Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction
Content Warning
Editor’s Note: This show contains multiple videos of events that some viewers may find disturbing including graphic violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
The show from April 28, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.
Exodus from the Seattle Police Department continues
All Fireworks Banned in King County Beginning in 2022
Auburn Police Treat Road Rage Victim Like a Criminal Suspect
King County Health Tells Business Leaders to Prepare for Phase 2 COVID Restrictions
Was the Stabbing In Bothell and the Shooting in Rainier Beach Asian-bias Crimes?
Malcontented Minuted – Police Edition
Video shows Police seconds before the raid of Andrew Brown, Junior’s Home in Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Video shows police officers fist-bumping and celebrating the injuries they caused to a 73-year old Alzheimer’s Patient
Stephanie Bottom, 66, in brutalized by North Carolina police on body cam and is starting a federal lawsuit
Virginia police officer misidentifies a cellphone as a gun and shoots Isaiah Brown 10 times
Bodycam video of Anthony Alvarez being shot by Chicago Police shows him running away
Two Hialeah, Florida Police officers have been arrested for writing fake traffic tickets
Bodycam video released on April 28 shows Lymond Moses being shot by police after a pretext welfare check because he was sleeping in his car
Tennessee police officer fired for high-fiving a suspect who used a racial slur during the arrest
Bodycam video of Mario Gonzalez being arrested in Almeda, California shows officers restaining him for over 5 minutes before he dies in custody
Prince Georges police officer arrested on multiple charges, including first-degree assault, after fellow officers turn him in for treatment of a Black teen suspect
Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction
Editors Note: There is approximately five minutes of audio problems during our segment on Pinal County Sheriff Julian Navarrette. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The show from April 22, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.
Brandon Hole, FedEx mass shooter exposes Bronie culture’s attachments to white nationalism
Perth Amboy, New Jersey and its bizarre bicycle laws
Killology and Dave Grossman and fear-based police training – killing in the name of…
Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction
Editors Note: There is approximately five minutes of audio problems during our segment on Pinal County Sheriff Julian Navarrette. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The show from April 21, 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.
Derek Chauvin verdict
Seattle Police tweak anti-protest actions
Pinal County Sheriff Julian Navarrette is a ‘super citizen’
[SEATTLE] – (MTN) Seattle police used a large number of officers to shadow a small group of protesters, some in black bloc, in the hours after Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd in Minneapolis. In the moments after Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second degree murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter, cheers erupted on Capitol Hill while fireworks went off on the eastside.
Protesters gathered at Cal Anderson Park and marched through downtown. The group was met by a couple of counter-protesters on Broadway, where words were exchanged when one person tried to drive through a car brigade. Seattle police appeared with a large contingent of officer, that was as large as the protest group.
Seattle Police repeatedly announced through LRAD for the protester to remain peaceful. There wasn’t any apparent damage done by the group, with a few moving traffic cones and temporary signs into the roadway. Two targeted arrests were made for pedestrian obstruction. The group then marched back up Capitol Hill to Cal Anderson. Seattle Police bike officers moved the group at a faster pace before disengaging.
SPD shifted tactics in October 2020 ending the widespread use of pepper spray and flash-bang grenades to disperse protesters. Data from the city attorney’s office indicates that pedestrian obstruction arrests will likely not end in criminal charges.
Earlier in the day, a consortium of city leaders and Black activists called for peace and calm at a hastily put-together press conference.
Derek Chauvin was filmed by a teenager holding a knee on the neck of George Floyd for more than nine minutes in May of 2020. The actions of Chauvin and the inaction of his fellow officers led to the death of Floyd, and Chauvin’s conviction in that murder.
The death of Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement started in 2014 and forced a civil rights reckoning in the United States.
Derek Chauvin had his bail revoked and will have his sentencing hearing in eight weeks.
Our live webcast from the former Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction
Editors Note: Our show presented the police bodycam video showing the shooting of Adam Toledo in Chicago. We have provided minimal editing to respect Toldeo and his family. Some viewers may find this highly disturbing. YouTube has restricted the show to those with registered accounts over the age of 18. Viewer discretion is advised.
