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A26 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 2 July 2020
Seattle cops dismantle 'occupied' zone, arrest more than 30

By MARTHA BELLISLE and night shootings," police
LISA BAUMANN tweeted. "Police have also
Associated Press documented robberies,
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle po- assaults, and other violent
lice turned out in force ear- crimes.
ly Wednesday at the city's The tweet added that "sus-
"occupied" protest zone, pects in recent shootings
tore down demonstrators' may still be in the area, and
encampments and used because numerous people
bicycles to herd the pro- in the area are in posses-
testers after the mayor or- sion of firearms."
dered the area cleared fol- Best said she supports
lowing two fatal shootings peaceful demonstrations
in less than two weeks. but that the zone had "be-
Television images showed come lawless and brutal.
police, many in riot gear, Four shootings–-two fatal—
confronting dozens of pro- robberies, assaults, vio-
testers at the "Capitol Hill lence and countless prop-
Occupied Protest" zone erty crimes have occurred
that was set up near down- in this several block area."
town following the police There had been mounting
killing of George Floyd in calls by critics, including
Minneapolis. President Donald Trump, to
Wearing helmets and remove protesters follow-
wielding batons and rifles, ing the fatal shootings.
officers converged on the A group of local busi-
area at dawn. Officers A protester stands with her hand up in front of a road blocked by Seattle police in the Capitol Hill ness owners sued the city,
Organized Protest zone early Wednesday, July 1, 2020.
stood shoulder-to-shoulder Associated Press claiming that officials
on several streets while oth- abandoned the area and
ers created a makeshift perse, obstruction, assault arms/armor," police said in for racial justice and an made it impossible to run
fence with their bicycles, and unlawful weapon pos- a tweet, adding that the end to police brutality. businesses because there
using it to push protesters session. vehicles did not appear to Police acted after Mayor was no police or fire pro-
back away from the center "Our job is to support have "visible license plates." Jenny Durkan issued the or- tection.
of the zone. peaceful demonstration The protesters had occu- der for protesters to leave. After police cleared out the
As residents of the neigh- but what has happened pied several blocks around "Since demonstrations at zone, U.S. Attorney General
borhood near the city's on these streets over the a park for about two weeks the East Precinct area be- William Barr praised Best for
downtown watched from last two weeks is lawless and police abandoned a gan on June 8th, two teen- what he called "her cour-
balconies, police cleared and it's brutal and bottom precinct station following agers have been killed and age and leadership in re-
out the protesters' tents line it is simply unaccept- standoffs and clashes with three people have been storing the rule of law in
from a park within the zone able," Police Chief Carmen the protesters, who called seriously wounded in late- Seattle."q
and made sure no one was Best told reporters.
left in the park's bathrooms. Police also tore down
At one point, a loud bang fences that protesters had Sheriff: I’ll deputize gun owners if
was heard in the park, fol- erected around their tents
lowed by a cloud of smoke. and used batons to poke violent protests erupt
One protest organizer, Der- inside bushes, apparently
rek Allen Jones II, said some looking for people who
demonstrators attempted might be hiding inside. One GREEN COVE SPRINGS, deputies of every lawful you want: all the publicity,
to stay put but were sur- officer took down a sign Fla. (AP) — A Florida sher- gun owner in the county all the pain, all the glam-
prised by the early inter- saying "we are not leaving iff says he will deputize ev- and I'll deputize them to our and glory for all that
vention by officers who until our demands are met: ery gun owner in his coun- this one purpose: to stand five minutes will give you."
were "trampling everything 1. Defund SPD by 50% now. ty to put down any violent in the gap between law- Daniels, a Republican
I seen in sight, flipping ta- 2. Fund Black Communities. protests his deputies can't lessness and civility," said finishing his first term, is
bles." 3. Free all protesters." handle alone. Daniels, sporting a white being challenged by six
"People were trying to hold After police dispersed the Clay County Sheriff Darryl cowboy hat as he stood opponents in the upcom-
their ground but you could protesters, heavy equip- Daniels gave no indica- in front of 18 deputies. ing election. He is under
see the cops literally storm ment was brought in to tion in a three-minute vid- Daniels, who is African investigation by the Flor-
through people's beds remove the concrete barri- eo released Wednesday American, said in the vid- ida Department of Law
while they were sleeping. ers that demonstrators had that any demonstrations eo that his department Enforcement after his for-
And literally say 'If you don't erected to block roads. are planned in his subur- has a "great relationship" mer employer, the Jack-
get out, we will force you Debris from the encamp- ban Jacksonville county. with its residents, but "if sonville Sheriff's Office,
out or arrest you,'" he said. ments was carted away Daniels also said he would you come to Clay County announced last year that
One man dressed in black on flatbed trucks as officers protect any peaceful and think for one second he'd had an affair with a
was peacefully lead away strung yellow caution tape protests, but added that if we'll bend our backs for co-worker when he was
in handcuffs and other from tree to tree warning anyone starts "tearing up you, you're sadly mistak- running its jails. Daniels,
demonstrators sat on the people not to reenter. Clay County, that is not en." who is married, was ac-
wet ground until their small During the operation to going to be acceptable." "The second you step out cused of later having the
group was handcuffed clear out protesters, offi- "If we can't handle you, from up under the protec- woman falsely arrested.
and detained. cers investigated several I'll exercise the power tion of the Constitution, He issued an apology, but
By late morning, police vehicles that circled the and authority as the sher- we'll be waiting on you said he wouldn't discuss
said 32 people had been area after police saw peo- iff and I'll make special and give you everything specifics.q
arrested for failure to dis- ple inside them "with fire-