Unrest in Seattle over the death of George Floyd led to damage downtown and arrests overnight Friday. More protests are planned Saturday.
People marched downtown Friday evening after a rally in the International District. TV news video showed people breaking windows along Fifth Avenue and clashing with police.
The Seattle Police Department said seven people were arrested.
There have been protests in other cities across the U.S. over the case of Floyd, the African American man who died in Minneapolis after a white police officer kneeled on his neck. There was widespread damage in downtown Portland overnight, according to news reports.
Several protests were planned for Saturday in Seattle.
André Taylor, the founder of Not This Time, organized one of those, set for 3 p.m. at Westlake Center.
He said it was important for people to be able to express their anger over Floyd's death and the police action that led to that.
"It was disgusting the cavalier attitude the officer had with his hands in his pockets," Taylor said, referring to the police officer who kneeled on Floyd's neck.
"It was like he was saying, 'Eff the cameras. I’m going to show you as a white police officer what I can do to an unarmed black man and there will be no recourse.' What’s the next step? Well, we lead the rest of the country: When we see incidents like this in our cities, here in Washington state, that we make sure that people are convicted for unjustified homicide."
After Floyd's death on Monday, the officer, Derek Chauvin, was fired then later charged with third-degree murder. A criminal complaint against Chauvin says he kneeled on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds -- even after Floyd apparently ceased to breathe.
Organizers of the afternoon protest at Westlake are being asked to use social distancing and masks to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Other groups have organized two other protests: one Saturday morning at Nathan Hale High School, and one at noon Saturday in downtown Seattle.
In a statement to her officers on Friday, SPD Chief Carmen Best called video of the Floyd incident "disappointing, and infuriating." She said it was troubling that officers stood by while Floyd called for help.
"As a police officer, you have a sworn duty to uphold the law and do what is right. We prioritize the sanctity of life in every situation," Best said.
"If you see a co-worker doing something that is unsafe, out of policy, unacceptable, or illegal, you need to act. This goes beyond reporting. If someone’s life is unnecessarily in danger, it is your responsibility to intervene."
"We each have a right to go home at the end of the day, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that others enjoy that same right."
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