The FBI is investigating claims of “targeted violence” toward Christians who demonstrated at an evangelical prayer service on Saturday in a public Seattle park.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced the investigation on X, saying he asked his team to “fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups” at the Christian prayer protest over the weekend.
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He added, “Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.”
Bongino’s announcement came after the anti-abortion Christian coalition MayDay USA rallied again Tuesday evening in Seattle, this time on the steps of City Hall, to call on Democratic Mayor Bruce Harrell to resign or retract his remarks blaming the Christian event organizers for the violence that broke out.
A chaotic confrontation between MayDay USA demonstrators and left-wing activists, who staged a rivaling rally, resulted in the hospitalization of Seattle police personnel and nearly two dozen arrests Saturday afternoon. While the opposing pro-LGBT groups said the worship promoted “fascist family values,” the leaders of MayDay USA, a collection of conservative ministries, said they were publicly praying in support of unborn life, preserving the nuclear family, and teaching that there are only two genders.
SEATTLE MAYOR BLAMES ‘FAR-RIGHT RALLY’ AFTER LEFT-WING ACTIVISTS ATTACKED CHRISTIAN PRAYER SERVICE
In a statement initially reacting to the clash, Harrell suggested that the “far-right rally” should not have been held at such a sensitive location, as Cal Anderson Park is named after Washington state’s first openly gay legislator.
Harrell, faulting MayDay USA, said the park was deliberately chosen “to provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.” Though he sided with the counterprotesters, Harrell said it was “anarchists” who “infiltrated” the dueling demonstration and “inspired violence.”
Harrell directed the city’s Parks Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Christian organizers’ permit application. He said he is looking into “whether there were legal location alternatives or other adjustments that could have been pursued” during the permit approval process.
However, the Christian group’s leaders said they did not set out to hold their rally at the park.
“This park was not the first or even the second location that event organizers sought a permit for, but the Seattle Special Events Office suggested it as a suitable alternative,” MayDay USA organizers told the Washington Examiner.
Cal Anderson Park was available at the time and met the size and logistical needs for the planned protest, Harrell’s office explained to the Washington Examiner.
When asked whether the mayor believes the Christian rallygoers had a right to assemble, protest, and practice their religion lawfully in a public place, Harrell’s press secretary, Callie Craighead, told the Washington Examiner that he “respects the First Amendment rights of all individuals.”
However, she said, “Mayor Harrell remains steadfast in his denouncement of rhetoric from groups whose messages promote exclusion, intolerance, and undermine the dignity and rights of any community member, particularly those that are marginalized like our LGBTQ+ community.”
“As a Christian himself, the mayor is guided by the Christian values of love and justice, and his comments have specifically addressed ideologies that are in contrast to Seattle’s commitment to being a welcoming city for all,” Craighead added. “Like any faith community, Christianity is not a monolith—and many Christians throughout Seattle do not hold the beliefs expressed by the organizers of the MayDay rally.”
Harrell’s office has also released supporting statements from several of the city’s faith leaders, who also condemned MayDay USA’s “hateful” views.
Seattle police arrested 23 suspects Saturday on charges of assault and obstruction, including at least two known antifa rioters. MayDay USA’s leaders told KOMO News that none of their members were arrested and “not one person from our movement was violent.”
In a joint statement shared with the Washington Examiner, Radical Women Seattle and the Freedom Socialist Party of Seattle, some of the participating counterprotesters, said their “spirited defense” of the LGBT community was “marred by aggressive action by Seattle police.”
After the arrests, FSP Seattle thanked its comrades who “faced off against the bigots and their baton-wielding protectors,” referring to the riot police.
“Despite the mayor’s red-baiting rhetoric, we all stood strong together as proud antifascists,” the Seattle-based socialist group said.
Both organizations urged followers to contact the city and demand the dismissal of all charges against those arrested.
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A judge has since found probable cause for the arrests of just eight individuals, and only one, who is accused of assault and robbery, had to post a $20,000 bond, according to KOMO News. The remaining suspects were released.
Eight more assault-related arrests were made Tuesday during dueling demonstrations at Seattle City Hall, according to police.