After leftist rioters reportedly attacked a group of Christian worshippers in Seattle on Saturday, Mayor Bruce Harrell (D) issued a statement condemning not the violent counter-protesters but the believers gathered at the rally.
The May 24 service took place at Cal Anderson Park, which Harrell described as the city’s “most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.” In a statement, he called the planned event a “far-right rally” intended to “provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values, in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent [LGBT] neighborhood.”
However, according to one of the event’s leaders, evangelist Ross Johnston, it was the city — not his group — that selected the location of their worship service.
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“We actually tried to get a permit for Pike Place, a completely different location,” he said. “The city refused and said, ‘Hey, we recommend Cal Anderson Park.'”
Johnston said he recalled asking city officials if they were sure that was a good idea, presumably aware of the area’s progressive bent. Despite his concerns, he ultimately went with the city’s recommendation.
The worship event was organized by the pro-life group Mayday USA as part of its “#DontMessWithOurKids” tour. What started out as a peaceful demonstration quickly descended into chaos when rioters dressed in all black and wearing masks to obscure their identities began clashing with Christian attendees.
Before it was all over, police arrested at least 23 people, KCPQ-TV reported.
Johnston said he later learned one of the counter-protesters reportedly pulled a knife on a 17-year-old attendee. Present at the rally, he explained, was Antifa, Trantifa, the Communist Party of America, and pastors from churches affirming homosexuality.
“I recognized really quickly, ‘OK, this is not just gonna be a few rowdy people here; we’ve got a real situation on our hands,'” he said of the violent rioters who crashed the worship service.
As for the mayor’s response, Johnston said Harrell was “choosing a side” by claiming the Christians who gathered in the park legally were promoting ideas that are “inherently opposed” to the views of the city.
“He was choosing the protesters’ side, and we just knew we had to stand against that,” he said.
The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative religious liberty law firm, announced Monday it is considering legal action against the mayor and the city of Seattle.
Alliance Defending Freedom is evaluating legal action against @MayorofSeattle and @CityofSeattle officials following the violent disruption of the MayDay USA worship event.
— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) May 27, 2025
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