Seattle Mayor, Trump Spar Over Protesters in Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone

Following days of violent confrontations with protesters, police in Seattle have largely withdrawn from a neighborhood where protesters have created a festival-like scene that has President Donald Trump fuming.

Trump taunted Mayor Jenny Durkan on Twitter and said the city had been taken over by "anarchists." "Take back your city NOW. If you don't do it, I will," Trump tweeted.

The president continued his complaints in a Thursday interview with the Fox News Channel. "If we have to go in, we're going to go in," Trump said. "These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city." In response Durkan said it would be "unconstitutional and illegal to send military to Seattle.'

Over the weekend, police were sharply criticized by City Council members and other elected leaders. Since officers dialed back their tactics, the demonstrations have largely been peaceful.

The “Capital Hill Autonomous Zone” sprung up after police on Monday removed barricades near the East Precinct and basically abandoned the structure after officers used tear gas, pepper spray and flash bangs over the weekend to disperse demonstrators they said were assaulting them with projectiles during demonstrations in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

Across several blocks, dozens of people now show up to listen to speakers calling for police reform, racial justice and compensation for Native American groups on whose land the city was founded.

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