Since June 8th, Seattle protestors have taken up residence inside a six block “Autonomous Zone” in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, referred to as CHAZ.

After two weeks of clashes between police and protestors throughout the city, Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said law enforcement officers boarded up and left the East Precinct in “an exercise in trust and deescalation.” She has denied responsibility for the decision to leave.

The “no cop” area held by protestors has drawn national attention, and even the ire of President Trump, who has called for the “ugly Anarchists” to be “stooped [sic] IMMEDIATELY.”

Capitol Hill residents have described CHAZ as “extremely chill,” and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has said she isn’t sure how long the settlement will last, joking on CNN that Seattle could have “a summer of love.”

While the fate of CHAZ is unclear, protestors have released a list of demands on their website, calling for the complete defunding and abolishment of the Seattle Police Department.

The post Inside CHAZ, Seattle’s Autonomous Zone appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

The city has been protesting for days over the death of George Floyd, an African American man who killed when a police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes.  The police department and mayor’s office appear to be ratcheting down their response each day, as a response to outrage from protestors and residents. 

A protestor came out with a powered wheelchair to watch the march in Westlake. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

Elderly man looks out at younger protestors passing by. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

Young man looks out at the sea of protestors beneath him. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

A protester displays his sign in Westlake, downtown Seattle. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

A protestor passes out surgical masks to others attending the march. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

A Seattle police officer wearing a “Blue Lives Matter” patch. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

Seattle Police Officer covers his “Blue Lives Matter” patch from the camera’s view. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

Protestor stands on the hood of a Seattle Police car at the end of her dance routine. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

Police officers topple the protestor from her perch. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

Reflection of protestors in the Seattle Public Library building. Photo by Madeline Gunderson

The post Scenes from a Seattle protest appeared first on Pavement Pieces.

Some conservative women continue to support Judge Brett Kavanaugh despite recent sexual assault allegations.

Pam Moran, 58, a Republican from central Ohio who was visiting the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., said she was fed up with accusations like those of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford that took place decades ago.

“My issue is I’m sick and tired of all these women coming up 30 or 40 years later and claiming sexual abuse,” said Moran. “If it’s recent, I have no problem with it, but if it’s 30 or 40 years ago, do something back then. And if it’s that bad, do something back then, don’t deal with it now.”

According to a recent NBC poll, 70 percent of Republican women support the judge despite the sexual assault allegations.

Pam Johnston of Las Vegas, Nevada, was visiting the White House with her husband, and said Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford deserve a chance to be heard..

“All women need to be heard,” Johnston said. “Everybody needs to be heard, but he can’t fight against something he hasn’t heard other than through the airwaves like we have. I think it’s wrong to automatically say he’s guilty and not appoint him because of this.”

Johnston also disapproved of Dr. Ford’s timing and how the judiciary committee processed the accusations.

“You’re innocent until proven guilty,” Johnston said. “She should have come forward already, so he could clear his name. I think it’s terrible the way they’re handling it.”

Other conservative women pointed to a liberal agenda and the Democratic party. Mandy Marlowe of Fredericksburg, Virginia, works for The Religious Freedom Coalition and challenged the presumed liberal political strategy.

“Personally, I think it’s absurd,” said Marlowe. “I think that liberals are doing whatever they can to delay the process so they can get whoever they want into that position.”

Addison Puffer, 19, from Pueblo, Colorado, is a sophomore in college studying international business. She also works for the Colorado Republican Committee as a field director for the 2018 midterm elections. Puffer has been a long-standing supporter of Judge Kavanaugh and believes he is the best nomination for the United States Supreme Court.

“I have always been very impressed with Judge Kavanaugh,” Puffer said in an email. “I have been supportive of President Trump’s decision to appoint him to the Supreme Court. I believe he will do a great job of protecting the U.S. Constitution and advocating for our rights as American citizens.”

Although Puffer is concerned about allegations of sexual assault, her support of Kavanaugh has not wavered.

“I am always concerned when I hear that an individual was allegedly involved in sexual misconduct,” said Puffer. “However, I do not reconsider his nomination.”

Puffer said she would continue to support Kavanaugh until further evidence is brought forward to prove Judge Kavanaugh is guilty.

“I do not believe the number of victims coming forward makes a difference unless there is substantial evidence to prove he was involved,” Puffer said. “Therefore, my opinion to confirm Judge Kavanaugh will remain the same until investigators can without a doubt prove that he is guilty.”

Shaun Marie Levine, Executive Director of the Conservative Party of New York State, supports Kavanaugh and questions the timing of Dr. Ford’s allegations.

“Judge Kavanaugh represents everything I stand for,” Levine said in a phone interview. “From where the accusations stand right now, I would have to question the timing. Why wait to come forward when it happened so long ago? Why wait until just a few days before the vote?”

But Levine recognized that more evidence would hinder her support and that Judge Kavanaugh’s reputation is tainted.

“If more women came forward, I would have to change my opinion,” said Levine. “No matter what happens at this point, half the world will always believe the allegations are true.”

