The Revive in 25 worship concert at Gas Works Park was peaceful, with police on alert after previous clashes.
SEATTLE — A worship concert and rally at Seattle’s Gas Works Park drew supporters and opponents Saturday.
The event was part of the Revive in 25 tour, which is led by Sean Feucht, a California-based singer and preacher who rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic by organizing large “Let Us Worship” concerts in defiance of public health restrictions.
The event came with added scrutiny after a similar rally at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill in May sparked clashes between a religious group and counter protesters. Twenty-three people were arrested during the May incident.
Seattle police were on alert about safety concerns for the Gas Works concert. Although the event drew a crowd of opponents who say the group’s organizers are anti-LGBTQ+ and spread bigotry, it remained peaceful.
The Seattle Police Department’s outreach engagement team spoke with both supporters and opponents during the event. The two groups were separated by a fence.
“We’ve been doing our best to ensure that people can move freely and speak freely,” said Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes. “And we have had certainly a great deal of cooperation from everyone. Whether it’s onlookers, whether it’s people who don’t agree with the message or people who do agree with the message.”
The event was originally planned for Cal Anderson Park. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell permitted the event but after meeting with organizers, it was moved to Gas Works. Feucht described it all as an “invitation” from the city.
“I think it’s amazing how five years in a row we’ve come and worshipped here and this time we have the mayor inviting us and police protecting us,” Feucht said. “Maybe Seattle is turning a corner.”
Feucht has not been shy about criticizing the LGBTQ+ community and Pride celebrations. However, he pushes back against people who say he stirs the pot and riles people up.
“To people who say that, you should come to one of the events just to make sure you got the right vibe,” Feucht said.
Earlier Saturday afternoon, the nonprofit Lavender Rights Project held an event at Washington Hall in Seattle’s Central District. The group called it a celebration rather than a protest. Local LGBTQ+ groups and community members joined the rally to show solidarity.
“We’re gonna continue to be Seattle, be gay as hell, have fun, enjoy ourselves,” said Jaelynn Scott, executive director of the Lavender Rights Project. “This will be a sanctuary in this country, in Seattle, for as long as we can keep it.”
