Seattle Democrat Mayor Jenny Durkan is reportedly going to shut down the “CHOP” zone in her city following an increasing spate of violence in the area, which is largely occupied by fringe activists.
“Faced with growing pressure to crack down on an ‘occupied’ protest zone following two weekend shootings, Seattle’s mayor said Monday that officials will move to wind down the blocks-long span of city streets taken over two weeks ago that President Donald Trump asserted is run by ‘anarchists,'” Q13 FOX Seattle reported. “Durkan said at a news conference that the violence was distracting from changes sought by thousands of peaceful protesters seeking to address racial inequity and police brutality. She said the city is working with the community to bring the ‘Capitol Hill Occupied Protest’ zone to an end.”
The news comes after three people were shot in the police-free area in recent days. At least one of the people shot, a 19-year-old, died as a result.
Durkan suggested that the shootings were a reflection of a “gun violence” problem, writing on Twitter, “In the past two nights, three different people have been shot at the CHOP. Two were injured, and one has tragically died. Any incidents of gun violence in our city are deeply concerning to me, Chief @carmenbest , our residents, businesses, and the greater community.”
“This is unacceptable,” Durkan continued. “We have worked hard to address gun violence in our city – particularly among our youth – yet this Saturday morning, a 19 year old tragically lost his life. As a mother of a 19 year old, I cannot begin to imagine the grief his mother and family are feeling.”
This is unacceptable. We have worked hard to address gun violence in our city – particularly among our youth – yet this Saturday morning, a 19 year old tragically lost his life. As a mother of a 19 year old, I cannot begin to imagine the grief his mother and family are feeling.
— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 23, 2020
Earlier this month, Durkan appeared on CNN where she suggested that the zone could stay up all summer, calling it a “summer of love.”
WATCH:
This exchange actually happened on CNN about #CHAZ…….
Chris Cuomo: How long do you think Seattle in those few blocks looks like this?
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan (D): I don't know. We could have the summer of love! pic.twitter.com/ApIDfMN9RD
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) June 12, 2020
President Donald Trump responded to the controversial remark by writing on Twitter, “Seattle Mayor says, about the anarchists takeover of her city, ‘it is a Summer of Love’. These Liberal Dems don’t have a clue. The terrorists burn and pillage our cities, and they think it is just wonderful, even the death. Must end this Seattle takeover now!”
Durkan replied: “Seattle is fine. Don’t be so afraid of democracy.”
Seattle is fine. Don’t be so afraid of democracy. https://t.co/o26PkJnYhA
— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 12, 2020
Washington Democrat Governor Jay Inslee claimed a couple of weeks ago that he has “not heard anything about” the area, which at the time was called “CHAZ,” or “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.”
Inslee was asked during a press conference, “Governor, I’d like to ask you about what’s going on Seattle, there’s this thing called the capital autonomous zone, what’s your thought about the fact that the protesters have taken that over and are not allowing people to come and go freely?”
“Well that’s news to me,” Inslee claimed. “So, I’ll have to reserve any comment about it. I have not, I have not heard anything about that from any credible source, not that you’re not credible, it’s just like before I espouse an opinion, I should know of which I speak.”
Gov. Inslee on so-called "autonomous zone" on Capitol Hill:
"That's news to me". pic.twitter.com/L3LT86Zxgq
— Rebecca Perry (@Rebecca_Perry) June 10, 2020
This is a breaking news story, refresh the page for updates.
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