Tag Archives: protest

BIPOC, Local

Chris Guenzler arraigned on first-degree assault charges

[OLYMPIA] (Malcontent News) – Chris Guenzler was arraigned today in Thurston County superior court on assault, first-degree while armed with a deadly weapon. Guenzler entered a plea of not guilty through attorney Angela Colaitua. Judge Carol Murphy kept bail at $50,000 for the single charge.

On December 5, 2020, Guenzler attended an anti-mask and “stop the steal” protest in Olympia, Washington, which turned violent. During a brawl between protesters and counter-protesters, protesters fired paintball guns, deployed bear mace, and struck people with flagpoles. During this incident, Guenzler drew a pistol and fired a single shot into the crowd, grazing a person. Protesters from both sides made an audible gasp, while others hid behind cars.

Guenzler’s social media footprint shows strong alignment to the Trump campaign and far-right organizations. He is a graduate of Port Orchard High School, and according to his social media profile, he attended Kitsap High School for some time. His profile shows an affinity to sexualized content, guns, Trump, and white supremacy.

The next court date is January 6, 2021, with a trial date of February 16, 2020.

Breaking News, Local, National

Seattle Police Arrest 21 in early morning sweep of Cal Anderson Park

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[SEATTLE] (Malcontent News) – Seattle Police Department, supported by King County Sheriff, executed a homeless sweep of Cal Anderson Park this morning, arresting 21. As the first glint of daylight appeared over cold and wet Cal Anderson, Seattle Police arrived at 7:34 AM. Using an LRAD, SPD made multiple announcements that people within the park had 15 minutes to vacate or face potential arrest. By early afternoon the park was clear, and Seattle Parks was well on its way to removing the encampment.

Activists had built a network of barricades over the weekend and steadily reinforced them over the week. On Wednesday, Seattle Police had planned to do a sweep but at the last minute changed direction. Later in the morning, Ada Yeager filed a temporary restraining order request with the federal court, looking to block the sweep. On Wednesday afternoon, activists took over an empty home on Denny, close to the northeast corner of Cal Anderson. On Thursday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones denied the TRO.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”13″ gal_title=”Cal Anderson Park Homeless Sweep – December 18″]

Overnight on Thursday, there were two attacks on the homeless encampment. A person threw an explosive device at a parked vehicle in an incident described as a targeted attack. Seattle Police described the incident as arson. There were multiple reports of either fireworks or a flaming arrow shot into the encampment, with no reported injuries.

Seattle police describe the fire bombing of a car as arson.

On Friday morning, black-clad protesters again started to gather in anticipation of the sweep. Seattle Police made multiple announcements for people to vacate the park or face arrest and stated a tent was available on Broadway Avenue for the unhomed to get support and information. At 7:52 AM, SPD moved in from multiple directions, with bike officers coming from the north and combined resources from the south. Simultaneous, a SWAT team raided the abandoned house on Denny.

Many expected strong resistance from the contingent of protesters and the estimated 30 to 50 homeless within the encampment. An opposition that never materialized. Seattle Police swept through quickly, tearing through the barricades on three sides. By 8:25 AM, the park was mostly quiet, beyond the King County Sheriff Department helicopter overhead.

In Thursday’s court hearing, city officials assured the federal court it had a plan for gathering and returning personal property after the sweep, per the Seattle Times. City representatives indicated they would only throw-away items that were damaged, wet, or soiled. Judge Jones expressed concern, indicating accurately that in December, everything is wet in Seattle. At 9:10 AM, a convoy of vehicles arrived, including multiple garbage trucks. It soon became apparent as workers tore down tents without doing any documentation that nothing would be spared.

During the raid, witnesses reported seeing Seattle Police destroying food, clothing, and medical supplies at mutual aid tents set up on 11th Ave, and breaking glass could be heard. There appeared to be no effort to document or collect any personal belongings by officials. By late morning, another convoy of heavy construction equipment arrived. Backhoes started chewed through tents, sleeping materials, furniture, and bikes, tossing them into the back of awaiting dump trucks.

