Seattle's mayor says it's time to break up autonomous zone, gives no real timeline or process

CHOP in Seattle
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/AP)

Seattle's Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP), the police-free area just outside of downtown formerly known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), had two shootings over the weekend, and one of the three people shot, a 19-year-old male, died. The shootings are still under investigation, and it's not clear they are related to the protest at all, but Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Monday evening that CHOP needs to wind down.

"It's time for people to go home," Durkan said. "It's time to restore Cal Anderson Park and Capitol Hill. The impacts on the businesses and residents and community are now too much," and "the impacts have increased and the safety has decreased," especially when night falls. She did not provide a time frame, and said "it would not be an effective strategy to simply send police in to try to clear the area," but if the occupation doesn't end, "additional steps" will be considered.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.