In the area seized in Seattle by anarchists there was sheer disorganization on Saturday, as some groups want to change the name of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) to Capitol Hill Organized (or Occupied) Protest (CHOP). “This is not an autonomous zone. We are not trying to secede from the United States,” said one anarchist, Maurice Cola, who then proclaimed the area renamed CHOP.
During the controversy over the name a group of CHOP supporters entered the area carrying large American flags. A fight then broke out between CHAZ and CHOP supporters, as some CHAZ supporters occupying the zone tried to rip the flags from the hands of CHOP supporters.
Someone in the CHAZ/CHOP just stole one of the American flags. pic.twitter.com/jHDpWbZOW0
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 14, 2020
“It appears the CHAZ street sign is staying for now as a man (who was trying to post a U.S. flag) climbed off a ladder and a struggle broke out over control of the ladder. A woman then asks, “Is anyone in charge?” journalist Julio Rosas tweeted.
Arguments are breaking out in the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” as some people want to take down the CHAZ street sign while others want to keep it in place. pic.twitter.com/ApxOzZs2EH
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 13, 2020
That same day, as if on cue, Trump tweeted: “Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, ‘it is a Summer of Love’. These Liberal Dems don’t have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. Must end this Seattle takeover now!”
Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, “it is a Summer of Love”. These Liberal Dems don’t have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. Must end this Seattle takeover now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2020
Meanwhile anarchist leaders in the occupied Seattle area demanded that white people present on the streets of CHAZ/CHOP give $10 out of their pockets to black anarchists to “begin the process of reparations.” A video posted to Twitter on Saturday showed a man inside the CHAZ/CHOP area urging protesters to donate the cash.
“All white people must pay black people $10”
Says a non-black person to all white citizens of #CHAZ
…the newest country in North America pic.twitter.com/ej5Y8PGL9N
— Kalen From Scriberr (@FromKalen) June 13, 2020
“I want you to find by the time you leave this autonomous zone, I want you to … to give $10 to one African American person from this autonomous zone,” said an unidentified anarchist, speaking to whites inside the area. “If you have a hard time giving $10, you got to think are you really down with this struggle, are you really down with the movement?”…“If that is a challenge for you, I’m not sure you are in the right place…The white people, I see you, I see every single one of you and I remember your faces.”
Meanwhile, on their website the leaders of the anarchist group made a list of demands, to include: the firing of the entire Seattle Police Department and the closure of the local court system, the halting of ICE operations within the city, a prohibition of any armed force against citizens, reparations for “victims of police brutality in a form to be determined,” amnesty for all rioters and anarchists, the release and expunging of records of all prisoners currently behind bars for resisting arrest, letting “the people self-police for crime,” the “de-gentrification of Seattle, starting with rent control,” and finally “free college for the people of the state of Washington.”
It is unclear at press time which, or all, of the demands the Democrat Mayor of Seattle or the Democrat Governor of Washington state may accede to.
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