The incident involved a police officer slashing tires during the Free Palestine protest on February 9 is under investigation Seattle, Washington. The actions of Seattle Police Departmenttargeting minivans and other vehicles that disregard driver compliance, is currently under review by the agency. Office of Police Accountability after the complaint was filed on February 13, according to The news really changes.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at Seattle’s World Trade Center and the city’s riverfront for demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The protest is part of an ongoing plan Demonstration IN Seattle denounce US support for Israel. A convoy of vehicles, including a Toyota Prius and Honda Odyssey, parked in the driveway reportedly blocked the entrance to the boulevard in front of the World Trade Center, prompting the Seattle Police Department to move in and disperse the crowd. winter. Witnesses reported that protesters complied with police orders, but SPD officers moved forward, shoving a 62-year-old protester and causing them to fall. slash tires on a minivan, like videotapes shared by University of Washington’s Progressive Student Association Shows:
Police arrested four protesters, including a 62-year-old woman who was forcibly detained, then transported to an area hospital and later released. Charges against those arrested included felony assault, but those charges were dropped and prosecutors did not pursue other charges, because Stranger report:
On Wednesday, prosecutors filed no charges against two protesters arrested for felony assault by Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers during a pro-Palestinian protest outside Seattle World Trade Center last Friday. The lack of charges appears to support protesters’ claims that SPD overreacted to the protest, as does the fact that, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office, SPD itself said the department had There may not be a felony case against either defendant. However, the ministry said Thursday it was still investigating the protesters.
SPD said protesters used people and cars to block entrances and exits to a parking lot and garage at the World Trade Center and Waterfront Marriott Hotel, and ignored orders to move. However, protesters described their response as cooperative and said police had escalated the situation.
Parties involved in the pro-Palestinian protest included UW PSU and the Seattle Coalition Against Racism and Political Repression, both of whom asserted that officers responded with excessive force and without warning. Clearly alerted activists before charging at them, even after protesters complied with police. .
Police slashed the tires of three vehicles in the “car brigade”, including a Honda Odyssey carrying a “Free Palestine” banner, while a fourth vehicle was towed away. Each Real change:
Since the start of the protest, witnesses said there has been a heavy police presence. One protester estimated there were more than 30 Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers and dozens of police cars at the scene. After protesters blocked the driveway at 2200 Alaskan Way, police arrived to disperse the protest.
According to both activists and SPD, four protesters were arrested. One of them, Linda Bevis, a 62-year-old teacher, was knocked to the ground before being arrested and suffered head injuries. In video recorded by bystanders, one of the arrested protesters can be seen being pinned to the ground by four police officers.
Videos also showed a police officer using a knife to stab the tires of protesters’ vehicles, which were part of a “car brigade” used to help block driveways. Protesters claimed that police punctured the tires of three vehicles, while the fourth was towed away.
The Seattle Police Department has moved on confirm Its response has been assured and officials are securing access to the parking garage next to the World Trade Center:
In a written statement, SPD said officers responded to the protest to ensure vehicles could access the parking lot next to the Seattle World Trade Center and that one officer was injured during Demonstration. The department also said a protester’s tire was deflated “by an approved tire deflation device.”
Protesters answered by gathering outside the police precinct with video showing them separating to allow vehicles to be towed. SPD policy allows police to disperse crowds that disrupt traffic, but it’s unclear whether police can persist after protesters actually comply. In the video, it appears the minivan driver is following instructions when an officer runs up behind him and slashes the tire. The driver is according to the report seek help from an attorney, while the Office of Police Accountability investigation is ongoing.
