Intrepid Stranger news intern Ansel Herz has spent the day behind enemy lines at Westlake Park, risking his life to cover the violent anarchy of May Day, 2013. Following is his pictorial war diary:

A protester calls on nobody in particular and everyone in general to stand up for their rights.
  • Ansel Herz | The Stranger
  • A protester calls on nobody in particular and everyone in general to stand up for their rights, as mounted police bravely protect the crowd from his dangerous rhetoric.

Anarcho-Aztlan vandals deface public property with chalk. Dangerous!
  • Ansel Herz | The Stranger
  • Anarcho-Aztlan vandals deface public property with chalk. Dangerous!


Captain Chris Fowler of SPD holds an impromptu press conference while a woman shouts profanities behind him. He has no new information. One reporter has enough self-awareness to ask, Do you think the media is making this worse?
  • Ansel Herz | The Stranger
  • SPD Captain Chris Fowler holds an impromptu press conference to announce that he has no new information. One reporter has enough self-awareness to ask, "Do you think the media is making this worse?"


Ben Fodor, a.k.a. Phoenix Jones arrives with a posse of dudes in body armor and masks. Jones told me Occupy was cool, but that he doesnt see the point in vandalizing banks. He said theyre out to protect people and property. Hopefully people hug a tree, break out some banjos, play some bluegrass music and everyone goes home, said another masked man, who asked to be identified only as Boomer. But this is Seattle, so thats not going to happen.
  • Ansel Herz | The Stranger
  • Phoenix Jones explains that Occupy was "cool," but that he doesn't see the point in vandalizing banks. "Hopefully people hug a tree, break out some banjos, play some bluegrass music and everyone goes home," said another masked man, who asked to be identified only as Boomer. "But this is Seattle, so that's not going to happen."