View source for ArchivedFromWikipedia/Capital Hill Autonomous Zone

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{{short description|Self-declared intentional community and commune}}
{{current|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
| common_name            = 
| image_flag             = 
| image_coat             = 
| national_anthem        = 
| image_map              = File:CapitolHillAutonomousZoneMap9Jun20.jpg
| map_caption            = Street map of CHAZ and surrounding area as of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
| loctext                = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| coordinates            = {{Coord|47|36|54.5|N|122|19|2.83|W|display=inline,title}}
| area_km2               = 0.036
| area_sq_mi             = 0.015
| nummembers             = ~200<ref name="UK Coverage">{{cite web|title=Abolish police, get Antifa: Militants take over a neighbourhood|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fopinion%2Fabolish-police-get-antifa-militants-take-over-a-neighbourhood%2Fnews-story%2F7f8770cefe67e71dead6abcc4a58cefc&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&nk=a2b0d97578ad5a88d060a6751d589f20-1591776522|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=June 8, 2020|accessdate=June 10, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| established_event1     = Declared
| established_date1      = June 8, 2020
| government_type        = Self-declared [[Anarchism|anarchist]] [[commune]] and partially [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous]] [[intentional community]]
| official_languages     = [[English language|English]] (''de facto'')
| currency               = [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] (''de facto'')
| time_zone              = [[UTC-7]]
| demonym                = 
| area_rank              = 
| GDP_PPP                = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 
| HDI                    = 
| HDI_year               = 
| today                  = 
| name                   = 
}}

The '''Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone'''<ref name="China Coverage"/> ('''CHAZ'''<ref name="Heavy"/> or '''the Zone'''), also known as '''Free Capitol Hill''',<ref name="Stranger"/> is a self-declared [[intentional community]] and [[commune]] of around 200 residents,<ref name="UK Coverage"/> covering about six city blocks in the [[Capitol Hill (Seattle)|Capitol Hill]] neighborhood of [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>{{cite news |last= Beekman|first= Daniel|date= 9 June 2020|title= Protesters and ACLU sue Seattle, blame mayor and police chief for ‘unnecessary violence’ at demonstrations|url= https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-mayor-police-chief-sued-by-protesters-aclu-for-unnecessary-violence-at-demonstrations/|work= [[The Seattle Times]]|location= Seattle|access-date= 9 June 2020}}</ref> The zone was established on June 8, 2020 after the East Precinct was abandoned by the [[Seattle Police Department]].

== History ==
=== Background ===
[[Capitol Hill (Seattle)|Capitol Hill]] is a district in downtown Seattle known for its prominent LGBT and counterculture communities. The district had previously been a centre for other mass protests, such as the [[1999 Seattle WTO protests]].<ref>https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2019/12/wto-20-return-to-the-battle-for-capitol-hill/</ref>

On May 29, 2020, protests began in Seattle following the murder of [[George Floyd]]. 

=== Foundation ===
[[File:CHAZJune9.jpg|thumb|The Zone on June 9, 2020]]
After days of [[George Floyd protests in Washington (state)|protests commemorating George Floyd]] and condemning [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality]] outside of the [[Seattle Police Department]]'s East Precinct, [[Mayor of Seattle|Mayor]] [[Jenny Durkan]] announced a series of "de-escalate interactions" which limited the police presence in the [[Capitol Hill (Seattle)|Capitol Hill]] neighborhood. Following a "police retreat",<ref name="Stranger"/> citizens erected street barricades and declared the [[Anarchism|anarchist]] Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone.<ref name="Stranger">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/06/09/43873501/the-dawn-of-free-capitol-hill|publisher=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]|title=The Dawn of "Free Capitol Hill"|author=Burns, C., Keiming, J., and Smith, R.|date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=June 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="China Coverage">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sohu.com/a/400906692_162522|title=这里是美国西雅图！示威者占领当地一个警察局，还宣布成立"自治区"！ |work=[[Sohu]]|date=June 10, 2020|accessdate=June 10, 2020|author=Xiaoya, Zhang|language=[[Mandarin Chinese]]}}</ref>

