6 arrested as protesters throw rocks through windows at 3 Olympia banks

THE OLYMPIAN | • Published May 01, 2008

• Video

OLYMPIA -- Six people were arrested early this evening after a May Day rally turned violent in downtown Olympia.

Some of the rally participants headed up Fourth Street, disrupting traffic. Fighting broke out when police arrived.

Protesters started throwing rocks, breaking windows at the Bank of America, U.S. Bank and Heritage Bank.

Earlier in the day the group reportedly went to City Hall looking for support for an effort to make Olympia a sanctuary city for war resisters and undocumented workers. The group apparently wants to approach the City Council Tuesday for support for that effort.

About 30 to 40 of the protesters went to City Hall to support those who were arrested. City Hall was put into lockdown. Three police officers in riot gear guarded the entrance to the jail at City Hall.

Witness Tom Beehrle of Olympia said one of the protesters spit and kicked at his Corvette, calling it “a big gas guzzler.”

“I would have done something, but he had a couple hundred little buddies of his with him,” Beehrle said.

For more on the story, see The Olympian Friday.