Questions have arisen about police conduct, with a citizen video provided to Malcontent News. In the video, SPD placed an individual in a chokehold during an arrest. In the video, citizens plead with SPD to stopping choking the suspect. Despite Seattle Police claiming there was a tent with resources for the unhomed on Broadway Ave, no tent or representative was there. In talking to the incident PIO, they indicated they did not know what resources were available.

Through public and private investment, the city of Seattle spends over $1 billion a year on homelessness. Despite a decade long effort, Seattle now has the third-largest homeless population in the United States.

Local

Seattle Police and protesters locked in stalemate at Cal Anderson Park

[SEATTLE] (Malcontent News) – Seattle Police appeared to be a no-show for a planned homeless encampment sweep at Cal Anderson Park, as the rain started to fall on a cold December afternoon. Activists built an elaborate series of barricades around the central part of Cal Anderson Park, encompassing the Shelter House and blocking sections of 11th Ave and Nagle Place. Protesters took inspiration from Red House on Mississippi in Portland with their ongoing action to prevent the homeless sweep.

Notices went up over the weekend of an impending sweep of the homeless encampment at Cal Anderson Park.

As dawn rose over Seattle, spirits were high as mutual aid fed the unhomed and activists. Someone set off a firework in the early morning hours, creating tension in the encampment. At 7:35 AM, Seattle Police arrived at the northeast corner of the park, and another column of vehicles drove on the south side. Activists have caches of rocks, broken bricks staged in several areas, and shields ready at entry and exit points.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”11″ gal_title=”Cal Anderson Stalemate December 16″]

As some of the unhomed started to pack, the occupants awaited the siege, which never came. Around 8:30 AM, a tent burst into flames outside of the barricades. One individual told Malcontent News the tent caught on fire by accident due to a firework. In contrast, another individual said the tent was lit on fire on purpose by its owner because they didn’t want Seattle Police taking their belongings. Within minutes all that remained was a smoldering pile, as activists brought buckets of water to extinguish the flames.

By late morning there was an air of boredom, as many started to say aloud they did not think that the sweep would happen. A group of people dressed in black bloc threw rocks at a couple of individuals filming from Broadway Ave. In another area in Cal Anderson Park, activists continued to reinforce the barricades, while people brought clothing, food, and hot coffee to mutual aid. With this backdrop, people that live in the neighborhood worked out, walked dogs, and met each other as if nothing was happening just 100 feet away.

Protesters also broke into the Shelter House, using a battering ram to break through welded steel plates and, in one case, through the wall of the building itself. Seattle Parks had welded the doors shut and surrounded the Shelter House with fencing earlier this year to keep the homeless and activists serving the community out. The closing of the Shelter House has been a contention point with homeless advocates, mutual aid, and people in the neighborhood. After access was blocked and water and electricity turned off, two doors were ripped off of bathrooms and the fence cut. Seattle Parks replaced one door and welded steel plating over the other opening. We interviewed three different people who lived on Capitol Hill, and all of them stated that the closing of the Shelter House and blocking of mutual aid made no sense.

raw video feed from cal Anderson park – December 15, 2020

As the activity at the Shelter House continued, news helicopters hovered overhead. A single-engine aircraft also buzzed Cal Anderson Park at a very low altitude, and moments later, the King County Sheriff helicopter hovered low doing tight circles.

The fortifications are on a similar scale to what activists built around Red House on Mississippi. There was speculation by many that Seattle Police and Seattle Parks are reevaluating the situations and weighing their options. The homeless crisis has gotten steadily worse in Seattle over the last decade despite an estimated $1 billion a year spent addressing the problem. Many government officials and homeless advocates are concerned that the situation will worsen if Congress does not act to extend the CARES Act or create a new stimulus package before the end of the year.

BIPOC, National

Malcontent News gets rare look behind the barricades at Red House on Mississippi

Video

From Malcontentment Happy Hour, December 14, 2020

Activists take down the outer barricades on Sunday as tension with Portland officials eases

With a successful GoFundMe completed, the city admitting they were wrong, and tensions in decline, activists removed the outer barricades around Red House on Mississippi on Sunday. Malcontent News cameras were given a rare behind the barricades look, with permission.

