Many of the protesters drove in from hours outside Seattle to show the antifa “people who have a different point of view.”
(Antifa = anti-fascist, a word to describe anarchists, usually by conservatives.)
“There will be a group of us who will be showing our support for the Police, Trump, Freedom, and AMERICA,” said the Facebook announcement for the Stand Against Communism march.
They seemed a little nervous about how things would go down in the city.
The group, Patriot Prayer, said they would divide into two groups: One of marchers, the other of protectors against harassment from the so-called antifa.
Kathryn Townsend of Gig Harbor, a grandmother and Trump supporter, wore a helmet. She said she was also wearing body armor.
"I figured hey, protect your head, protect your vital organs and you're good to go,” Townsend said. She worried liberal protesters might push her down and try to hurt her.
“I'm happy to discuss my vote. I'm happy to discuss why I did what I did. I would do it again. I plan on doing it again in 2020. But it's kind of sad that they have to use intimidation or violence.”
The rally, like most Seattle rallies, ended up being peaceful. A few scuffles broke out, and there was some shouting and pushing, but Seattle police officers rushed to separate the liberals from the patriots.
The signs, however, did not pull punches. Those rallying for Trump stuck to tried and true: American flags and bandannas and signs that said “Trump and Pence.”
But the opposition, used to making cheeky signs by now, held up posters that read, “Not My Cheeto,” and “Trump is a Fugly Slut.”
But at the end of the day, both sides agreed they were happy to have a space to voice their opinions.
"You don't have to cuss, you don't have to yell, it's okay for us to have a difference of opinion,” said Joey Gibson, one of the organizers from Vancouver.
“These social justice warriors, this infection, has taken over the West Coast. People are afraid to hear different ideas and different concepts. Understand, true diversity is in the head. It's what you believe in. We need true diversity."
From the other side, Barbara Elza, who had shown up to take a stand against fascism, said she felt great about the pro-Trump flags being waved in front of her.
“The only way you find out where the center is, is to see what's on the fringe,” she said.
