Extremism researchers and local law enforcement officials have asserted that a minimal faction of individuals participating in protests engage in violence or property damage.
However, incidents of unrest often capture significant media attention, as was evident last month when the White House Instagram account showcased videos of burning cars, flames, and fireworks from a protest in Los Angeles.
In the previous year’s presidential debates, President Donald Trump highlighted the demonstrations in Seattle from 2020, exaggerating claims that protesters had ‘taken over a big percentage of the city.’
Washington state Rep. Mari Leavitt expressed concern over how these violent outbursts are tarnishing the broader protest movement initiated during Trump’s administration.
Leavitt, a Democrat representing part of Pierce County, noted, ‘This small militant group are creating lawlessness in a way that makes it difficult for those who do want a peaceful protest.’
In response to a video showing demonstrators in Tukwila assaulting an individual on the ground on June 14, Leavitt commented on X, stating, ‘Antifa and Black Bloc have again lost their damn minds,’ referencing the protesters who adopt black clothing and masks to blend in.
Leavitt emphasized the necessity of protest but distinguished between peaceful protest and criminal violence, tweeting, ‘Protest is necessary. Violence and assault are criminal.’
While some organizers argue that police actions often incite violence, alongside accusations that ICE is flouting the law, questions arise concerning how to respond non-violently when the ‘system is trying to kill you and kill your loved ones,’ as articulated by Rosario Lopez, an undocumented organizer who participated in a Seattle protest on June 11.
Lopez, who refrained from joining those clad in black during confrontations with law enforcement, articulated the unpredictability of loved ones’ fates when detained by ICE.
‘If someone comes and kidnaps your loved one, what would you do?’ Lopez questioned, highlighting the potential dangers faced by individuals inside detention centers.
Statistics reveal that twelve individuals have died in ICE custody since President Trump’s inauguration, heightening concerns about the agency’s practices.
Defining violence and discerning its perpetrators is a complex topic among activists on the left.
Karl Kaltenthaler, an academic specializing in political violence at the University of Akron, acknowledged that while left-wing extremists might inflict more property damage, right-wing extremist violence is more prevalent and lethal.
Kaltenthaler remarked that it is ineffective to strictly map left-right politics onto all forms of violence, noting that many individuals involved in protests might not identify with a specific ideological group—or at times, they embrace a broad array of ideologies.
In the Pacific Northwest over the past decade, confrontations between left-wing anti-fascists and right-wing agitators have often ensued.
As noted by Rutgers historian Mark Bray, a portion of leftist activists believe in employing violence solely as a means to combat growing fascism.
Bray explored this sentiment in his 2017 book ‘Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook,’ noting different perspectives within the movement.
One antifascist from the late 1990s and early 2000s stated, ‘You fight them with your fists so you don’t have to fight them with guns. You fight them with guns so you don’t have to fight them with tanks.’
Bray emphasized that the number of individuals willing to resort to violence is relatively small, citing that at the June 14 ‘No Kings’ march in Seattle, only approximately 25 of the estimated 70,000 attendees were observed wearing black bloc attire.
Furthermore, the Tukwila Police Department reported that about 25 to 30 individuals among the protestors outside ICE’s offices were akin to those engaged in confrontational tactics.
Tom Clarke, a lawyer who confronted black-clad protesters in downtown Seattle on June 11, highlighted the non-violent nature of the immigrants involved, asserting, ‘It’s important to note that.’
Clarke expressed sentiments that some Mexican Americans were seen rescuing American flags from being incinerated by certain groups during the protests.
After his remarks gained traction online, Clarke later experienced a mixed response, spurring a range of reactions comprising praise, criticism, and even offers for meals.
While Clarke does not regret his statements, he expressed a desire for dialogue with the protesters: ‘I wish I could’ve sat down for a beer with antifa protestors afterward.’
Clarke advocates for using legal frameworks and constitutional rights to advocate for immigrants and marginalized groups, but he recognizes the frustrations many individuals feel toward the rules of engagement in protest.
‘Other people are like, ‘Well, they’re not playing by the rules. So, why should we?’ And I don’t have a counterargument to that,’ he confessed.
image source from：kuow
