New details have emerged from the chaotic August 4 disruption of Congressman Adam Smith’s (D–WA) town hall at Renton Technical College, revealing that the protest, organized in opposition to Smith’s support for Israel, was led in part by Kshama Sawant’s husband, Calvin Priest. Priest, 54, was arrested that night and later accused of assaulting a 22-year-old congressional staffer during the confrontation.
The Incident
According to video obtained by KOMO News, Priest led a group of pro-Palestinian activists opposing Smith’s support of Israel as they attempted to storm the doors of the town hall. The footage shows Priest pulling and wedging at the door while the young staffer tried to block the group’s entry. The protesters eventually forced their way inside, began chanting, and caused the event to be canceled.
Renton police arrested Priest and two others for trespassing. After interviewing the staffer, officers pursued an additional assault charge. The staffer reported being physically shoved by Priest, sustained bruising on her arm, and described being emotionally shaken by the encounter. Priest was booked into the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail that evening.
NEW: Video of Marxist Kshama Sawant’s husband Calvin Priest leading anti Israel radicals in storming a private town hall for Rep Adam Smith & getting violent with a 22-year-old female staffer.
Sawant is running for Smith's seat
The event was cancelled & Priest was arrested pic.twitter.com/MqEv2wvBF7
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) October 1, 2025
Legal Outcome
The Renton City Attorney’s Office confirmed that Priest later entered into a stipulated order of continuance, an agreement that defers prosecution if the defendant meets conditions such as community service or remaining law-abiding for a set period. He received credit for time served, according to court records.
Coordinated Radical Protests, Not “Organic” Uprisings
Priest’s central role in the anti-Israel protest underscores what critics have long argued: many of these actions are not organic grassroots events, but rather organized political actions orchestrated by radical activist groups.
Sawant is the founder of Socialist Alternative, a national Marxist organization known for leading protests, staging disruptions of public meetings, and pushing aggressive anti-Israel narratives. Priest has long been one of her closest political allies and a regular presence at her rallies, demonstrations, and inside Seattle City Council chambers, leading chants and interruptions.
His leadership during the Renton protest illustrates how these confrontations are often pre-planned and politically driven, designed to create public spectacle and media moments rather than reflecting spontaneous community outrage.
Congressman Smith Responds
Congressman Smith condemned both the physical assault and the broader attempt to silence the event, framing it as a serious threat to democratic discourse.
“It shook [my staff member] up emotionally. I mean, you’re here at a public town hall meeting and someone is in your face, screaming at you, and then physically shoving you to the side. Public servants shouldn’t have to put up with that,” Smith told KOMO News.
Smith said the activists were not engaging in legitimate debate but were trying to shut down opposing viewpoints:
“This is not an effort to win an argument. This is an effort to use threats and intimidation to silence any opposition so that only your point of view gets heard. It is completely anti-democracy, and it’s a real threat to our country.”
He compared their tactics to the January 6 Capitol riot:
“They have no interest whatsoever in hearing anybody else’s voices, and they are threatening and intimidating. Part of their effort here is to scare people into doing what they want, and that’s a big problem for democracy.”
Political Fallout
The protest targeted Smith specifically for his votes supporting U.S. aid to Israel and his criticism of Hamas, positions that have made him a lightning rod for far-left activists. Sawant and Priest’s direct involvement highlights the increasingly aggressive role that Socialist Alternative and its allies are playing in nationalizing their activism.
For Sawant, who is now running to unseat Smith in Washington’s 9th Congressional District, the arrest of her husband and the assault allegations place her campaign under intense scrutiny. Rather than grassroots dissent, the Renton incident reflects the strategic protest model her movement has perfected: using coordinated, high-intensity disruptions to generate attention, pressure opponents, and mobilize their base.
