Endgame for the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone , or CHAZ, the self-managed district of Seattle in the United States, where, since June 8, the police were no longer returning. Monday, June 22, the mayor of the city decided to put an end to this urban and social experience, after two separate shootings cost the life of a young man of 19 years and injured at least two others.
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"It's time for everyone to go home ," said Jenny Durkan, mayor of Seattle. It is time for us to restore Cal Anderson [a city park] and Capitol Hill so that they can once again be a vibrant part of our community. We can always welcome people who want to protest peacefully, come there and come together. But the consequences for business, residents and the community are now too great . ”
The police should therefore reappear on the streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The mayor promised without giving a specific date. There remains the question of evacuation. The town hall, which fears violence, announced wanting to rely on associations to convince the occupiers to leave the neighborhood and avoid the violence of a police operation.
"Police Free"
In the past two weeks, in the wake of demonstrations against police violence, hundreds of demonstrators have flocked to CHAZ, including militants from the far left, according to the anarchist symbols that can be seen on many Pictures. The Capitol Hill neighborhood, known in Seattle for its nightlife and LGBT community, was the scene of violent clashes between protesters and police after the death of George Floyd, so that the mayor of the city had decided to withdraw the police force to calm tensions. The city even provided some logistical support by providing mobile toilets to the neighborhood.
Little by little, the neighborhood of six blocks was organized: food distributions were put in place, as well as the cultivation of shared gardens, debates or lessons. The neighborhood claimed to be "free from police". Armed volunteers patrolled all the same, charged with ensuring respect for order in the streets of CHAZ.
The Capitol Hill self-managed area in Seattle. Le Figaro / sources: BBC, google map
For Raz Simone, whom the American conservative media has called the CHAZ "warlord" title, the idea was more to rethink the police than to abolish it. This wealthy rapper recognized the need to ensure the security of citizens, but he defends a system of community self-monitoring. A concept of security deeply ingrained in the American conscience, which is based on the second amendment to the constitution, which protects the right to carry a weapon and to defend oneself.
Only, the city authorities quickly reported violence in the neighborhood: " gunfire, rape, assault, burglary, arson and destruction of property ", listed the police chief of Seattle, Carmen Best, at the press conference on Monday June 22.
Donald Trump reacted to the situation on Twitter by attacking the Democratic mayor's handling of the crisis. " Interior terrorists took Seattle, led by radical left democrats, of course. LAW & ORDER! ” He wrote on June 12. This Tuesday, he tweeted that he would never let an " autonomous zone " settle in Washington DC while he was president. A tackle in order to the Democrats in the run-up to the presidential elections.