Trump threatens to tackle ‘domestic terrorists’ in Seattle after ‘ugly anarchists’ overrun district and kick out cops
PRESIDENT Trump has said he will act to remove “domestic terrorists” in Seattle if officials fail to regain control of a six-block area that has been occupied by George Floyd protesters.
Demonstrators have declared the “Capital Hill Autonomous Zone”, or CHAZ, near the city’s central district, setting up armed checkpoints and frisking people before allowing them inside.
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Pictures showed men armed with machine guns manning the checkpoints and the words “COP-FREE” daubed across the barricades.
Cardboard signs also read “You are now leaving the USA” and “You are entering free Capitol Hill”.
Seattle Police Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette said she had also heard anecdotal reports of businesses in the area being extorted for cash before being allowed to carry on operating.
Taking to twitter on Wednesday night, the President Trump wrote: “Radical Left Governor [of Washington, Jay Inslee] and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before.
“Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game.
“These ugly Anarchists must be stooped (sic) IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!
“Domestic Terrorists have taken over Seattle, run by Radical Left Democrats, of course. LAW & ORDER!”
- Thomas Lane, one of four officers charged over George Floyd’s death, has been released after posting a $750,000 bail
- Amazon has said it will ban use of its facial recognition software by police for a year
- A Christopher Columbus statue in a Boston park has been beheaded
- The city council in Hartford, Connecticut has voted to cut the police budget by $1million
- Calls for the removal of a Minneapolis police union boss accused of wearing a White Power badge
- Texas Southern University offers full scholarship to George Floyd’s six-year-old daughter
The demonstration is one of many that have followed the death of George Floyd, an African-American man who died last week after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nine minutes during an arrest.
Footage of the incident went viral, sparking protests in cities around the US as well as violent clashes between demonstrators and police.
The demonstrations have already led members of Minneapolis city council to pledge that its police department will be disbanded, and are now focusing on calls for the removal of public statues of Confederate generals and others historical figures.
Demonstrations in city in recent days have seen police deploy tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades and carry out multiple arrests.
On Tuesday night, around 300 people led by City Council member Kshama Sawant occupied Seattle City Hall for around an hour.
Footage showed demonstrators giving speeches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before marching to the CHAZ area.
The protesters are calling for, among other things, the city’s police department to be disbanded and Mayor Jenny Durkan to resign.
The area they have occupied contains the city’s East Police Precinct, photos of which show a sign above the door changed to read: “Seattle People Department”.
Demonstrators have also disputed police claims of violence and extortion, with one taking to twitter to describe the atmosphere as “incredibly open and peaceful”.
A KIRO-FM reporter granted access to CHAZ on Tuesday said food and medical aid was being provided free to demonstrators across the zone.
Local rapper and activist Raz Simone is thought to have become a de facto leader in the area, and took to twitter last night to respond to the president’s tweet.
“The President really put a hit on my head,” he wrote.
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“I’m not a Terrorist Warlord. Quit spreading that false narrative.
“The world has NEVER been ready for a strong black man.
“We have been peaceful and nothing else. If I die don’t let it be in vain.”
