Seattle May Day Protest/Riot
A cold May 1st (May Day) morning in the downtown streets was the start of my May Day that I will be put in my books as the most crazy. As I walked to Westlake Center I could feel a certain energy in the air, not violence, but a coming together almost. Everybody was there for the same reason, to spread awareness about workers rights. People dancing, chanting, singing, felt so good. Then it was time for the "anti-capitalist" march. Before the march you could notice about 50 or 60 so people wearing all black these people are known as "Anarchists". The Anarchists were in the front forming what they call a "Black Bloc". As we were marching the first acts of vandalism I witness was two guys popping the tires of a Bank of America money truck and throwing lightbulbs filled with bright red paint at bank walls, I just kept walking saying "no biggy". After we reached the William Kenzo Nakamura U.S Courthouse on Fifth & Spring Street I could sense a shift in the crowds demeanor. While I was walking, taking pictures I could hear rocks being thrown at windows. When I looked thats exactly what I saw. When the rest of the Anarchists heard the sounds of rocks being thrown "ALL HELL BROKE LOSE". I witness all 60 of them attack the Courthouse with long wooden flags that they created. As the windows breaking and the paint filled bulbs were being thrown I notice smoke coming from the building. Someone had fired a firework and it was burning the inside of the courthouse. This lasted about 10 minutes and then I notice "Phoenix Jones" Seattle's "superhero" whip out his mace and sprayed everybody near him Including me. He didn't pay attention to the wind direction and that lead to the mace getting blown all around the city. The March headed down to Niketown after there distruction on the Courthouse. Just like in the 1999 WTO riot Niketown was a target. A HUGE target. I'm standing there and I get pushed down by two or three Anarchists and before I could wrap my head around what was happening all 60 of them were fixated on destroying Niketown. I got back on my feet and, backed off a little (but not to far) and just started documenting the destruction. I stopped for a moment to take it all in. Rocks being thrown, people yelling, swearing, the sound of wooden pulls being smashed into windows, windows breaking, the smell of fire burning on the awnings. As kaos rang I wasn't scared, more of an excited feeling. After 30 minutes of this the Seattle Police Department finally came in and tried to catch the Anarchists, key word "tried" The SPD didn't care who you wear, if you wear downthere you got sprayed, Pepper sprayed that is. After the kaos I walked down the street of Niketown and I will never forget what the aftermath. Hundreds of make-shift wooden flags scatterd in the streets, flares still burning, red paint all over the ground, broken glass everywear, everyday civilians choking on the mace & smoke that filled the street. The march continued and met up with the El Comite protest group. When we finally met up with them the feeling was the same as when I first got to Westlake. No more acts of vandalism was commited after the meeting up with El Comite. When I got home that night I looked and smelled terrible. As I look back at Seattle May Day I notice how lucky I was for not getting arrested or hurt. Also, it was one of the most biggest protest since the WTO in 1999. So I kind of take pride in that I was part of it.