Seattle police arrested at least nine May Day demonstrators on Sunday evening, who were reportedly throwing rocks, flares, and Molotov cocktails at officers. Earlier in the day, people had gathered in a peaceful march, in order to demand more rights for workers and immigrants, said The Associated Press (AP).
Protesters were requesting increased wages, and a cease of deportations. They also made reference to plans presented by the Obama administration to issue work licenses to immigrants in the U.S., whose children are American citizens. Similar reunions took place in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Oregon.
Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, said that this time protesters were looking for dignity and self-respect. In L.A., hundreds of people joined to chant slogans, carry signs and hit at least one Donald Trump piñata, said the AP.
“We can certainly encourage folks to look at what they’re watching, what they’re hearing and have them represent themselves and their families and say, ‘We are not the rapists. We are not the criminals you are talking about. And we are quite good for this country,'” Cabrera was quoted as saying by the Associated press.
Republican front-runner candidate Donald Trump was among the most mentioned during the May Day protests. The latter has proposed to build a wall on the border that limits the U.S. and Mexico, in order to stop illegal immigration.
Everybody is talking about the protesters burning the American flags and proudly waving Mexican flags. I want America First – so do voters!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2016
Anti-capitalist march gets complicated in Seattle
On Sunday evening, anti-capitalist demonstrators without an official permit from officials gathered in a downtown park in the Seattle. Groups were exposing signs, many of them saying “We Are Ungovernable”. Around 7 p.m. police had reported property damage, related to the same protest, said the AP.
The march was scattered by police officers using pepper spray, after the group of anti-capitalists wearing black clothes started throwing rocks, flares, and Molotov cocktails to the police. At least eight men and 1 woman were arrested on Sunday for obstruction, assault and property destruction charges.
Three police officers were injured by protesters. One was hit by a rock that caused him a head injury. Another was stricken by a Molotov cocktail while the other was bitten. According to Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole, there were no considerable wounds, as reported by the AP.
During the last years, Seattle has been a major place for rowdy May Day protests. Police arrested 10 people in 2015, 13 people in 2014 and 18 people in 2013, during similar demonstrations, said the AP.
Source: The Associated Press