Seattle Pastor Demands Apology From Mayor After Rally Clash
A Seattle pastor is demanding an official apology from Mayor Bruce Harrell following a violent confrontation during a Christian prayer rally at Cal Anderson Park on May 24, 2025. The rally, part of the national “#DontMessWithOurKids” tour organized by pro-life group Mayday USA, attracted hundreds of attendees advocating for traditional values such as the sanctity of life, biological gender identity, and religious freedom.
Held in Capitol Hill, a neighborhood widely known as a cultural center for the LGBTQ+ community, the event quickly drew the attention of counter-protesters. Demonstrators opposed to the rally’s message arrived waving transgender flags and chanting in protest.
Their counterdemonstration, titled “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies”, was organized by advocacy groups including the Freedom Socialist Party, Puget Sound Mobilization for Reproductive Justice, and Radical Women.
Tensions escalated shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD). Officers reported that individuals from the counter-protest began throwing objects at the Christian rally participants.
SPD intervened to maintain order, separating both groups and making several arrests. In total, 22 adults were arrested on charges including assault and obstruction, and one juvenile was taken into custody. One police officer was injured and later treated at a local hospital.
Video clips shared widely across social media platforms show counter-protesters breaching police barricades and rushing the rally’s main stage, where a worship concert was taking place. Organizers stated the rally had obtained all necessary permits and was peaceful until it was disrupted by what they described as violent agitators.
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Following the incident, Mayor Harrell issued a statement expressing appreciation for peaceful demonstrators. He appeared to voice support for the counter-protesters, describing the prayer rally as a “far-right” gathering that promoted beliefs contrary to the city’s values. Harrell also condemned anarchist factions for infiltrating the counter-protest and ordered a review of how the city’s parks approve events of this nature.
“In the face of an extreme right-wing national effort to attack our LGBTQ+ communities, Seattle will continue to stand unwavering in our embrace of diversity, love for our neighbors, and commitment to justice and fairness,” the mayor said in his statement.
The mayor’s remarks were swiftly condemned by Pastor Russell Johnson of Pursuit NW, a multi-campus evangelical church. Speaking during Sunday’s service, Johnson labelled Harrell’s comments as “religious bigotry” and called for either a public apology or the mayor’s resignation.
“Mayor Harrell owes Christians in Washington State an apology for his bigoted remarks,” Johnson later posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Those who were peacefully worshipping were violently attacked for holding to their deeply held religious beliefs.”
Johnson further criticized Harrell’s leadership, referencing a 1996 arrest involving an alleged firearms incident and accusing the mayor of failing to address public safety and growing political polarization in the city. He also noted what he sees as a recurring pattern of bias against Christian events in Seattle.
This is not the first time religious gatherings have sparked controversy in the city. In September 2020, Seattle city officials attempted to block a worship event led by missionary and activist Sean Feucht at Gas Works Park. Despite those efforts, over 2,000 people gathered in defiance of the city’s COVID-19 restrictions to participate in worship.
The violent clash at Cal Anderson Park has reignited broader debates about free speech, religious liberty, and political bias in how Seattle handles public events. As of this writing, the mayor’s office has not issued any additional statements in response to calls for an apology.
Content Credit | Ohidah Oluwaferanmi
Image Credit | foxnews.com
