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Thursday, May 20, 2010

City Police Refuse to Arrest Protesters

Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, May 20, 2010 at 1:57 PM

Cienna reports that protesters have dispersed downtown after trying to get arrested for the past two hours—blocking access to the US Customs office and blocking streets—to raise awareness about immigration reform. Police reportedly told organizers of the group of 40 people engaging in civil disobedience (surrounded by a couple hundred surrporters) that they would not arrest anyone.

The order to not arrest has reportedly has come from the mayor's office. Organizers are declaring the event a victory, citing recent support from the city council (to boycott Arizona, which recently passed a draconian anti-immigration law) and now from Mayor Mike McGinn. That said, organizers are threatening to protest again.

I have calls in to the mayor's office and the SPD to confirm.

UPDATE: Mayor's office spokesman Arron Pickus says, "No, the mayor did not call to prevent arrests."

Comments (7) RSS

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hahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh yea.. article or source link would've been cool.

Civil disobedience sure is tough work up here in Seattle, WA. Keep sticking it to no one and inconveniencing everyone in your path.

Posted by ddecounter on May 20, 2010 at 2:08 PM

It happened about 50 feet from my office window. No police in sight.

Posted by balmonter on May 20, 2010 at 2:08 PM

Yeah, but the cops elsewhere took signed initiative sheets for the Legalize MJ initiative, according to Sensible Washington, so it's not like they're partisan or interfering or anything.

Why don't the police go arrest some employers who hire illegal workers instead?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 20, 2010 at 2:09 PM

LMAO, it's tough being a spoiled white kid these days, you can't get arrested at a Critical Masshole ride and now you can't get arrested at a protest!

What's a kid gonna do with their Evergreen State degree? It's not like it's good for anything else. Post on Slog all day like Will?

Posted by Museums for Bums! Now! on May 20, 2010 at 2:38 PM

awesome! this town has been too sleepy of late and we certainly need to fix this screwed up immigration system. great to see people taking to the streets. thousands of young people who have lived here most of their lives, but are undocumented, will soon graduate high school and have little options. no drivers license. no job. no respect. is that how we should be treating our youth.

let's hope for more and bigger protests until congress gets it and passes real reform.

Posted by sparkglobal on May 20, 2010 at 2:52 PM

Both the right and left want "reform", what specifically do they want? Doesn't seem like a success if they can't get a media outlet to convey their position.

Posted by Dougsf on May 20, 2010 at 3:54 PM