UW "Freedom Rally" turns violent, five arrested

A so-called "Freedom Rally" turned violent on the University of Washington campus Saturday.

Protesters were pepper-sprayed, an American flag was burned; all of it leading to several arrests.

Seattle police said five people were taken into custody.

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This rally almost didn't happen when the university tried forcing organizers to pay a $17,000 security fee. But a federal judge ruled against the university and the rally was allowed to proceed.

The hundreds of protestors at the rally far outnumbered its supporters.

Police put up barricades to keep these groups separated, and they helped keep the peace, at least for a time.

The university's chapter of the College Republicans say they had envisioned a free expression of their ideas on campus.

"You tell me I can't come out here and speak in an open public park, I'm going to come here," said Joey Gibson. "No matter what. No matter what."

Gibson was the focus of the Freedom Rally. He is the alt-right founder of the Patriot Prayer movement based in Vancouver, Washington. He says the opposition to him is not based on reality.

"It's ridiculous," he said. "It's all just a lie. There's no reason for them to be out protesting. I respect their right to be out here. But I'm here to talk about freedom, God and love. And so I don't know why they would be against that."

But some of his own followers seemed to be spoiling for a fight, going around the barriers Seattle police and University of Washington police had put up to keep his group separated from the hundreds of protestors who showed up.

The ensuing altercations led to several people being pepper-sprayed. What remained of an American flag was burned, too.

At some point the Patriot Prayer group quietly left, to the delight of protest organizers.

"We have shut them down," a protester yelled into a bullhorn. "We have drowned them out. We are louder. We are stronger."

The College Republicans said this is not the end for them.  They plan to continue pursuing their court case against the university.

Cox Media Group