The Seattle Open Carry March took place on May 20, 2018, at McGraw Square in downtown Seattle. Dozens of demonstrators attended, many of whom came with firearms to open carry as they marched. The rally was hosted by Patriot Prayer. According to the event’s Facebook page, “The intent isn’t to antagonize, but to exercise a right that is under attack.” Joey Gibson, who is running for the United States Senate and is the founder of Patriot Prayer, attended and spoke at the rally. The rally also provided attendees an opportunity to support Washington I-1621, which allows concealed carry on public and private school grounds. From McGraw Square, Gibson led demonstrators on a short march through downtown toward the Federal Courthouse at 5th Avenue and Spring Street. Seattle police created a bicycle barrier to separate the marchers from counter-protesters.
Photographs from the Seattle Open Carry March on May 20, 2018.
The collection is entirely digital and can be viewed only on the Libraries Digital Collections website.
Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Donor: John Gerhard, 2018.
Text on signs reads: "Fascists not welcome here!"; "Unite against fascism; No Nazis, no KKK; [illeg.] Socialist Party; Radical Women" [with image of hand pulling flowers with swastikas in their centers out of the ground]
Text on clothing reads: "National Rifle Association" [with image of eagle and American flag over "1871" on a red background, surrounded by a black circle containing "National Rifle Association" and yellow border]
The Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club defines itself as “Working class folks fighting white supremacy & building liberatory community defense in the PNW” (https://www.facebook.com/pg/PugetSoundJBGC/about/?ref=page_internal). They attended the Open Carry March as counter-protestors. While they also support open carrying, they state an aversion to the bigotry, hate, and racism they perceive being encouraged by Patriot Prayer. At the rally, members of the group handed out pamphlets that warned people of the tactics of white supremacist groups, provided a history of McGraw Square, and provided a brief history of the use of gun control laws to marginalize and control communities of color.
Text on sign reads: "'What we need is action!' Arm yourself against white supremacy" [with image of Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club logo]The Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club defines itself as “Working class folks fighting white supremacy & building liberatory community defense in the PNW” (https://www.facebook.com/pg/PugetSoundJBGC/about/?ref=page_internal). They attended the Open Carry March as counter-protestors. While they also support open carrying, they state an aversion to the bigotry, hate, and racism they perceive being encouraged by Patriot Prayer. At the rally, members of the group handed out pamphlets that warned people of the tactics of white supremacist groups, provided a history of McGraw Square, and provided a brief history of the use of gun control laws to marginalize and control communities of color.
Text on sign reads: "Protect your gun rights!"
Text on clothing reads: "White trash against fascism"The Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club defines itself as “Working class folks fighting white supremacy & building liberatory community defense in the PNW” (https://www.facebook.com/pg/PugetSoundJBGC/about/?ref=page_internal). They attended the Open Carry March as counter-protestors. While they also support open carrying, they state an aversion to bigotry, hate, and racism they perceive being encouraged by Patriot Prayer. At the rally, members of the group handed out pamphlets that warned people of the tactics of white supremacist groups, provided a history of McGraw Square, and provided a brief history of the use of gun control laws to marginalize and control communities of color.
Text on sign reads: "End gun free zones"
Text on clothing reads: "My rights don't end where your feelings begin" [with image of "Don't tread on me" Confederate flag]
Text on sign reads: "I have been in 3 real lockdowns. I am only in 3rd grade"
Text on sign reads: "Why are banks + politicians protected by guns and our children with only signs?"
Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
The Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club defines itself as “Working class folks fighting white supremacy & building liberatory community defense in the PNW” (https://www.facebook.com/pg/PugetSoundJBGC/about/?ref=page_internal). They attended the Open Carry March as counter-protestors. While they also support open carrying, they state an aversion to the bigotry, hate, and racism they perceive being encouraged by Patriot Prayer. At the rally, members of the group handed out pamphlets that warned people of the tactics of white supremacist groups, provided a history of McGraw Square, and provided a brief history of the use of gun control laws to marginalize and control communities of color.
Text on sign reads: "Why are banks + politicians protected by guns and our children with only signs?"Joseph Brumbles is a Republican candidate running for election to the 10th Congressional District of Washington in 2018.Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Sign depicts: President Donald Trump pointing to a sign reading "Eat a bag of dicks, you bunch of dirty fucking communists"
Robert J. Sutherland is a Republican running for the 39th District position in the Washington State House of Representatives in 2018.
Text on signs reads: "Protect your gun rights!"; "Gun free zone = defenseless victim zone"Robert J. Sutherland is a Republican running for the 39th District position in the Washington State House of Representatives.
Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
Text on sign reads: "Progressive/communism always starts with gun control" [with various images of people performing a Nazi salute]
Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.Robert J. Sutherland is a Republican running for the 39th District position in the Washington State House of Representatives in 2018.
Tusitala “Tiny” Toese is a prominent member of Patriot Prayer. Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
Text on political button reads: "Callahan for Congress 2018"; "Joseph Brumbles for Congress"Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.Joseph Brumbles is a Republican candidate running for election to the 10th Congressional District of Washington in 2018.
Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.Joseph Brumbles is a Republican candidate running for election to the 10th Congressional District of Washington in 2018.Robert J. Sutherland is a Republican running for the 39th District position in the Washington State House of Representatives.
Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Text on sign reads: "Why are banks and politicians protected by guns and our children with only signs?"Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Text on sign reads: "Communism always leads to genocide" [with various satirical images about communism]"
Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
Badge depicts: Starbucks logo mermaid holding two guns, surrounded by the text "I [heart] guns & coffee"
Text on signs reads: "I plead the 2nd!" [with three imaged of handguns]; "End gun free zones"
Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Text on sign reads: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...Acts 3:19"Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Text on clothing reads: "Share a round with ISIS" [in style of Coca Cola, with image of a bullet]
Text on sign reads: "I plead the 2nd!" [with three images of handguns]
Text on sign reads: "I plead the 2nd!" [with three images of handguns]
Text on sign reads: "Gun free zone = defenseless victim zone"Joseph Brumbles is a Republican candidate running for election to the 10th Congressional District of Washington in 2018.Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Joseph Brumbles is a Republican candidate running for election to the 10th Congressional District of Washington in 2018.Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.
Mark Callahan is a Republican politician from Oregon. He will run for Oregon’s 5th congressional district in 2018.Joseph (Joey) Gibson is the founder of Patriot Prayer, a right-wing political group opposed to big government and in favor of free speech that has been described as deliberately provocative to the far-left. Gibson is a Washington state native and plans to run as a Republican in the United States Senate election of 2018.
Text on signs reads: "End gun free zones"; "I plead the 2nd!" [with three images of handguns]
Text on sign reads: "Antifa builds the wall"
Text on signs reads: "End gun free zones"; "I found the real snowflakes (and they're pretty white)"“Snowflake” is a derogatory slang term used to refer to those perceived to be overemotional, easily offended, and entitled. The term came into popular usage in 1996, but recently has been used most often by those on the political right to refer to their opponents on the political left and to young liberals in particular.
Text on sign reads: "I found the real snowflakes (and they're pretty white)"“Snowflake” is a derogatory slang term used to refer to those perceived to be overemotional, easily offended, and entitled. The term came into popular usage in 1996, but recently has been used most often by those on the political right to refer to their opponents on the political left and to young liberals in particular.
Text on signs reads: "I plead the 2nd!" [with three images of handguns]; "I found the real snowflakes (and they're pretty white)"
Text on signs reads: "End gun free zones"; "Gun free zone = defenseless victim zone"
Text on clothing reads: "Pro-life, [illeg.], pro-gun"