Seattle Police, at right, look on as Department of Transportation workers remove barricades at the intersection of 10th Ave. and Pine St., Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at the CHOP (Capitol Hill Occupied Protest) zone in Seattle. Protesters quickly moved couches, trash cans and other materials in to replace the cleared barricades. The area has been occupied by protesters since Seattle Police pulled back from their East Precinct building following violent clashes with demonstrators earlier in the month. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Police have begun to clear protesters in an area of the city occupied by protestors called the CHOP after an emergency order issued by Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan.
Seattle Chief of Police Carmen Best said in a statement that while she supports peaceful demonstrations, “enough is enough.”
“This order, and our police response, comes after weeks of violence in and around the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone, including four shootings, resulting in multiple injuries and the deaths of two teenagers.
“As I have said, and I will say again, I support peaceful demonstrations. Black Lives Matter, and I too want to help propel this movement toward meaningful change in our community.
“But enough is enough.
“The CHOP has become lawless and brutal. Four shootings–-two fatal—robberies, assaults, violence and countless property crimes have occurred in this several block area. ”
The Seattle Police Department says their officers will be wearing a “higher level of protective gear” as they clear the area because individuals in the CHOP have been known to be armed and dangerous.
KIRO reporter John Curley says that things have been fairly calm this morning and that he has seen no contact between police and protestors.
Local reports say that 13 arrests have been made as of 5:30 a.m. local time.
This story is breaking and will be updated.