UW Prepares For Potential Violence During Saturday Rally

SEATTLE, WA - A political rally Saturday at the University of Washington might turn violent, and the college is warning visitors and students to avoid the area, according to a letter sent to the UW community Friday by President Ana Mari Cauce. UW police, Cauce says, "obtained credible information" that outside groups with "the intent to instigate violence" might attend the event.

The UW College Republicans invited the alt-right group Patriot Prayer to speak on Saturday afternoon in Red Square. The event has been dubbed a "freedom rally." Cauce warned visitors to avoid Red Square Saturday, and said that some campus events scheduled for Saturday have been cancelled.

"I encourage you to avoid the Red Square area, and the surrounding area, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday to ensure your own personal safety," Cauce wrote.

Patriot Prayer has held rallies in Seattle before, and one did end in a violent confrontation.

The group, founded by Joey Gibson, first came to Seattle on May Day 2017, intending to confront anti-fascist protesters. Patriot Prayer also supported an anti-sharia rally held at Seattle City Hall in June. That event ended with members of Patriot Prayer fighting with anti-fascists in Pioneer Square.

The University of Washington police have asked the UW College Republicans to pay $17,000 to secure Red Square during the event. In response, the group sued UW in federal court, claiming the fee was too high and would restrict freedom of speech. A federal judge ruled Friday that UW could not charge the fee before the event.

Red Square has been the site of political violence before. On Inauguration Day in 2017, conservative Milo Yiannopoulos spoke at UW as left-wing protesters and Yiannopoulos fans clashed outside. An anti-fascist protester was shot and nearly died. The alleged shooter, Elizabeth Hokoana, has said that she opened fire in self-defense. She was at the event with her husband, Marc, to see Yiannopoulos speak.

Over the past year, Patriot Prayer has held rallies in Berkeley, Calif. A rally held in September ended in scuffles and three arrests.

The Patriot Prayer rally starts at 1 p.m. Saturday in Red Square.

Caption: Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson speaks at Westlake Park in Seattle on May Day 2017.

File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch