Masked activists smash downtown Seattle on May Day
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May Day is being marked around the world with anticapitalist rallies and marches.
In Seattle, many peaceful protesters have taken part in the day's events. But they are being overshadowed by some masked activists who brought chaos to the downtown core today (May 1).
According to the Seattle Times, about 50 black-clad protesters smashed the windows of banks, clothing stores, and a courthouse. A Porsche Cayenne was spraypainted with an anarchist symbol.
Riot police reportedly responded with batons and chemical spray.
Here's some scenes from YouTube that purportedly show some of the day's action.
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Comments
3 Comments
R U Kiddingme
May 1, 2012 at 8:05pm
I didn't actually see any violence there. A bunch of yelling and some ninja dudes with sticks waving them near a doorway. Someone says "fucking pig" like 800 times, because that's intelligent commentary.
Not that cops read this things, but in case they do, I suggest that you all stop wearing black immediately. It might have been cool and badass at one point but seriously the messaging is counterproductive. Don't try to look like an occupying army. Instead wear clothing that reflects the best tradition of law and good order. Think Blue. Blue shirts, ties. Lose the reflective faceplates on the helmets. Image counts, in fact, there is nothing more important than superficial impressions because we are not a species of mindreaders that can look at your kindly soul and whatnot. Don't look or act like fascist dicks and that would de-escalate these hysterical folks who believe that you are the jackbooted heel of the corporations that oppress them and pay their doles.
PleaseWhatever
May 2, 2012 at 1:32am
Always in black, always destroying property, always "agents provocateur", always muddying the water. Cops.
East Van Damn
May 2, 2012 at 7:36am
Wow...congrats to The Straight for one - ONE - small article about the militant left. How about doing the right thing for a change and "outing" these Black Bloc protesters and calling them what they truly are: Violent, Destructive Cowards.
It speaks volumes about the political left in this city when they allow the word Protester to become the exclusive domain of balaclava wearing terrorists.