We first brought you video featuring angry protests in Seattle about two weeks ago. Protesters were upset after a police officer was not charged in the shooting death of a local woodcarver. Now, the anger has turned to violence, and local anarchists are celebrating it.
KOMONews.com: Overturned fencing and caution tape are left behind in the aftermath of the Saturday night riot.
KOMO reports out of Seattle:
A roving gang of rioters smashed property and attacked Seattle police with fireworks, flares and fire extinguishers Saturday night near the site where an officer shot a woodcarver to death last August.
The incident began at about 9 p.m. as an officer drove through the intersection at Boren Avenue and Howell Street and came upon a group of what appeared to be anarchists gathering there.
As the officer passed through, the group discharged a fire extinguisher at his vehicle.
Other officers responded and found a group of 25 to 30 gathered in the intersection, setting up fencing and putting up caution tape. They painted “F— The Pigs” on the street and on a nearby building.
The rioters also placed makeshift tire-flattening spikes in the intersection, then began walking east on Howell toward the East Precinct.
As they walked away, the group left behind cans of paint, paint rollers, flags and makeshift paint “bombs” fashioned from light bulbs.
By 9:20 p.m., the same group of about 30 anarchists gathered at E. Pine Street and Boylston Avenue, blocking vehicle and pedestrian traffic as they walked up the street.
As the gathering became more rowdy, rioters displayed signs encouraging violence against police.
One anarchist tossed a large firework at a patrol car, which bounced off and detonated. The explosion could have injured them or other persons nearby, police said.
The local group Puget Sound Anarchists bragged about the incident on its website:
Our intention as anarchists, is purely conflictual in nature, in so, we intended to create the space for agitation and attack. There was no public call outs made, in order to use the element of surprise on our enemy, the police. Seemingly this worked successfully, but also, it should be noted that it wasn’t just the surprise but also our presence of no compromise in the streets that kept the cops at bay. What we lacked in numbers we made up for in our ability to be flexible and act quickly.
Our dreams are in the streets!
Against the police and the prison world they maintain!
Cap to the Hill has more pictures from the riot — here’s a sample:
And the official SPD release [language warning]:
Rioters caused property damage to local businesses
On 2/26/2011, at about 9:00 p.m., an officer was transporting a prisoner to the West Precinct, when he came upon a group of what appeared to be anarchists gathering in the intersection at Boren Ave / Howell Street. As he passed through, he reported that the group had discharged a fire extinguisher at his vehicle.Other officers responded and found a group of 25-30 gathered in the intersection, setting up bicycle type fencing and putting up caution tape. They painted “Fuck The Pigs” on the street and on a nearby building.
They had also placed a couple of dozen large staples that had been fashioned into tire flattening spikes in the intersection. When Officers arrived, the group walked off E/B on Howell, then apparently up into the East Precinct.
When they walked away, the group left behind cans of paint, paint rollers, flags, and of most interest, several light bulbs, from which the ends had been removed, which were filled with paint. It is speculated that they were readied as paint “bombs” possibly to be used against the Police, or as a means to further damage property.
At approximately 9:19 p.m., this same group of approximately 30 people gathered at E. Pine St. and Boylston Ave. They moved east- bound , using the E/B lane(s), blocking vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
There was no notification of a permitted planned march/demonstration. Within the group were displayed signs encouraging violence against police. Members of the group threw a large firework at a patrol unit. It bounced off and detonated. The explosion could have injured them or other persons nearby. Officers continued to monitor the group’s progress to Broadway and then northbound.
The rioters began pushing trashcans and paper boxes into the street and rearranging traffic safety cones. Several lit flares were thrown at monitoring patrol cars. Fire extinguishers were sprayed into the street traffic creating further hazards. Rioters attempted to break windows at a Bank in the 300 block of Broadway Ave. E.
Parked cars were attacked and at least one visibly damaged. Most of the rioters were dressed similarly in black clothing articles, and many wore bandanas or masks to conceal identity. The actions of the rioters created significant traffic delays and congestion, as well as threatening traffic and pedestrian safety. The rioters began to disperse at E. Republican St., many fled E/B.
Officers captured three subjects in the area of the 500 block of Federal Ave. E. The suspects were booked for rioting, pedestrian interference, and obstructing.
There were many victim businesses affected by this riot. Among the businesses was a Bank, a local Newspaper Company, a local print publication, an unidentified vehicle owner(s), and Sound Transit, (Light Rail construction in 1800 block of Broadway Ave.
“Capitalism is an imperfect system that is impossible to maintain,” the Puget Sound Anarchistsexplain in a post earlier this month. “It wrecks the earth, our bodies, and our spiritual selves by demanding a humanity that is calculated by industry/government. That is why it has it‘s own security to enforce it’s doomsday fiscal politics: the police. If liberal democracy and capitalism worked, why would this force be necessary?”
“We demand no more police. We demand no more Guardians of Tourism and Capital. This means the entire system must give way to let us determine our own lives.”
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