The Brief
- A religious concert and rally is planned for Gas Works Park in Seattle on Saturday.
- The event is drawing comparison to an event earlier this summer that put the city on edge.
- Police hope their presence will deter violence between event attendees and counterprotesters.
SEATTLE – A religious concert scheduled for Saturday at Gasworks Park has ignited criticism from community members and advocacy groups, who fear a repeat of a controversial rally in May that resulted in dozens of arrests and clashes with police.
Local perspective:
The event, titled “Let Us Worship, Revive in 2025,” was originally planned for Cal Anderson Park, a site with historical significance to the LGBTQ+ community on Capitol Hill. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell recommended relocating the concert to Gasworks Park, citing public safety concerns.
Despite the concerns, Harrell stated that the city could not deny the group a permit due to First Amendment protections for free speech.
The backstory:…