Police violence broke out during a May 24 counterprotest in Cal Anderson Park. An anti-Trans, pro–nuclear family, and fundamentalist group known as Mayday USA was hosting a "Don't Mess with Our Kids" event, including free haircuts for children, in Seattle's historically LGBTQIA+ neighborhood. During a performance of Christian rock music, counterprotesters popped one of the balloons Mayday USA had put up, and Seattle police officers biked in. A total of 23 people were arrested, including one minor, who has since been released.

The SGN spoke with Mayday USA organizer Folake Kellogg, a Washington resident, who said the group had been planning these events since October 12, 2024, first in New York, then Miami and Houston. After Seattle, it will travel to Los Angeles.

"I know when people see us come like this, they say, 'You are anti-Gay' and everything," Kellogg said. "No. We are not here to do that. We just want to bless our community. We want to bless what God has given, because these communities we have, we just want to show them the love of Jesus."

Kellogg, who is originally from Nigeria, explained how the group was spreading awareness about human trafficking, calling it and abortion "modern-day slavery."

"I believe every life is valuable," Kellogg said. "When people don't have a choice to say, 'Hey, let me be alive,' that is not valued. And trafficking is slavery."

Leo Roux attended the counterprotest because "all genders deserve respect," he told the SGN, adding how it was "bizarre" to hold this event in Cal Anderson Park, named after Washington's first openly Gay state legislator.

Members of the Revolutionary Communists of America were on the counterprotester side holding a banner. Will Boyer told the SGN that they are trying to build a working-class party to fight against bigotry and the scapegoating of Trans people, as well as for abortion rights.

"The problems in your life are not coming from Trans people. They're not coming from immigrants. The problems are coming from the rich, and we need to fight that as a class – as the working class," Boyer said.

Violence erupts
After counterprotesters popped the balloon, bike cops rushed in and began tackling them, using bikes and batons to push people back and slam them to the ground. Counterprotesters began splashing water to disperse the officers, some of whom chased and tackled people in the playing field area.

Two sources confirmed with the SGN that the popping of the Mayday USA balloon led to police moving in. The SGN counted 23 bike cops during this first phase of arrests, but more continued to arrive.

Seattle police officers did not tell people why they were being arrested, and counterprotesters followed the police to their cars, asking what the arrests were for. After about 15 minutes, one female officer said the protesters had assaulted another officer.

One counterprotester was injured, and three Seattle police officers hog-tied him and carried him to a van, plopping him on the ground on his stomach.

"I can't move my legs," he said, as a group of officers stood by.

Meanwhile, Mayday USA continued its event, which included dancing, speaking in tongues, and live Christian rock music. When the crowd stuck their arms up straight in the air to pray, counterprotesters also stuck their hands up, but showcased their middle fingers.

Later in the day, police set up barricades between counterprotesters and Mayday USA. Video footage recorded by and obtained by the SGN shows a gap behind the barricade, with officers and Mayday USA people keeping clear. At one point, a couple of counterprotesters push down the barricade, but they do not rush forward. One Seattle police officer rushed in from the side, tackling two women who were sitting with their protest signs and not involved in the barricade incident. The women reacted, and the officer pepper-sprayed them, as others proceeded to rush the crowd. Counterprotesters moved in to assist these two women, but got pepper-sprayed as well. Police dragged women over the metal barricades into the Mayday USA area.

Another piece of footage obtained by the SGN shows officers tackling a person and holding him on the ground by the nape of his neck. An officer then pulled him up and escorted him to the Mayday USA field area, hand still grasping his neck.

The SPD reported that one officer was taken to a hospital for injuries.

Mayor's response
Mayor Bruce Harrell issued a statement later that evening, saying that Mayday USA intentionally provoked Seattleites by choosing one of the Queerest spots in the city:

"When the humanity of Trans people and those who have been historically marginalized is questioned, we triumph by demonstrating our values through our words and peaceful protest – we lose our voice when this is disrupted by violence, chaos, and confusion.

"Anarchists infiltrated the counterprotesters' group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did."

The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department approved the permit and claimed it had no idea of Mayday USA's anti-LGBTQIA+ values. A source at the GSBA said there's no way Parks & Rec didn't know, as SPD had officers from multiple precincts, having pushed that information out.

Mayday USA announced on Instagram on Sunday, May 25, that it will be holding a "Rattle in Seattle" event outside of Seattle City Hall at 5 p.m. on May 27 and is calling on Mayor Harrell to redact his statement, apologize, or resign.

The SGN will continue to follow this story. Follow @SeattleGayNews_ on Instagram or TikTok for more footage.