Seattle 'Autonomous Zone' Sparks Class Action Lawsuit From Local Businesses
More than a dozen businesses and property owners are suing the city of Seattle over its tolerance of, and alleged support for, an "autonomous" protest zone in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The city's approach, they argue, has led to lawlessness, property damage, and a decline in commerce and property values.
For the past two weeks, anti-police protesters have taken up residence in the city blocks surrounding the Seattle Police Department's abandoned Eastern Precinct building, where they've set up barricades and encampments. This so-called Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP—formerly the...