Hundreds rally in downtown Seattle during peaceful interfaith vigil

SEATTLE — Roughly two hundred people gathered Monday in Capitol Hill during a peaceful interfaith vigil.

Outside the AME Church, Reverend Carey Anderson called for enhanced police accountability and ending racial injustice.

“We’re here today because America has a problem," Anderson said. "I said America has a problem.”

Faith leaders, state lawmakers, and first responders encouraged focused demonstrations and criticized the violence and looting that blemished rallies over the weekend.

“We cannot lose our momentum," said Andre Taylor, the rally's organizer. "We cannot be distracted by whatever they’re doing outside. We must stay focus Seattle and lead."

Taylor said Seattle must lead the country in reform as it was one of the first cities to institute oversight measures on its police force.

The Office of Police Accountability in Seattle said Monday it’s processing 12,000 complaints after the weekend demonstrations.

“We are currently reviewing and processing these complaints,” Seattle’s Office of Police Accountability said in a statement. “The system was built to respond to these incidents, and OPA is confident that all involved will do so ethically and to the best of their ability.”

One of the most reported incidents was from Friday where video shows a police officer punching a protestor while detaining him.

Some in the crowd Monday said the city must continue to hold officers accountable.

“I think what has to happen is everybody has to not be afraid to talk about the bad ones, to turn them in when you see bad stuff happening, stop it," said Sherrill Vaughan, a member of the AME Church. "Don’t just let it go."

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best spoke during the vigil Monday, thanking the faith community for its support.

Since the reports of issues surrounding use of force, Best assured the public all questionable incidents will be investigated.

Best stressed peaceful protesting will continue to be protected, but acts of violence or looting will not be tolerated.

“We want people to express their rights and to express their rage and anger about what is happening and continues to happen, but we want to work with you to move to a better day," Best said.