Seattle Protest Incident Leads to Arrest of Left-Wing Activist
A right-wing independent reporter was attacked during an anti-ICE protest in Seattle, resulting in the arrest of a man who identified himself as a left-wing activist but denied any links to ANTIFA.
Jeremy Lawson, 33, was taken into custody and appeared in court on Thursday. He is accused of assaulting Cam Higby, who was reporting on the protests back in June.
Higby later spoke to a local news outlet, stating he incurred a concussion and head injury while wearing tactical gear, including a helmet. He mentioned that he sought medical help that same night and is still in the recovery process.
According to Higby, he was specifically targeted by left-wing activists while documenting their alleged criminal behavior. He explained, “This is a group of these antifa people. I film them committing crimes, but they don’t like it.”
Lawson, before his arrest, acknowledged being a leftist activist but maintained he was not associated with Antifa. He claimed, “I have nothing against Higby, and it wasn’t a protest that night.” Lawson even stated he advocates for the Industrial Workers of the World and the Black Panther movement in pursuit of workplace equality.
He cited that he lost his job due to the accusations against him. Lawson now faces a second charge of felony assault.
In the aftermath, Higby expressed hope that the legal system would send a message about accountability, saying he doesn’t want to be obstructed in his reporting efforts.
A video of the incident has surfaced, capturing the moment when Higby was attacked and subsequently used pepper spray to defend himself.
Prosecutors highlighted concerns regarding public safety, citing messages Lawson posted on social media and in private texts to Higby. In one of these texts, he allegedly used Higby’s legal name and conveyed a determination to pursue “justice,” even mentioning the neighborhood where Higby resides.
Prosecutor Jonathan Arnold noted that Lawson has pleaded not guilty yet seems to endorse the assault on Higby.
The judge set Lawson’s bail at $75,000, noting his prior criminal history, which includes convictions for trespassing and resisting arrest.
