News and Commentary

Seattle’s ‘CHAZ’ Changes Its Name To ‘CHOP,’ Drops ‘Autonomous’ After Complaints

Emily Zanotti
Seattle’s ‘CHAZ’ Changes Its Name To ‘CHOP,’ Drops ‘Autonomous’ After Complaints
Photo by Noah Riffe/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Amid concerns that federal officials could storm an “autonomous zone” that had declared itself a separate nation from the United States, residents of Seattle, Washington’s “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” or “CHAZ” have changed their installation’s name to “CHOP” — the “Capitol Hill Organized Protest.”

“CHAZ” was also facing concerns that it was not fully “autonomous” as its name suggested after reporters documented the “independent” “demonstration” receiving pizza and food deliveries, calling the Seattle Fire Department to report a nearby dumpster on fire, calling Seattle Emergency Services for assistance in several medical emergencies, and having dirt, compost and plants trucked in for their “community garden.”

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