After months of legal battles, the City of SeaTac has agreed to dismiss charges against 46 defendants involved in protests at Sea-Tac International Airport in April, 2024.
As The SeaTac Blog previously reported, the April 15, 2024 protests that closed a roadway and delayed travel to the airport were part of a campaign opposing the U.S.-backed conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of an estimated 40,000 Palestinians.
The agreement requires defendants to have:
- No criminal law violations.
- No contact with SeaTac International Airport except for valid travel purposes.
- Defendants can ask for Dismissal upon completion of 10 hours of community service or after three months if there is full compliance.
The legal process was marked by numerous challenges, including the City’s failure to provide public defenders to some defendants, unequal treatment among those facing identical charges, and improper communication between prosecutors and the judge that violated court procedures.
In light of these issues, the City has agreed not to re-file charges against those whose cases were conditionally dismissed on July 9, 2024 after never being assigned public defenders.
If any defendant violates the agreement’s conditions — such as committing a crime or trespassing at the airport — the agreement will be revoked, and a conviction could follow based on police reports without a trial.
“This outcome is a testament to our group solidarity in legal strategy and community pressure. We keep us safe!” a statement from the protester coalition said.
