The protesters located at Seattle’s police-free ‘CHOP’ zone replaced the concrete barriers that the City had removed with trash cans and furniture just minutes later.
In an attempt to reclaim the “war zone” from the demonstrators at Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, a self-declared police-free zone, the City of Seattle deployed workers to remove the concrete barriers placed with the intention to separate the zone from the rest of the city.
Just moments after the barricades had been removed, however, protesters set up fresh barriers made out of furniture, trash cans, and plastic barriers.
The City’s push to dismantle the ‘war zone’ follows after the Monday shooting incident that left one teen dead and another one severely injured.
“The area has increasingly attracted more individuals bent on division and violence, and it is risking the lives of individuals,” Mayor’s office spokesperson Ernesto Apreza said.
“There has been unacceptable behavior by individuals who are preventing city employees from doing their job.”
According to the reports, at least six people were shot within the police-free zone during the last ten days whereas self-proclaimed security guards armed with guns and assault rifles took control of the order in the CHOP area.
Meanwhile, the protesters expressed they’re unwilling to leave until their demands are met.
“I hope they call in the National Guard on us, I’m willing to die for our cause!” one of them allegedly said in an interview with DailyMail.com.
One group of protesters was also spotted building a new barrier next to a sign that read:
“We’re not leaving until our demands are met
Defund SPD by 50% now
Fund Black Communities
Free all protesters”
Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, initially called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, is a self-declared police-free zone where demonstrations and speeches have started taking place some three weeks ago.
Due to the clashes with the authorities, the police abandoned their local precinct building, leaving the area police-free.
While peaceful protests and gatherings initially filled the area, things have recently spiraled out of control with at least six people getting shot in the last ten days.
Warning people to stay away from the police-free zone was Marty Jackson, a voluntary medic who described CHOP as an “active war zone” in an interview with KUOW.
“Because now it’s like pretty much an active war zone. Now you have security and medical always looking around waiting to see the next,” he said.
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Replaced!