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Capitol Hill Occupied Protest

Coordinates: 47°36′54.5″N 122°19′2.83″W / 47.615139°N 122.3174528°W / 47.615139; -122.3174528
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47°36′54.5″N 122°19′2.83″W / 47.615139°N 122.3174528°W / 47.615139; -122.3174528

Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
Free Capitol Hill
Self-declared autonomous zone
The Seattle Police Department East Precinct building's sign on June 10, 2020. The building, boarded up and abandoned, has had the word "people" spray painted over the word "police".
The Seattle Police Department East Precinct building's sign on June 10, 2020. The building, boarded up and abandoned, has had the word "people" spray painted over the word "police".
Streetmap of area surrounding Free Capitol Hill on June 10, 2020[1]
Streetmap of area surrounding Free Capitol Hill on June 10, 2020[1]
Encompassing citySeattle
DeclaredJune 8, 2020
Government
 • TypeCommune and partially autonomous intentional community
Websitehttp://www.capitolhillautonomous.zone
File:Black Lives Matter Shrine CHAZ Seattle WA.jpg
A shrine set up by Black Lives Matter around the corner from the abandoned East Precinct building

The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ or the Zone),[2] formerly known as the Free Capitol[3] and Free Capitol Hill,[4][5] is a self-declared autonomous zone, intentional community and commune covering approximately six city blocks[6][7] in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.[8] The Zone was established on June 8, 2020 after the East Precinct building was abandoned by the Seattle Police Department.

History

Background

Capitol Hill is a district in downtown Seattle known for its prominent LGBT and counterculture communities. The district had previously been a center for other mass protests,[9] such as the 1999 Seattle WTO protests[10] and Occupy Seattle.[11]

Foundation

File:CHAZJune9.jpg
The Zone on June 9, 2020

Protests over the killing of George Floyd and police brutality began in Seattle on May 29, 2020. For nine days there were street clashes involving protesters, the Seattle Police Department (SPD), and the Washington National Guard.[12] On June 5, Mayor Jenny Durkan and SPD Chief Carmen Best announced a 30-day ban on the use of tear gas.[13] Protests eventually coalesced around the SPD's East Precinct building, where the SPD used aggressive dispersal tactics, including blast balls,[4] flash bangs, and pepper spray.[12] By June 7, metal fencing and large cement blocks were placed around the precinct.[12] After a car drove into a crowd of protesters and the driver shot someone, crowds outside the precinct grew.[12] Shortly after midnight, police reported protesters throwing bottles, rocks, and fireworks and were authorized to resume the use of tear gas.[12] Over 12,000 complaints were filed about the police response to the demonstrations.[14]

The following afternoon, in a "police retreat,"[4] the SPD abandoned the East Precinct, covering the windows with plywood[15] and leaving the front door open.[16] Citizens erected street barricades and declared the area "Free Capitol Hill."[4]

Territory

Interactive map of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone

The Zone is centered around the East Precinct building, a police precinct which the police abandoned on June 8.[5][17] It stretches north to East Denny Way, east to 13th Avenue, south to East Pike, and west to Broadway. The entirety of Cal Anderson Park falls inside of the Zone.[15]

Protesters concerned about the potential for a vehicle attack[18] used blockades and fences to construct staggered barricades at intersections.[5] The entrance of the Zone's territory is marked by a barrier reading "You Are Entering Free Capitol Hill",[4] an homage to Northern Ireland's Free Derry.[19] Other signs declared "You are now leaving the USA."[6] The East Precinct building has had the word "people" spray painted over the word "police".[17][20]

Internal governance

The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone has no centralized system of governance. Occupants have stated their intentions of creating a neighborhood beyond policing and a society where the police are no longer necessary.[21][22] Members of the self-described anti-fascist, anti-racist, pro-worker Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club were seen openly-carrying rifles in the Zone.[23] Reporters from a local Seattle-based Fox affiliate were removed from the Zone by occupants,[24] but there have been no violent confrontations between police and residents.[5][20] According to a June 10 article by City Journal, hip hop artist Raz Simone acts as "co-leader and enforcer" of the Zone, while former mayoral candidate Nikkita Oliver formulates the commune's political aims.[25] However, according to Simone, the Zone has no central leadership, with all residents serving as leaders.[26]

