We need to talk about Iconic Global, the private security/mercenary force that has been patrolling the streets of Capitol Hill for the past couple months. They are heavily armed, known to escalate conflicts, and last night appeared to be aiding Seattle Police during arrests.
Let's start with last night... There was a noticeably large police presence in the neighborhood, with SPD circling the block around Cal Anderson all night, in their usual SUVs and undercover cars. Also circling the neighborhood were vehicles from Iconic Global.
Take note of this undercover GMC truck. It has been seen parked in the area around the East Precinct for at least a week, and was present at all the scenes of conflict last night. We'll come back to this.
Around 11:30 that night, a small group of protesters gathered around the South-East entrance to Cal Anderson park. Seattle Police were scheduled to do a homeless sweep of the park the following morning and protesters worried SPD might start early. https://twitter.com/CortanaV/status/1293762314600984578?s=20
Out of nowhere, the unmarked GMC truck accelerates rapidly through the intersection at 11th & Pine, and in the process allegedly drives up onto the sidewalk, almost striking multiple protesters who jumped out of the way at the last moment.
A short while later, the GMC rolls up to the East side of the park. Officers jump out, met by officers on foot. The driver jokes, "why did they run?"

Two Iconic Global trucks show up, driving their entire truck up onto the public sidewalk, almost hitting people standing there.
An Iconic Global "officer" immediately begins harassing the people he almost hit, telling them they need to move from the public sidewalk. He has absolutely no authority to do any of this, but SPD officers allow him to continue, even blocking others from stepping in to help.
SPD then uses the conflict as an excuse to push protesters across the street towards the park. While they're making the push, an officer lunges at a protester who he claims is shining a flashlight in his face. A protester tries to stop the attack and is thrown to the ground.
In the process, the original officer takes a step back and appears to possibly twist or hyperextend his knee. Neither the protester or anything else appears to make contact with his knee. Seeing the man writhing on the ground, the woman appears to move to help him and is tackled.
At this point all hell breaks loose, the entire group of officers begins violently pushing back protesters who are attempting to get away. It also appears the Iconic Global "officers" back them up in this offensive. Two people are arrested.
In SPD's charging document, the officer claims he attempted to make an arrest because someone was shining a flashlight in his eyes. He could not have picked a more ironic excuse, as that same officer was recorded shining his flashlight at peoples' eyes moments earlier.
It is clear from video from last night that Seattle Police started the violent conflict when they allegedly attempted to drive their truck into protesters. It is also clear that Iconic Global escalated when they pulled up onto the public sidewalk to bully people into moving.
But it's difficult to see this as just some coincidence, because Iconic Global was seen earlier that night assisting SPD in arrests. And not only has Iconic Global been patrolling the area, they have also admitted to actively following protest marches around Capitol Hill.
All this is to say, someone (or group of someones) is paying a paramilitary force to patrol public streets, to harass and threaten bystanders, and to follow marches while armed with weapons of war.

We do not know who they answer to, or how they are collaborating with SPD.
** That was mostly just the details from last night, but if you want to do a deep dive on Iconic Global, its founder (who I think might be the guy in the video?), and its employees, I have not seen a deeper dive than this... https://twitter.com/OccupiedSeattle/status/1289844251514134528?s=20
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