Pro-Israel Seattle event disrupted by clashes with pro-Palestinian protesters
Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters showed up Sunday at a Town Hall Seattle event hosted by StandWithUs Northwest, a Jewish group that on its website says it fights 'rising antisemitism, hate and misinformation online.'
The result was three arrests, as witnessed by a our website staff photographer. Police said two men taken into custody were ages 21 and 33. No information was immediately available on the third person detained.
A protester at the front of the steps, wearing a plastic bag as a makeshift mask, got into a shoving match with an attendee. Both traded shoves before the attendee tried to snatch the bag from the protester's head. The protester then landed a punch to the attendee's jaw. Seattle police arrested one of the protesters, and at least two others a few minutes later, as they sprayed targeted chemical irritants at several protesters in a crowd of about 75.
The protesters, part of the Seattle Palestine Action Network, were there because of the keynote speaker: Noa Cochva, who served as a combat medic with the Israel Defense Forces and, in 2021, was crowned Miss Israel, representing the country at that year's Miss Universe. She's now an influencer and public speaker.
Kate Rafael, 66, of Seattle, was one of the protesters. She wore a black T-shirt with yellow writing reading: 'Divest from genocide' on the front, and 'Jews say let Gaza live' on the back.
'As a Jew, as a feminist, as somebody who cares about human rights and lives, I have to be here,' she said. 'I feel like it's an outrage that people are coming to celebrate genocide.'
Inside the hall was Jennifer Adut, associate director of StandWithUs Northwest.
'We are all proud Jews. We are proud of our history and heritage,' she said. 'We're not cowed by protesters. They were screaming right in our faces. It was really intimidating. 'Death to the IDF.' 'Free Palestine.' 'F Israel.''
Around 8:30 p.m., police forced all the protesters from the sidewalk and away from the entrance so attendees could exit.
Seattle police said Sunday night they would have a report about the protest once it was over.
