8 protesters arrested after fire, vandalism break out during Seattle rally to end ICE raids

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) arrested eight protesters after issuing a dispersal order once the downtown Seattle federal building was tagged with “Abolish ICE” and a dumpster fire broke out in the middle of the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Marion Street.

Thousands gathered around the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle on Wednesday evening for a rally demanding an end to ICE immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration.

SPD told KIRO Newsradio that officers had rocks, fireworks, and pieces of cement thrown at them since their arrival to disperse the rally. Officers had to use force to disperse the crowd.

Rocks, fireworks, and pieces of cement were thrown at SPD officers during the downtown Seattle rally. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

Seattle police move in as protesters start fire near Federal Building. pic.twitter.com/jVe3wRD4kN

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

“I’ve never seen that large of a contingent of Seattle police officers all in riot gear, and I’ve covered a number of these,” KIRO reporter James Lynch said on scene. “They came down with an extreme show of force, cleared out the intersection, stayed there for maybe three, four, five minutes, and then went back up the hill.

“The protesters returned to the intersection and started pushing back up,” Lynch continued. “The (officers) came down and cleared it out. I saw at least two arrests. Two really hard takedowns of a couple of protesters.”

One protester was pepper-sprayed directly in the eyes.

Fire at Federal Building protest pic.twitter.com/u0zyor1s2p

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

SPD was called to put out the dumpster fire at approximately 10 p.m. According to “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, the first arrests of the night occurred shortly after as protestors and police clashed outside the federal building.

More footage of the fire outside Federal Building. pic.twitter.com/wLmNZYHANX

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

“I got hit while I was walking down,” one protester told KIRO Newsradio.

“With a rubber bullet?” KIRO Newsradio asked.

“Yes, I’m OK,” the protester answered. ‘Just kind of startled me a little bit.”

An American flag was lit on fire during the rally as well.

An American flag was set on fire during the downtown Seattle protest. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

Just before 10:30 p.m., Seattle Fire extinguished the dumpster fire.

“Police are attempting to get the crowd to disperse,” SPD told KIRO Newsradio in a statement. “Safe avenues to leave the protest are south and west of 3rd (and) Marion.”

Multiple blocks surrounding the federal building, located on 2nd Avenue and Marion Street, were closed by police. Protesters also blocked some streets with garbage, chairs, and a dumpster.

The protest, which stretched from Capitol Hill to downtown Seattle, began at 7 p.m. in Cal Anderson Park. Many carried signs with phrases such as “Immigration rights are human rights” as they marched through Seattle.

“We’re here to say, ICE out of Seattle. ICE out of everywhere,” one protester told KIRO Newsradio. “Stop the raids and stop the deportations.”

Signs at the protest at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. (Photo: Gwen Baumgardner, KIRO Newsradio)

Cal Anderson protestors are on the move. pic.twitter.com/l05pPc8qeL

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

The social media post for the protest garnered hundreds of comments and shares leading up to the event. Initially, approximately 200 protesters gathered and marched from Cal Anderson Park to the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in downtown Seattle, where they met up with another group of protesters, according to KIRO Newsradio.

From there, the rally grew to have thousands of protesters.

Protesters from Cal Anderson arrive at federal building. pic.twitter.com/fAwRZEJTDQ

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

Protesters gather for a second night outside the federal building in Seattle. pic.twitter.com/co4m4czN0k

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

SPD previously warned neighbors and businesses operating in these neighborhoods that there is a chance small, unaffiliated groups will join the event in order to commit acts of violence, according to KIRO 7.

Instances of vandalism in downtown were first reported by KIRO Newsradio shortly after 9 p.m.

Vandalism now happening at Federal Building protest in Downtown Seattle. pic.twitter.com/BqoClLN6h2

— KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM🎙 (@KIRONewsradio) June 12, 2025

KIRO Newsradio is at the scene. Another rally at Cal Anderson Park has been planned for Saturday, June 14, at 12 p.m.

Hundreds gather for Anti-ICE protest in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park pic.twitter.com/l4aSyRI67T

— Gwen Baumgardner (@NewsGirlGwen) June 12, 2025

No federal government interference, local leaders say

Local leaders of Washington said they expect police to handle protests with professionalism and without “interference from the federal government.”

Governor Bob Ferguson, King County Executive Shannon Braddock, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, and Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards put out a joint statement Wednesday afternoon condemning President Donald Trump for sending the National Guard to California despite objections from its governor.

Ferguson signed a bill into law on April 21 that restricts out-of-state military forces from entering Washington.

The law went into effect immediately due to an emergency clause.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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