Police arrest 3 in downtown Seattle protests

SEATTLE (AP) – Seattle police say they arrested three men as hundreds of demonstrators and counter-protesters converged in downtown Seattle, one day after violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
Police said they used pepper spray and blast balls to disperse crowds after fireworks were thrown at officers.
 
The rally organized by the conservative pro-Trump group known as Patriot Prayer – and a counter protest aimed at standing against hate – were previously planned for Sunday.
 
Hundreds of people carrying signs opposing hate and the KKK and showing support for Charlottesville marched to downtown Seattle, where Patriot Prayer was gathered for a rally it billed as in support of freedom and free speech.
 
In a statement, police say they observed some people in the counter-protest carrying ax handles and two by fours as they infiltrated the hundreds of peaceful demonstrators.
 
Those arrested were a 40-year-old man for obstruction, a 37-year-old man for assault and a 25-year old-man for assault.
 
A Seattle councilman says police officers blocked hundreds of counter-protesters from reaching the downtown rally organized by a pro-Trump, conservative group.
 
Mike O’Brien says he joined Sunday’s march to stand in solidarity against the violence and racism in Charlottesville over the weekend.
 
He says he walked with other peaceful protesters toward Westlake Park, where the Patriot Prayer group was holding a rally. But officers blocked their route several times.
 
O’Brien says he texted Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole in the middle of the march and she told him demonstrators would not be allowed to proceed to Westlake Park.
 
Police ordered protesters to disperse at Second Avenue and Pine Street.
 
O’Brien says he and other counter protesters returned to Denny Park. The Seattle Times reports that others continued on to Westlake Park.