Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said the Seattle mayor needs to self-medicate to recognize police need to restore order to an “autonomous zone” established by protesters.
During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Kennedy, a Republican, blasted Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan for failing to maintain order in her city after protesters claimed part of the city, naming it the “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone,” or CHAZ.
“I don’t mean disrespect, but the mayor needs to take her meds. She cannot maintain order in Seattle without her law enforcement officials. She just can’t,” Kennedy said, earlier stating that he believes she’s wrongly withholding police to stop the demonstrators from maintaining control of the land.
CHAZ is currently located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill District, surrounding the city’s east police department precinct. One sign along the area’s borders reads: “You are now leaving the USA.” Occupants of the area have published 30 demands to the Seattle government before dispersing from the area, which includes the dismantlement of the police department, the abolition of imprisonment, free public housing, and socialized healthcare.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he spoke with Durkan about the situation, calling the occupation “largely peaceful” and “fundamentally American.”
“I spoke with @MayorJenny and her team about the situation on Capitol Hill. Although unpermitted, and we should remember we are still in a pandemic, the area is largely peaceful. Peaceful protests are fundamentally American, and I am hopeful there will be a peaceful resolution,” Inslee tweeted Thursday afternoon.
I spoke with @MayorJenny and her team about the situation on Capitol Hill. Although unpermitted, and we should remember we are still in a pandemic, the area is largely peaceful. Peaceful protests are fundamentally American, and I am hopeful there will be a peaceful resolution.
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) June 11, 2020
Durkan took shots at President Trump, who demanded law enforcement disperse occupants from the zone, and also referred to it as a “peaceful expression of our community’s collective grief and their desire to build a better world.”
“The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone #CHAZ is not a lawless wasteland of anarchist insurrection — it is a peaceful expression of our community’s collective grief and their desire to build a better world. Given his track record, it’s not hard to believe that Trump is wrong, yet again,” Durkan said. “For the thousands of individuals who have been on Capitol Hill, I think you’ve seen what I’ve seen: The painting of Black Lives Matter along Pine Street, food trucks, spaghetti potlucks, teach-ins, and movies.”
For the thousands of individuals who have been on Capitol Hill, I think you’ve seen what I’ve seen: The painting of Black Lives Matter along Pine Street, food trucks, spaghetti potlucks, teach-ins, and movies.
— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020
