Breaking: Watch Seattle Police Finally Clear out the CHAZ (After Radicals Came to Mayor's Home)

AP featured image — New cement and wood barricades bear the name CHOP, Tuesday, June 16, 2020, inside what has been named the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone in Seattle. The city put the barriers in place Tuesday in hopes of defining an area where emergency, delivery, and other vehicles can travel through the area while still preserving space for protesters, who have been there since police pulled back from near the department’s East Precinct after recent clashes with people protesting the death of George Floyd. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Finally, the Mayor of Seattle decided to drop the hammer on the Seattle autonomous zone.

Last night, the Seattle Department of Transportation began removing some of the barricades.

#BREAKING: Seattle Police just showed here at #CHOP with SDOT.

Multiple pieces of heavy machinery now moving barricades. And crews are working fast. @KIRO7Seattle pic.twitter.com/9w0LjXL36v

— Deedee Sun (@DeedeeKIRO7) June 30, 2020

The radicals tried to put substitutes like couches and other things to block off the area again.

But Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency order today, demanding that the radicals leave the Capitol Hill area.

Due to ongoing violence and public safety issues in the East Precinct/Cal Anderson Park area. Mayor Jenny Durkan has issued an executive order to vacate the area. Seattle police will be in the area this morning enforcing the Mayor’s order. https://t.co/SpVRYIB8eg pic.twitter.com/JAt2AvUTCr

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 1, 2020

Because suspects in recent shootings may still be in the area, and because numerous people in the area are in possession of firearms, Seattle Police officers involved in this morning’s response will be equipped with additional protective gear.

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) July 1, 2020

The police issued a dispersal order at 5 a.m., they gave them eight minutes to get out, then they moved in.

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

Just saw a cone thrown at police. Protestors trying to barricade w toppled porta potties. @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/6eLOoBpLrO

— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020

(Porta-potties the city provided to them.)

Here’s the very satisfying video of the police finally clearing them out.

Police have cleared #CHOP to Pike @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/0GUSkZkFA0

— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020

More video of @SeattlePD moving people out of the #CHOP this morning. #Seattle pic.twitter.com/nUWYXNhQUl

— Joseph Suttner (@josephsuttner) July 1, 2020

Points to note: you see them with long batons because they’ve been forbidden by court order from using things like tear gas and flash bangs because a court found those things possible “indiscriminate” weapons, meaning they can affect other non-involved residents in the area. Someone does appear to be discretely spraying something as they move.

Police seem to have cleared majority of #CHOP. Holding a line at Pike for several blocks. This is best view I can get of anything going on at Cal Anderson @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/aW4fFLqDbB

— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020

Walked around to E Pine and Nagle. Cal Anderson fields look to have been mostly cleared. You can see the former core area there in front of SPD East precinct is cleared of people. @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/gHwKqV7I7A

— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020

The police reclaimed the East Precinct and seized the tent area in Cal Anderson Park and told people they would hear a notice in the future where they could get their stuff. The police wouldn’t let them back in to get anything.

Backside of the tents on Cal Anderson @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/2BLAkFOt4N

— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020

West side of Cal Anderson and #CHOP. Police keeping people out of the tent area. Some folks want tents. One officer just said “services will be available for you to get your stuff” but no specifics. Right behind them- “Free Cap Hill” and “Welcome to Tear Gas Park” @KING5Seattle pic.twitter.com/VyFYFkmDXz

— Michael Crowe (@MichaelReports) July 1, 2020

I will call it: As of 6:59am PT, #CHOP is no more. pic.twitter.com/B5K9m6ONE6

— Brandi Kruse (@BrandiKruse) July 1, 2020

At least 13 people who either refused to leave or caused trouble were arrested.

Done in a couple of hours — why couldn’t they have done this before?

Now, King 5 did report police were investigating “several vehicles” “circling the area after officers moved into the area. Police said the vehicle didn’t appear to have visible license plates, and the people inside were seen with ‘firearms/armor.'” Likely folks hoping to go back in after the police leave. So, doubtless, police will be on the lookout for that.

What finally seemed to prompt the action against them?

Not the murder of Lorenzo Anderson a week and a half ago. Not even the killing of a 16-year-old and the wounding of a 14-year-old this past weekend. After the second killing, Durkan made noises about winding the zone down but didn’t act.

It wasn’t until the radicals came to her home in the company of Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant on Monday night that finally Durkan acted. Just as with the Portland mayor, Ted Wheeler, who didn’t act until they started setting up an autonomous zone outside his apartment, these progressive mayors don’t seem to care about what’s happening to their constituents until it’s brought to their doorsteps.