#Seattle #police detail plan for #MayDay - to protect Goldman Sachs’ office... | #MSM

Video Here: http://pwny.biz/Nk

ocal anarchists have announced they’ll target big business as a part of their May Day protests.

 Puget Sound Anarchists have posted a call for protestors to rally in front of a building where investment bank Goldman Sachs has an office in downtown Seattle.

Seattle police says officers will be prepared at that location and others around the city on Wednesday.

 ”We’ve done an assessment of likely targets and there will be officers posted in those locations. We can’t possibly post at every potential window there’s a lot of windows in the city but we can certainly to a risk assessment and staff to where we think those incidents might occur and create contingencies under those areas we may have missed,” said Capt. Chris Fowler of the Seattle Police Department.

 Aside from a peaceful protest to the Federal Building during the day, local anarchists are also planning a protest beginning at Pine and Broadway at 6 p.m. The anarchists have not announced a route for May Day.

 ”The marches are taking place at different times so this year is substantially different than last year in many different respects,” said Fowler.

 Seattle police says it is adding extra staff for this year’s May Day but would not reveal any specifics.

 Last year anarchists caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and even triggered a civil emergency.

 The mayor’s office says this year, the city will wait until it’s necessary to issue a civil emergency based on the facts.

#occupy_SEATTLE encampment grows at Westlake Park

occupy seattle

Demonstrators upset with the current economic climate hold signs and yell slogans expressing their feelings towards the banks and corporations in America. Many Demonstrators have set up camp at Westlake Park on 4th Ave and Pine St. with tents, packaged food, and rain soaked signs. Some demonstrators plan to stay there throughout the week. (Photos by Joe Dyer, seattlepi.com)

CLICK IMAGE ABOVE TO VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

Similar to the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York City, people in Seattle have taken to the streets to protest corporate greed, lobbyists, and America’s economic situation.

What started last Saturday as a small protest with 20 people at the Federal Building downtown has now transformed into a makeshift tent village at Westlake Park with over 60 people spending the night in tents.  Using Facebook they announce their needs —tarps to rainproof tents, food, tape, signs, and whatever else is needed to run a demonstration.

Initially the encampment was allowed in the park but organizers are reporting that they have received orders from the city to leave the park.

Albert Postema brought food from his farm in Snohomish to support the protesters. “All day all week,” he said when asked how long he would stay at the demonstration, his voice hoarse from yelling all day. He participated in the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York and decided to help with a similar protest here in Seattle.

Organizers are hoping the Seattle version of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement will continue to grow.

Here are photos from the Occupy Seattle protest at Westlake Park.

- Joe Dyer

Visit seattlepi.com’s home page for more Seattle news. Contact Joshua Trujillo at joshuatrujillo@seattlepi.com or on Twitter as @joshtrujillo.

Federal Judge confirms Walmart can fire legal marijuana users

The Seattle Times is calling for the Washington Legislature to legalize marijuana. In an editorial for Sunday’s editions, the newspaper says the time has come for the states to lead a push against federal prohibition. The editorial was posted Friday on The Times’ website.

The newspaper endorses state House Bill 1550, which would legalize marijuana and sell it through state liquor stores to customers over 21 who consume it in private.

The Times editorial board says the prohibition of marijuana has not worked and wastes the resources of the police, the courts and the jails. The editorial suggests it is better to legalize pot, regulate it and tax it.

Times Editorial Page Editor and Associate Publisher Ryan Blethen says the newspaper understands that “a good number of citizens may disagree with our call on this.”

The Seattle Times is the largest daily newspaper in Washington state.

Top