“… he wrote in a fundraiser post.”

So this was an ill-advised, ineffectual protest, which annoyed some neighbors, but has now been turned into a scam?

“Seattle has a long history of protesting at elected officials' homes,”

Not long, just creepy and ineffectual. Then-CM Sawant’s protest at then-Mayor Durkan’s house resulted in one of the articles on Sawant’s Recall petition, which the Stranger did not seem to like very much, so why the Stranger tries to cite it as some kind of valid precedent now seems odd, to say the least.

A mob showing up at an elected official's house at night to harass that official in their home is not a "protest," it harassment meant to intimidate and threaten. And is completely unacceptable.

"They tried to explain that Kettle and his colleagues did not respond to other tactics." Kettle "didn't respond?" In other words, didn't vote the way they wanted him to, and thought they had a right to DEMAND, simply because it was what they wanted. That's not how democracy works.

And does not give you a right to show up and engage in mob harassment at someone's home in an attempt to threaten and intimidate. JFC, it's crazy that this mob, and their cheerleaders at TS, actually need to have this explained to them.

The above comments are hilarious. The violence isn't even mentioned, just how much they hate protesters. Apparently physical attacks against those you disagree with is OK. What a couple of violent morons. These are the kind of people who love the conservative city council.

@2 "That's not how democracy works"

No, this is exactly how democracy works. And the First Amendment.

@3 you're right of course, but unfortunately that's to be expected from this crowd

Diversity win! The delusional attacker using extreme buzzwords to try and make themselves the victim is the opposite of MAGA this time. Nice to know that DARVO and massive lack of self-awareness isn't restricted to one side.

Seriously, what garbage did I just read?

'Meekins described Kettle’s neighborhood as a “Sundown Town”'

Pretty sure it's just a "stop yelling, it's 9pm, we're trying to put our kids to sleep" town.

'...and his angry neighbors as a “lynch mob.”'

My dude... you and your buddies got together in a group (mob) to go to his house to attack him (verbally) because you feel that the more traditional and civil methods aren't working. Are you sure you really want to throw the term 'lynch mob' around? Because between what you did and what the neighbor did, the phrase 'lynch mob' matches you guys far better.

"Protesters did not see or interact with Kettle at their protest ahead of the vote"

So you didn't even know if he was home? You showed up to wreck the entire neighborhood's evening, and he probably wasn't even there? If your "other tactics" were as well thought out as this one, maybe people don't respond to them because they're phenomenally stupid tactics.

"Meekins called [The neighbors] “accomplices” who "scream with the energy of an angry mob."

Again... YOU were the one who showed up with an ACTUAL angry mob (not just the 'energy' of one) to scream at THEM. With speakers.

“Meekins claimed they told the apparent neighbors they meant them no harm, they were just being noisy.”

No - just being assholes.

Wonder how he’d feel if a bunch of counter-protesters showed up at his home to “just be noisy.”

@5 "My dude... you and your buddies got together in a group (mob) to go to his house to attack him (verbally) because you feel that the more traditional and civil methods aren't working. Are you sure you really want to throw the term 'lynch mob' around? Because between what you did and what the neighbor did, the phrase 'lynch mob' matches you guys far better."

https://i.giphy.com/l1J3O1eHga1LRethK.webp

JFC Queen Anne, it takes a special kind of oblivious and entitled to throw a speaker into a protest crowd. As a side note to other commenters, it's a bad look and a real weird impulse to downplay this or assume he's lying just because you think you disagree with the guy's politics

Given the mob tactics and violence exhibited by protestors masquerading around the city the last few years this seems like the natural evolution. It sucks and is wrong but something something you reap what you sow.

I'm generally not on the side of the far left especially on this site, but I would keep going back to Bob Kettle's house with more and more people.

So, when the protestors could not find Kettle, why didn’t they just leave? Why did they continue being “noisy” in a residential neighborhood after dark?

@8 sadtrombone: The problem is that even if you agree with his politics and take all his facts at face value, he's still in the wrong, and an idiot. Even if you hate Kettle's politics, the fact remains that Meekins showed up to a quiet residential neighborhood, at night, to blast noise at a bunch of people that aren't Kettle, and in fact, he doesn't even know if Kettle was there.

Then, when (shock and surprise) these people get angry that he's ruining their night over his beef with some other guy who's probably not even there, he goes "this was a racist hate crime - because clearly they'd be ok with a white guy showing up to blast noise at night."

“Meekins attempted to follow the alleged assailant. Meekins put him in what he called a “bear hug,” but with his head bleeding profusely, he said he couldn’t hold him for long.”

