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Seattle Occupied by Protesters, Closes East Precinct and City Streets
Following weeks of protests, kicked off by the Memorial Day death of George Floyd while in police custody, demonstrators and protesters are occupying 6 city blocks around Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Called the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone,” or CHAZ, the area includes the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, which has been boarded up and abandoned.
CHAZ has refused entry to any police force but has thus far remained peaceful, as citizens camp out and discuss ideas for police reform. But they have barricaded themselves inside and are using armed guards to confirm that anyone entering “belongs” inside. Washington is an open carry state, but citizen-led checkpoints are against the law; forcing residents to show ID to gain entry to their streets is also illegal.
Rumors have circulated that the group has broken into and taken up residence in the East Precinct, and that the group is extorting local residents and businesses in return for “protection,” but neither rumor has been confirmed.
Photographs of CHAZ show community speakers, chalk art, documentary screenings, and camp-outs in the streets. The movement is peaceful but disruptive to residents and businesses. Music is played through speakers throughout the night.
Response times to 911 calls in the area have increased from an average of 5 minutes all the way up to 18 minutes, and secondary calls are taking closer to an hour.
Assistant Chief of Police Deanna Nollette has been vocal about trying to begin negotiations with the leaders of CHAZ in an effort to regain control over the region. However, the movement is not organized, and identifying leaders has proved challenging. Raz Simone has given statements and appears to be in a leadership position for the group.
Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins has made the most headway into working with the group, stating that, “we are working through this and there is some trust built and I don’t want to compromise the trust.”
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Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan ordered police to retreat from the area and discontinue use of tear gas for 30 days in response to reported police brutality during protests. CHAZ is still calling for her resignation or removal from office for her lack of leadership.
Baffling reporters, Governor Jay Inslee denied knowledge of CHAZ during a Wednesday press briefing. By Thursday, he seemed to have finally learned of the situation and demanded that President Trump cease threats of military involvement. He instead deflected back to the President, requesting the PPE they’ve been asking for, for months.
President Trump has tweeted repeatedly about Seattle being taken over by “Domestic terrorists” and insisting that officials take back their city. If not, he warns, he will send in the National Guard.
Governor Inslee has stated that the situation is peaceful and he hopes for a peaceful resolution.
CHAZ has released a list of 30 demands that encompass the criminal justice system, economics, health and human services, and education. They include reforms such as abolishing imprisonment, closing youth prisons, diversifying Seattle hospitals so that black doctors and nurses treat black patients, free college, repurposing funds from the Seattle Police Department to free housing, and reforming education to increase focus on black and Native American history.
In response, Seattle Public Schools have suspended their district’s partnership with SPD, which includes removing SPD School Emphasis Officers and School Resource Officers from schools.
The Seattle City Council has also made an inquest into the police department budget, with members saying they are open to redirecting the funds to public programs.
There has been no comment on how Mayor Durkan or Governor Inslee plan to handle the ongoing situation in Seattle, or how long CHAZ will occupy the area.
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