When a group of pro-LGBT counterprotestors attacked a peaceful Christian rally in Seattle, the city’s woke mayor slammed the Christians and sided with the violent leftists, calling the event, which was a gathering for worship and prayer, a “far-right rally” and accusing the Christians of being part of an organized attack on Seattle’s “trans and LGBTQ+ communities.”
For context, on May 24, 2025, the conservative Christian organization Mayday USA, a group dedicated to preserving the sanctity of life and traditional views on marriage, hosted a “Don’tMessWithOurKids” rally in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park, which was violently disrupted by a group of LGBT counter-protestors, leading to the arrest of at least 22 people.
In response to the incident, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell issued a statement on the same day that condemned the event and effectively sided with the woke protestors, many of whom were reportedly clothed in black and wearing masks. In his statement, Harrell wrote, “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.” The mayor then conceded, “We lose our voice when this is disrupted by violence, chaos, and confusion.
Continuing, Mayor Harrell baselessly argued that “anarchists” had turned an otherwise peaceful counter-protest into a chaotic force, saying that they “inspired violence, prompting SPD to make arrests and ask organizers to shut down the event early, which they did.” Later in his statement, Mayor Harrell said he was “grateful” for the protestors and called the rally “an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our trans and LGBTQ+ communities.”
Furthermore, Mayor Harrell described Seattle as “a welcoming, inclusive city for LGBTQ+ communities,” going on to say that the local government stands “with our trans neighbors” and implying that the Christian rally was a form of “bigotry and injustice.” Moreover, the mayor said that traditional Christian views on the sanctity of life and marriage are “inherently opposed to our city’s values.”
In response to Mayor Harrell’s statement, Seattle pastor Russell Johnson of Pursuit NW Church shot back on X on May 26, 2025, calling Harrell’s words “bigoted statements about people of faith.” Moreover, Pastor Johnson shared an additional statement made by Mayor Harrell in which he claimed that Christians were targeting him because he is “Seattle’s second Black and first biracial mayor.”
Continuing, Pastor Johnson slammed the Mayor’s statement, saying, “Now he releases a statement saying he is being ‘intimidated’ because he is biracial.” He added, “That’s how you know we are winning. That’s how you know his resignation is impending.” Later, the pastor announced that his church was organizing a second peaceful protest on the steps of Seattle City Hall on May 27, 2025, calling it “Rattle in Seattle.”
According to press coverage, the “Rattle in Seattle” protest resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, whose names have not been made public. Following the arrests, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced on X that he had asked his staff to “fully investigate allegations of targeted violence against religious groups at the Seattle concert,” adding, “Freedom of religion isn’t a suggestion.”
Watch that incident unfold below:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video