== Territory ==
The Zone is concentrated around the East Precinct building. It stretches north to East Olive Street, east to 13th Avenue, south to East Pike, and west to Nagle Place. The southern half of [[Cal Anderson Park]] falls inside of the zone, while the northern half is contested.<ref name="CITYB"/> Maps of the territory were displayed on [[OpenStreetMap]] and [[Wikipedia]].<ref name="Heavy"/>

Protesters concerned about the potential for another [[Vehicle-ramming attack|vehicle attack]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Get In the Zone: A Report from the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle |url=https://itsgoingdown.org/get-in-the-zone/ |work=It's Going Down |date=June 9, 2020}}</ref> used blockades and fences to construct staggered barricades at intersections.<ref name="Wobbly"/> The entrance of the Zone's territory is marked by a barrier reading "You Are Entering Free Capitol Hill",<ref name="Stranger"/> an homage to [[Northern Ireland]]'s [[Free Derry|"Free Derry"]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mac Cuarta |first1=Anraoi |title=Saor Dhoire |journal=Comhar |date=November 1973 |volume=32 |issue=11 |pages=4–9 |doi=10.2307/20553451 |jstor=20553451 }}</ref> Other signs declared "You are now leaving the USA."<ref name="Heavy"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Crabtree |first1=Susan |title=Is Unarmed National Guard Emboldening Seattle Mob? |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/06/10/is_unarmed_national_guard_emboldening_seattle_mob_143415.html |work= RealClearPolitics |date=June 10, 2020}}</ref>

== Internal governance ==
The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone has no centralized system of governance, operating as a ''de facto'' anarchist region. Occupants have stated their intentions of creating a neighborhood [[Police abolition movement|beyond policing]] and a society where the police are no longer necessary.<ref name ="Wobbly"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/seattle-protesters-declare-cop-free-zone-after-police-leave-precinct|title=Seattle protesters declare 'cop free zone' after police leave precinct|author=Ruiz, Michael|work=[[Fox News]]|date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=June 10, 2020}}</ref> In lieu of a police force, external security has been provided by members of the [[Redneck Revolt|John Brown Gun Club]].<ref name ="CITYB">{{cite web|url=https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2020/06/welcome-to-free-capitol-hill-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone-forms-around-emptied-east-precinct/|publisher=[[Capitol Hill Seattle Blog]]|title=‘Welcome to Free Capitol Hill’ — Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone forms around emptied East Precinct — UPDATE|date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

===Demands===
Representatives from the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone released a list of demands on June 9, 2020.<ref>https://medium.com/@seattleblmanon3/the-demands-of-the-collective-black-voices-at-free-capitol-hill-to-the-government-of-seattle-ddaee51d3e47</ref> The demands fell under four categories: economics; education; the justice system, and health and human services. Authors of the document acknowledged that the zone was on land that was taken from the [[Duwamish people]], writing, "although we have liberated Free Capitol Hill in the name of the people of Seattle, we must not forget that we stand on land already once stolen from the Duwamish People, the first people of Seattle, and whose brother, [[Shooting of John T. Williams|John T. Williams]] of the [[Nuu-chah-nulth]] tribe up north was murdered by the Seattle Police Department 10 years ago."

The demands include the abolition of the Seattle Police Department and for-profit prisons, an inquiry into present and historical cases of police brutality in Seattle, amnesty for protestors, a specialised 911 mental health system trained in de-escalating mental health crises, the right to vote for prisoners, the de-gentrification of the city of Seattle, electoral reform, educational reform, and the removal of monuments for the Confederate States of America.

