Council member criticizes permit decision for Mayday USA event at Seattle park

Seattle Councilmember Bob Kettle criticized the city's decision to permit MayDay USA to hold a rally at Cal Anderson Park after altercations led to 23 arrests on Saturday. The Parks Department initially rejected the group's request for a location near Pike Place Market but later granted a permit for Cal Anderson. Kettle argued that the group intentionally targeted the park, situated in the LGBTQ+ community, to provoke a reaction. He stated, "I believe in the group's ability to protest... it was a mistake to grant it at Cal Anderson Park.

" Kettle expressed the need to balance free speech rights with the safety of the community. The Seattle Council's Public Safety Committee convened to discuss the incident, and Kettle urged for an investigation into who initiated the confrontations. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office also released a timeline of events surrounding the rally. Kettle's comments underscore ongoing tensions related to free speech and community safety in Seattle.