Formerly known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ,) the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) is located in the heart of Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. It is free of hatred, racism, and policing. Refreshments are offered for free. There are also movies, books, and resources to educate the public on what we are fighting for, where it came from, and how you can help make a difference. The police-free occupation was established by protestors on June 8th after officers abandoned their precinct at 12th and Pine, following a nine-day standoff with the community.
Map of Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (or Capitol Hill Organized Protest) Courtesy of Seattle Times
The catalyst for these demonstrations was the moment Minneapolis police officers murdered George Floyd in broad daylight while an onlooker was filming them. Since then, all 50 states and numerous countries across the globe have stood in solidarity with Black lives, making this the largest civil rights movement in history.
In Seattle, community members of all walks of life have stood together every single day protesting the endless list of injustices that Black people have endured since the colonization of America began. Although protests are happening in many neighborhoods, Capitol Hill has become a stunning example of how out of hand police brutality has become.
Cal Anderson quickly became the meeting spot; every day at 3 o’clock crowds of people would gather. Some people would march around the city, encouraging people to leave their houses and march. At night those marchers would return to the barricade to cheers of joy. Until the last person left there would be a constant barrage of chants yelled. People demanded to be heard.
Each day non-violent protestors were met by police in riot gear using excessive amounts of physical violence, tear gas, and even rubber bullets. Residents of the neighborhood could feel the burn from the gas while sitting in their homes. A steel barricade was the only thing standing between officers and protestors. After brutal attacks each night, umbrellas began to line up at the front of the barricade, acting as a shield to deflect their crowd control weapons. Social media became flooded with videos reminiscent of an active war zone, because that’s what it was, a war between the people and the police.
After each night of tear gas from the Seattle Police Department, more members of the community joined the protests the following day. Signs of support began to show up in windows surrounding 11th and Pine. Restaurants opened their doors to protesters with mutual aid stations appearing on corners. Support from the Capitol Hill business community provided the necessary support to help protesters attain the autonomous zone.
The victory of the people had been recognized when officers packed up their belongings and abandoned the precinct. Chief of Police, Carmen Best, stated that it was not her decision and that the city decided to leave the building after severe pressure from the public. This is when protestors flipped the barricades around, creating new borders for what had been originally deemed, the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” (CHAZ,) but are now calling the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP.)
In the few days since being established, people have been trying to understand this free society. There must be a leader, right? Well, no, that’s not the point of the organized protest. It’s a chance to let the community run itself. The internet has spread many rumors, including one where local artist, Raz Simone, is a menacing war overlord who is leading this group of anarchists. When in reality the group is neither led by Raz nor pro-anarchy. In fact, if you look into the demands of the people, they want better government rather than none at all.
In a series of tweets, Trump claimed that “domestic terrorists” and “anarchists” had taken over Seattle and that they must be “stooped.” He called out Washington State Governor, Jay Inslee, and mayor of Seattle, Jenny Durkan, saying if they didn’t take back the city, he would do it himself. Inslee happened to see and respond to the original tweet, which has since been deleted and reposted. Even Durkan responded telling Trump to “go back to your bunker.” These tweets from Durkan will not make protestors forget about Durkan’s relentless tear-gassing alongside the police in the previous weeks.
The people of the autonomous zone, or organized protest, are establishing ways to take care of garbage to keep the space clean. Two gardens have shown up in Cal Anderson park along with some saplings. There are townhalls where the community discusses their needs and how to approach the next step of the movement. Documentaries are played to educate. There is music to bring the people together largely facilitated by Marshall Law Band. Something truly amazing is happening at the Capitol Hill Organized Protest fka CHAZ.