BIPOC, Local

Olympia marred by right-wing violence on December 12

Video

From Malcontentment Happy Hour, December 14, 2020

Forest Machala charged with first-degree assault and Stephen Kurtz charged with four-degree assault

Stop the Steal and anti-mask protesters clashed with counterprotesters in Olympia, Washington. When it was over there were three arrests and one person shot.

Forest Machala is facing first-degree assault charges, the equivalent of attempted murder in Washington state, for his actions on December 12, 2020.

Video shows violence and has racial slurs. Viewer discretion is advised.

BIPOC, National

Right-Wing election violence accelerates across the United States

Video

From Malcontentment Happy Hour, December 14, 2020

Washington D.C., Portland, Sacramento, Olympia, and Lexington see a violence-marred weekend

From Washington D.C., to Louisville, to Seattle, to Sacramento, to Portland, political violence rocked the United States.

BIPOC, Breaking News, Editorial, Health and Lifestyle, Local, National

Malcontentment Happy Hour: December 14, 2020

Video

Our live webcast from the Seattle Anarchist Jurisdiction

malcontentment happy hour – December 14, 2020
  • Governor Inslee proposes several equity measures for the upcoming state budget
  • Up to 40 million Americans face homelessness in 2021 and a $2.5 trillion transfer in wealth will happen if Congress doesn’t act
  • COVID vaccine arrives in Washington, but don’t take those masks off just yet
  • Right-wing violence from racists, domestic terrorists, and militant Trump supporters continues to escalate
  • Olympia Washington protest on Saturday, December 12, 2020 results in one shot – Forest Machala arrested for the shooting
  • Red House update from December 13, 2020, with approved video from behind the barricades
  • Part two of our interview with Nikayla Rice
  • Malcontent News has been approved as a Google News source

Editor comment: The video of the Olympia, Washington protest has the wrong date on it of December 10, 2020. The correct date is December 12, 2020. We apologize for the error.

Chris Rojas, our partners at Converge Media, and Concrete Reporting contributed to this program

BIPOC, Local

Olympia protest shooter identified as 26-year old Shoreline man

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[OLYMPIA] (Malcontent News) – The Washington State Patrol confirmed that 26-year old Forest Michael Machala, of Shoreline, Washington, was the person who shot a Black activist on Saturday in Olympia, Washington. Machala in custody at the Thurston County Jail, charged with 1st-degree assault, the equivalent of attempted murder under Washington state law. Machala is presently held without bail and does not have a lawyer on record.

Social media records show Machala graduated from Roosevelt High School and is a former Boy Scout. His profile indicates he has traveled, enjoys hiking, and is otherwise unremarkable. In a photo that captured Machala, he is seen in a “Make America Great Again” Trump hat and carrying a walking stick.

On Saturday, Machala and an estimated 50 to 75 heavily armed “Stop the Steal” and anti-mask Trump supporters descended on the state capitol. They rallied to protest the 2020 Presidential election results and ongoing business restrictions. Waving Gasden, Trump, and American flags, they were met by a larger and more lightly armed group of counter-protesters. About 100 Olympia, Thurston County Sheriff, and Washington State Patrol officers tried to keep the groups separated.

A series of brawls broke out, and officers deployed crowd control measures. A woman aligned with the Trump supporters was arguing with a Black man aligned with the counter-protesters. Around 1:45 PM, Machala allegedly drew a handgun and shot the Black counter-protester in the stomach. Protesters took the victim to the hospital in a private vehicle. Social media reports indicate the victim is in stable condition.

Earlier in the day, Stephen Christopher Kurtz, 42 years old of Olympia, Washington, was arrested by Olympia police for 4th-degree assault and failure to disperse. In that incident, Kurtz is accused of brandishing a gun unprovoked. Several journalists caught the incident on camera. Kurtz was released from Olympia city jail on $1000 bail. A hearing date for Kurtz has not been set. 

Saturday’s shooting is the second in a week marred by gun violence. Christopher Guenzler is held at the Thurston County Jail on 1st and 2nd-degree assault charges. Guenzler is accused of shooting a protester one protester and pistol-whipping another on December 5.