The show from April 15,. 2021, featured David Obelcz and our co-host Jennifer Smith.
Adam Toledo bodycam video released by Chicago Police reveals misrepresentation of events
Saving “Boonie dogs” from Guam and getting them homes on the mainland
Chauvin Trial Update – the defense rests
Second part of our interview with Nikkita Oliver, Seattle City Council Candidate for District 9 [At Large]
Nikyala Rice of Eastside Embrace talks about eastside racism and the upcoming Sit Down and Listen event on Sunday, April 18
It became a tale of two cities as vigils and protests in honor of Breonna Taylor swept the United States on Saturday. Seattle and Portland both had vigils and marches with two very different outcomes from Direct Action marchers.
In Seattle, activists gathered outside Cal Anderson Park for a candlelight memorial and chalk art before marching into downtown Seattle. SPD met the group with a heavy and aggressive presence as they marched downtown and to the waterfront. Smaller groups splintered off and broke windows. The Seattle Police used a level of force not seen since November, resulting in fourteen arrests.
Later on Saturday, Direct Action protesters gathered in Occidental Park, where one of the activists chastized the group for lack of planning and poor tactics. KOMO released the video on Monday, and an infiltrator of the group allegedly filmed it.
Disagreements between the various protest groups in Seattle are well known and have spilled over into the public view on social media. Direct Action marches are described as a “venue” and are considered leaderless. An increasing presence by the Youth Liberation Front, an organization born out of Portland, vacillates between allowing independent journalists to tell their story and threatening violence against reporters.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”35″ gal_title=”Breonna Taylor 365 Day Protests”]
Black activists, including those within Direct Action, have expressed the frustration of the coopting of the Black Live Matters message with insurrectionary anarchist tactics. In January, Black leaders in Tacoma condemned a protest that tore through Black neighborhoods.
Black leaders have expressed that any property destruction caused by insurrectionary anarchists gets blamed on Black Lives Matter and the Black community. The court of public opinion frequently conflates Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and anarchists into the same grouping. In reality, they represent three different philosophies with overlapping goals but use divergent tactics.
For example, systemic racism against the Black community has roots within corporate America, especially in banking and financing. Acknowledgment, correction, and compensation for wrongs against the Black (and BIPOC) are common goals. Some groups seek reform, another dismantlement, and others destruction. These critical differences are often lost within the message and actions on the street.
In contrast, Black leaders in Portland assembled for a vigil for Breonna Taylor. A group of about 100 gathered outside while maintaining social distance for a candlelight vigil. The vigil featured live music, speeches from Black leaders, and impacted family members. The details of the actions taken by Louisville Police and the multiple policy violations were outlined with documentation. Candles and flowers surrounded a large painting of Breonna Taylor as people paid their respects.
The group then drove to the Blackburn Bridge, where activists released 60 lanterns into the Columbia River to commemorate Breonna Taylor’s life. With musicians playing, a group of about 100 marched over a mile to the Federal Courthouse. When they arrived around 10 PM, Direct Action protesters had already gathered outside the courthouse for a third day. On Thursday, federal officials used pepper balls and tear gas, while on Friday, Portland police kettled about 100 people, including journalists, arresting 13.
As the Direct Action protesters painted graffiti on the boards covering windows and columns and probed for weak points, Black leadership demanded they stop. A heated exchange exploded between the two groups, with Black leaders expressing frustration that Portland’s continued violence does not support Black lives. Black activists repeated words heard last year that Black voices should be listened to when protests are happening to support Black lives.
Like in Seattle, the fissure between Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and anarchists was on full display. Some pleaded for the primarily white audience watching and listening to intervene and stop the direct action group. Some people moved to the courthouse sidewalk, and gradually most left the courthouse perimeter.
After the exchange, many left the area. As the night progressed, tensions rose several times, with announcements from the courthouse that those on the sidewalk were trespassing and could be subject to action. The sounds of rocks hitting the wooden barricades and windows filled the air multiple times. Music known to result in DMCA takedowns played in an attempt to blackout media coverage. By 1 AM, most had left, and not one Portland Police officer or federal agent made an appearance.
