I have some Seattlean (Seattlite?) Facebook friends who have been in. Their reports include not needing id to get in, media is treated well, and businesses are open. There are complaints that it is turning into a block party rather than a political protest. At least two of those friends are Libertarian, though they are further left that that usually implies.
My daughters have gone every day. No IDs are needed or requested. Anybody can come and go. No businesses are forced to give out free product - Wtf? Barriers are easily stepped over or around, they’re to keep cars from driving over people.
But all white people have to give $10 to a black person!!
The sad thing about CHAT is that they have diverted and hijacked attention away from the BLM movement. Now its about a bunch of white and Latino anarchist types who have their own agenda. And, as mentioned above, protest fatigue is giving way to partying.
Faked photo of armed ID checker at CHAZ from Fox: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/fox-news-runs-digitally-altered-images-in-coverage-of-seattles-protests-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/
That guy from Lantern’s post gets around.
I’m not sure if you are making fun of the tweeter or not, but the guy in the video is not forcing, or proposing to force white people to give $10 to black people. Charitably, he is suggesting that ending police racism and/or other racism will cost white people more than $10, so they should consider how that feels and to make peace with it. Even an uncharitable interpretation would see that he is suggesting white people give $10 voluntarily.
One thing - his sources are people who have been there. Yours are questionable “news media.” There’s a false equivalence between what you’ve both heard.
But to answer some of your questions, from my personal knowledge-
Most of the restaurants are closed or barely open due to coronavirus restrictions. There’s a pandemic going on. (See the article I linked to above). But takeout and delivery are still available from the restaurants that were dong takeout and delivery before.
No checking ID.
No one is forced to give out free products.
“In the future are you going to give up power and land and capital when you have it? If you have a hard time giving up $10 are you really down with this struggle? Are you down with the movement? …if that is a struggle for you then Im not sure you are in the right place. So find an African-American person…and white people, I see you I see you and every single one of you and I remember your faces you find that African American person and you give them $10 cash Venmo from your pocket. That is my challenge to you. Do it.”
He seems to me to be suggesting wealth transfer and it doesnt have anything to do with racism.
Oh come on. I hear a much harder sales pitch in church as the collection plate is passed around.
They do not like it to be called that.
As for free food, I’ve read something about charging $6.00 for a hot dog, so that’s the real crime there. Around here $6.00 will get you a hot dog plus a side-order of 3 or 4 hot dogs.
Darn. I thought this was about the Capitol Hill on the other coast driving out people trying to peacefully exercise free speech rights. Area taken over by a group not following US law etc etc.
Actually their seem to be alot of people blogging about this who live inside. All things seem to be pretty calm and peaceful. It looks like the mayor of Seattle visited.
If you have personal sources please keep us informed.
Thank you, Horatius. I love this post.
You might freak out a little bit when I tell you about things called “fund-raising telethons”, but they happen on TV at night and just go around asking people to transfer funds willy-nilly, completely regardless of racism.
And, if that’s your definition of extortion, then I’ve been getting extortion letters in the mail from Melania Trump and the RNC. But I guess wealth transfer is OK as long as the wealth is transferred into the Trump coffers,
Ok, all you with the insider knowledge. Please keep us notified about what you are hearing.
Not insider knowledge but I saw a reddit thread this morning with some CHAZ residents bitching about 3 days of nonstop loud music all through the night. “It’s like living in burning man.”
Obviously not the wasteland the right wants it to be but this is sorta my issue with the whole thing. I think armed police responding to noise complaints is a terrible idea, but I also think that a community has a right to set its own rules and have a way to enforce them. Did the residents get a say in whether or not their neighborhood turned into burning man?
I’m glad you seem to be open to hearing from local sources on the ground saying that this is largely a peaceful non-event.
Knowing this, has it changed your view of Fox and right-wing media portraying this an an anarchist orgy of baby-eating violence?
UIf that is where you honedtly think I’m coming from then YOU are the delusional one.
What is with the name change away from CHAZ?
Also I’m guessing this thing changes day by day as different people come in and out. I’m guessing right now authorities are in the mode of let people have their fun and it will go away on its own.