Pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked road to Sea-Tac airport for hours plead not guilty

SEATAC, Wash. — Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters accused of blocking the main road to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) last month pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges on Monday.

Forty-six people were arrested for “failing to disperse” and “disorderly conduct” during the hours-long protest on April 15. The misdemeanor charges carry a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.

The charging decisions came just a day after the protest took place.

During an arraignment Monday, 37 of the 46 appeared in court while nine others hired lawyers and waived their right to be at the hearing, according to Sea-Tac city officials.

“We were able to arrest them and book them into jail, so we were able to identify all the folks that were alleged to have committed the violation so with that information we were able to make those charging decisions immediately," said Sea-Tac City Attorney and Chief Prosecutor Cindy Corsilles.

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The group of protesters used vehicles to block the entrance drive to SEA on April 15. The protest lasted for approximately two hours as police towed away the vehicles and detained several of the protesters who had used a “sleeping dragon” to chain their arms together.

The protesters were demanding a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, and their protest was part of a larger coordinated effort nationwide “day of action” by pro-Palestinian groups to protest the war in Gaza.

The protest trapped travelers who were trying to access the terminal on the airport expressway leading to the airport, many of whom opted to get their luggage and walk to the terminal instead of waiting in their cars. SEA said 24 flights were delayed as a result of the incident.

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During their court appearance Monday, as part of the protesters' release, they were ordered to stay away from SEA unless they have a valid travel reason. The next court date has been set for June 11.

House Bill 2358 was introduced in January, shortly after pro-Palestinian protesters blocked part of I-5 in Seattle for hours, causing a backup of at least six miles. The group parked cars on the roadway and some sat on the freeway. Another group also interlocked their arms with the "sleeping dragon" device not far from Mercer Street. Republican Rep. Spencer Hutchins said the measure got no traction.