Time-lapse video shows protesters painting ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural on Seattle street
Protesters are painting a huge “Black Lives Matter” mural in what they call the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone” in Seattle.
The words “Black Lives Matter” are being painted on East Pine Street, KIRO7 reported.
Seattle police boarded up the East Precinct in Capitol Hill, CNN reported, during the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died Memorial Day in Minneapolis police custody.
The police left the area empty and protesters occupied the city blocks, naming them the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone,” The New York Times reported. A banner at the police station reads: “This space is now property of the Seattle people.”
Hundreds of people have gathered in the protest zone to watch movies, including Ava DuVernay’s “13th,” hear music and poetry, and even sell food, according to The New York Times.
“We’re trying to get a dialogue going so we can figure out a way to resolve this without unduly impacting the citizens and the businesses that are operating in that area,” Assistant Police Chief Deanna Nollette said in a news conference Wednesday, according to CNN.
Nollette said there were reports of barricades being set up “with some armed individuals running them as checkpoints into the neighborhood,” according to CNN.
“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.
President Donald Trump has threatened to “take back” Seattle on Twitter.
“Radical Left Governor @JayInslee and the Mayor of Seattle are being taunted and played at a level that our great Country has never seen before,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday. “Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stooped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!”
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan replied: “Make us all safe. Go back to your bunker.”
The death of Floyd, 46, has sparked protests across the nation. He died after now-fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as three other officers didn’t intervene.
A 17-year-old bystander took video of the incident, in which Floyd can be heard saying, “Please, please, please, I can’t breathe.”
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He remains jailed with bail set at $1.25 million.
Officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were also fired and arrested, charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Lane was released on Wednesday on bond.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Time-lapse video shows protesters painting ‘Black Lives Matter’ mural on Seattle street."