Seattle violence: City to shut down protest zone.

SEATTLE — Faced with growing pressure to crack down on an “occupied” protest zone following weekend shootings, Seattle’s mayor said Monday that officials will move to wind down the blockslong span of city streets taken over two weeks ago that President Trump asserted is run by “anarchists.”

Mayor Jenny Durkan said the violence was distracting from changes sought by thousands of peaceful protesters seeking to address racial inequity and police brutality. She said the city is working with the community to bring the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest” zone, or CHOP, to an end and that police soon would move back into a precinct building they had largely abandoned in the area.

“The cumulative impacts of the gatherings and protests and the nighttime atmosphere and violence has led to increasingly difficult circumstances for our businesses and residents,” Durkan said. “The impacts have increased and the safety has decreased.”

A shooting Sunday night at the edge of the zone was the third in less than 48 hours in an area named for the Capitol Hill neighborhood near downtown that emerged during nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd.

The 17yearold victim, who was shot in the arm, declined to speak with detectives, police said. On Saturday, separate shootings left a 19yearold man dead and another person critically wounded.

During the protests over Floyd’s death, demonstrators cordoned off the severalblock area after clashes with officers. Seattle riot squads unleashed tear gas, pepper spray and flashbangs on large crowds of mostly peaceful protesters, drawing condemnation from many city leaders.

Police largely abandoned the precinct building, and protesters took over the area. Its existence incensed Trump, who criticized Durkan and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, both Democrats.

Peacefulness has prevailed during the day. At night, however, the atmosphere becomes more charged, with demonstrators marching and openly armed volunteer guards keeping watch.