From the blog “Seattlish:” Seattle protesters bracing for another round of unsympathetic local TV news headlines
KIRO 7 has calls in to Seattle police to ask if they are planning to beef up security at the mall, which is likely on the minds of people who work and want to shop at Westlake Center.
You know what’s on the minds of the protesters? The basic safety of Black people. So uh, sorry if your shopping is interrupted.
KIRO-TV’s piece, “Seattle police bracing for Monday night Ferguson protest,” is dripping with disdainful subtext towards those that dare interrupt the Festive Holiday Season with scaaaaary “caring about social justice.” HEY KIRO-TV, WE FIXED IT FOR YOU:
Seattle protesters are bracing for another incident like the one that led to the death of unarmed Black teenager Mike Brown.
The protesters continue to be angry about not only a St. Louis County grand jury decision, but patterns of racial and economic injustice in law enforcement that far too often lead to the deaths of unarmed people of color.
KIRO 7 has calls in to Seattle police to ask if they are planning to beef up security at the mall, which might be cool for people who are working or want to go shopping. Maybe KIRO 7 should also ask police how that investigation into Sargeant Christopher Hall is going*. Or maybe, like Josh Kerns at KIRO Radio, you could ask the protesters what they’re about.
For 3.5 hours, Seattle-area shoppers were forced to acknowledge the fact that the world is a scary place and that crimes against justice are being committed every day.
Westlake Center’s annual tree lighting ceremony was next door. It went on, although a children’s choir performance was canceled because event organizers thought the protesters presented a security threat.
Protesters also went to the another mall and to Capitol Hill. The only window broken was that of a car dealership.
Monday’s protest is set to start at 6 p.m.
If you’re terrified of mostly-peaceful protesters, imagine what it’s like to be terrified of the police every day of your life.
*Thanks for the reminder, dudes! We just did this. **UPDATE: We are told that Chief Kathleen O’Toole “handled this matter personally.”