(Newswire.net— June 13, 2020) — Protests in America over the murder of George Floyd continue, and one of the tensest places is Seattle, where protesters occupied several city blocks and declared it a “zone without police.” US President Donald Trump does not like the situation at all, writes the BBC.
Protesters called the area without police in Seattle Chaz, which is an abbreviation for Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Hundreds of people now gather there, giving speeches, reading poetry, organizing film evenings, and creating a festival-like atmosphere.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed anger calling citizens of Chaz “domestic terrorists.”
“Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before,'” the president wrote on Twitter. “Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!” Trump tweeted.
There were previously fierce clashes between protesters and police in that part of the city, in which Molotov cocktails and tear gas were used.
The mayor of Seattle told Trump to “return to his bunker”, alluding to the event when the Secret Service sheltered the American president in a safe bunker under the White House.
“A man who is totally incapable of governing should stay out of Washington state’s business. ‘Stoop’ tweeting,” Inslee said. “Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker,” Durkan tweeted.
“We are a very energetic city. We are seeking justice. We are leading change and we will not allow anyone to distract us from the work that needs to be done. To demand that we behave better as a society and ensure true equality of communities is not terrorism. It is patriotism,” the Mayor of Seattle said.
Local media report that there is a festival atmosphere in Chaz. Mineral water, snacks, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer are available to everyone. Although the protesters state that they do not have leaders, armed volunteers have been noticed who in certain places ask people for an ID card for inspection in order to enter Chaz, BBC reports.
“This is a people’s commune here. Nothing aggressive or violent. We didn’t come out because of that. We all want equality and justice,” said Rux, one of the women who was demonstrating in Seattle.
But some private individuals told CNN off the records that they are worried about the rebellion and the possible reaction of the police.
Protesters are taking to the streets across the country over the death of African-American George Floyd, who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25. Seattle authorities reject media reports that left-wing activists are behind the established autonomous zone.