SEATTLE — Several buildings were damaged and three people were arrested Wednesday night after protests against President Biden and Federal agencies turned violent on Seattle streets.
Dozens of demonstrators started marching Wednesday afternoon from Occidental Park and made their way through Downtown Seattle.
The protest first centered around an office building at 1000 2nd Avenue which houses the offices of ICE agents and Federal Immigration Court. Protesters burned American flags and dropped flyers calling for the abolition of ICE, something Biden’s administration said Wednesday they would not do.
Protesters were seen using tools to try to break the windows of the building. A security guard at the building told KIRO-7 the glass is bulletproof.
>> PHOTOS: Seattle buildings damaged during demonstration
Glass was shattered at banks, the Nakamura Federal Courthouse, Amazon Go stores, and the original Starbucks in Pike Place Market.
Seattle police moved in about 20 minutes into the march on bikes and on foot.
Security’s been ramped for Inauguration Day,” said Officer Valerie Carson with Seattle police. “We’re prepared for this and we’ve got units from our community response group who are tracking this group and following them and hoping to deter as much criminal activity as possible.”
“This is not a peaceful protest. We’ve had multiple sites that have been vandalized,” she said.
Once things start to get destructive and property starts being damaged, that’s usually when we will step in and try to make arrests.”
Below are live updates:
8:13 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: Seattle police said they arrested a man near the Starbucks at Pike Place Market.
Police have arrested a man in the 1900 block of Pike Place for investigation of burglary and for the property damage seen in these photos. pic.twitter.com/l2HnB4Tvp5
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 21, 2021
7:48 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: The original Starbucks at Pike Place Market was damaged.
The group smashed windows and doors of the original Starbucks at Pike Place and moved on. Nothing else damaged here. pic.twitter.com/W32b2jhwr0
— Gary Horcher (@GaryKIRO7) January 21, 2021
7:11 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: KIRO 7 Gary Horcher followed the protesters, who targeted the Seattle ICE offices on Second Avenue.
Protesters targeted ICE offices on 2nd Ave with hammers before breaking windows on a march through downtown. The theme here is abolish ICE, police, and President Biden. pic.twitter.com/ggOgFVWnnX
— Gary Horcher (@GaryKIRO7) January 21, 2021
6:42 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: Multiple windows at the William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse at 6th Ave and Spring Street were damaged.
Multiple windows shattered at the William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse at 6th Ave and Spring Street. pic.twitter.com/uwtZAycyVT
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 21, 2021
6:33 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: Seattle police said they arrested a woman for an assault.
Police have arrested a female from the group for an assault at 2nd Avenue and Cherry Street.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 21, 2021
6:16 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: One person was arrested for property damage, Seattle police said.
Police are monitoring a group in #DowntownSeattle. Multiple sites have been vandalized. One arrest made for property damage. pic.twitter.com/oLfIsGt5Af
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 21, 2021
6:11 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: Demonstrations moved to First Avenue and Seneca Street. Transportation officials are asking people to avoid the area and to take alternate routes.
UPDATE: Demonstration now at 1st Ave and Seneca St headed SB. Use caution and seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/yXd3GvuV7D
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 21, 2021
5:45 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021:
Demonstrations located at 6th Ave and Yesler Way headed SB. Use caution and seek alternate routes.
— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 21, 2021
Cox Media Group