Text/Elephant PDK
In recent times, as protest demonstrations have continued, most cities in the United States have become battlefields for protest, and American society is facing division.
(Source: Baidu Map)
In Seattle, Washington, demonstrators announced the creation of an "autonomous region," the Capitol Hill Autonomous Region (CHAZ), firing the first shots of the division of the United States.
(Source: Seattle Times)
On the evening of June 8, local time, a large number of demonstrators in Seattle occupied part of the streets of Capitol Hill and the East Branch of the Seattle Police Department, and announced the establishment of the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Region". The Capitol Hill Autonomous Region, which contains six blocks and more than 500 homes, is said by demonstrators that it no longer belongs to the United States, that there are no police and cars, and that it has tents for people to spend the night.
Demonstrators painted blocks of buildings and barricades with signs such as "George Floyd," "Divested Police, and Can't Breathe," and even saw "Warning!" as they entered the neighborhoods. You will leave the United States" and "Welcome to the Free Capitol Hill" and other slogans.
(Source: Reuters)
Although this particular "Capitol Hill Autonomous Region" is not protected by law or recognized by the government, this unique area attracts a large number of demonstrators.
According to the Seattle Times, the first movie night has already taken place in the area, and street performances in various art forms have also begun to be staged in the area. This area, which has no police, has become an art memorial in honor of Freud.
Some netizens said that the only difference between this area and other places is that there are no police flash bombs, shock bombs and tear gas attacks, no police hitting demonstrators with police cars, no mounted police trampling demonstrators with horses, no National Guard shooting at you, and no police locking your throat to suffocate you.
People have even drawn an official symbol for the area , a pink umbrella , and the "autonomous region" has also carved out a "smoking area" with the words "Please think about the health of your neighbors", a peace and joy.
Some may wonder why this area of downtown Seattle is so strange that not only is there no police, but the government tolerates this approach.
Actually, this is what Seattle intended. In an effort to defuse clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers, the Seattle government sealed thick wooden planks on the windows of buildings and shops, sprayed flame retardants, and installed fences to protect facilities in those neighborhoods.
The mayor of Seattle said, "Keeping the demonstrations peaceful is a joint effort of members of our community and law enforcement. I hope that through these operational changes, our cities can move forward together peacefully. "In addition to this, Seattle's fire and medical vehicles are located near the block and can also help with any fire or medical needs."
It has to be said that the mayor of Seattle made a very wise decision to reduce the direct contact between demonstrators and the police by dividing specific areas for demonstrations, in order to alleviate the anger in people's hearts, and from the effect point of view, a peaceful scene in the "autonomous region" and various artistic activities have become another beautiful landscape in the protest demonstrations.
Although the demonstrators called the area the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Region", completely independent and not subject to the jurisdiction of the US government, how long could this last, and over time the anger in people's hearts gradually dissipated, and the big things became small and small. Compared with Seattle, the fierce police-civilian violent clashes in other places can only make people's hearts more and more angry, and the situation is getting worse and worse.
(Draft: Mark)
In terms of reducing police-civilian conflict, the city of Minneapolis, the starting point of the protest demonstration, made the bizarre decision to disband the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).
On the afternoon of June 7, local time, after consultation with the Minneapolis City Council, 9 of the 12 city council members agreed to disband the local police force, and this result, which was agreed by the vast majority of city council members, could not be overturned by the mayor's veto, and the dissolution of the Minneapolis city police force became a foregone conclusion.
(Source: twitter)
Lisa Bender, President of the Minneapolis City Council, said, "We are committed to dismantling the city's current police force and working with our communities to rebuild a new model of public safety that effectively ensures community safety." ”
We can't say much about whether the dismantling of the police department will have much of a positive effect on the demonstrations of local protesters, but policing in Minneapolis will be another huge issue in the future, and without police, a sharp increase in crime rates will be possible.
To avoid clashes between police and demonstrators, Seattle was just "playing", and it was embarrassing that minneapolis actually took it seriously.
California should also study Seattle well, you look at people, without a word directly "independence", you California every day clamor for independence, but also to vote, the results are not done, always thunder and rain is small, this is not OK, you have to work harder.