Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes said he expects to "go to jail" for standing up for the First Amendment rights of residents amid attacks from the Trump administration against other politicians and protestors, per KUOW.

Protests broke out in Seattle and other cities across the nation in response to anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles. On Monday (June 9), 300 people marched to Seattle City Hall to rally against the arrest of a union leader during the L.A. protests. Tuesday's (June 10) protests in Seattle included a gathering outside the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building. Protestors chanted anti-ICE slogans, and a few clashed with police.

Trump has responded to protests in L.A. by threatening California Gov. Gavin Newsom and activating the National Guard and the Marines.

During a recent Public Safety Committee meeting, Barnes pledged to prioritize the rights of Seattle residents amid the Trump administration's response to protests, noting that he expects to go to jail over the issue.

“I will do everything in my power to protect anyone in Seattle from anyone who comes to this city with the intention to hurt them or inhibit their First Amendment rights,” Barnes told Council members. “What that means is at some point I will probably go to jail and be in prison because we have an administration that has threatened to jail politicians… and has threatened to jail a governor.”

“The federal government’s decision to bring in the military — and I was a Marine — is not warranted,” Barnes added.

Barnes noted that cities like L.A. and Seattle have experience with handling large demonstrations and keeping them peaceful.

“I can assure you, they can handle it, just like if there are protests in Seattle, we can handle it,” he said. “We’re not new to this.”

Barnes, who called himself a “student of history,” said he plans to protect the rights of Americans that many have fought for.

“I’m going to do the right thing for the people of Seattle,” Barnes said. “I would hope that’s your expectation of me and I hope you will hold me accountable to that.”

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