So, while Meekins is accusing someone else of committing assault, we know for a fact that he committed assault. He admitted as much, on the record to a journalist.

It’s strange that The Stranger would have seen right-wing anti-LGBT protestors or anti-mask protestors during COVID outside of a school board members’ houses across the country screaming invective at them and decided that it’s an awesome way to do things, but it’s further proof of the Horseshoe Theory in action I guess.

He should hire the Westboro Baptist Church's legal counsel. They have unmatched expertise litigating exactly the sort of suit he is bringing.

Also, come to think of it, what was he doing calling the cops? Not very Restorative Justice of him, is it? Seriously, that is not an action that addresses the root causes of violence, such as lack of community support for loud assholes.

Seriously. Everybody ACAB until they get walloped upside the head with their own speaker for FAFO-ing in the famously tough hood of queen anne, and then it's "big daddy cop, come save me from these scary organic leaf-eaters who got mad after I showed up in front of their houses at night to scream for an hour straight, all to bother some guy who probably isn't even here right now!"

This is the same guy who did a go fund me because he did domestic violence against his partner and abused his kid (he claims he didn’t mean to hurt his child when he slammed the laptop closed on her hands) and needed a lawyer.

Does The Stranger support DV perpetrators?

https://www.gofundme.com/f/child-custody-legal-costs-for-alan

@13 no he was attempting a citizen's arrest of someone who just committed a felony assault against him

@17 oof, great find, this just got awkward

Why does everyone seem to assume that the guy trying to raise money is giving an accurate account of what happened?

And if, indeed, someone attacked him with a speaker as he is alleging, he should of course sue that person for damages. Of course protesters that commit assault, battery, or inflict property damage should also be held responsible. But the Stranger thinks all those things done in the name of righteousness should be excused.

As for the merits of the protests against SODA. Until you’re willing to have your front yard be used for camping, drug dealing, drug use, regular death from overdose and as an outdoor toilet, you really have zero basis to complain. I’ve had quite enough of my home being used for those things. Even if all
SODA does is move the problem somewhere else, that’s a worthwhile endeavor. More of the city should experience what I have for the last four years.

@4, Nope, democracy means you get to vote, and no one gets everything they want. Thinking that, if you don't get what you want by voting, that gives you the right to make unilateral demands, and to harass people at their homes until you get what you are demanding, is as far from democracy as it gets.

And, no, the first amendment does not give any one the right to harass people at their homes.

@16 It is not hypocritical to use a system you oppose when there is no other alternative in the situation. Besides, most of us who recognize that All Cops Are Bastards do so because of the system they operate in. American policing is based on the concept of protecting the property of the elite, not protecting the people as a whole. Its roots are in tracing down escaped slaves and keeping the working class docile.

@21. If you don’t want American police to protect property, then individual citizens will do it themselves, and if you think American police are violent, wait until you make clear to citizens that they are on their own for that function. This doesn’t work out how you think.

It’s the commies that are the first to angrily declare: “that’s my stuff, dude!” I’m sure Greenwood Bob is the least generous person you could hope to meet and would violently deny you access to any of his stuff.

@21 so before slavery there was no one enforcing civil laws? It’s statements like yours that undermine any effort to improve policing or create alternatives. Reasonable people know this is bullshit and therefore associate anything else you say as bullshit.

@23 yes, before slavery professional, state financed police did not exist in the US or Britain, and few examples existed worldwide. Laws were enforced by other means. You calling @21 "bullshit" for writing the truth exposes your embarrassing ignorance on this subject.

@20 your whole argument hinges on everyone accepting your personal definition of "harassment," specifically in the context of political speech directed at a public figure

@24: ‘…your whole argument hinges on everyone accepting your personal definition of "harassment," specifically in the context of constant loud noise, directed at private citizens in their homes, after dark, on a school night, in the absence of a public figure…’

Fixed that for you; you’re welcome.

Please let me know if you continue to suffer confusion as to what “harassment,” really means.

@24 you’re quibbling over technicalities. The fact is there was an armed organization that enforced laws whether it was the red coats, the militia, constables or something else. The fact that some southern states had slave patrols also doesn’t mean the entire notion of policing is tainted by slavery. Both Boston and NY had professional police forces and neither had anything to do with slavery. Yiu are letting your own bias show with regards to the police.

@26 like he wrote "American policing is based on the concept of protecting the property of the elite ... and keeping the working class docile."

Speaking of "quibbling" you picked one portion of his entire comment, incorrectly claimed it was historically inaccurate, and want to call others "biased" or "bullshit." Quit while you're behind and let the grown folks speak.