Twenty-four hours later, Portland police declared an unlawful assembly as Direct Action hit the streets again. On Monday, a coalition of Black leaders condemned insurrectionary anarchists in particular and put out a call for the tactics of property damage and threats to end.
Many expect an increase and larger protests in the coming months. Better weather, the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, the imminent decision on charges against police officers involved with Manny Ellis’s death, and the Jeff Nelson trial are all on the horizon.
A variety of groups and tactics will continue to be employed by different factions. If there is one thing the media should strive to achieve in those coming months, it is clearly differentiating between the groups, their tactics, and their goals.
[SEATTLE] – (MTN) Seattle Parks supported by the Seattle Police Department completed a homeless sweep of Denny Park on Wednesday. City officials put notices up of the impending sweep several days ago, when the park had approximately 70 tent encampments. By early this morning, approximately 15 tents remained as Seattle police and parks crew, some wearing hazmat suits, gathered inside the park around 8 AM.
At 8:45 AM officials started to secure the park, while some of the remaining unhomed residents packed belongings or started to move to grassy areas just outside the park. Activists and mutual aid arrived, with some shouting at and heckling Seattle Police officers, drawing two squads of bicycle officers. Others associated with mutual aid brought replacement tents, hand warmers, heaters, and propane, while others helped pack belongings and load them into awaiting cars and vans.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”33″ gal_title=”Denny Park Homeless Sweep”]
City officials claim that the number of calls and complaints around Denny Park was increasing, as justification for the sweep. The city initially touted success in finding housing and hotel rooms for many of the people initially in the park, but further probing indicated that for most, March 15, will find them back out on the street.
People we spoke with across the political spectrum, including an SPD officer, expressed frustration with city leadership and the temporary nature of solutions offered. There was strong agreement that permanent housing solutions and medical care were needed. The city and the organizations they support largely focus on temporary housing and short-term programs, while long-term care and housing remain grossly underfunded. One man who claimed to be a business owner got into a shouting match with an activist, threatened him, and then drove around the block to confront the group. After a tense exchange we spoke of frustration, but only offered a solution of shipping the unhomed to Yakima to, “pick apples and cherries.”
Seattle officials did appear to apply a lighter touch during this sweep. For some people residing in the park, employees helped them move belongings to be picked up and relocated and waited while others packed belongings. One Seattle Police officer engaged in what could be described as constructive dialog with activists, despite little common ground being found. In contrast to a more community-oriented approach, in other areas of the park, city workers dumped the belongings of tents onto the ground and then gathered them up as trash, making no effort to review or catalog personal belongings.
The city of Seattle through public and private investment spends $1 billion a year in the battle against homelessness. Despite almost $85,000 per unhomed person available annually, Seattle has made little progress on solving the crisis. City officials swept Cal Anderson Park on December 18, 2020, only to have some people move to Miller Playfields and others move to Pioneer Square. Cal Anderson Park doesn’t have a significant homeless presence while business owners in Pioneer Square are complaining about a spike in encampments.
City officials state Denny Park will be closed for months for repair and rehabilitation. However as night fell, the yellow security tape had been torn down in many areas and area residents were ignoring the park closed signs.
Warning: This story contains video of police activity that some may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
Rochester, New York Police released another 86 minutes of video of the before, during, and after of a 9-year-old girl in crisis being pepper-sprayed. The disturbing video shows that the mother of the child did not call 911 about her having suicidal ideation or being in a mental health crisis. Instead, the mother is seen chatting with officers about her former significant other having a warrant for his arrest, and that he stole one of her cars.
The video goes on to show the child waits 19 minutes for treatment after being pepper-sprayed, and the EMTs request the cuffs are loosened for being too tight. An NPR report indicates the mother requested a social worker or mental health specialist to come to the call, and officers refused. Hospital officials also denied the child a mental health evaluation.
The mother is now suing the city while three officers are suspended, one without pay over the incident.
Journalists, activists, and researchers defending the First Amendment
Subscribe to Malcontent News
Register to feed your head holes with the Malcontent News newsletter.
Submitting your e-mail address gives us permission to send you e-mails. We do not sell or distribute our e-mail lists or share them with third parties.