SEATTLE – The City of Seattle is preparing to approve a permit for far-right Christian nationalist Sean Feucht to hold his “Revive In 25” rally and concert on August 30 at Cal Anderson Park, according to sources familiar with the decision. The planned event has been widely criticized as an intentional provocation to the historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood on Capitol Hill.
Feucht, known for describing homosexuality as “demonic,” mocking transgender people, and claiming to “deliver” individuals from being gay, has promoted the rally as part of his tour through what he calls “America’s darkest, most broken cities.”
Permit Likely Despite Concerns
City officials have spent months exploring ways to block or relocate the rally without violating the group’s First Amendment rights, but ultimately decided against denying the permit. Options such as temporarily closing the park for maintenance, granting a competing group priority use of the park, or citing stretched police resources over the Labor Day weekend were rejected due to legal risks.
Legal precedent makes it difficult for cities to deny permits based on political or ideological views, even if those views are considered hateful. While time, place, and manner restrictions are allowed, Seattle has historically been reluctant to impose them.
Past Tensions Inform City’s Approach
Concerns about this event stem in part from the Mayday Seattle rally earlier this year, organized by a different extremist group. That rally at Cal Anderson Park saw heavy police action, including pepper spray, “less lethal” weapons, and 23 arrests of counter-protesters. Days later, police provided de facto security for the same group’s unpermitted event at City Hall, making eight more arrests.
Emails obtained through records requests suggest poor interdepartmental communication contributed to the city’s disorganized handling of the Mayday rally.
Community Pushback and Counter-Programming
The Lavender Rights Project is working with Black queer organizers to plan counter-events in the park on the same day. Details remain confidential until the permit is officially issued, but Executive Director Jaelynn Hill urged the city to “take a bold stance on trans folks in the face of the rising threat of fascism.”
Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth, who represents Capitol Hill, said she would prefer the rally take place elsewhere but stressed the need to protect free speech rights for all parties. She has spoken with Police Chief Shon Barnes about ensuring safety, including physical separation between rally participants and counter-protesters.
Calls to Relocate the Event
A petition circulating in Seattle asks the city to move the rally to Magnuson Park, away from Capitol Hill’s LGBTQ+ center. Eight Canadian cities have already canceled Feucht’s events over safety concerns.
City Attorney Ann Davison’s office declined to comment on the legal advice provided to city officials. Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office also declined to confirm the permit status, stating no permit had yet been issued — despite reports that the decision has essentially been made.
If approved, Feucht’s rally will again test Seattle’s ability to balance constitutional protections with public safety in a community that has repeatedly voiced opposition to hosting such events.
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