On Thursday, Judge Pechman issued a clarifying order on the original injunction, stating the city or police can prosecute those who intentionally damage the property of others and any such crime remains a gross misdemeanor. However, the preliminary injunction still applies to the enforcement of the prohibition on property defacement, including graffiti, and as a result, police cannot arrest someone caught vandalizing property with graffiti. According to the judge’s order, this was done to avoid criminalizing free speech.
The Seattle Police Department has stated that officers can no longer enforce laws regarding property damage following a ruling from a federal judge.
On Tuesday, US District Court Judge Marcha Pechman issued an injunction that the City of Seattle cannot enforce its anti-graffiti ban in response to a lawsuit by Derek Tucson, Robin Snyder, Monsieree de Castro, and Erik Moya-Delgado who were arrested in 2021 for writing “BLM,” and anti-cop expletives such as “F*ck the police” in chalk and charcoal on concrete walls that had been erected to protect SPD’s East Precinct from vandalism and rioters.
Hellbound and Down 