Thread: It’s Sunday in Seattle ~ 7 days since @SeattlePD abandoned its east precinct, leaving a 6-block area unmanned as folks in the community established the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.”
There was no hostile takeover. The police chief even visited the station on Thursday.
There was no hostile takeover. The police chief even visited the station on Thursday.
What you have had in this Capitol Hill neighborhood was an unexpected area in which thousands & thousands of Seattle residents have descended onto as a congregating spot to demand action, show solidarity & bear witness. As diverse a gathering as one could come up with.
In Seattle, below is one of the barriers used to protect one of the entrances from potential cars ramming through these Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone streets. There is no checking of photo IDs. It’s essentially a pedestrian thoroughfare.
What you see in one week is a mass gathering of angry/concerned/frustrated Seattle residents converging on an area. There is an ever-developing organizing team of locals partnering with local organizations talking through what happens every day & where this is going. (more below)
This is Seattle native James Encinas. He’s one of the thousands to converge on CHAZ.
"I think the foundation of it is is good Americans, good white people, good Native Americans, good Latinos. We're tired of the oppression that we faced through the corruption systematically."
"I think the foundation of it is is good Americans, good white people, good Native Americans, good Latinos. We're tired of the oppression that we faced through the corruption systematically."
"The reality of it is that we're in an economic & emotional downfall where you're in the streets because this violence that has been perpetrated on us out of the White House through the police & has caused a mental illness...we’re fighting for our lives.”
Included among the thousands in the CHAZ blocks of Seattle have been families.
Matt Abts visited with his 2 kids via bike:
“I think it's just really to...support our neighbors, to acknowledge the fact that the system is broken and expose [the kids]...that actions matter.”
Matt Abts visited with his 2 kids via bike:
“I think it's just really to...support our neighbors, to acknowledge the fact that the system is broken and expose [the kids]...that actions matter.”
This is Stat the Artist, one of locals responsible for BLM street mural in Seattle’s CHAZ.
“Come out & get educated, enjoy free food, enjoy a safe place for our allies & POC to come...want to change to actually come out of those conversations."
His IG: instagram.com/stattheartist?…
“Come out & get educated, enjoy free food, enjoy a safe place for our allies & POC to come...want to change to actually come out of those conversations."
His IG: instagram.com/stattheartist?…
This is where things developed yesterday. After dispelling false narrative of violence/mayhem, CHAZ became congregating place w/ atmosphere opposite of that (bubbles, soccer ball, food, music).
Javi Cordero called me out for referring to it as “street festival-like atmosphere”:
Javi Cordero called me out for referring to it as “street festival-like atmosphere”:
Two hours after this exchange, organizers set up stage to deliver message: “This ain’t no f*cking party.”
There is an ever-developing organizing team of Seattle locals building out what CHAZ looks like. But wanted focus to be on CHAZ’s demands for change.
There is an ever-developing organizing team of Seattle locals building out what CHAZ looks like. But wanted focus to be on CHAZ’s demands for change.
Below is link to demands by this developing CHAZ organizing team to city of Seattle.
“We’ve already started the negotiations for you to come back & reoccupy those spaces. The next step is for you to respond to those demands...because black lives matter.”
medium.com/@seattleblmano…
“We’ve already started the negotiations for you to come back & reoccupy those spaces. The next step is for you to respond to those demands...because black lives matter.”
medium.com/@seattleblmano…
Piece from @TrevorHughes on frustrations among many over the weekend with the congregation of Seattle’s white residents on these blocks who are not wholly grappling with the significance of the moment or CHAZ’s demands: apple.news/AHw4wByb9QI6R1…
Javi Cordero on Seattle’s CHAZ today:
“There is [growing] infrastructure...cohesion among all the various black-led leadership that is in the movement. This is a very diffuse movement. There is not 1 central figure or group. There are those core demands.”
“There is [growing] infrastructure...cohesion among all the various black-led leadership that is in the movement. This is a very diffuse movement. There is not 1 central figure or group. There are those core demands.”
Seattle resident Javi Cordero:
“I’m just an individual who manages a restaurant down the way and I’ve volunteered to help...What I want to see develop is a greater understanding of...respecting Black & Indigenous voices & amplifying those voices.”
“I’m just an individual who manages a restaurant down the way and I’ve volunteered to help...What I want to see develop is a greater understanding of...respecting Black & Indigenous voices & amplifying those voices.”
“J” on these 2 wks in Seattle:
“We saw tear gas, rubber bullets...same way that you would if it were just a black experience & I think for white community members here that was their first engagement with the police in that way...think that’s what’s continued to bring them out.”
“We saw tear gas, rubber bullets...same way that you would if it were just a black experience & I think for white community members here that was their first engagement with the police in that way...think that’s what’s continued to bring them out.”
