Food & Drink

Back Page: Seattle’s Summer of Turmoil

Rioters descend on University District for several nights

By Rob Smith February 1, 2023

Courtesy of Jade d’Addario, special collections, the Seattle Public Library

This article originally appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of Seattle magazine.

The summer of 1969 was a time of significant unrest for the entire nation, and Seattle was no exception.

In August of that year, thousands of teenagers from across Seattle rioted in the University District for several nights. Writing in Historylink.org, authors Alan J. Stein and Walt Crowley noted that “promptly at 10 p.m. [on Aug. 14], the events of the previous night began to replay when a group of Black teens broke into a TV repair shop.” Police responded quickly, but the crowd grew.

The headline in Seattle’s underground “Helix” newspaper reflected the tension of the day and the times: “Police Riot. Pigs Declare War on Youth.” All told, police arrested 21 people that night and even roughed up five reporters. Order wasn’t restored until 1 a.m.

“Again and again, clusters of rioters scattered and assembled to do battle,” Stein and Crowley wrote. “Finally weary of these hit-and-run engagements, the police shut University Way to traffic and systematically gassed the street from 42nd to 45th with foggers and grenades.”

The famous “Ave.” didn’t return to normal until Aug. 17.

Follow Us

She's the Boss

She’s the Boss

Nina Christofilis created her business-oriented podcast, Ladyboss, in high school

Nina Christofilis launched her Ladyboss podcast while still in high school. Ladyboss is focused on interviewing women in business about their path to success, with the goal of empowering younger women. Photo by Katie M. Simmons

The Youth Debt Crisis

The Youth Debt Crisis

How parents can help

As Gen Z seeks to gain stronger financial footing, parents or caregivers can help by understanding that Gen Z’s experiences are vastly different from their own...

Come Here Often?

Come Here Often?

The Seattle Book of Dates is a fun romp through the region

Eden Dawn and Ashod Simonian are married, but dating is very much on their minds...

What I’ve Learned from 50 First Dates

What I’ve Learned from 50 First Dates

Some lessons are obvious, but you'd be surprised

I’ve tried to think long and hard about what makes one date good and another terrible, or why I went out with one guy three times and another guy only once...