Shoreline, Washington, where Machala lives, has been a flashpoint of racist activity in 2020, including threats against a group of children creating Black Lives Matter chalk art in front of their homes in August, and the attempted arson of a black-owned coffee shop in October. Officials have made no arrests in either of those incidents.

Chris Rojas contributed to this story.

BIPOC, Local, National

Activists remove outer barricades at Red House on Mississippi

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PORTLAND (Malcontent News) – Protesters in Portland, Oregon removed many of the barricades surrounding the Red House on Mississippi. Tension with city leaders has subsided, and activists successfully raised enough money to repurchase the home from an investor.

On Tuesday, Portland Police Bureau tried to remove protesters who have been using Red House as a gathering place and symbol against gentrification, resulting in a dozen arrests. Portland police were not successful in removing the protesters. The activists built a series of barricades with an inner and outer perimeter around Red House and started a 24-hour vigil.

The protest turned Red House into a national symbol against gentrification, predatory lending, and BIPOC rights. The home in Portland’s north end has been with the Kinney family, a Black and indigenous family, for 65 years. The family and the house became locally famous in 2018, as efforts to stop the foreclosure made the local news. The north end of Portland has historically been a Black community and is experiencing significant gentrification.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”9″ gal_title=”Red House on Mississippi”]

Activists started a GoFundMe on Wednesday with a target of raising $260,000 to repurchase the property from the small investor who bought it at auction. Organizers met the goal on Thursday night, and by Friday morning had raised more than $285,000.

The home’s defense has been tense at times, with several incidents of Proud Boys and other far-right extremists driving by throwing commercial-grade fireworks and explosives from vehicles. There were multiple, unconfirmed reports of gunfire. There were no reported injuries in any of the violence attempts captured by independent journalists in the area. On Sunday morning, activists decided to remove the outer barricades but to maintain the barriers closest to the house. There is no end to the vigil, with many still wary of far-right extremists and city officials.

Portland’s population is less than three-percent black due to early political policy and historical events. In 1848, the Peter Burnett Lash Law was passed, making Oregon a white only territory. It was the first of three such laws that called for the expulsion of non-whites and prevented land ownership.

Fueled by the war effort during World War II, Vanport was once the second-largest city in Oregon and a suburb of Portland. The almost exclusively Black community was located on the lowlands at the Columbia River’s mouth, on the border of Washington state. A massive flood in 1948 wiped the icon of Black success off the map. Despite promises to rebuild and repair infrastructure, it never happened. Vanport is little more than a historical marker in a Park and Ride lot today. The Black population of Portland has never recovered.

Renee Raketty contributed to this story.

BIPOC, Breaking News, Local

Black activist shot by right-wing extremist in Olympia, riot declared

Police declared a riot at 1:30 PM today as multiple groups squared off, resulting in one shot. Multiple groups rallied in the state capitol, including an anti-mask group demanding business reopen, another group demanding schools reopen, a “stop the steal” group protesting Trump’s loss, and Black Lives Matter activists. The groups engaged in taunts and small brawls before chaos broke out.

According to eyewitnesses, a woman aligned with one of the right-wing extremist organizations started arguing with an individual from Black Lives Matter. A man who was with the woman pulled out a gun and shot the person in the stomach. Social media reports the individual is in stable condition. Olympia police tweeted they made one arrest. Social media is sharing a picture of the alleged shooter. He has not been booked into the Thurston County Jail as of this writing.

After the riot declaration, smaller groups continued to march and engage for almost three hours. Olympia Police declared the situation under control early this evening and said they would continue to monitor the situation. The Washington State Patrol continued to have an aircraft circling the city, according to FlightAware.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”7″ gal_title=”December 12, 2020 Olympia Riot”]

On December 5, 2020, during another incident with right-wing extremists, Police arrested Chris Guenzler after shooting a protester and pistol-whipping another. In that shooting incident, the victim was grazed by a bullet and sustained minor injuries. Guenzler is still in custody in the Thurston County Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for December 22, 2020.

Right-wing extremists plan another protest in Olympia tomorrow at noon.

Renee Raketty contributed to this story.