Olympia enjoys largely uneventful May Day

Editor's note: Reporters will be covering events that unfold throughout Tuesday in downtown Olympia and surrounding areas. Check back for updates.

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12:30 p.m. Wednesday

“It was really low key.”

That was Olympia police Lt. Sam Costello’s assessment of May Day by Wednesday afternoon. No arrests were made and Olympia police took no reports of property damage.

Costello said compared with previous years, Olympia police had a more visible presence downtown, which could have made the difference. Officers were also stationed outside businesses that had been damaged in the past.

“Year to year it's hard for us to predict what’s going to happen,” he said. “But anytime you have 30-plus officers on mountain bikes that are able to deploy quickly, you’re going to deter some things.”

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7:30 p.m. Tuesday

Olympia police responded to a report of about 30 masked people with protest signs outside the home of Mayor Cheryl Selby.

Neighbors said the group delivered fliers and chanted before dispersing when police arrived at the 1900 block of Water Street Southwest.

Selby said this is the first time a large organized group has come to her house in protest.

The fliers depict Selby with an arrow through her head and markings on her face, and say, "Eat your pheasant, drink you wine. Your days are numbered bourgeois swine."

The fliers criticized Selby for her positions on homelessness and climate change, and what it called her "pro-business agenda."

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6 p.m.

Olympia police continue to circle downtown on bikes and in patrol cars, but May Day has been quiet so far.

There are years when protests don't begin until dusk, one OPD officer said, but they often begin earlier in the afternoon.

Not this year.

As of 6 p.m., OPD has not responded to any disturbances downtown, though patrols did increase this year, the officer said.

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3:45 p.m.

About 100 people gathered at an International Workers' Day celebration at Sylvester Park. The peaceful assembly was hosted by Olympia's branch of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Among the speakers was Reed Wing of Olympia Assembly, a libertarian socialist group that formed after the 2016 election.

"All this time that we've been trying to build power we've been delegating it away, giving it away and focusing on unattainable things on the national level, which we need — we need that form of coordination, but where we have to start is in our communities," he said to the crowd.

Watching from multiple edges of the park were about a dozen Olympia Police Department officers on bikes.

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3 p.m.

While some downtown Olympia businesses are closing early, Capital City Guitars at 108 Fourth Ave. East plans to host a barbecue starting at 6:30 p.m. All are invited.

A worker at the store said it was partly a May Day celebration, partly a way to protect the store in case of damage.

Across the street, workers were boarding up windows at U.S. Bank.

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2:25 p.m.

Goodwill's Blue, a store on Capitol Way where high-end clothing and decor donations are sold, will close at 4 p.m. Tuesday, a spokesman said. Two security guards also are stationed outside the store.

"We are focused on maintaining the safety and the security of our employees," said George White, spokesman for the Tacoma Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier region.

Goodwill's Blue was damaged in last year's May Day activities, he said.

President and Chief Executive Lori Drummond of Olympia Federal Savings, which was also damaged last year, said the staff is monitoring May Day events and could close early.

"We are planning for the worst, but hoping for the best," she said.

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10:30 a.m.

Some local businesses in downtown Olympia will be closing early Tuesday after last year's May Day protests left several buildings damaged.

The Starbucks located on the corner of Capitol Way South and Legion Way Southeast — across the street from Sylvester Park — posted a note on a window alerting customers of its early closing time.

"Given the events of last year, we will be closing today at 2 p.m.," the note reads. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We're hoping for a calm and peaceful May Day and we'll see you tomorrow!"

The coffee shop was one of several downtown businesses damaged last year. Starbucks, U.S. Bank and Olympia Federal Savings Bank had damage that was estimated at $60,000.

Pizzeria La Gitana, which is just north of Stabucks on Capitol Way, will also close early per a sign on its door.

New Moon Cafe on Fourth Ave. West will be closed all day, citing solidarity with the workers' rights movement.

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5:35 a.m.

The Wells Fargo bank branch at Pacific Avenue Southeast and Sleater-Kinney Road Southeast appears to be the first structure damaged on May Day. Lacey police were dispatched about 5:35 a.m. Tuesday after front-door windows were smashed.

The exterior of the building also was tagged with graffiti that read, "Happy May Day" and "Money equals death," Sgt. Jaime Newcomb said. Police do not have a suspect description, he said.

This story was originally published May 1, 2018 at 1:10 PM with the headline "Olympia enjoys largely uneventful May Day."