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.
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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.
7:48 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: The original Starbucks at Pike Place Market was damaged.
7:11 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: KIRO 7 Gary Horcher followed the protesters, who targeted the Seattle ICE offices on Second Avenue.
6:42 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: Multiple windows at the William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse at 6th Ave and Spring Street were damaged.
6:33 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: Seattle police said they arrested a woman for an assault.
6:16 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: One person was arrested for property damage, Seattle police said.
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.
5:45 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021: