Seattle’s autonomous zone was finally dismantled by police on Wednesday morning after 35 days of an occupied protest. It should be noted that the order from Mayor Jenny Durkan to retake CHAZ was not issued until protestors threatened to raid her home.
Over 20 people were arrested as police took back their east precinct and reclaimed the park that had turned into a homeless encampment. As the police cleared out the encampment the Post Millennial spoke with a local resident who described what it was like in the zone.
“I own property here,” the man said by way of identifying himself, and added he “would rather not get into it. I don’t want to get killed by these Antifa people.”
“I just have to tell you that, being a long time resident here, owner. And very understanding of the political message that was trying to be conveyed, this whole situation has just been totally out of hand.”
“The disconnect between the mayor and the city leaders and the residents and the businesses has just been terrible. I don’t understand why there isn’t any communication. I mean we were left in the dark, from one day to the next we didn’t know what was going on. Just poor, poor leadership.
“I’m just incredibly discouraged that residents and businesses here, people that have lived here and paid taxes forever, and everything continues to cost more. Yet there’s no leadership, there’s no communication, and that was just incredibly dejecting—discouraging.”
The man then described what it was like being in the Capitol Hill area.
“It’s been terrible, it’s been loud at night. During the day, these people seem to be relatively calm, but I’ve been down here almost every day, and I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff. A lot of assault weapons, a lot of anger, a lot of drugs and drinking. So it hasn’t been a very positive thing.”
“I mean the message was kind of lost weeks ago. So we basically had a homeless encampment here, and people with no direction. It just was tough to see, and kids getting shot—kids getting killed. Total mayhem.
“And like I said where is the leadership? Where is the city leadership?”
He was asked if he and others felt like they were being held hostage by the occupiers.
“Definitely, most certainly. And I just think it’s unfair. It was totally unfair. And a lot of people don’t want to talk. A lot of people are worried and scared and they don’t want to express their opinion because they’re worried about retribution. And I don’t blame them.”
BREAKING: Seattle resident says he felt held hostage by Antifa, abandoned by city leaders pic.twitter.com/LYKbMm9K6W
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 1, 2020
Early Wednesday morning police came into the area and were met with light resistance (I can’t believe I’m saying this about a city inside the USA).
BREAKING: Seattle Police dismantle violent CHAZ district pic.twitter.com/B0Ope33RXQ
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 1, 2020
Seattle police vacating #CHOP
— BlueStateBlues (@danli_wang) July 1, 2020
SPD pushing through #CHOP. Saying leave now or you will be arrested. Have seen some pepper spray used in front of East Precinct. @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/2xOnMA8hjn
— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020
The Post Millenial | Summit News
