Video: Seattle May Day Chaos as it Unfolded

The Seattle PD has published its account of what took place last night. They indicate that the march earlier in the day ended without incident. But the 2nd, unpermitted march by anti-capitalists quickly escalated into chaos:

According to a flyer, this march was advertised as the Anti-Capitalist/Anti-State May Day 2013 Rally and March…

The behavior of the group during the evening demonstration steadilyescalated into violence. Just after 7 p.m., protestors began sprayingthe costumed Rain City Superheroes with silly string. Shortly afterthat, the window at Sun Liquor was smashed.

The march then wound its way downtown on Pike Street towards theDowntown Retail Core, where demonstrators began shoving and attackingreporters as they provided live on-air reports from the event.

Here’s video of the left-wing marchers harassing reporters [This and other clips courtesy of LaughingatLiberals YouTube channel]:

Back to the Seattle PD account:

Shortly after that, demonstrators ignited a smoke device, spewing orange pinkish smoke throughout the block.

After demonstrators began damaging property, throwing fireworks androcks at officers, police formed a tactical line to prevent the marchersfrom moving any further into the retail core or on to the Interstateon-ramps.

Here’s video of left-wing marchers dragging items into the street and smashing windows:

After demonstrators began throwing metal rods and full water bottlesat officers and business windows, officers moved in and made arrests.

When officers arrested several protesters and began loading them intotransport vans, demonstrators surrounded the officers and prevented thevehicles from leaving.

Several reports from people who were on scene, some reporters and some protesters, agree that the blocking of the police vehicle was the moment the crowd got completely out of hand. Here’s what happened:

The Seattle PD post ends with an updated tally of arrests/injuries:

In all, 17 people were arrested for various offenses including property destruction and assault.

Eight officers sustained injuries, mostly bumps and bruises with theexception of one female officer who was struck in the knee by a fistsized rock.

A woman driving by the scene of one of the protests was injured when aprotester hurled a glass bottle at her car, shattering her window. Thewoman sustained cuts from broken glass and was treated at the scene bymedics.