SEATTLE — Seattle police are preparing for a planned Black Lives Matter protest at a downtown Seattle tree-lighting ceremony.
The Seattle Times reports that department officials have been meeting with the Downtown Seattle Association and Seafair, which is hosting the Westlake Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration.
Capt. Chris Fowler says the planning is a reaction to last year’s “Black Friday” protest over the police shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Five people were arrested at last year’s protest and transit stations were closed, Westlake Center shutdown early and the tree-lighting event was disrupted.
Police expect between 300 and 500 protesters to come to the downtown shopping district on Friday.
Civil-rights advocates gathered Tuesday outside Seattle City Hall to encourage police to refrain from using violence on protesters.
