Anarchy in Seattle--Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone

[Arcade22]

Seems that CHAZ is a misnomer. There is no real consensus of the people there to turn this area into an "autonomous zone". There has been no efforts to set up a distinct governing authority.

The name "CHOP" has been suggested. Capitol Hill Occupancy Protest, which seems more accurate. This isn't about setting up an anarchist utopia. It's a peaceful, longer term protest. The primary goal is the continued protest against police brutality and the movement towards defunding the Seattle PD, not to set up some long-term intentional community.

https://twitter.com/iwriteok/status/1271188269527707660

“The more we encourage and focus on the race thing, the greater our attention is not focusing on the fact that this is class warfare,” said a 28-year-old protester and self-described anarchist who identified himself only by his first name, Fredrix.

Looks like some people don't agree with you and have loftier goals than trying to rectify "the race thing".

 

[uke2se]

Looks like some people don't agree with you and have loftier goals than trying to rectify "the race thing".

Sounds like a white guy.

 

[deadrose]

Yeah, there are several people trying to turn it into their own pet protest, including Kshama Sawant of the City Council. Lots of people trying to refocus it, but so far plenty more trying to keep it to the original BLM/police brutality.

I'd be there with them, but I'm high risk and old and can't move fast, so I'm more of a liability when something goes wrong. There are more reports this morning that a car tried to drive into the crowd around the West precinct station. This one appears to be just a self-absorbed rich person who couldn't get to his view condo fast enough to suit him, rather than a cop's brother with a gun.

Here's an opinion piece from someone who went down to see for himself. Interestingly, this is on a pretty conservative-leaning site. Debunking Myths of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone https://mynorthwest.com/1937349/opinion-debunking-myths-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/

 

[crescent]

Faceook link - probably still visible to those without FB accounts:

Dear Friends and Family not in Seattle (written i response to a Faux news post)

For friends and family not in Seattle. This story (the Fox news article) is a complete and total fabrication. There just is no other way to explain it. The image is from Minneapolis for starters (do a reverse image search on Google).

Protesters in CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) are watching documentaries, having discussions about race, eating food, listening to the Marshall Law band (seriously, name of the band). There is free food, free water, free coffee, and a lot of pop art everywhere.

The barricades were put in place on Monday due to a very real threat of extreme right-wing agitators (Proud Boys) who gathered at Pioneer Square, 30 to 50 strong, and heavily armed around 11:30, to come to Cal Anderson Park. At 11:35 PM with helicopters from King County Sheriff buzzing overhead, mostly unarmed people, supported by legal gun owners, and a team of EMTS, doctors, and nurses at the rear of the line waited. A small group showed up at about 12:05 PM and immediately turned around when they realized that this was not an unarmed group that would run at the sight of an assault rifle.

The barricades are there, sadly and ironically, to keep those who want to actually see a scene like this, in Capitol Hill, and to protect the East Precinct Police Station. I can't stress enough, I have hard in loud and clear voices, that the loose organization of leaders will not let that building be touched. Everyone knows that is exactly what the far-right wants.

The CHAZ is six blocks, while SPD is now claiming that the entire 83.7 square miles of the city of Seattle can now only respond to "priority calls." This is pretty much a high-grade BS. The East Precinct HQ is not a motor pool station (e.g not a huge lot for police cars and equipment to go in and out of) and the areas blocked off are not arterials in that area.

No one has any actual proof that business owners have been asked for money, nor does anyone have any proof that anyone is asking for IDs at "checkpoints." On the contrary, every objective report has said the border is porous, and those that cause problems are asked to leave.

 

[Giordano]

I was linking to local media, not to specific stories. So as to make it easier for those with functioning brain cells to make up their own mind. Obviously, some of the media haven't actually covered the issue (either because they're weekly publications and haven't had time yet or because they're focused entirely on commercial matters, for instance)

I appreciated the links. Thank you!

 

[Giordano]

Amazing how police departments, sewage outlets such as Fox News, and of course the Trump administration are willing to fabricate complete lies to incite fear and anger. Just make up stuff out of whole cloth and continue to spew it even after the truth becomes known. Because what advances your political agenda is the only goal, no matter who the lies hurt or how much they damage the country.

I am very concerned that Trump will attempt to order the National Guard or even active military into the CHAZ simply to claim that he rescued law abiding citizens from days of non-existent looting, rape, murder, and free snacks. Okay, maybe not from free snacks, although the idea of free food is awfully socialistic and goes against the core principles of America that the poor deserve to go hungry. My only hope is that his aides can convince him that the “optics” would look very bad for him.

 

[kookbreaker]

Is it Mogadishu yet?

 

[Ranb]

Another opinion from mynorthwest.com; https://mynorthwest.com/1942768/chaz-peaceful-unsustainable/

But we also saw how quickly the mood could change. When a business owner drove past the barricade, she was immediately swarmed by a group of men who feared she wanted to hurt the protesters.

We also saw a scuffle erupt when a woman began speaking to the crowd and one of the leaders thought she was going to co-opt their message. He grabbed the bullhorn, trying to wrestle it away before they were separated.

