Thousands To Take To Streets For Black Lives Matter March

Black Lives Matter demonstrators are on the march in downtown Seattle to greet Black Friday shoppers descending on the city’s commercial core.

By noon, several hundred protesters had gathered at Westlake Park. Turnout appeared to be lighter than previous years’ events, which have been largely peaceful. Protesters will stick around for the holiday tree lighting at Westlake Park, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

It’s the fourth consecutive year Seattle has played host to a Black Lives Matter march on Black Friday, the day that’s become synonymous with retailers offering once-a-year deals to entice holiday shoppers.

Traffic was impacted as marchers hit the streets. The event has been much smaller than the city’s major protest day — May Day — but demonstrators have previously marched into Westlake Center and stores in the area.

Last year, a few protesters clashed with police and security when they attempted to force their way into Westlake Mall. But the demonstration was nonviolent, and didn’t see any property destruction.

The Black Lives Matter movement has found fertile ground in Seattle since its founding in 2013.

BLM organizer Nikkita Oliver finished third in the city’s mayoral primary election in August. City teachers donned T-shirts reading “Black Lives Matter” in a show of solidarity with students of color. Two protesters from the movement cut presidential candidate Bernie Sanders short during a 2016 campaign visit, and high-profile Seattleites like Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett have embraced the movement.

Police violence against people of color has been one of the movement’s hallmark issues, and it’s a good bet the name of Charleena Lyles, the pregnant mother killed by Seattle Police officers in June, will be invoked often during Friday’s march.

SeattlePI will be on the scene of the march on Friday afternoon. For photos from last year’s march, check out the gallery above.

Seattlepi.com reporter Stephen Cohen can be reached at 206-448-8313 or stephencohen@seattlepi.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter at @scohenPI.