Police Violence

A Growing Threat to Public Health

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George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis officer on May 25, 2020. Since then, Black Lives Matter demonstrators in the Seattle area have marched daily.


Here we present stories of police-inflicted health harms by individuals reporting on their own experiences in King County since late May, 2020.


These particular stories come from legal testimony submitted as part of an ACLU lawsuit: Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County v City of Seattle, with law firms SKKM and Cedar River Law.

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Seattle 2020 Timeline

April 1, 2020
Governor Inslee issues shelter-in-place order
May 29, 2020
First protest in Seattle takes place between Chinatown-International District and Downtown.
May 31, 2020
May 31st –June 2nd, 2020: Protests move throughout Capitol Hill, Downtown, and Westlake, focusing on SPD's East Precinct in Capitol Hill. Chemical weapons, less-lethal munitions, and physical force are used nightly, centering on the East Precinct.
June 2, 2020
A Washington State Patrol (WSP) officer is overheard on a livestream, "Don't kill them, but hit them hard."
June 8, 2020
SPD abandons the East Precinct, resulting in the Capital Hill Occupation Protest (CHOP).
June 12, 2020
Federal court puts a temporary restraining order on SPD's use of chemical weapons on protesters. BLMKC's silent march draws 60,000.
July 25, 2020
Seattle and Portland solidarity marches, 45 arrested in Seattle
September 7, 2020
As Seattle passes 100 days of daily protests, 22 arrested at SODO offices of the Seattle Police Officers Guild

Less-than-lethal weapons used on protestors

🔥 Incendiary
Pepper balls, OC/CS grenades (Blast Balls), Stun Grenades (Flash Bangs). These weapons were designed to be thrown 30 feet away from individuals to ensure target's safety. Often result in permanent injuries, and sometimes DEATH.
☁️ Chemical
OC gas, CS gas, CN gas. Colloquially referred to as "tear gas," these chemicals cause eye, nose, throat, respiratory, and skin irritation.
🔸 Projectile
Rubber bullets, bean bag rounds, pepper balls, plastic bullets. Can hit with roughly twice the force of a professional boxer, causing fractures, nerve damage, and amputation of eyes and death. The American Academy of Ophthalmology calls on law enforcement to immediately end the use of rubber bullets.
📢 Other
Long Range Audio Device (LRAD). Up to 152 decibels, can cause permanent hearing damage.

Get Involved

1. Join an organization - American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Black Lives Matter


2. Learn & talk - Talk with your kids about police violence, Police violence bystander training


3. Know your rights - ACLU Know Your Rights guide


4. Additional resources - Organizations by state

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