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GUIDE: Navigating through May Day 2018

By KIRO 7 News Staff
By KIRO 7 News Staff

May Day is known as a day of mass demonstrations in cities across the United States. In Seattle, however, it has become a day known for violent and destructive marches through downtown.

>>PHOTOS: May Day 2017

>> Download the KIRO 7 News app for breaking alerts throughout May Day 

An annual, peaceful immigrant and worker march takes place during the day on May 1. But that message is generally lost as anarchists usually descend upon downtown during the evening.

Whether you’ll be protesting on May Day or avoiding the crowds, you can see a list aggregated by KIRO 7 News of activities throughout the day.

19th Annual May Day March for Immigrant and Workers Rights

The event is hosted by El Comité and the May 1st Action Coalition. This year's march will focus on Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Washington State, according to the event's Facebook page.

  • When: Rally from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Where: The march will leave Judkins Park at 20th Avenue S and S Dearborn Street and travel north on 20th Avenue to S Jackson Street; west on S Jackson Street to 4th Avenue; north on 4th Avenue to Madison Street; west on Madison Street to 2nd Avenue; north on 2nd Avenue ending at Spring Street

MayDay Seattle - Stand Against Rioters

According to a Facebook page, the event is hosted by Washington State Patriot Response and is aimed at stopping those destroying property or committing violence on May Day. "Seattle is a Mecca for these criminals and it is time that Patriots come together for the good of the community. Come stand against these criminals and join us May 1st in Seattle!" their Facebook page says.

  • When: 3 p.m.
  • Where: Westlake Park

>> See photos of May Day violence in 2012

>> See May Day photos from 2013

>> See images from the 2015 May Day protest

>> See May Day photos from 2016

Stop the Killings: Seattle Caravan Sendoff & May Day March 

The Stop the Killings Speaking Tour hosted by International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines US Chapter and the Malaya Movement, will make its stop in Seattle on May 1. A rally and send off will be held for the bus caravan of delegates from the Philippines "spreading awareness of the 20,000 extrajudicial killings and the growing repression under President Duterte," according to the Facebook page for the event.

  • When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Where: Pratt Park in Seattle, (1800 S Main St Seattle, in the covered basketball courts/pavilion)
     

May Day 2018 Bloc party

The event is hosted by Bloc the Juvi!, a group against the construction of a new juvenile detention center in Seattle. The event will have numerous live performances and has usually food and speakers as well.

  • When: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Where: Location will be announced at 3:30 the day of the event

Preparing for May Day in Seattle 

The city is warning businesses to bring in any outdoor signs and other business-owned objects during the evening hours to keep them from being damaged or destroyed during the marches. Dumpsters should be closed, locked and locked to each other or to a building. Trash cans or recycling bins should also be secured to prevent fires.

Commuters should expect some delays throughout Seattle Tuesday.

Dozens of King County Metro and Sound Transit bus routes will be temporarily re-routed or delayed during the May Day events. Read about what to expect here.

The permitted march will leave Judkins Park at 20th Avenue S and S Dearborn Street and travel north on 20th Avenue to S Jackson Street; west on S Jackson Street to 4th Avenue; north on 4th Avenue to Madison Street; west on Madison Street to 2nd Avenue; north on 2nd Avenue ending at Spring Street.

Here's a map of that march:

The Seattle Department of Transportation said Seattle police will also use "rolling closures" on some streets downtown as routes change or as needed for unplanned protests.

The Mariners will also be hosting a game at Safeco Field at 7:10 p.m. About 15,000 people expected to attend.

Cox Media Group

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