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The CHAZ Has Become America's Fascination
The Stranger describes it as an "anti-capitalist police-free Vatican City inside Capitol Hill." The New York Times deems it "part street festival, part commune." President Donald Trump alludes to it, via tweet, as a bastion for "anarchists" who "must be stooped [sic]."
Seemingly overnight, the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone—or, "the CHAZ," as everyone's calling it—has become a local and national fascination. It was only Monday that the Seattle Police Department loaded up trucks and ditched the East Precinct at 12th and Pine, the site of tear gas-clouded confrontations between officers and Black Lives Matter-inspired protesters in the days after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Protesters have since barricaded and transformed a cluster of city blocks into a mostly peaceful enclave of free food, face coverings, resistance art, educational town halls, and even some live music. Seattle Police Department chief Carmen Best says she's heard of armed people patrolling the area and businesses having to pay "protection" fees, but as of this writing, no formal police reports related to either situation have been filed.
At a time when cities are mulling the defunding and, in a few cases, abolition of their police departments, some people might be looking at Seattle's police-free movement with a mix of amusement and genuine curiosity: Is this communal version of the American experiment a blip, or is it a preview of what's to come in other population hubs this summer? For many, however, the questions are more fundamental: How long will the CHAZ (or the People's Republic of Capitol Hill, or Free Cap Hill, depending on your sign preference) stick around? And what are its aims?
Raz Simone, a local rapper, has apparently taken a leading role in declaring a several-block area of a residential Seattle neighborhood to be an independent revolutionary state called the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (The CHAZ). Simone and a few friends, armed with several guns and a megaphone, have declared themselves the new police. He came to national attention on Wednesday when a video of him assaulting someone over graffiti came to light online.
[...] The president tweeted Wednesday and Thursday morning that the area has been taken over by a "Terrorist Warlord" and "Domestic Terrorists."
See also: The Future of Capitol Hill's New Autonomous Zone Is Predictable
Businesses Extorted? Armed Checkpoints on Capitol Hill? Yes, and Also Mercer Island Is for Sale
An Exceedingly Chill Day at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
(Score: 1, Troll) by hemocyanin on Friday June 12 2020, @11:35PM (4 children)
Back in 2016 when I was at the Democrat County Convention as a Bernie delegate from my precinct, I remember a point when the organizers were divvying up some sort of position and they were saying stuff like "we need X females, Y peoples of color, preferably female, also need Z indigenous" blah blah blah -- you really don't understand how divisive and ugly that looks do you? As if the sum total of our worth can be summed up by skin color and whether you have an innie or outie between your legs.
You also forgot to include how Obama's bailing out of the banksters and stomping of the people in the financial meltdown, had a big impact on black home ownership rates.
Anyway, I'm not an "ex liberal" -- my views have remained the same -- but the danger I see to unity, equality, opportunity, prosperity and peace, comes more from the woke left. Given that, I'm sure as heck not voting for you lot or anyone adjacent, and though usually I vote 3d party and my conscience, it is starting to make sense to vote lesser evil and actively vote for your direct opponents. It's a really gross place to be, but that's where we are at.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 13 2020, @01:44AM (3 children)
Nice crafted persona, now fuck off you disingenuous dog whistling twat.
(Score: 1) by hemocyanin on Saturday June 13 2020, @02:58AM (2 children)
Winning hearts and minds yeah? You should include a trump donation link to make it even easier.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 13 2020, @10:16PM (1 child)
Lovely, your response to the hard truth is a threat?
We already have all the hearts and minds we need. Now if only we could fix all the electoral processes the Republicans have subverted then democracy could actually work.
(Score: 1) by hemocyanin on Sunday June 14 2020, @12:37AM
Threat? It's self defense.
You come from a tribe that is destroying people's lives over the most ridiculous things. You scream and swear, call everyone racists and nazis, accept weird shit on blind faith and crusade against others who point that out. Yes, you are dangerous. Yes, that means I may make temporary alliance with those who are less dangerous. I doubt I'm the only one, but keep screaming and burning (figuratively and literally) and don't be surprised if people give you the reputation you deserve.