A relative who visited SEA recently encountered street violence (gang mobs) in and around the best downtown hotels. CNN has shown video of people attacking the Pike Place Market! What is REALLY going on there NOW?

They were rioting over the insane prices of dahlias and bok choy.

Downtown Seattle is peaceful and welcomes you and your relatives, and especially your Visas and Mastercards. There were disturbances around Mardi Gras and last year with the WTO, but nothing recently. It's a big American city, so if big city issues put you off visiting, don't.

I have lived in the Seattle area all my life, 32 years. What your friend was an unfortunate witness to was one of two events..either the WTO convention or the Mardi gras riots. These situations have come to an end thank God, unfortunatly, one young man did lose his life trying to help a woman who had fallen in the maylay. Seattle is a wonderful city to visit and is generally a safe city. I caution out of towners to not walk alone at night in the Downtown area and avoid the night clubs after midnight. Pike Place market is one of the best outdoor public markets in the country and should not be missed. I will not deny that the events in Seattle over the last 2 years have left a black mark on our beautiful "Emerald City". I myself will not walk around downtown Seattle at night. During the day Pike place market is wonderful. Go early in the morning to get the best selections. I hope this will not keep others from visiting our green city and maybe if your lucky you can even catch a Mariner's game. SODO MOJO!

I suspect that the original post is a troll. However I must take exception to the subsequent poster who advises people not to walk along downtown at night yet admits that (s)he has not been there at night. I live in downtown Seattle and I would invite her/him to take a look some time and not miss out through some misplaced fear.

Gang mobs?! Had to be the WTO when even President Clinton was "locked down" at the Westin. This was over 18 months ago. . .

Now, we had an incident a few weeks ago that wasn't anywhere near downtown. There is an effort to have more police visible than in the past. Like the previous poster said, if you are afraid of large cities then don't visit here. There has definitely been a change in the last 2.5 years, but downtown at night is very vibrant and enjoyable! (although, just like every other city, stay out of the "rough" neighborhoods and use street smarts!).