Seattle May Day protest results in 9 arrests as Molotov cocktails hurled at police, injuring 5

Sunday’s May Day protest in Seattle went from a peaceful assembly to a violent disregard for police as protesters lit fireworks, threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at police. Seattle Police confirmed nine people were arrested, five officers were injured and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray issued a statement condemning the ” senseless acts of violence and property destruction” and thanked police for their “extraordinary work.”

“It is unfortunate and deeply regrettable that in a city that goes to incredible lengths to respect First Amendment rights, there are some who disregard our values and engage in senseless acts of violence and property destruction,” he said. “My thoughts are with the officers who were injured.”

One officer sustained a facial laceration, another was bitten and a third was hit by a Molotov cocktail but not burned.

#UPDATE: Injured @SeattlePD officer receiving stitches on face after#MayDaySea.

>> https://t.co/k7Dwk7yAJZ pic.twitter.com/LsH8Y9JFQr

— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) May 2, 2016

donkeyhotey donkeyhotey.wordpress.com

Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said that her officers underwent “enhanced crowd management training” and had planned for the May Day unrest as violence also broke out at gatherings in Los Angeles, Paris, Istanbul, Moscow, Manila and London.

May Day is pagan festival to celebrate the arrival of Spring, but then was declared “International Workers’ Day” by the International Socialist Conference following the violent protests in Chicago’s Haymarket Square in 1886.

France was another area hit hard by violent outrage as jobs, high unemployment and “labour changes” were the theme and not the coming of Spring.

“We will respond with the greatest of determination to these troublemakers … the attacks and violence against security forces are unacceptable,” prime minister Manuel Vallse said ahead of the events.

In South Korea, which also has high youth unemployment, proposed changes to its labor laws have sparked similar anger among workers, and tens of thousands protested against the employment bill.

photo donkeyhotey

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Kaye Wonderhouse - Catherine "Kaye" Wonderhouse, a proud descendant of the Wunderhaus family is the Colorado Correspondent who will add more coverage, interviews and reports from this midwest area.