Tag Archives: bellevue police

BIPOC, Local

Taunts, slurs, and chants but mostly calm at Bellevue protests

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Updated 12:00 PM, May 12, 2021: Bellevue Police released additional information on the arrest that happened yesterday.

[BELLEVUE] – (MTN) Four different groups with differing agendas protested in Bellevue last night while the Billy Graham Evangelical Association hosted a police appreciation dinner with keynote speaker Franklin Graham.

The Hyatt in Bellevue closed off their driveway and indicated the parking garage was full, while private security walked the lobby and outside in high visibility vests. The parking garage closure appeared to be a security measure as Bellevue Place parking was open, and the Hyatt parking areas were nearly empty.

Later in the evening, concrete barricades appeared in front of the Wintergarden Entrance to the hotel. According to Bellevue Police PIO Meeghan Black, Franklin Graham’s team handled security at the Hyatt.

Outside at Bellevue Way and 8th, a group of 20 to 30 in support of the LGBTQ community protested Franklin Graham holding signs and flags while a news helicopter hovered overhead.

Around 6 p.m., counter-protesters aligned to right-wing causes and Back the Blue arrived. One person walking to join the group said to a middle-aged woman, “Get out of my way. My dog doesn’t like homos!” That person joined the group of pro-police protesters. One person tore down signs that had supportive messages for the LGBTQ community.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”47″ gal_title=”Bellevue Franklin Graham Protest”]

Inside the Hyatt, things were quiet, with attendees for dinner trickling in. Most were not wearing masks, and in one incident, a person was asked to wear a mask but refused and continued to the dinner location.

The corner of Bellevue Way and 8th had approximately a dozen people waving flags in support of the police. At least two individuals were flashing white power symbols, and one chanted, “back the yellow,” a rallying cry used by the Proud Boys on January 6 during the Washington D.C. insurrection.

About a dozen police officers on bicycles rallied at the Hyatt and then moved to Bellevue Place, watching the group. Bellevue Police drove by several times, taking pictures. Among the small group of right-wing protesters was Turning Point USA social media firebrand Katie Daviscourt and, arriving later in the evening, Tim Eyman.

At approximately 8:15 p.m., a group of 30 to 40 people dressed in black marched up Bellevue Way with a large group of police officers following them. They passed by the Hyatt and the right-wing protesters without incident and marched around the block, ultimately returning to the same intersection where the right-wing protesters had gathered.

Taunts between the two groups were exchanged, and the police moved a phalanx of bike officers between the protesters, closing the intersection. The group in black set a small American flag on fire at the edge of the street while Bellevue Police made multiple announcements through their LRAD system, including stating in one of them that “arson is not protected free speech.” The Bellevue Police Department Twitter feed shows a picture that appears to have been taken from a drone or office building.

At the same time, an officer took photographs of everyone present, including a growing group of bystanders watching the events unfold.

Around 9:10 p.m. Bellevue Police announced they were reopening the intersection to traffic. Shortly after the police retreated, the two groups converged and exchanged words. Bike officers moved back to separate the protesters.

By 9:45 p.m., the area was quiet again. Security had a high presence within the lobby of the Hyatt. The BGEA had planned initially for 2 police appreciation dinners, with the second on May 12, but it appears that has been canceled. According to the BGEA, Franklin Graham will be in North Carolina at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday to host a police appreciation breakfast.

Bellevue Police report there was an arrest of a 32-year old Lynnwood man for third-degree assault. The man was booked into King County Jail and police officials reported the arrest was not related to protest activity. [an earlier version of this story indicated that further information was pending] There were no other arrests last night.

We had previously reached out to the Bellevue City Council and the Bellevue Hyatt for comment, and neither responded to our request.

BIPOC, Editorial, LGBTQIA, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: May 10, 2021

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Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

The show from May 10, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith. Patrons at the $5 and above level get access to our show notes and research documents.

  • Toyota campaign contribution story made our readers salty
  • Colonial Pipeline shutdown committed by Russian hackers
  • No one is talking about the AAHM raid done by the King County Sheriff
  • Franklin Graham coming to Bellevue and protests planned – controversy explained
  • Democracy vouchers explained
  • Jenny Durkan’s Textgate
  • Seattle Deputy Mayor Casey Sixkiller enters the 2021 mayor race
  • Angelyiah Lim wins the 2020 Lee Johnson Community Service Award

LGBTQIA, Local

Protests planned for Franklin Graham’s police appreciation dinner in Bellevue

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[BELLEVUE] – (MTN) Protests are planned as controversy continues to swirl around an upcoming dinner for Puget Sound area police officers, hosted by conservative religious organization Ministry of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, headed by Franklin Graham, at the Bellevue Hyatt on May 11.

