Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) announced Tuesday it is evaluating legal action against the Mayor of Seattle and city officials following the violent disruption of the “MayDay USA” Christian worship event on Saturday. The conservative legal group contends that the city failed to protect the First Amendment rights of attendees and is scrutinizing the city’s response, particularly with an upcoming “Rattle in Seattle” rally.
“Federal and state laws protect free speech and religious freedom for all, regardless of their views,” ADF stated. “City officials must not permit violent mobs to threaten, harass, or assault individuals exercising these rights.”
The organization emphasized the city’s “legal obligation to ensure the safety and rights of all citizens,” citing the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection for people of faith to express their views without fear.
Violence erupted at Cal Anderson Park when counter-protesters demonstrated against the MayDay USA rally, which Mayor Bruce Harrell described as a “far-right” event. The Seattle Police Department reported making 23 arrests – 22 adults and one juvenile – and one officer sustained injuries.
Mayor Harrell, a Democrat, stated the rally was 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 LGBTQ+ neighborhood.” He attributed the violence to “anarchists” who he said infiltrated the counter-protest group, “inspired violence,” and led to the event’s premature shutdown.
MayDay USA, a conservative Christian group, held its “#DontMessWithOurKids” rally in Seattle as the fourth stop on a five-city national tour. Organizers say the movement “refuses to stand idly by while the children of our nation are indoctrinated by liberal, political, and sexual agenda that seeks to destroy their God-given identities.”
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A counter-protest, endorsed by groups including the Freedom Socialist Party and Puget Sound Mobilization for Reproductive Justice, was organized to “Protest Fascist ‘Family Values'” and “send a message with a loud picket line, signs and banners: Bigotry is not welcome here!” Organizers of the counter-protest specifically noted the involvement of “right-wing pastor Matt Shea and his Christian Fundamentalist ‘On Fire Ministries'” with the MayDay USA event.
According to The Seattle Times, approximately 500 people attended the MayDay USA event, with a similar number joining the counter-protest. Seattle police reported that at around 1:30 p.m., officers witnessed individuals from one group throwing items at the other.
“Officers immediately moved to arrest the people responsible, and while taking the individuals into custody, were assaulted by more protesters, resulting in even more arrests,” Sergeant Patrick Michaud said in a news release, noting 11 initial arrests during this scuffle and 12 additional arrests throughout the afternoon.
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In his statement, Mayor Harrell commented, “When the humanity of trans people and those who have been historically marginalized is questioned, we triumph by demonstrating our values through our words and peaceful protest—we lose our voice when this is disrupted by violence, chaos, and confusion.” He added, “In the face of an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities, Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness.”
Ross Johnston, a preacher and organizer of the MayDay USA event, strongly criticized the Mayor’s response on X, writing, “The audacity of the @MayorofSeattle to claim that we as Christians were ‘attacking’ is bigoted and the rhetoric of a God hating politician whose ‘power’ came up against a superior force.” He further noted, “PS: all arrests were from the protester camp – it takes a bit of a brain to understand what that means maybe you have one? (Highly doubt it).”
ADF has indicated it “will closely monitor the City’s response at the upcoming “Rattle in Seattle” rally” as it considers its legal options.
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