It’s not clear who’s in charge at CHAZ but the “Collective Black Voices” has released this list of demands and it’s outrageous.

The CHAZ is unsustainable and to resolve this is going to require leadership. I believe that starts with Mayor Durkan who told CNN’S Chris Cuomo that President Trump doesn’t need to send in the troops to clear the streets. She says this could be the “summer of love” in Seattle. If it lasts that long, we’re in serious trouble.

 

[Brainster]

No worse then the right wingers taking ovre federal land in Oregon and Nevada. You seem to have no problem with that.

I don't think anybody has the right to set themselves up as independent countries or whatever those clowns were trying to do, so you're wrong, I do have a problem with it. But I'm going to assume that the inhabitants of the area they claimed were mostly livestock, not human beings, which is a pretty significant difference in terms of impact.

 

[sir drinks-a-lot]

Build bridges, not walls!

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Amazing how police departments, sewage outlets such as Fox News, and of course the Trump administration are willing to fabricate complete lies to incite fear and anger. Just make up stuff out of whole cloth and continue to spew it even after the truth becomes known. Because what advances your political agenda is the only goal, no matter who the lies hurt or how much they damage the country.

I am very concerned that Trump will attempt to order the National Guard or even active military into the CHAZ simply to claim that he rescued law abiding citizens from days of non-existent looting, rape, murder, and free snacks. Okay, maybe not from free snacks, although the idea of free food is awfully socialistic and goes against the core principles of America that the poor deserve to go hungry. My only hope is that his aides can convince him that the “optics” would look very bad for him.

He can't, that nonsense about "or I will" is just his fantasy and playing to himself and his base.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Another opinion from mynorthwest.com; https://mynorthwest.com/1942768/chaz-peaceful-unsustainable/

That sounds about right. But maybe deadrose has more insight.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Faceook link - probably still visible to those without FB accounts:

Dear Friends and Family not in Seattle (written i response to a Faux news post)

I do think the chief is exaggerating a bit about how long responses are with the precinct idle. She clearly exaggerated about the shakedowns etc and had to walk that back. Note she never said where the false anecdotes originated and the news media never asked.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Fox literally photo shopping in an armed guy into pictures of the Capital hill autonomous zone.

https://twitter.com/HannahReloaded/status/1271817431305068551

 

[crescent]

I don't think anybody has the right to set themselves up as independent countries or whatever those clowns were trying to do, so you're wrong, I do have a problem with it. But I'm going to assume that the inhabitants of the area they claimed were mostly livestock, not human beings, which is a pretty significant difference in terms of impact.

CHAZ is not trying to set up an independent country, it seems more like just a permanent protest, like the occupy movement. CHAZ has not entered the police precinct and the only damage to is is graffiti.

The Bundy's didn't try to set up a separate nation either. Unlike Chaz, the Bundys did occupy government buildings. The Bundys were much, much more heavily armed than CHAZ. During the Bundy Bunkerville incident, my LE coworkers had to sent their families into hiding due to death threats, I see no analogue with CHAZ.

It is interesting to look this up on twitter - just put "Chaz Seattle" into the search window. I have never seen such a disconnect between what people think is happening compared to what actually is happening (as verified through live-feed webcams, on-site reporting, and such).

Vehicle barriers are set up - but people are free to come and go, no papers are being checked. Easily verifiable through live-feeds.

Businesses are open. Verifiable through reporting.

Businesses have not been shaken down for protection money. The city government has retracted that accusation.

There is no warlord in charge. Nobody seems to be in charge, much like it was with the occupy movement.

They have not declared themselves to be a separate nation. I don't know where that came from. "Autonomous" means many things and comes in degrees, it is not a synonym for "independent".


Lots and lots of idiots on social media are wanting to destroy this, baying for blood. Yellow journalism at its worst.

 

[Thermal]

While I support this, and especially the focus on the protest being more of a power/class battle, what's the endgame here? The Mayor and police are basically saying let the kids play till they run out of money, then things go back to normal, right? No body count and all that.

Also, might be interesting if people later try to sue the city for refusal to provide services within the AZ. I mean, police et al still have obligations, yes?

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

While I support this, and especially the focus on the protest being more of a power/class battle, what's the endgame here? The Mayor and police are basically saying let the kids play till they run out of money, then things go back to normal, right? No body count and all that.

Also, might be interesting if people later try to sue the city for refusal to provide services within the AZ. I mean, police et al still have obligations, yes?

I suggest this is a bit of over reacting. It's a couple of blocks! The point is the protest.

Trump has described it as "a large part of Seattle".

 

[Giordano]

CHAZ is not trying to set up an independent country, it seems more like just a permanent protest, like the occupy movement. CHAZ has not entered the police precinct and the only damage to is is graffiti.

The Bundy's didn't try to set up a separate nation either. Unlike Chaz, the Bundys did occupy government buildings. The Bundys were much, much more heavily armed than CHAZ. During the Bundy Bunkerville incident, my LE coworkers had to sent their families into hiding due to death threats, I see no analogue with CHAZ.

