Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, taunted by hecklers at a town hall meeting, abruptly left the south Seattle gathering Tuesday night.
"I'm sorry guys, I'm done. No, this is not a productive meeting," McGinn said as he removed his microphone and left.
McGinn's office said anarchists caused the disruption at the Northwest African American Museum.
The heckling started not long after McGinn began the meeting, when he was interrupted by someone complaining about Seattle police, said KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Graham Johnson.
McGinn was speaking about the recent spike in murders in Seattle.
SEATTLE — McGinn: "There's this culture in which people use guns to solve dispute …"
"Yeah, the police foster it," someone interrupted.
McGinn: "I'm sorry, this is my turn. You've had your say."
"Who wants to ask me the questions?" McGinn asked. "Seriously, let’s get a show of hands. How many would like him to answer the questions?"
McGinn left, as a KIRO 7 Eyewitness News photographer followed.
"This is a certain group of people and this occasionally happens," he said.
McGinn said he would reschedule another meeting.
Outside, he spoke with neighbors, but the hecklers reappeared. The mayor and neighbors spoke, but the taunts continued until he left.
Mike McGinn's spokesman later called to say anarchists had disrupted the meeting and that one had asked about the windows at the mayor's house -- a reference to the vandalism at his home after the May Day riots.
The spokesman said that of more than 60 town meetings the mayor has held, this was the first one he's had to leave.
KIRO
