• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Trump and his far-right allies attack Seattle’s Capitol Hill autonomous zone

Tom Coburg by Tom Coburg
16 June 2020
in Global, Trending
Reading Time: 4 mins read
165 7
A A
3
Home Global
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

This article was updated on 16 June 2020 at 12:40 to include a comment from BitChute.

US president Donald Trump has threatened to crush what he calls “ugly Anarchists”, who recently declared the inner Seattle suburb of Capitol Hill an “autonomous zone”, now known as CHAZ.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Britain’s Channel 4 News has exposed a video platform that allows the far-right to openly express their hate-filled views. On exploring that platform The Canary found several videos attacking CHAZ and spreading disinformation.

Trump tweet

Trump’s message to CHAZ was via his usual method of communication – a tweet. He described the local people of Capitol Hill as “ugly Anarchists”. He further admonished the city’s mayor and Washington state’s governor, saying if they do not take back CHAZ, then he will.

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. Take back your city NOW. If you don’t do it, I will. This is not a game. These ugly Anarchists must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. MOVE FAST!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2020

A threat that’s hardly unexpected from a man whose reactionary views are diametrically opposed to the locals of CHAZ.

Anti-CHAZ videos

Meanwhile, Britain’s Channel 4 News claims that one online media channel BitChute hosts videos from banned neo-Nazi organisation National Action. BitChute was founded by Ray Vahey, who lives in Thailand. According to the Daily Dot, BitChute also hosts far-right activists such as Richard Spencer and David Duke (former leader of the KKK).

However, BitChute told The Canary that it doesn’t “host National Action terrorist content”. It further stated:

we remove terrorist content. It’s possible just like Facebook/Twitter/YouTube and all other sites that it can go unnoticed for a time, but once we are aware we remove it and it is stated in our terms that we will not tolerate any terrorist content or incitement to violence We are pro freedom of expression, but this does not include illegal content and never has done.

On examining BitChute, The Canary discovered a number of videos attacking CHAZ and churning out disinformation.

One such video claims that CHAZ has been taken over by Antifa (anti-fascists) and that the area is now run by “gangs and warlords”. It goes on to describe Antifa as “spreaders of terror”. The video then quotes from a series of demands issued by Collective Black Voices (CBV), which is just one group involved in CHAZ.

Next, the video claims that a Hispanic man driving in the area during the protests was “attacked by a leftist mob”. However, in the intro section of another anti-CHAZ video, that version of what happened is challenged, showing how the Hispanic man drove into the protesters and fired a gun (the same video goes on to refer to the CBV demands as “retarded”). Another report asserts that: “a driver veered toward the protest, was chased, and brandished a firearm. The victim reportedly was trying to disarm the man when he was shot”. This is a video of the incident:

A later report stated that the man who it was claimed drove into the crowd had been charged:

King County prosecutors have charged Nikolas Fernandez, 31, of Seattle, with first-degree assault, accusing him of driving at a crowd of protesters on Capitol Hill and shooting a 27-year-old man who attempted to stop him. https://t.co/BFX9bhnSQE

— The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) June 12, 2020

What next?

So what’s the reality of CHAZ? On the first evening after declaring the autonomous zone, CHAZ locals were out enjoying a movie:

https://twitter.com/davidmryder/status/1270628562773479425?s=20

And according to this tweeter, this is what daily life looks like in the zone now:

https://twitter.com/deathcab4booty/status/1270924653020602368?s=20

The video commentaries hosted by BitChute, as well as the Trump narrative, contrasts sharply with the images and comments from those on the ground.

And here’s some myth-busting:

Someone posted some good #capitolhillautonomouszone mythbusting, addressing various wild rumors being promoted by police and other pro-fascists. #CHAZ #chazseattle #SeattleAutonomousZone pic.twitter.com/s1sO84DmM1

— ersatz_cats (@ersatz_cats) June 12, 2020

Not an easy task

Over the coming days or weeks, those who live and work in the zone will undoubtedly disagree as to what should happen next. Reaching a consensus won’t be an easy task.

But there are many examples, small scale and large, from around the world where similar initiatives (not forgetting the Zapatistas) have been tried and tested. Learning from not just their successes, but also their failures, is essential.

Meanwhile, Trump and his far-right allies can go to hell.

Featured image via Ochlo – Wikimedia

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

An effort to smear Black Lives Matter protesters has just been royally rumbled

Next Post

‘The United Kingdom lies’: Venezuelan government lambasts UK response to ‘reconstruction’ plans

Next Post
Dominic Raab meets Juan Guaidó

'The United Kingdom lies': Venezuelan government lambasts UK response to 'reconstruction' plans

Black Lives Matter protesters fill Trafalgar Square

police kettle BLM

As people continue to take to the streets, knowing your rights is more important than ever

PFLP guerrillas in 1969

A Tory MP's comments on a Palestinian political party show just how ridiculous 'terrorist' designations have become

British Airways’ treatment of staff a national disgrace, say MPs

Please login to join discussion
When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business
Business

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

by Nathan Spears
14 May 2025
The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media's pro-genocide bias
Trending

The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media’s pro-genocide bias

by Ed Sykes
13 May 2025
Tesla Takedown rallies planned at company's UK advertising events
News

Campaigners are set to celebrate Tesla’s nosediving car sales – by hijacking its own events

by The Canary
13 May 2025
Tony Blair climate denial
News

Activists have just dragged Tony Blair over his rampant climate denialism

by The Canary
13 May 2025
A petition calling for the end to the badger cull just passed 100,000 signatures so will be heading for parliamentary debate
News

The badger cull is set for a parliamentary debate – all thanks to a viral petition

by The Canary
13 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media's pro-genocide bias
Trending
Ed Sykes

The Independent Alliance just brilliantly exposed the corporate media’s pro-genocide bias

Tesla Takedown rallies planned at company's UK advertising events
News
The Canary

Campaigners are set to celebrate Tesla’s nosediving car sales – by hijacking its own events

Tony Blair climate denial
News
The Canary

Activists have just dragged Tony Blair over his rampant climate denialism

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub