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Seattle May Day action turns violent as police clash with protesters | Seattle May Day action turns violent as police clash with protesters |
(8 days later) | |
Eight police officers were hurt and 18 protesters arrested in Seattle on Wednesday when a May Day rally that began peacefully turned violent after dark, with crowds hurling rocks and bottles at police who responded with pepper spray grenades. | Eight police officers were hurt and 18 protesters arrested in Seattle on Wednesday when a May Day rally that began peacefully turned violent after dark, with crowds hurling rocks and bottles at police who responded with pepper spray grenades. |
Protesters threw rocks, bottles and chunks of asphalt at officers, officials said, smashing store and car windows, overturning trash cans and lining up newspaper display racks to block streets. | Protesters threw rocks, bottles and chunks of asphalt at officers, officials said, smashing store and car windows, overturning trash cans and lining up newspaper display racks to block streets. |
Police in riot gear, some riding in armored Swat vehicles, responded by repeatedly firing "blast ball" grenades, which emit smoke tinged with pepper spray. | Police in riot gear, some riding in armored Swat vehicles, responded by repeatedly firing "blast ball" grenades, which emit smoke tinged with pepper spray. |
"We're a bigger, better city than this," mayor Mike McGinn said at a news conference. "I'm disappointed that this is the picture the world sees of us." | "We're a bigger, better city than this," mayor Mike McGinn said at a news conference. "I'm disappointed that this is the picture the world sees of us." |
Most of the 150-200 protesters who had stayed on the street after darkness fell for a "non-permitted" protest had dispersed by midnight. | Most of the 150-200 protesters who had stayed on the street after darkness fell for a "non-permitted" protest had dispersed by midnight. |
"We did not start to take action until that group itself started to act violently towards the officers and the community at large," assistant police chief Paul McDonagh said. | "We did not start to take action until that group itself started to act violently towards the officers and the community at large," assistant police chief Paul McDonagh said. |
The day started with a peaceful march in support of immigrant rights, part of May Day rallies in cities across the US west planned by a coalition of organsed labour activists, students, civil rights advocates and members of the clergy. | The day started with a peaceful march in support of immigrant rights, part of May Day rallies in cities across the US west planned by a coalition of organsed labour activists, students, civil rights advocates and members of the clergy. |
In Los Angeles, thousands of protesters marched through downtown waving American flags and carrying signs with the slogan, "Stop deportations." | In Los Angeles, thousands of protesters marched through downtown waving American flags and carrying signs with the slogan, "Stop deportations." |
One police officer told Reuters that unofficial estimates put the size of the crowd in Los Angeles at roughly 3,500 people. No arrests were reported. | One police officer told Reuters that unofficial estimates put the size of the crowd in Los Angeles at roughly 3,500 people. No arrests were reported. |
In Arizona, where a state crackdown against illegal immigration was signed into law three years ago, several hundred people joined a late-afternoon rally outside the state Capitol in Phoenix, ahead of a march through downtown. | In Arizona, where a state crackdown against illegal immigration was signed into law three years ago, several hundred people joined a late-afternoon rally outside the state Capitol in Phoenix, ahead of a march through downtown. |
McGinn said Seattle officials had not expected violence but had wanted police to maintain a visible presence for the rally following the Boston Marathon bombing two weeks ago. | McGinn said Seattle officials had not expected violence but had wanted police to maintain a visible presence for the rally following the Boston Marathon bombing two weeks ago. |
"The Boston situation is really on all of our minds," McGinn said. "I thought it was important to … be in a position to move promptly if there were law breaking." | "The Boston situation is really on all of our minds," McGinn said. "I thought it was important to … be in a position to move promptly if there were law breaking." |
Of the eight officers who were hurt most suffered only scrapes and bruises, police officials said, although a policewoman was hit in the knee by a large chunk of asphalt. | Of the eight officers who were hurt most suffered only scrapes and bruises, police officials said, although a policewoman was hit in the knee by a large chunk of asphalt. |
A bipartisan group of US senators in April introduced an 844-page bill, backed by President Barack Obama, that would rewrite many of America's immigration laws. | A bipartisan group of US senators in April introduced an 844-page bill, backed by President Barack Obama, that would rewrite many of America's immigration laws. |
A centerpiece of the measure would create a path to legal status and ultimately citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. | A centerpiece of the measure would create a path to legal status and ultimately citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. |
It also aims to secure the US border with Mexico against illegal entry and to make it easier for industry, particularly high-tech businesses and agriculture, to hire workers from abroad when needed. | It also aims to secure the US border with Mexico against illegal entry and to make it easier for industry, particularly high-tech businesses and agriculture, to hire workers from abroad when needed. |
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