This morning, the Seattle Police Department responded to Westlake Park to assist in facilitating a peaceful demonstration today following the tragic killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Alongside Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle PD has been monitoring the demonstrations to provide assistance, manage traffic impacts, and preserve health and safety.
Following several hours of peaceful demonstration, the crowd became violent and aggressive and began to throw bottles at officers.
Members of the crowd also threw fireworks towards people attending the rally.
As a result, citizens and officers were injured.
Following the onset of this violence, the police department issued a dispersal order to the crowd and it was ignored.
Protesters have blocked all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 at Seneca Street.
The crowd has set several patrol cars on fire in the downtown core near Westlake Center.
Several arrests have been made.
The Department urges community members to avoid the area if possible.