News Release:
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
On Saturday, May 24, a Christian group held an anti-LGBTQIA2S+ rally in Seattle's Cal Anderson Park. The event was met with counter protesters denouncing the group’s work and pushing back against “Fascist Family Values,” according to flyers circulated throughout the city. The Seattle Police Department made 23 arrests Saturday afternoon.
Vanessa Torres Hernandez, ACLU-WA integrated advocacy director, had the following response:
“We acknowledge that the rally at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday took place in a political environment that is increasingly hostile and harmful to LGBTQIA2S+ people and in a venue that lies at the heart of Seattle’s queer communities. Those circumstances required Seattle to take an affirmative role in protecting the exercise of everyone’s free speech rights, both those who were rallying and those who were counterprotesting, without threatening the safety of anyone, and refraining from the use of law enforcement in these efforts, except as a last resort.
Police engagement risks escalation and harm for those involved, particularly for people of color and members of LGBTQIA2S+ communities. The ACLU-WA encourages the city to explore strategies that are mindful of escalating dynamics, and to respond in ways that promote freedom of speech and counter-speech, as well as the safety of communities.”
Vanessa Torres Hernandez, ACLU-WA integrated advocacy director, had the following response:
“We acknowledge that the rally at Cal Anderson Park on Saturday took place in a political environment that is increasingly hostile and harmful to LGBTQIA2S+ people and in a venue that lies at the heart of Seattle’s queer communities. Those circumstances required Seattle to take an affirmative role in protecting the exercise of everyone’s free speech rights, both those who were rallying and those who were counterprotesting, without threatening the safety of anyone, and refraining from the use of law enforcement in these efforts, except as a last resort.
Police engagement risks escalation and harm for those involved, particularly for people of color and members of LGBTQIA2S+ communities. The ACLU-WA encourages the city to explore strategies that are mindful of escalating dynamics, and to respond in ways that promote freedom of speech and counter-speech, as well as the safety of communities.”
