As protests in California’s Bay Area intensified following a violent night in Oakland, Occupy Seattle held a dance party — and then got serious with a march up Capitol Hill with a stop by 12th and Pine to visit the SPD precinct that will soon be on the front lines of responding to the group’s activities as it plans a move to the Seattle Central campus. The crowd of more than 100 marchers blocked traffic and chanted as a contingent of SPD cruisers and bike officers trailed and did what it could to corral the group.

(Image: CHS)

In a previous visit to the Hill earlier this month, a much smaller group marched on Broadway attempting to recruit bystanders to join them.

In addition to the message powering the Occupy efforts, Wednesday night’s march gave residents and business owners — and neighborhood bloggers — a possible taste of more to come if the group is successful in moving its “base camp” to Seattle Central. On one hand, the marches and activities give the Hill something to be part of. On the other, things like a sad, meandering #11 bus trying to avoid the marchers by taking Pike/Pine sidestreets are a reminder that we are in for some pains in the ass. This is what democracy looks like.