The March for Workers and Immigrant Rights started out of Judkins Park in a procession of over 500 people. El Comité/May 1st Action Coalition organized the event. Timothy Kenney
May Day has become known as something of a boogeyman in Seattle. People and corporations (looking at you, Starbucks Reserve Roastery's boarded up windows) prepare for a violent event where people on the farthest extremes of the political spectrum come to fight in the streets.
But yesterday's March for Workers and Immigrant Rights was largely free of conflict and showcased some of Seattle's most active citizens. The procession was organized by immigrant rights groups chanting almost exclusively in Spanish throughout the walk from the Central District to the U.S. courthouse downtown.
The procession was led by traditional Aztec dancers who tirelessly stepped their way from the Central District to Downtown. It was hard enough just walking that far.
Three women lit incense throughout the march.
Traditional Aztec drummers provided the droning beat for the dancers to follow.
Activists chant "No new youth jail" outside the King County Youth Detention Center.
A brass band kept things lively throughout the first half of the march. It definitely put a spring in my step.
A tuba player stopped to ask the cops why the march had been stopped for so long. In his defense, the march had been stagnate for 20 minutes.
An employee at Southpaw Pizza handed out free slices to passing marchers.
Youth activists held up flags bearing the names of local organizations and organizers.
On the other side it said "Fuck racist cops."
People stopped at a water station near Seattle University to hydrate.
Grocery Workers United spoke outside Whole Foods and criticize their treatment of employees. They made up a chant the rhymed with quinoa so that was pretty impressive.
Last year, police arrested a man after he allegedly tried to throw a rock at the Amazon Spheres. This year, they made damn sure no one touched Bezos' famous balls.
City Councilwoman Lisa Herbold spoke outside Amazon about their treatment of of security workers on campus.
A half dozen right wing guys in MAGA hats eventually clashed with protestors at the end of the march. Police quickly inserted themselves between the two groups. The nonevent didn't stop this from going live on social media with the latest updates about doxing.
