Through the Static

By Hannah Saunders

Trans, Queers, and allied protesters showed up to Cal Anderson Park on May 24 to denounce an extremist group called May Day USA, which was promoting its anti-Trans and pro-nuclear family ideology through its ‘Free Haircuts for Kids’ event in the heart of Seattle’s Gayborhood. And groups of churches are likely to return to the park named after Washington’s first openly-Gay state legislator on August 30 for a Christian fascist rock concert.

From the get go, Seattle Police were prepared to go after protesters, with three POET officers forming a shoulder to shoulder line facing them early on during the event. And when a protester popped a May Day USA balloon, officers charged with full force, tackling and slamming people to the ground, using bikes and batons on all in their sights.

During that initial wave of violence brought on by Seattle Police, a person started throwing water at the officers to disperse them.

As the day went on, police violence ramped up: they pepper sprayed crowds, dragged protesters over metal fences, and even tackled a person walking through the alley to get their haircut- putting a leg on their neck. Cops arrested a few dozen people, citing officer assault in many cases.

May Day USA went on to hold a concert outside of the Seattle City Hall without a permit for the speakers, because Mayor Bruce Harrell issued a statement after the Cal Anderson event, calling the group “extreme,” among other things. One of its members posted emails on social media showing how May Day USA obtained a permit for Cal Anderson Park after an unsuccessful attempt at scoring a spot in Pike Place. The group said it would return to Seattle in August.

Anti-Queer Christian singer Sean Feucht is preparing for his “Revive in 25″ tour, which will head into America’s darkest, most broken cities; cities where people have been ignored by their leaders and where homelessness, crime, drug addiction and poverty are strangling the population. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we will bring the Gospel and a heart of praise to those downcast and downtrodden souls,” according to its website.

The City has yet to make a final decision about the permit for this upcoming event, according to The Burner Seattle.

8/19/25 UPDATE: The Christian- fascist concert has now been moved to Gas Works Park in Fremont, starting at 5 p.m., although Sean Feucht and his posse will march in Capitol Hill at 3:30 p.m.

Earlier today, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and District 3 Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth issued a joint-statement regarding the last-minute change in venue, part of which said:

“According to the law, the City cannot deny or unilaterally relocate permits for public spaces based on the content of the speech or the impacts of that speech on the community. Recognizing that Cal Anderson Park is an important gathering space for our LGBTQ+ residents and receiving their feedback on the event location, we worked with the organizers to suggest alternative park locations.”

But the “Jesus March” in Capitol Hill, the city’s LGBTQIA+ neighborhood, is meant to send a message to the Queer residents: Christo-fascism is very much alive and persistent, even within cities where they aren’t welcomed.

Feucht has been hosting Jesus marches across cities nationwide for his “Revive in 25” tour despite pushback from community members. The tour’s website states they are heading “into America’s darkest, most broken cities; cities where people have been ignored by their leaders and where homelessness, crime, drug addiction and poverty are strangling the population. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we will bring the Gospel and a heart of praise to those downcast and downtrodden souls.”