Seattle’s police department is under scrutiny following its handling of a pro-LGBTQ protest on May 24th, sparking renewed calls for transparency and accountability.
The police presence at Cal Anderson Park coincided with a rally organized by Mayday USA, a group associated with conservative Christian fundamentalism, which drew counter-protests from anti-fascist activists and supporters of LGBTQ rights.
Witnesses reported that police formed a protective line around the fundamentalist rally while aggressively confronting counterprotesters, leading to accusations of bias and misconduct.
In the aftermath of the event, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that the Seattle Police Department would conduct an after-action report. However, this internal review has raised concerns among community members about the potential for lack of transparency regarding the details of the police’s actions.
Many residents believe that a genuine investigation must be led by the community rather than kept behind closed doors, as past reports on police accountability have sometimes been neglected or hidden from public view.
For Police Chief Shon Barnes, this situation presents an opportunity to establish a new direction for the Seattle Police Department in handling protests and community relations.
Barnes has emphasized a commitment to reform, but critics argue that meaningful action is necessary to back up those promises.
One standard for effective after-action reports comes from the practices of the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
When an aviation incident occurs, the NTSB conducts thorough investigations that delve into the causes of the event, identifying systemic issues that need to be addressed to promote safety in the future.
This model raises the question of whether the Seattle police can provide a similarly comprehensive report that holds the department accountable for its interactions during the May 24th protest.
In this spirit of accountability, community input is deemed crucial in shaping a thorough after-action review that can guide future practices during protests.
Experts in crowd control, including organizations like the Center for Policing Equity, have established protocols that emphasize the importance of communication and prevention strategies in managing protests peacefully.
These best practices include establishing contact with protest organizers, using verbal de-escalation techniques, and ensuring that crowd dispersal orders are clear, lawful, and give participants adequate time to comply.
A serious after-action report should seek to answer critical questions about the police’s actions on May 24th, including whether officers engaged with organizers from both sides of the protests, why they chose to protect the fundamentalist rally, and what alternative strategies could have been employed to reduce violence.
The decision to arrest counterprotesters and the employment of pepper spray on individuals already subdued also merit scrutiny in any forthcoming analysis.
Meanwhile, members of the Seattle Police Officer’s Guild (SPOG) have attempted to deflect blame for the public unrest, claiming that lack of political support prevents officers from using the necessary tools to maintain order during protests.
Such remarks have been criticized as attempts to evade accountability for the department’s actions.
With ongoing tensions surrounding federal governmental policies, community leaders anticipate that protests will continue to escalate.
In light of this, residents are mobilizing to demand an open and community-driven approach to the after-action report.
This includes not only gathering input from individuals directly involved in the May 24th protests but also requires a specific framework outlining actionable steps the Seattle Police Department can take to prevent future violent confrontations.
Effective change, advocates state, will necessitate a steadfast commitment from city leaders and Chief Barnes to ensure that recommendations stemming from the report are not only made but implemented rigorously.
The situation has highlighted the broader conversation about police accountability in Seattle, and the need for reformative practices that prioritize community safety and uphold the rights of all protesters, regardless of their affiliations.
As the city’s residents await the outcome of the after-action report, one thing remains clear: the demand for an accountable police force that respects the rights of protesters will not fade away quietly.
image source from：https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/06/10/op-ed-seattle-police-mishandled-protests-again-we-must-learn-from-mistakes/
