Photo by Kaia D’Albora On Saturday, more than one hundred frustrated Seattleites

Photo by Kaia D’Albora

On Saturday, more than one hundred frustrated Seattleites with wedges and drivers in hand braved the weather and gathered at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill for the Walking While Black protest.

The catalyst for the event was the treatment by a Seattle police officer of 70-year-old military veteran William Wingate. Last month, video of a July 9, 2014 arrest, during which Wingate was detained by officer Cynthia Whitlatch, was posted at

The Stranger

and other news sites, and quickly became the latest flashpoint in the troubled relationship between the Seattle Police Department and the city’s black community and supporters. Whitlach reported that Wingate swung the golf club at her and resisted arrest, but the video shows no such offense from the 70-year-old former Metro bus driver, who later explained that he uses the golf club as a cane while going for regular strolls around the neighborhood.

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To show that they stand with Wingate, protesters led by organizer Chad Goller-Sojourner carried golf clubs of their own to the Saturday gathering. At 2 in the afternoon the even began with many speakers including Dr. Dawn Mason, former Washington State Representative for the 37th District, and Wingate himself. Wingate expressed his bewilderment with the matter. “All I can say is I didn’t do nothin’ and I’m still confused.”

Along with Mason and Wingate, Garfield High School teacher Jesse Hagopian talked about his experience of “walking in Seattle while black.” Hagopian said he was pepper sprayed by a Seattle police officer while leaving a Martin Luther King Day rally in January, on the phone with his mother discussing his son’s birthday party (another disturbing incident that was captured on video).

After the speakers, Wingate led hundreds of protesters through the streets of Capitol Hill. The protesters stopped traffic and slowed public transportation as they marched through the rain-slicked streets, chanting, “Black lives matter!” and “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!”

After about an hour, Goller-Sojourner stopped the march in front of the Seattle Police Department East Precinct on 12th Avenue. He spoke to the crowd and to the police officers guarding the office, hoping for justice and equality to come sooner rather than later. Around 3:30, the protest ended back at Cal Anderson Park, with it’s drenched yet still loud protesters shouting, “Black lives matter!”

View the full slideshow of Saturday’s protest here.

Photo by Kaia D’Albora

Photo by Kaia D’Albora

Photo by Kaia D’Albora

An onlooker throws up a peace sign, showing solidarity for those protesting in the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise march throughout Capitol Hill, Saturday afternoon. People marched to protest racial profile by Seattle Police.

An onlooker throws up a peace sign, showing solidarity for those protesting in the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise march throughout Capitol Hill, Saturday afternoon. People marched to protest racial profile by Seattle Police.

William Wingate marches with protesters during the Walking While Black protest in Seattle on Saturday afternoon. Wingate, 70, a military veteran and retired bus driver, was arrested for using a golf club as a cane on July 9, 2014.

William Wingate marches with protesters during the Walking While Black protest in Seattle on Saturday afternoon. Wingate, 70, a military veteran and retired bus driver, was arrested for using a golf club as a cane on July 9, 2014.

SPD Sergeant Fred Ibuki rides along the route of the protest, making sure it stays peaceful. Many marched through Capitol Hill protesting racial profiling of the Seattle Police.

SPD Sergeant Fred Ibuki rides along the route of the protest, making sure it stays peaceful. Many marched through Capitol Hill protesting racial profiling of the Seattle Police.

William Wingate marches with family and friends as well as other protesters through Capitol Hill on Feb. 7, the same neighborhood in which he was arrested by Seattle police officer Cynthia Whitlatch for using a golf club as a cane on July 9, 2014/Photo by Kaia D’Albora

William Wingate marches with family and friends as well as other protesters through Capitol Hill on Feb. 7, the same neighborhood in which he was arrested by Seattle police officer Cynthia Whitlatch for using a golf club as a cane on July 9, 2014/Photo by Kaia D’Albora

Hundreds of protesters join William Wingate on Saturday, Feb. 7, protesting racial profiling by Seattle police. Many brought golf clubs to show solidarity with  Wingate, 70, who was arrested on July 9, 2014 for using a golf club as a cane.

Hundreds of protesters join William Wingate on Saturday, Feb. 7, protesting racial profiling by Seattle police. Many brought golf clubs to show solidarity with Wingate, 70, who was arrested on July 9, 2014 for using a golf club as a cane.

