the anti-fascists who had been attacked. Jail support is being organized.
