The Seattle Police Department declared a demonstration in the city on Saturday night as a riot after the buildings were destroyed and multiple fires were started.
Approximately 2,000 people gathered in the area formerly known as the Capitol Hill Busy Protest (CHOP) in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to demonstrate. Thousands of protesters occupied the CHOP in Seattle for weeks earlier this year when police left its eastern compound after clashes with protesters protesting Floyd’s death. Most of the protesters had left the area at the end of last month.
The protests were in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Portland, Oregon, which were sparked by the police murder of George Floyd earlier this year, according to multiple reports.
Police arrested at least 25 people in Seattle as of Saturday night.
The Trump administration announced Thursday that it would send a tactical border patrol team to Seattle amid ongoing protests. The equipment is similar to those that were deployed in Portland to protect federal property that has been damaged by protesters.
After protesters began marching through the area, five trailers at a construction site for a juvenile detention center were set on fire, CBS News reported. Seattle police said protesters also spray-painted all 12 of the city.th police compound and tried to disable security cameras.
Police reported that some protesters also broke windows on vehicles, businesses and a court. Officers also said they are investigating possible “explosive damage” to an compound and reports of explosives “thrown or shot at officers.”
According to police, three officers were injured amid the protests, including one who was hospitalized with a leg injury due to the explosives. Two officers were treated and returned to service.
Police deployed flash grenades and pepper spray before arresting protesters, The New York Times reported.
The rally came a day after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that lifted Seattle officials from using tear gas and pepper spray on crowds.
The police department statement comes as the Trump administration has increased the presence of the federal police in Democratic cities across the United States. On Wednesday, President Trump
Donald John Trump, Justice Department, says 18 people face federal charges after Portland’s protests against the U.S. He takes over the former Chinese consulate in Houston. Defense Overnight: Republican Senator Aims to Rename Confederate Base | Trump approves sale of more larger armed drones MORE announced that federal agents would be dispatched to Chicago and Albuquerque, declaring that the cities were outmatched with “violent crimes.”
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