Ahh, protest culture. How they love their great sense of righteousness while simultaneously displaying extreme selfishness and inconsiderateness.
The democratic process didn’t give me what I wanted over the votes of everyone else, wahhh! No this is not a tantrum, it’s a protest! Wahhh!

@27 lol policing is not based on slavery and the only thing your petty arguments are doing are undermining your stated goal of reforming it. Congrats!

@29 no you're just ignorant and apparently content to be. Congrats! lol lmao

“Text records show Meekins called the Seattle Police Department (SPD) at about 8:50 pm.”

Good thing the “Defund the Police” movement never amounted to anything…

Greenwood_Bob @21: How convenient for you that your principles come with an "unless it benefits me to do otherwise" exception. By that logic, was Jan 6th justified? I mean, hey, they weren't getting what they wanted by other means, and they were very sure they were entitled to get what they want - just as sure as you are.

thirteen12 @18: Hahaaa! All he had to do was wave a few shiny SJW catchwords at you, and you galloped towards it and swallowed the whole thing, like an elephant seal with a fish. Then you attacked everyone who pointed out some of the obvious red flags, because how dare they use braincells when there was Justice!!!! to be signaled. Well, I don't need an apology, but if you feel like making up for it, maybe resolve to use your thinky bits next time - even if it seems like there's some excellent Virtue to be Signaled.

Now. Let's take a look at what else this guy has done - because apparently Kreig has the journalistic competence of a lazy tiktok influencer and did literally nothing to check or vet anything before she reblogged.

Goodness! If I had a nickel for every time this grifter wrote a self-victimizing GoFundMe full of race baiting, I'd have three nickels! Which isn't a lot, bit it's weird that it's happened thrice.

Let's see the first one: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ygznur-get-away-from-abusive-landlord

Basically, he doesn't want to pay rent, but it's the landlord who's the bad guy, honest! After all, his landlord is clearly lying about being angry over unpaid rent, and his real problem is his "politics and significant anti-Black bias/racism."

And it's not his fault that he doesn't pay rent! because "Black Americans are 300% more likely to face economic hardship that leads to eviction. Despite my background as a technology nerd, my life has been full of systemic racism. I am no more able to overcome an entrenched system of racism than any other Black American."

Uh-huh. Sure. I'm guessing that translates to preferring anime and video games to work. Well, let's take a look at the next one: https://www.gofundme.com/f/child-custody-legal-costs-for-alan

Hm. So TL;DR, yes, the courts terminated his parental rights because of abuse, but none of it is true because bitches be lying, dontchaknow, and anyways the courts are biased towards women - especially "gainfully employed" women. Right. And yes, ok, there was one provable act of violence against his daughter, but it was just her choosing to throw a tantrum (see previous 'bitches be lying' point - it includes his daughter, apparently). Oh, but wait! It's not his fault! He didn't mean to hurt his daughter, he was just distraught over [and do get ready to savor this] George Floyd!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he's not a violent abuser - he was just upset because George Floyd!

Christ. Krieg, you don't even qualify as a bad journalist - you're just a reblogger, and not even a good one. Embarrassing. Freakin' tumblr users do more background checks than you do before they reblog Destiel posts.

Alan Meekins seems like a grifter, conman, and a bully--with a heavy splash of narcissistic grandeur and victimization delusions.

Hannah, thank you--it was funny to read and the comments are entertaining.

"...protesting outside of Kettle’s Queen Anne home ahead of a controversial vote to re-establish Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA) and Stay Out of Area Prostitution Zones (SOAP). Meekins found the policies racist, transphobic, and classist. The protesters also wanted to apply pressure to the council to put I-137, a tax on business to pay for social housing, on the ballot without a competing measure."

So, if CM Kettle had actually, you know, been at his home when the protestors rolled up after dark, on a work night, with an amplifier, and had proceeded to harangue him, then he would have totally changed all of his votes, right?

For a laugh go back to the article about the "Landlord Lives Matter" protest in Bellevue and check how all the commenters very concerned about this "loud noise in a residential neighborhood" felt about that one.

thirteen12 @36: refusing to learn anything, and trying whataboutism instead? Ok, let's take a look.

Huh. Not a single mention of disturbed neighbors on that comments section. I guess it IS possible to protest outside a house without being a jackass to everyone else in the neighborhood - whodathunkit? Lots of you up and down the comments defending the grifter, though. You just never met a scam artist you didn't like, did ya?

@37 by no "disturbed neighbors" you mean nobody threw a speaker at the landlord's head?

I'd ask Mr. Meekins to rethink his statement that only the wealthy few are represented by the current council. This council was elected by voters in this City to represent us. Perhaps Mr. Meekins is representing the views of the few while the silent majority approves of the councils vote.