Black Lives Matter protests: $1.2M bail set for driver accused of hitting, killing Seattle protester

SEATTLE — Friends are remembering a protester killed on a Seattle freeway as having a devotion to animals and social justice.

This is as the suspect in the crash appeared in court. Another protester was critically injured in the incident, which occurred early Saturday.

According to KIRO-TV, what happened to them has the activist community shaken.

Now two memorials have been created, one in Westlake Park and another outside Urban Animal on Capitol Hill, where Summer Taylor worked.

This is how Capitol Hill is honoring 24-year-old Taylor, who had two passions: animals and racial equity.

Vic Paige, who met Taylor three years ago as part of a close-knit animal-loving community, said she wasn’t surprised Taylor was protesting on Interstate 5.

“Summer had two full-time jobs,” Paige said of Taylor, who was nonbinary and used the pronouns “they” and “them.” “In the morning, they were here at Urban Animal, taking care of everyone’s animals. And then at night, they were protesting for Black Lives Matter, protesting for their community, their family.”

Indeed, Taylor was among those protesting on I-5 early Saturday morning.

A video captured the moment a white Jaguar struck the activist and critically injured 32-year-old Diaz Love.

Taylor died hours later at Harborview Medical Center. Love is in serious condition but improving.

The alleged driver, 27-year-old Dawit Kelete, was in a King County courtroom facing vehicular homicide and vehicular assault charges. A small crowd of Taylor's supporters stood outside.

The famed lawyer the suspect’s family hired, John Henry Browne, said he knows little so far.

“I need to know more about his family, his background, full-time job he has,” Browne said. “A lot of things.”

The judge set the suspect's bail at $1.2 million, $700,000 more than the prosecutor sought.

Kelete’s next court appearance is set for Wednesday.

Cox Media Group