The Latest: Police use pepper spray on Seattle protesters

SEATTLE – The Latest on May Day rallies in the Northwest (all times local):

7:17 p.m.

Seattle police used pepper spray to disperse anti-capitalist protesters after authorities say rocks, flares and bricks were thrown at officers downtown.

One officer was injured Sunday evening. Police said the officer was treated at the scene for a head and facial laceration.

Dozens of black-clad people had gathered at Westlake Park in downtown following a peaceful, permitted march earlier in the day by advocates for workers and immigrants.

The anti-capitalist demonstrators, who did not have a permit from city officials, carried signs, including one that said “We Are Ungovernable.” The group gathered at the downtown park before starting to march through the streets.

Some downtown businesses had earlier boarded up storefronts, anticipating violence. Police reported seeing people with poles with bolts, rocks and cans of spray paint in the crowd. Police reported some broken windows.

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6:40 p.m.

Seattle Police say officers reported being struck by sticks and batons by some anti-capitalist demonstrators at a May Day protest in Seattle.

Dozens of black-clad people gathered at Westlake Park in downtown Sunday following a peaceful, permitted march earlier in the day by advocates for workers and immigrants.

The anti-capitalist demonstrators, who did not have a permit from city officials, carried signs, including one that said “We Are Ungovernable.” The group gathered at the downtown park before starting to march through the streets.

Some downtown businesses had earlier boarded up storefronts, anticipating violence. Seattle police reported seeing people with poles with bolts, rocks and cans of spray paint in the crowd. Police said there was some property damage, including broken window at a residential building.

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6:05 p.m.

The Yakima May Day march concluded at an elementary school in Union Gap.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports ( http://bit.ly/24gYD3D ) about 200 people finished the march. The day’s events began early Sunday morning in Granger.

An evening rally was planned at MLK Elementary in Union Gap.

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4:30 p.m.

Hundreds of people marched through Seattle’s Central District and downtown as part of May Day festivities to support immigrants and workers.

Many participants Sunday afternoon carried signs and flags as they made their way through the city under sunny skies.

Seattle Police escorted the marchers for the permitted parade. There was also a concert at Seattle’s Westlake Park.

Steve Wilske, Seattle Police assistant chief, called the afternoon march “very successful.”

Later in the evening an anti-capitalist march is slated to begin in a downtown park. Authorities have not issued a permit for that gathering.

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7:20 a.m.

Large May Day marches in support of immigrants and workers are planned for Seattle and Portland.

Rallies are scheduled throughout the day Sunday in both cities. In Seattle a large march from the city’s Central District to downtown is scheduled for the afternoon and city officials have approved a permit for that event. Later in the evening an anti-capitalist march is slated to begin in a downtown park. Authorities have not issued a permit for that gathering.

Seattle police say they will provide traffic control for all events.

In Portland, hundreds of people attended Sunday’s rally. No march accompanied the city’s rally.

Seattle traditionally sees large, disruptive May Day gatherings. Last year police arrested 16 people during demonstrations and in 2014 10 people were arrested. In 2013, police arrested 18 people from a crowd that pelted them with rocks and bottles. Storefronts in downtown Seattle have also been smashed in previous protests.

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