=== Culture and amenities ===
Tents were pitched next to the former precinct in order to hold the space. The No Cop Co-op was established on June 9, offering free water, hand sanitizer, snacks donated by the community, and kebabs. The intersection of 12th and Pine was converted to a square for [[teach-in]]s, where a microphone was used to encourage people who were there "to fuck shit up" to go home. An outdoor cinema with a sound system and projector was set up<ref name="Stranger2"/> and used to screen open-air movies.<ref>{{cite news |title=西雅图示威者成立“自治区”，闯市政厅要市长下台_区社区 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/400985142_115479 |work=Sohu |date=June 10, 2020 |language=zh}}</ref> The first film shown was ''[[13th (film)|13th]]'', [[Ava DuVernay]]'s documentary about race and mass incarceration.<ref name="Stranger2">{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Chase |title=The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone Renames, Expands, and Adds Film Programming |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2020/06/10/43880223/the-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone-renames-expands-and-adds-film-programming |work=The Stranger |date=June 10, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> [[Portable toilet]]s were provided by the [[Seattle Department of Transportation]].<ref name="Stranger2"/>

Many occupants of the Zone have adopted a pink umbrella as an unofficial emblem.<ref name="Heavy">{{cite news |last1=Dwilson |first1=Stephanie Dube |title=‘You’re Now Leaving the USA’: Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone Declared in Seattle |url=https://heavy.com/news/2020/06/capitol-hill-autonomous-zone-chaz/ |work=Heavy |date=June 10, 2020}}</ref> Homemade [[riot shield]]s crafted by the protesters were [[Stencil graffiti|stenciled]] with pink umbrellas.<ref name ="CITYB"/>

== Reactions==
Mayor Durkan has stated that she will "de-escalate the situation" within the Zone,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.democracynow.org/2020/6/9/headlines/protesters_establish_autonomous_zone_around_seattle_pd_building_as_police_retreat|title=Protesters Establish Autonomous Zone Around Seattle PD Building as Police Retreat|work=[[Democracy Now!]]|date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=June 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name ="CITYB"/> while Seattle police chief [[Carmen Best]] said that her officers would look at different approaches to "reduce [their] footprint" in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.<ref name="KIROFM">{{cite web|url=https://mynorthwest.com/1930871/seattle-protest-updates-tuesday/|title=Live updates: Protesters establish ‘Free Capitol Hill’ near East Precinct|work=MyNorthwest|publisher=[[KIRO-FM]]|date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=June 9, 2020}}</ref> [[Seattle City Council]] member [[Kshama Sawant]] spoke to the Zone occupants at Cal Anderson Park on June 8, 2020.<ref name="CITYB"/> She called for the protesters to turn the precinct into a [[community center]] for [[restorative justice]].<ref name="Stranger2"/>

On June 9, [[Ted Cruz|Senator Ted Cruz]] from [[Texas]] stated that the Zone was "endangering people's lives".<ref>{{cite tweet |author=[[Ted Cruz]] |user=tedcruz|number=1270463419351785472|date=June 9, 2020 |title=This is endangering people’s lives. #ThisIsNuts|access-date=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

=== Recognition ===
The Autonomous Zone has received recognition from the [[Industrial Workers of the World]] (IWW) [[Labor unions in the United States|union]].<ref name="Wobbly"/>

The Zone has been praised by IWW's ''[[Industrial Worker]]'' publication.<ref name="Wobbly">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609224556/https://industrialworker.org/the-birth-of-the-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/|title=The Birth of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone|author=James, J. F.|work=[[Industrial Worker]]|publisher=[[Industrial Workers of the World]]|date=June 9, 2020|accessdate=June 9, 2020}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Freetown Christiania]]
* [[Counter-economics]]
* [[List of anarchist communities]]
* ''[[Temporary Autonomous Zone]]''

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200609224556/https://industrialworker.org/the-birth-of-the-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/ Industrial Worker article on the commune]

{{George Floyd protests}}
{{Anarchies}}
{{Seattle}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone}}
[[Category:2020 in Seattle]]
[[Category:Anarchist communities]]
[[Category:Anarchism in the United States]]
[[Category:Cooperatives in the United States]]
[[Category:Counterculture communities]]
[[Category:George Floyd protests in the United States]]
[[Category:Intentional communities]]
[[Category:June 2020 events in the United States]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 2020]]
[[Category:Protests in Seattle]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Secessionist towns and cities]]
[[Category:Separatism in the United States]]
[[Category:Socialism in the United States]]
[[Category:Archived From Wikipedia]]
[[Category:May Change Often]]