It is interesting to look this up on twitter - just put "Chaz Seattle" into the search window. I have never seen such a disconnect between what people think is happening compared to what actually is happening (as verified through live-feed webcams, on-site reporting, and such).

Vehicle barriers are set up - but people are free to come and go, no papers are being checked. Easily verifiable through live-feeds.

Businesses are open. Verifiable through reporting.

Businesses have not been shaken down for protection money. The city government has retracted that accusation.

There is no warlord in charge. Nobody seems to be in charge, much like it was with the occupy movement.

They have not declared themselves to be a separate nation. I don't know where that came from. "Autonomous" means many things and comes in degrees, it is not a synonym for "independent".


Lots and lots of idiots on social media are wanting to destroy this, baying for blood. Yellow journalism at its worst.

Republicans and the right wing (forgive me for repeating myself) need to create scary demons to frighten voters into supporting them. So they are constantly searching for some event or position that can be fictionalized appropriately. “Defund the police” is one of these - a catchphrase that can be twisted and fraudulently sold to many in the middle class as leaving them exposed to lawlessness.

CHAZ is another example of the reality failing to be frightening so it must be twisted and fictionalized to make it so. Ultimately the reality must be morphed to emerge as the message “Vote for Democrats and they will turn your neighborhood into Somalia.”

Sure, to do so takes an enormous amount of pure fabrication. Lies. Misleading, mislabeled, or completely fake photos. Untrue rumors blithely presented in headlines as accurate. But Fox News, the right wing blog sphere, the Republican leadership, etc. are a large and interlocking entity and will try their hardest to make it so. And it works. Just look at the statements presented as facts by the City Journal as quoted in the OP; I notice that similar distortions/lies by Fox News still remain up as banner headlines on the web no matter that they have been shown to be untrue since they were first posted. These false impressions certainly will become established as truths in the minds of many in the wider population.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Fox literally photo shopping in an armed guy into pictures of the Capital hill autonomous zone.

https://twitter.com/HannahReloaded/status/1271817431305068551

Here's a more detailed account of all the BS Fox has been 'reporting'.

Seattle Times: Fox News runs digitally altered images in coverage of Seattle’s protests, Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone

Fox’s site had no disclaimers revealing the photos had been manipulated. The network removed the images after inquiries from The Seattle Times.

In addition, Fox’s site for a time on Friday ran a frightening image of a burning city, above a package of stories about Seattle’s protests, headlined “CRAZY TOWN.” The photo actually showed a scene from St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 30. That image also was later removed. ...

The network’s misleading and faked images were published as the Capitol Hill zone — quickly labeled CHAZ — became a political flashpoint for conservatives nationally and a target of tweets by President Donald Trump, who has branded the demonstrators “domestic terrorists” and threatened federal action unless local officials “take back” the area.

National news outlets on Friday also continued to cite a now-withdrawn comment by a Seattle police commander suggesting protesters were extorting payments from businesses within CHAZ. Seattle police Chief Carmen Best walked back that statement on Thursday, saying the comment was based on rumor and social media.

Ran all day: damage done. But gee, they didn't mean to and they took the images down.


Fox: Seattle 'autonomous zone' has armed guards, local businesses being threatened with extortion, police say

Editor’s Note: A FoxNews.com home page photo collage which originally accompanied this story included multiple scenes from Seattle’s “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” and of wreckage following recent riots. The collage did not clearly delineate between these images, and has since been replaced. In addition, a recent slideshow depicting scenes from Seattle mistakenly included a picture from Minneapolis. Fox News regrets these errors.

What a ******* lie.

And they kept the dishonest headline, continuing to repeat this story after it was discredited by the police chief herself.

Seattle police say they have received reports of armed guards and potential extortion in a self-declared autonomous zone that spans several blocks and includes a now-closed precinct.

“We’ve heard, anecdotally, reports of citizens and businesses being asked to pay a fee to operate within this area. This is the crime of extortion. If anyone has been subjected to this, we need them to call 911,” Assistant Chief of Police Deanna Nollette said on Wednesday.

No one called 911, no one reported any of this crap despite the chief asking people to please report such incidents.
Per Police Chief Best, "we have received no reports".

So Fox took down propaganda photos but left up the propaganda report.

Also they have exaggerated the size of the zone:

Protesters calling to defund the police and make sweeping reforms to law enforcement tactics have declared a six-block region -- spanning 13th Avenue past 11th Avenue, near Cal Anderson Park, and from East Olive Street to East Pike Street -- the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” (CHAZ).

11th, 12th, 13th... Hey Fox, that is 3 blocks and look at a map, they are short blocks.


The dishonesty is disgusting.

 

[Giordano]

Make no mistake: CHAZ is a deadly threat to the story that the Republicans need to sell to voters. A peaceful, integrated society filled with liberal, left wing, and BLM protesters operating fairly well in the absence of police denies the core upon which the Republicans seek to build their votes. It must be portrayed as a nightmare. Or made into one by a violent provocation by the police or military,

BTW: I am not suggesting CHAZ is a utopia or sustainable. I view it as a demonstration project that provides a glimpse of some alternatives to our current society’s views of police in the role of vicious attack dogs required to protect us... from ourselves.