News

SPD: Bernie Sanders' campaign didn't want Black Lives Matter protesters removed

Bernie Sanders’ campaign staff did not want police to remove two Black Lives Matter protesters from the stage last weekend after they interrupted Sanders’ planned speech, a Seattle police spokesman said Monday.

The protesters, Marissa Janae Johnson and Mara Jacqeline Willaford, demanded the microphone and insisted they would shut the event down if they didn’t get their way.

Music was played after the microphone was cut and an organized tried to get them off the Westlake Park stage. Hundreds chanted for Sanders as Johnson and Willaford yelled that they were reasonable.

Sanders walked off the stage without giving his speech.

Police on duty asked organizers if they wanted help, Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said. But he said organizers didn’t want police to remove them from the stage.

Some affiliated with the Black Lives Matter group say they are upset with Sanders for not taking a stand that they find acceptable on the issue of police violence against blacks.

At a town hall for Democratic presidential candidates in Phoenix last month, Black Lives Matter protesters took over the stage and disrupted an interview with Sanders and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

In his campaign, Sanders has chiefly focused on issues like the middle class, climate change and criminal justice reform. In addition to advocating a $15-an-hour minimum wage and raising taxes on the rich, Sanders also supports a massive government-led jobs program to fix roads and bridges, a single-payer health care system, an expansion of Social Security benefits and debt-free college.

"I am disappointed that two people disrupted a rally attended by thousands at which I was invited to speak about fighting to protect Social Security and Medicare,” Sanders said in a statement about the Seattle rally. I was especially disappointed because on criminal justice reform and the need to fight racism there is no other candidate for president who will fight harder than me.”

Sanders was an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and participated in the historic March on Washington in 1963 as a 22-year-old student at the University of Chicago, according to National Public Radio.

This is the second Westlake event since November that was interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters.

On Nov. 28, 2014, parents of several children said they were frightened after protesters interrupted children caroling at the annual downtown tree lighting.  Five people were arrested overall, and Mayor Ed Murray said at the time violence against property or police would not be tolerated.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.