ECHO Patrol Log: 11-11-2014 Report By: Red Ranger Roll Call: El Caballero, Red Ranger, Shockwave Location: Westlake and Capitol Hill Patrol Time: 12:30 - 15:30 ECHO received some intel about an anarchist protest that would be occurring in downtown Seattle today, so we headed there to make sure everyone involved was staying safe and not harming others or property, as they have in the past. The patrol started with El Caballero and I meeting up and mobilizing into the main downtown area. Shockwave got in touch with us later and provided mobile support. We shortly arrived at Westlake Center and found the crowd of black-clad anarchists gathering themselves and preparing for their march. We expected a much larger group to be protesting, but the turnout was only about 25-30 people. With them they had their black bandannas, Guy Fawkes masks, as well as several flags and banners including a defaced and upside-down American flag (on Veterans Day, no less...). We staked them out from afar for a while and did a few laps around the block, running into some other anarchist disturbers who were following us and seemed to be trying to cause trouble, shouting hateful speech and jeering at us. We didnt stop to pay them mind and they seemed to get bored pretty quickly. Shortly after 13:00, the anarchist mob began shouting and ran into the streets, disturbing and slowing down traffic. They proceeded to march and chant down the block and we followed, keeping a close eye on them. Soon a few SPD bike officers arrived and followed slowly behind the march, but the polices presence faded in and out over its course. The protest continued for another couple hours and went all around the downtown area, but the anarchists caused no trouble aside from aggressive, anti-patriotic shouting and slowing down traffic a significant amount, even draping their banners over vehicles that were stopped by their protest. We followed the anarchist protesters all the way back to their starting point in Westlake Center and saw them pack up, bringing their little parade to a close. With no serious harm done, El Caballero and I decided to call off the patrol and we parted ways at around 15:30. Although this kind of thing isnt at all what one would want to see on Veterans day, we are happy that the protest didnt become dangerous and that everyone was staying safe. Peace and harmony prevailed! **((Note: I have included a video clip from my chest-mounted camera of our patrol around the anarchist protest. I do apologize for the awkward camera angle and incorrect time stamp, but I suppose I still have a few kinks to work out. -- Red Ranger))**
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:13:43 +0000
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