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Seattle police say they have received reports of armed guards and potential extortion in a self-declared autonomous zone that spans several blocks and includes a now-closed precinct.
Nollette said police had received reports that protesters allegedly set up barricades, " with some armed individuals running them as checkpoints into the neighborhood." "While they have a constitutionally-protected right to bear arms, and while Washington is an open carry state, there is no legal right for those arms to be used to intimidate community members," Nollette said, adding that anyone subjected to these demands should call 911. "No one at these checkpoints has the legal authority to demand identification from anyone." Nollette also said police have "heard anecdotally" of residents and businesses being asked to pay a fee if they want to operate in the area. "This is the crime of extortion," Nollette said.
SEATTLE — Armed protesters now say they're protecting the East Precinct police building after Seattle police officers boarded up the office and left the protest area on Monday. People speaking on Tuesday afternoon said they felt like they could now protest without fear. "People are afraid of the police. Not just the guns and throwing bombs and stuff like that. People are afraid police -— they're above the law. They don't have any accountability. Once they have the badge on there, they can do anything and no one stops it," said Raz Simone, a Seattle musician and protester.
“It can’t continue like that,” “Some action is going to have to be taken. Is there federal laws broken? Does the FBI need to come in? But at some point, arrests and these people are going to have to be removed, if they don’t move.”
originally posted by: Stupidsecrets
Nothing is against the law if there is nobody to enforce it. They actually have more authority because they are now making the rules and enforcing them.
originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: burntheships
But.... this is what the people wanted.... isn't it?
originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: burntheships
But.... this is what the people wanted.... isn't it?
originally posted by: Silcone Synapse
a reply to: burntheships
I am curious as to what these protestors/communist seperatists think they will achieve in this escapade of nonsense.
If they are lucky,they will get rounded up and imprisoned,and they will have changed nothing.
If they are unlucky,they will end up getting shot and nothing will change.
I cannot see how this will end well for them,their group,or the city.
Have they even thought about the possible outcomes for themselves?
However, many critics in Seattle media say the Governor should have recognized the severity of the issues facing the Seattle Police Department being pushed back. Per orders from City Hall and Mayor Jenny Durkan, the police were prohibited not to use rubber bullets or tear gas to push back the large crowd of rioters, who eventually forced them out. The police pulled out everything of value they could from the East Seattle precinct building, boarded it up, and left. Read More: Inslee's Chief of Staff Deflects Seattle Takeover Question to Cit | newstalk870.am...
West sent out a news release Tuesday afternoon, saying in part the posse would be used as a “rapid response force of citizens who could be called upon ‘in a minute’s notice’ to answer the call to aid in safeguarding lives and property, as well as the constitutional rights of innocent law-abiding citizens of Canadian County.”