Seattle to Pay $3.65M Over Mishandling of Autonomous CHOP Zone
The city of Seattle has agreed to a $3.65 million settlement to end a lawsuit brought forward by Seattle community members following the nationwide 2020 George Floyd protests.
As social justice protests throughout the nation began to simmer down, Seattle remained a hub for activists demanding police reform. In June 2020 the protests on Seattle streets transformed into a so-called autonomous zone dubbed by protestors and activists as the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest or CHOP zone. As protesters organized in the CHOP zone, law enforcement officials abandoned the police department's east precinct, and self-proclaimed security for the CHOP zone prevented police officers from entering the occupied area.
The designated zone, which was in the heart of the city, was seen as a necessary action by protestors; however, many residents, including business owners, grew frustrated over the city’s handling of the occupied territory. In the days that would follow since the development of the CHOP zone, a number of fatal shootings occurred, including the death of a 16-year-old boy.
Over a dozen business owners and residents filed a lawsuit against the city of Seattle over its handling of the CHOP zone. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued that City officials failed the community and local business owners because city policy "effectively authorized the actions of the CHOP participants."
Additionally, the lawsuit accused the city of mishandling the event as city officials including Seattle Mayor Jenny Duran and Police Chief Carmen Best were alleged to have deleted text messages that discussed how to handle the situation. Following a sanction by a judge against the city, an estimated 27,000 text messages pertaining to the zone were deleted by hand by Best. In the ruling, the court found that there was significant evidence that information related to the CHOP zone was intentionally destroyed to hide the city’s response.
During the 23 days that the CHOP zone existed, local reports and the lawsuit emphasized that there was a significant rise in violent crime in and around the zone. As protesters took over the so-called autonomous zone, officers, medical respondents, and other officials did not respond to emergency calls that took place in the CHOP zone.
During the weekslong standoff between CHOP zone activists and the greater community of Seattle, protesters released a list of demands including cutting the police budget by over 50% and demanding the abolishment of imprisonment as well as freeing prisoners who were behind bars on marijuana-related charges.
This newly settled lawsuit against Seattle's handling of the CHOP zone is one of many that were filed against the city. One similar lawsuit was filed by the family of 19-year-old Horace Lorenzo Anderson who was killed during the occupation of the area.
An attorney for the city, Anne Davison, shared in a statement following the settlement announcement, "I am pleased that we were able to resolve this matter and turn a page from a difficult period in the city's history."
Attorney Angelo Calfo also shared following the settlement that businesses and residents "will now be compensated for the City’s mishandling of CHOP that resulted in a significant increase in crime and even loss of life." Calfo added, “As the federal court judge found, our clients’ lawsuit exposed the cover-up of its highest-ranking officials who destroyed their text communications with each other.”
As part of the 3.65 million dollar settlement, $600,000 was issued in penalties because of the deleted text messages by city leaders.
