Solidarity Music Festival
The "Solidarity Music Festival" featured bands like "On The Ground" and "Smashie Smashie" as a "way to build community and solidarity" through speeches and music.
"On The Ground" plays a sweet punk set at the Solidarity Music Festival at Westlake Park. Alex Garland
Tabeling included "Rojava Solidarity", Seattle Against Foreclosure and Eviction, and a table full of "Free Zines" with anarchism zines. Alex Garland
"Smashie Smashie" rocks socks off the crowd gathered at the Solidarity Music Festival. Alex Garland
Artist and activist Swaneagle, reminds passersby at the Solidarity Music Festival of the war on women around the world. Alex Garland
A lone protestor in black dances and twirls a flag during the Solidarity Music Festival Alex Garland
El Comité and May 1st Action Coalition Workers and Immigrants Rights March
The annual march for workers and immigrants rights kicked off at Judkins Park with a rally before marching down Jackson to Broadway, to the Seattle Police Department East Precinct and down Pine to 7th, ending at the Federal Courthouse. Approximately 1000 people marched through the city, led by the CeAtl Tonalli Aztec Dancers.
Nearly 1000 demonstrators march from Judkins Park to the Federal Courthouse in downtown Seattle. Alex Garland
Activists at the workers and immigrants rights march demand an end to deportations. Alex Garland
A protestor reminds us that the majority of us are not native to this land. Alex Garland
Nestora Salgado, a Mexican activist and naturalized U.S. citizen who was recently released from a Mexican jail, marches with the Immigrant Rights march. Alex Garland
A banner mentions the Ayotiznapa 43, a reference to the 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College who went missing in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico in 2014. Alex Garland
A demonstrator reminds folks that slave or cheap labor from immigrants built this country. Alex Garland
The CeAtl Tonalli Aztec Dancers lead the workers and immigrants rights march. Alex Garland
One lone counter protestor spoke out against immigration, calling for the deportation of those from Mexico and South America. (He seemed okay with Central American immigrants.) Alex Garland
Thousands marched through the streets of Capitol Hill as they headed to the Federal Courthouse in downtown Seattle. Alex Garland
Somali immigrants wave their flag as they march for workers and immigrants rights in Seattle. Alex Garland
Anti-Capitalist March
In a smaller show of force than in previous years, only 50-60 protestors wore masks and solid black, while 50 or so more anarchists, anti-capitalists, anti-fascists, and additional activists marched against police brutality and capitalism. Rather than start on Capitol Hill, the anti-capitalist march began at Westlake Park. Hundreds of riot police staged themselves in the area and as protestors attempted to march East on Pine, they were met by a wall of police officers in riot gear. Pepper spray was used within the first five minutes of the march after moving less than a block. A second round of pepper spray occurred as a protestor attempted to leave the march—prevented by officers blocking sidewalks. The march was eventually routed to Belltown where protesters broke windows and threw rocks, bottles, and fireworks. SPD responded with more pepper spray and blast balls. More blast balls pushed marchers past the stadiums and into SoDo. The march ended in a Costco parking lot. Nine arrests were made and at least 6 journalists were injured with blast balls and pepper spray.
A protestor has their banner snatched and is pushed back by SPD with a baton. Alex Garland
Protestors shoot fireworks into the air during the annual May Day anti-capitalism march. Alex Garland
Activists protest for-profit prisons during the anti-capitalist march in Seattle on May Day. Alex Garland
Protestors are prevented from leaving the march as SPD block streets and sidewalks in all directions—except the route they want the march to go. Alex Garland
Downtown Bank of America window hit by a rock. Alex Garland
Advancing through clouds of blast balls smoke and tear gas, SPD riot police push marches South on 4th Ave. Alex Garland
SPD pushes demonstrators down 4th Ave. past the stadiums and into SoDo, preventing much of the property destruction seen in the past. Alex Garland
Seattle police target a flare thrower with a 40mm launcher. Another officer holds a paintball gun. Alex Garland
A protestor climbs a bus stop and flips the crowd and the police the bird. Alex Garland
That protestor previously seen climbing a bus stop was arrested. The reasons for his arrest are unknown. Alex Garland