Demands

On June 9, 2020, a blog post containing a list of demands appeared on Medium, which was "shared widely by people on the ground and familiar with the reality of the situation in the CHAZ".[27] The demands included the de-gentrification of Seattle though the use of rent control apartments, the abolition of the Seattle Police Department and courts, and a federal investigation into police brutality among other demands.[27][28]

Culture and amenities

Snacks and supplies booth in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone on June 9, 2020

Tents were pitched next to the former precinct in order to hold the space. The No Cop Co-op was established on June 9, offering free water, hand sanitizer, snacks donated by the community, and kebabs. The intersection of 12th and Pine was converted to a square for teach-ins, where a microphone was used to encourage people who were there "to fuck shit up" to go home. An outdoor cinema with a sound system and projector was set up[29] and used to screen open-air movies. The first film shown was 13th, Ava DuVernay's documentary about race and mass incarceration.[29] Portable toilets were provided by the Seattle Department of Transportation.[29] Peaceful demonstrations have been staged and organized, including "an invasion" of the Seattle City Hall, demanding the resignation of Jenny Durkan.[30] City services are still being provided to the Zone, including fire and trash removal, and the Seattle Police Department has stated that they will respond to 9-1-1 calls in the Zone.[24]

Many occupants of the Zone have adopted a pink umbrella as an unofficial emblem.[6] Homemade riot shields crafted by the protesters were stenciled with pink umbrellas.[15]

Reactions

Avatar of Donald J. Trump
Avatar of Donald J. Trump
 Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
 Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird

Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!

June 10, 2020[31]

Mayor Durkan has stated that she will "de-escalate the situation" within the Zone,[32][15] while Seattle police chief Carmen Best said that her officers would look at different approaches to "reduce [their] footprint" in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.[33] Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant (a politician from the Socialist Alternative) spoke to the Zone occupants at Cal Anderson Park on June 8, 2020.[15] She called for the protesters to turn the precinct into a community center for restorative justice.[29]

On June 9, Senator Ted Cruz from Texas stated that the Zone was "endangering people's lives."[34] The next day, President Donald Trump demanded that Governor Jay Inslee and Durkan "take back" the Zone, saying that if she didn't do it, he'd do it for her.[35] In response, Durkan told President Trump to "go back to [his] bunker".[36]

Some, such as The Stranger's Charles Mudede, have compared the Zone to Manhattan's High Line, pointing to it as a possible model by which the Zone could be institutionalized.[37]

