Hundreds of pro-police protesters gathered outside of Seattle’s City Hall ahead of a vote to strip funding from the city’s police department.
“This is the silent majority. They’re silent no more,” KTTH radio host Jason Rantz tweeted on Sunday, accompanied by a photo of the pro-police protesters.
This is the silent majority. They’re silent no more. pic.twitter.com/15DwhGoiC4
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) August 9, 2020
Videos and photos of the event showed the mass of people gathered around City Hall chanting, “SPD” while wearing blue in support of the Seattle Police Department.
Large rally in support of SPD outside Seattle City Hall pic.twitter.com/2Tddxz0lh4
— Amy Moreno (@AmyMorenoNews) August 9, 2020
Hundreds of people outside of City Hall with a message to defend @SeattlePD ahead of tomorrow’s City Council vote aimed to defund parts of the department. This rally is being put on by @SPOG1952. A group protesting this one is on the other side of 4th Ave #KOMONews pic.twitter.com/dbw43FaVLb
— Cole Miller (@ColeMillerTV) August 9, 2020
Chanting “SPD” at Seattle City Hall. Huge turnout. People keep coming. pic.twitter.com/a55htOl6FA
— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) August 9, 2020
“I hope that tomorrow’s vote they’re being influenced to vote no. Because the ignored majority is finally being heard. The unreasonable activism must stop, and the unreasonable communities saying no more to this defund nonsense because it’s got everybody’s public safety in jeopardy,” Mike Solan, president of the Seattle Police Guild, said.
The Seattle City Council voted 7-1 on Monday to approve a plan that will cut the pay of top police officers while dissolving the Navigation Team and SWAT unit. The overall budget for 2020 was cut by about $3 million, which is far less than the 50% cut that some protesters have called for.
Mayor Jenny Durkan called the vote “unfortunate” as council members “refused to engage in a collaborative process to work with the mayor, Chief Best, and community members.”
“It is unfortunate [the] council has refused to engage in a collaborative process to work with the mayor, Chief Best, and community members to develop a budget and policies that respond to community needs while accounting for — not just acknowledging — the significant labor and legal implications involved in transforming the Seattle Police Department,” she said in a statement.
Following the vote, the Seattle chief of police, Carmen Best, announced her retirement, adding that she is “confident the department will make it through these difficult times.” Best had been in the position since 2018 and was the first black woman to lead the department. She plans to leave her post on Sept. 2.
