The protest was announced several days prior via a circulated flier, which read, "Shut it down! For Palestine, Saturday, January 20th 6-8 p.m. U District Link Station." The flier was distributed by multiple anti-Israel and pro-Hamas groups, including Samidoun Seattle, a group linked to the designated terror organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The group, which advocates for the release of convicted terrorists from prison, stated their intent to "...denounce the links between the publicly-funded Sound Transit and multinational conglomerate Siemens, who works to enhance Israeli occupation and colonization in Palestine.”
The protest was supported by a range of other organizations, including Antifa, communist, and Marxist activists. These groups were reported to have vandalized various signs and posts with stickers promoting antisemitic rhetoric and anti-capitalism messaging.
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An hour before the planned protest, Sound Transit announced the closure of the U-District Link light rail station, with trains set to bypass the stop. The agency posted at 5:06 pm, “Heads up riders: Due to a planned protest, we have closed the U District station for safety reasons. Trains will be bypassing the station. We apologize for the additional inconvenience this causes our riders during our current service disruption.” This disruption was already in place due to pre-scheduled repairs planned for the weekend.
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When questioned about the decision to close the station, Sound Transit Spokesperson John Gallagher explained to the Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, “Multiple options were considered, but the potential safety hazard created by anyone accessing the tracks or tunnel with an intent to disrupt service was deemed too great to merit anything less than closing the station.”
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Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine defended the decision, stating, "Closing the station in advance of a planned protest does not infringe upon the rights of protestors, as they have no legal rights as it relates to accessing the transit system and potentially occupying it with an intent to disrupt operations. We thank our passengers for their patience. We understand that this station closure compounds an already difficult time due to the planned disruption.”
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This protest comes just two weeks after anti-Israel activists blockaded the I-5 freeway in Seattle, trapping motorists and at least two ambulances for nearly six hours. Despite activists posting videos online boasting about the successful blockade, no arrests have been made.
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In response to the incident, spokesman for the Washington State Patrol Chris Loftis stated, “The investigators will follow the evidence where it leads them and when appropriate provide that information to the King County Prosecutor’s Office for review and decision on whether charges will be brought.” He added, “WSP is always reviewing and updating our tactics in response to criminal activity. As the tactics of lawbreakers change, so too do our own tactics in investigation and law enforcement. We rarely discuss the specifics of tactics but we are working with our partners in law enforcement to devise greater deterrence as well as improve response efficiencies and capacities.”
Critics have condemned elected officials and the WSP for their inaction. In response, senior attorney at the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute Ted Frank has offered to assist trapped motorists in suing the activist groups for damages.
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