The Zone has received praise from the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union and its magazine, The Industrial Worker.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ Map data sourced from @PartyPrat, as published by James 2020. Confirmation by @basicflowrrr
  2. ^ Eustachewich, Lia (June 10, 2020). "Seattle protesters march on city hall to demand Mayor Durkan's resignation". New York Post. Retrieved June 10, 2020. The protesters left peacefully around 10 p.m., with some convening on Capitol Hill — in an area dubbed "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" or CHAZ — outside the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct. A screen that was set up played the movie "13th," the Seattle Times reported.
  3. ^ "CAPITOL HILL AUTONOMOUS ZONE (official website)". Retrieved June 11, 2020. The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone née "Free Capitol" is a 6 block section around the East Precinct in Seattle, WA.
  4. ^ a b c d e Burns, Chase; Smith, Rich; Keimig, Jasmyne (June 9, 2020). "The Dawn of 'Free Capitol Hill'". The Stranger. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  5. ^ a b c d Janavel, AJ (2020-06-09). Protesters take over streets outside abandoned SPD East Precinct (News report which aired 7:33am local time). KCPQ (Q13).
  6. ^ a b c Dwilson, Stephanie Dube (June 10, 2020). "'You're Now Leaving the USA': Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone Declared in Seattle". Heavy.
  7. ^ Christopher F. Rufo (2020-06-10). "Antifa Activists Claim First Territory in Seattle". City Journal. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Retrieved 2020-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ Beekman, Daniel (9 June 2020). "Protesters and ACLU sue Seattle, blame mayor and police chief for 'unnecessary violence' at demonstrations". The Seattle Times. Seattle. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. ^ Banel, Feliks (June 5, 2020). "Long history of racial and economic unrest in Seattle". MyNorthwest. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "WTO 20: Return to the battle for Capitol Hill". Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. December 1, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  11. ^ "Occupy Seattle protesters clash with police on Capitol Hill". The Seattle Times. November 2, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e Goldstein-Street, Jake; Garland, Alex (June 8, 2020). "After mayor's speech on deescalation, police making strongest show of force yet at 'standoff' at 11th and Pine". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle.
  13. ^ Kamb, Lewis; Beekman, Daniel (June 5, 2020). "Seattle mayor, police chief agree to ban use of tear gas on protesters amid ongoing demonstrations". The Seattle Times.
  14. ^ Jimenez, Esmy; Raftery, Isolde (June 8, 2020). "'They gave us East Precinct.' Seattle Police backs away from the barricade". KUOW.
  15. ^ a b c d e "'Welcome to Free Capitol Hill' — Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone forms around emptied East Precinct — UPDATE". Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  16. ^ Goldstein-Street, Jake (June 10, 2020). "Sawant and protesters — briefly — occupy Seattle City Hall as Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone grows — UPDATE". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle.
  17. ^ a b Sun, Deedee (2020-06-09). "Armed protesters protect East Precinct police building after officers leave area". KIRO. Retrieved 2020-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Get In the Zone: A Report from the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle". It's Going Down. June 9, 2020.
  19. ^ Mac Cuarta, Anraoi (November 1973). "Saor Dhoire". Comhar. 32 (11): 4–9. doi:10.2307/20553451. JSTOR 20553451.
  20. ^ a b Bowman, Nick (2020-06-10). "A look inside Seattle's newly-formed 'Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone'". MyNorthwest. KIRO-AM. Retrieved 2020-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ a b James, J. F. (June 9, 2020). "The Birth of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone". Industrial Worker. Industrial Workers of the World. Archived from the original on 2020-06-10. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  22. ^ Ruiz, Michael (June 9, 2020). "Seattle protesters declare 'cop free zone' after police leave precinct". Fox News. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  23. ^ Thalen, Mikael (June 9, 2020). "Seattle protesters set up a barricaded 'cop-free zone'". The Daily Dot. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  24. ^ a b Britschgi, Christian (June 10, 2020). "Seattle Protesters Establish 'Autonomous Zone' Outside Evacuated Police Precinct — Is the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone a brave experiment in self-government or just flash-in-the-pan activism?". Reason. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  25. ^ Rufo, Christopher F. "Anarchy in Seattle". Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  26. ^ Markovich, Matt (June 10, 2020). "Police make allegations of intimidation, extortion inside Capitol Hill's Autonomous Zone". KOMO. Retrieved 2020-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ a b Goldstein-Street, Jake (2020-06-10). "Sawant and protesters — briefly — occupy Seattle City Hall as Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone grows — UPDATE". Capitol Hill Seattle Blog. Retrieved 2020-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  28. ^ Thalen, Mikael (June 10, 2020). "Seattle's 'Autonomous Zone' releases list of demands". The Daily Dot. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  29. ^ a b c d Burns, Chase (June 10, 2020). "The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone Renames, Expands, and Adds Film Programming". The Stranger.
  30. ^ Rambaran, Vandana (10 June 2020). "Seattle protesters storm City Hall, demand mayor resign after driving police out of area, declaring autonomous zone". Fox News. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  31. ^ Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (June 10, 2020). "Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before. Take back your city NOW. If you don't do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ "Protesters Establish Autonomous Zone Around Seattle PD Building as Police Retreat". Democracy Now!. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  33. ^ "Live updates: Protesters establish 'Free Capitol Hill' near East Precinct". MyNorthwest. KIRO-FM. June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  34. ^ Ted Cruz [@tedcruz] (June 9, 2020). "This is endangering people's lives. #ThisIsNuts" (Tweet). Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ Barone, Vincent (2020-06-11). "Trump demands Seattle officials 'take back' cop-free protest zone". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  36. ^ Baker, Mike (2020-06-11). "'Take Back Your City' From Protesters, Trump Tells Seattle Mayor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
  37. ^ Mudede, Charles (2020-06-10). "The Future of Capitol Hill's New Autonomous Zone Is Predictable". The Stranger. Retrieved 2020-06-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading

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