Seattle’s self-proclaimed ‘superheroes’ help out on May Day

Seattle’s self-proclaimed “superheroes” say they held off a group of 60 people bent on damaging a federal building.

Three men who calls themselves Phoenix Jones, Midnight Jack and Caballero were near the former federal courthouse at 5th and Spring Street during the May Day demonstrations.

“As we were following the march, they started to go by the federal building; no problem,” Jones said. “All of a sudden we hear (a) crash, so we turned around and looked back and people were smashing windows with sticks and throwing rocks into the windows.”

The personal camera that Jones carries shows the group, and some smoke going up from perhaps a smoke bomb.

“At a certain point we’re standing in front of the building, stuff on fire, dudes throwing rocks and stuff and there’s 60 people in front of us and literally can’t leave, so now we have to defend the building because we can’t go anywhere else. It was sort of intense that way,” Jones said.

“Then I got hit with a little of the pepper bomb, so we went back-to-back to make sure they couldn’t circle us. Once we went back-to-back, we went in front of the door. I was like this and Jack was on my back.  We just stood there basically and made sure no one came in.”

Armed federal agents showed up and took a copy of Jones’ video so they could try to identify the people who vandalized the courthouse. 

“You’re not gonna destroy personal property, people’s cars and stuff,” Jones said. “You’re  not gonna do general lawlessness when it’s my city. I’m not gonna put up with it.”