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Ade Kanmbi teaches third grade at Barnard Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Wielding a sign that read “ARM ME WITH BOOKS NOT GUNS,” Kanmbi demonstrated against a system she feels is unfair to both teachers and students.

“I think it’s unconscionable some of the things we have to go through to get supplies,” she said. “The system doesn’t have money for books, for school supplies, but the system has money for guns?”

Kanmbi said she’s spent about $300 of her own money this year on supplies for her classroom, and she refuses to entertain the thought of carrying a gun at school. But first and foremost, she said, is making sure guns stay out of the wrong hands.

“It happened in Maryland a couple of days ago. It’s a matter of time before it happens here in D.C.” By Amy Zahn

One of hundreds of thousands of signs at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. By Amy Zahn

Andre Dixon is a probation officer from Broward County, Florida. “We’re here today to make changes in the gun laws,” she said. “We want to protect our children.” Dixon’s 13 year old son attends American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida, a 20 minute drive from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“I didn’t know what was going on. I got a phone call from my mom, and she was like, there’s been a terrible shooting at Stoneman Douglas,” she said. When she first heard news of a shooting, Dixon was worried it could be at her son’s school. She hopes the march will be a step in making sure what happened in Parkland won’t happen again — at her son’s school, or anywhere else.

“Hopefully today will make a difference and our government will make the changes that we need,” she said. By Amy Zahn

Dixon waved an American flag as she marched. By Amy Zahn

Alyssa Heard, 13, Felicia Foster, 11, and Valtavia Johnson, 15. The three came to the march from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl, with their church.

“We lost 17 lives in Florida, and we lost another three lives (sic) in Maryland, and altogether we shouldn’t be losing any lives over a situation like that,” Alyssa said. She said the Parkland shooting hit a little too close to home for her and her classmates.

“When you think about it, you think, ‘Oh, that could have been my school,’ or ‘It could have been me that died,’” she said. By Amy Zahn

A group of demonstrators in front of the National Archives at the March for Our Lives. By Amy Zahn

Two protest signs on the ground near the bushes next to the “What is Past is Prologue” statue in front of the National Archives. By Amy Zahn

A crowd of demonstrators listens to speakers at the March for Our Lives near the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 9th St. NW. By Amy Zahn

Almost a million people attended the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, flooding the streets of the capital. By Amy Zahn

A girl rises over a crowd of thousands at the March for Our Lives. By Amy Zahn

A demonstrator wearing a pussy hat, like the ones worn at the Women’s March, listens to speakers at the March for Our Lives near the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 9th St. NW. By Amy Zahn

A demonstrator clapping as he listens to speakers at the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. By Amy Zahn

A child demonstrating at the March for Our Lives on Saturday near the National Archives. By Amy Zahn

A demonstrator listens to Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt perform at the March for Our Lives on Saturday. By Amy Zahn

Demonstrators laid their signs at a fence across the street from the White House after the crowds began to dissipate. By Amy Zahn

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Almost 200,000 demonstrators gather in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on March 21. Photo by Elisa Lagos

Tens of thousands of people descended on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday to call on President Obama and Congress to enact immigration reform. Demonstrators carried American flags and signs, and some even held crosses with the names of those who died while crossing the border into the United States.

Nearly 200,000 demonstrators came from across the country, according to rally organizers. Some drove from as far as California or Florida to bring the immigration debate back to the forefront.

“We came in buses from Florida,” Jorge Sierra said in Spanish. “It’s important that Obama know we want (immigration) reform. If not now, when?”

President Obama laid a timetable for immigration overhaul last year when he said his administration would tackle reform by early 2010. Demonstrators in Washington said they want to hold Obama to that promise, but immigration reform has been largely overshadowed by the battle over health care and financial overhaul.

In a video message, the president tried to reassure demonstrators that immigration reform is still a top priority all while the House of Representatives prepared for a vote on the Senate’s health-care bill. The bill passed in a historic vote late Sunday.

“I think they will take (immigration reform) up. Obama’s next step will probably be financial reform, which is necessary, but immigrants are highly important to the economy as well. He can’t ignore the issue,” said Charlotte Jones-Carroll of Maryland.

Maria Cardenas and Jorge Sierra, both from Florida, participate in a large demonstration in Washington, D.C. Photo by Elisa Lagos

The immigration debate last came to a head in 2007 when the country was embroiled in a bitter dispute that gave rise to the Minute Men movement and a 1,951-mile long wall along the U.S.–Mexico border.  There is already an inkling of reform on Capitol Hill as senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) outlined the beginnings of a new bill that would pave a road for illegal immigrants to become citizens. But many of those in favor of reform want more than a path toward legal status — they want the immigration system completely revamped.

“Citizenship is good, but they need to do something to help the children who suffer most when their parents are taken and deported,” said Maria Cardenas of Florida. “They need to find a way to keep families together. You don’t know how those children suffer. You don’t know what they go through.”

The last time the immigration reform legislation passed in Congress was the 1996 Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act that made it easier for the government to deport illegal immigrants. But as immigration increased and the number of undocumented workers reached approximately 12 million, reform supporters say the country needs immigration overhaul sooner than later.

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