A Seattle police officer waits for protesters in the middle of the road. The SPD cleared the roads and conducted traffic during the Walking While Black march on Feb. 7, 2015 which protested racial profiling by Seattle police officers.

A Seattle police officer waits for protesters in the middle of the road. The SPD cleared the roads and conducted traffic during the Walking While Black march on Feb. 7, 2015 which protested racial profiling by Seattle police officers.

Dr. Dawn Mason, former Washington State Representative for the 37th District, describes to protesters the effects of racial profiling by Seattle police officers at the Walking While Black protest on Capitol Hill, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. Mason was joined by William Wingate (right), who was arrested for using a golf club as a cane on July 9, 2014.

Dr. Dawn Mason, former Washington State Representative for the 37th District, describes to protesters the effects of racial profiling by Seattle police officers at the Walking While Black protest on Capitol Hill, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. Mason was joined by William Wingate (right), who was arrested for using a golf club as a cane on July 9, 2014.

Matthew Wyatt leads protesters along East Pike Street, chanting "Black Lives Matter." Hundreds marched Capitol Hill for the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015.

Matthew Wyatt leads protesters along East Pike Street, chanting “Black Lives Matter.” Hundreds marched Capitol Hill for the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015.

Chad Goller-Sojourner, organizer of the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise march in Seattle, speaks to a crowd of around one hundred protesters at Cal Anderson Park on Feb. 7. Goller-Sojourner organized the event to protest racial profiling by Seattle police.

Chad Goller-Sojourner, organizer of the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise march in Seattle, speaks to a crowd of around one hundred protesters at Cal Anderson Park on Feb. 7. Goller-Sojourner organized the event to protest racial profiling by Seattle police.

Extra golf clubs were brought for protesters to march with to honor William Wingate's incident in which a Seattle police officer arrested Wingate claiming the golf club he used as a cane was a weapon on July 9, 2014.

Extra golf clubs were brought for protesters to march with to honor William Wingate’s incident in which a Seattle police officer arrested Wingate claiming the golf club he used as a cane was a weapon on July 9, 2014.

Protesters stand holding golf clubs before the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest starts Saturday afternoon. Around one hundred people met at Cal Anderson Park Shelterhouse on Capitol Hill for the protest.

Protesters stand holding golf clubs before the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest starts Saturday afternoon. Around one hundred people met at Cal Anderson Park Shelterhouse on Capitol Hill for the protest.

A woman holds a golf club with a "Black Lives Matter" sign during a Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest on Capitol Hill Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015.

A woman holds a golf club with a “Black Lives Matter” sign during a Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest on Capitol Hill Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015.

Residents of Onyx, an apartment building on the corner of East Olive Way and 12th Avenue, watch as protesters march back toward Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill, Saturday. Around one hundred people marched in honor of William Wingate's incident in which a Seattle police officer arrested Wingate claiming the golf club he used as a cane was a weapon on July 9, 2014.

Residents of Onyx, an apartment building on the corner of East Olive Way and 12th Avenue, watch as protesters march back toward Cal Anderson Park in Capitol Hill, Saturday. Around one hundred people marched in honor of William Wingate’s incident in which a Seattle police officer arrested Wingate claiming the golf club he used as a cane was a weapon on July 9, 2014.

A young boy watches protesters through the window of the Northwest Film Forum theater, Saturday. Protesters of the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest marched around Capitol Hill for William Wingate's incident in which a Seattle police officer arrested Wingate claiming the golf club he used as a cane was a weapon on July 9, 2014.

A young boy watches protesters through the window of the Northwest Film Forum theater, Saturday. Protesters of the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest marched around Capitol Hill for William Wingate’s incident in which a Seattle police officer arrested Wingate claiming the golf club he used as a cane was a weapon on July 9, 2014.

Matthew Wyatt leads protesters along East Pike Street, chanting "Black Lives Matter." Hundreds marched Capitol Hill for the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015.

Matthew Wyatt leads protesters along East Pike Street, chanting “Black Lives Matter.” Hundreds marched Capitol Hill for the Walking While Black: Always Dangerous Until Proven Otherwise protest on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015.