The people’s occupation of Seattle could see the birth of a very different America

There is an image being created of the Black Lives Matter ‘seizure’ of Seattle; one of anarchy, crime and a ‘summer of love’. But, writes Holly Baxter, the reality is far more nuanced and mundane than that

Since officers walked away from the East Precinct in early June, the zone has been self-governing (Getty)

Does anyone notice how little the Radical Left takeover of Seattle is being discussed in the Fake News Media? That is very much on purpose because they know how badly this weakness & ineptitude play politically. The Mayor & Governor should be ashamed of themselves. Easily fixed!” So tweeted Donald Trump a few weeks ago, after he became aware of a Seattle neighbourhood called Capitol Hill being run by protesters and seemingly abandoned by police.

A group of “domestic terrorists” and “rapper-turned-warlord” types had taken over, added Fox News. “Summer of love,” wrote one tweeter sarcastically, sharing a video of two armed, black-clad protesters standing beside a chipboard spray-painted with the slogan, “ANTIFA 4 BLM”. Trump’s followers agreed: “Democrat mob,” wrote one. “Liberals kneel to anarchy yet again.” The political analyst Michael Scott Doran added that his “friend in Seattle” had told him “businesses are being intimidated by CHAZ/CHOP, which is basically a protection racket” yet “the crimes are being hushed up”. “Some businesses here have already left,” he added. “Trader Joe’s pulled out of Capitol Hill. Others will follow… Socialist paradise will result.”

If you go by these reports alone – which many Americans will – you’d be forgiven for thinking that the small area of Seattle currently run by Black Lives Matter protesters and devoid of police was a terrifying anarchist hellhole. The truth, of course, is so much more mundane. During several particularly vociferous protests, officers within the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct building decided not to stick around and potentially end up in a standoff with activists. Instead, to the surprise of the people marching the streets and demanding structural change, they shredded confidential documents, boarded over the glass entrance hall of the building and left.