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Day Three in the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone

caption: The umbrellas that protesters used to shield themselves from tear gas and pepper spray covered a new makeshift coop with free food.
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The umbrellas that protesters used to shield themselves from tear gas and pepper spray covered a new makeshift coop with free food.
KUOW Photo/Paige Browning

What's life like in the CHAZ?

In Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood activists have dubbed a new space, "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," or the CHAZ.

After nightly clashes with protesters, Seattle Police Department abandoned the East Precinct building. In the wake of that announcement, the CHAZ was formed.

Since Monday, hundreds of people have stretched out across a half dozen blocks and throughout Cal Anderson park. From above, you can see where artists have painted "Black Lives Matter" in large block letters across Pine Street. Activists and volunteers have set up tents, a "No Cop-Coop," and makeshift medic areas.

Omari Salisbury has been documenting the protests and the newly formed Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Salisbury describes the CHAZ as largely peaceful, in fact, "It kind of looked like the Capitol Hill Block Party," he said.

Bill Radke spoke with Omari Salisbury, a citizen journalist for Africatown--ConvergeMedia.

You can find Omari Salisbury’s streaming coverage of the protests at his Twitter page, @OmariSal.

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