In early April, an e-mail circulated within the Seattle Police Department of a free appreciation dinner hosted by Rev. Franklin Graham. On April 16, on the SPD Police Blotter, Acting Chief Adrian Diaz released a public statement, “Based on Graham’s history and affiliations, the email has raised concerns that the SPD may not be committed to the equity of our community’s LGBTQ members. I want to make clear the Department fully supports the equity and just treatment of all people. The SPD did not sponsor this event and is not connected in any way to its hosts. Today I sent a department-wide email to rescind the invitation because its hosts do not share the inclusive values of the SPD.”

After the statement from Chief Diaz, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) repositioned the event as an invitation to other law enforcement agencies. The Bellevue Police Department reports they never received a direct invitation from the Association, even though the event is being hosted at the Hyatt within their city.

An open invitation on Eventbrite for the dinner indicates that all free tickets have been claimed. The invite does not provide a waitlist, nor indicates how many total tickets were available.

“Come relax in this safe setting and enjoy a delightful meal, an uplifting message, encouraging and practical wisdom from God’s Word, live music, and fellowship with other law enforcement officers. This special time is our gift to you, and there is no charge.”

The controversy stems from Graham’s strong anti-LGBTQIA views. In 2017 he compared gay conversion therapy as “conversion to Christianity.” Through Twitter, Graham attacked former Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is the first openly gay man to run for the 2020 Democratic nomination for President. Graham was rebuked for his attack by both liberal and conservative entities. He has also openly praised Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin’s gay propaganda law.

In a written statement on April 16, Seattle City Council President and 2021 mayoral candidate Lorena Gonzalez stated that SPD’s inappropriate communication undermines LGBTQ community and public trust. ” By promoting this anti-LGBTQ and far-right religious group’s invitation, the Seattle Police Department is undermining Seattle’s LGBTQ community, alienating our own LGBTQ officers, and further eroding public trust and confidence in law enforcement to protect everyone regardless of their religion or identity. The Seattle Police Department’s sharing of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association event is absolutely a misuse of taxpayer resources. I’m calling on Mayor Jenny A. Durkan and Interim Chief of Police Adrian Diaz to rescind this email immediately.”

BGEA responded, declaring they would continue to move forward with the event on May 11. “This dinner and event are a gift from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and from Christians all across this country who want these men and women to know they are appreciated. Even though the email from Interim Seattle Police Chief Diaz announcing the event has been rescinded, our invitation and the dates still stand.”

The BGEA held a police appreciation dinner for Portland, Oregon police on May 7 at Goldie’s BBQ in Vancouver, Washington.

Franklin Graham is the son of American evangelist Billy Graham and was ordained in 1982. He leads BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse, a charity organization. He has been a lightning rod of controversy since the start of the century.

In the weeks, months, and years, after the 9/11 attacks, Graham made increasingly hostile comments about the Muslim religion. In 2010, the Pentagon rescinded his invitation from the Christian conservative National Day of Prayer Task Force to speak at a Pentagon National Day of Prayer event.

Graham was one of the leading figures to perpetuate the false claim that former President Barack Obama was a Muslim. On CNN in 2010 he stated, “I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim; his father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.” Graham continued, “Now it’s obvious that the president has renounced the prophet Mohammed, and he has renounced Islam, and he has accepted Jesus Christ. That’s what he says he has done. I cannot say that he hasn’t. So I just have to believe that the president is what he has said.”

Graham later apologized in an open letter for calling President Obama’s faith into question. Shortly thereafter, he once again attacked the former President questioning his faith, resulting in an open letter condemning his actions and using religion as a political weapon.

In contrast, when Utah Senator Mitt Romney was running for President as the Republican nominee in 2012, Graham had the BGEA remove language from their website calling those who follow the Mormon faith members of “a cult,” stating, ”  we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign.”

The first major personal controversy to face Graham was a 2009 revelation, due to changes in IRS tax law, that he was drawing two salaries from BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse. He agreed to stop drawing a salary from BGEA stating this his ministry was, “never based on compensation,” in a Charlotte Observer article. In 2015 it was revealed that he was once again drawing salaries from both organizations, and at a significantly higher level than the $1.2 million reported in 2009.

In 2017 Franklin Graham gave the prayer at the inauguration of President Donald Trump. In 2019 suggested that any opposition to then-President Trump was the work of a “demonic power.” Graham also supports the debunked claims that Donald Trump is the victim of a coup and the deep state.

The Seattle Police Department has 6 officers under investigation by the OPA for potential involvement in the January 6 insurrection in Washington D.C. Two officers remain suspended while 4 others voluntarily came forward. Seattle has the largest contingent of off-duty police officers under investigation in the country after the failed attempt to disrupt certification of the 2020 election results.

Protests are planned for May 11 by several area LGBTQIA+ organizations. According to the Eventbrite invitation, the dinner will start at 6 p.m. and end at 8:45 p.m. The Hyatt did not return our call for comment.