FBU Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced Tuesday evening the FBI is investigating the violent attack on a Christian rally and concert in a Seattle Park on Saturday. The Christians were attacked by Antifa and transgender activists. Seattle police arrested 23 violent protesters, but asked the organizers to shut down the permitted rally in the face of the violent attacks, which they voluntarily did.
Seattle’s radical Democrat Mayor Bruce Harrell, in a statement on the violence, blamed the Christians for the attack and questioned the city granting a permit.
Compilation video of the Christian gathering and Antifa/trans battles with Seattle police protecting the event posted by Pastor Russell Johnson (with a lengthy rant against the mayor):
The @MayorofSeattle owes Christians in WA State an apology for his bigoted remarks after folks who were holding a peaceful worship event at Cal Anderson Park were violently assaulted for the high crime of expressing their deeply held religious beliefs in the form of a permitted… pic.twitter.com/sxP1fHWR75
— Russell Johnson (@russellbjohnson) May 25, 2025
Video of police arresting violent protesters posted by KOMO-TV reporter Jeremy Harris:
NOW: Several arrests during a chaotic counter-protest at a Christian church event in Cal Anderson Park.
‘On Fire Ministries’ planned the rally to oppose abortion and promote their views on gender. Pro-trans rights protesters gathered to oppose.
(Language warning)@komonews pic.twitter.com/CPkt7tOo4W
— Jeremy Harris (@JeremyHarrisTV) May 24, 2025
Bongino: “We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert. Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.”
We have asked our team to fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert.
Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.— Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) May 28, 2025
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon commented Sunday on Mayor Harrell, “To deny a group a permit to pray in a public space because of crowd reaction is the classic heckler’s veto, which is barred by the First Amendment. Seattle’s Mayor clearly needs an education in viewpoint discrimination.”
To deny a group a permit to pray in a public space because of crowd reaction is the classic heckler’s veto, which is barred by the First Amendment. Seattle’s Mayor clearly needs an education in viewpoint discrimination. https://t.co/QxhkEwDQPE
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) May 25, 2025
Mayor Harrell Statement on Extreme Right-Wing Rally at Cal Anderson Park (released Saturday night)
Seattle is proud of our reputation as a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities, and we stand with our trans neighbors when they face bigotry and injustice. Today’s far-right rally was held here for this very reason – 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.
“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.
“Anarchists infiltrated the counter-protestors group and inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did.
“While there are broad First Amendment requirements around permitting events under free speech protections, I am directing the Parks Department to review all of the circumstances of this application to understand whether there were legal location alternatives or other adjustments that could have been pursued. The Police Department will complete an after-action report of this event, including understanding preparation, crowd management tactics, and review of arrests and citations.
“I am grateful for those who make their voices heard in support of our neighbors without resorting to violence. 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.”
Harrell subsequently played the race card in a statement to KIRO-TV on Monday:
“We will not be intimidated by the kind of fear mongering or divisiveness inspired by the rally … that takes aim at our residents and at Seattle’s second Black and first biracial mayor.”
#BREAKING: OMG! Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell(@MayorofSeattle) is in panic mode after victim-blaming Christians for the Antifa violence over the weekend at Cal Anderson Park.
He’s now pulling the race card to garner sympathy for his disastrous response. Instead of showing humility… https://t.co/9rh4SmprbR pic.twitter.com/zEKqX1JEDn— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) May 27, 2025
Pastor Johnson is holding a protest at Seattle City Hall Tuesday evening. That gathering has also been attacked by Antifa and transgender activists. Video by Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt:
.@SeattlePD make two arrests outside of Seattle City Hall after a trans Antifa activist assaulted journalist @choeshow.
There is a large police presence. pic.twitter.com/DsqPK1kJkJ
— Katie Daviscourt (@KatieDaviscourt) May 27, 2025
Looks like more religious freedom violations for the FBI and DOJ to investigate and prosecute.
Read the full article here