³ÉÈËXÕ¾

DAVE ROSS

Ross: Failures of CHOP a cautionary tale for protesters

Jul 2, 2020, 8:58 AM | Updated: 10:16 am

CHOP, Seattle protest, Capitol Hill Pride police...

Protesters in Capitol Hill shortly after police cleared out the CHOP last summer. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Protesters in a number of cities are looking to imitate the Seattle neighborhood occupation that was finally broken up by police Wednesday.

But before you try a version of the CHOP in your city, consider this: The reason it was so easy to break up was that by the time police arrived there were only about 30 people who resisted, and because the neighborhood – which voted for a socialist city council candidate – ended up hating it.

They tolerated the endless bullhorn debates during the day, but by night the place turned terrifying – attracting drug users and looters. You’d hear shouting, gunfire, and ultimately two teenagers ended up dead. Two Black teenagers.

The same protesters who demanded transparency from police set up a security force of unnamed guys with guns who weren’t very good at security. Turns out the idea that good guys with guns can keep the peace has flaws.

The mostly white protesters either didn’t know or didn’t care that the precinct the police were forced to vacate had been built at the request of the Black community, led by Seattle’s first Black city councilmember.

And then there was the spectacle of young, mostly white social justice warriors trying to school the city’s Black female police chief.

So, go ahead and try this if you must, just know that you’ll end up showing the world that as imperfect as the police are, there is something worse: not having them at all.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

Image: From left, Chris Sullivan, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien stand together in the ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradi...

MyNorthwest Staff

Dave and Colleen’s final ‘SMN:’ ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ colleagues, politicians say their goodbyes

"Seattle's Morning News" on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio will soon have a new sound. On Thursday, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien will host their last show together after a decade of co-hosting.

7 months ago

Classical literature on bookshelves. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross as you’ve never heard him before: ‘I like fat books and I can’t deny’

"This song, inspired by one of my first interviews when I started my talk show, which was Sir Mix-A-Lot," Dave Ross said.

7 months ago

national debt...

Dave Ross

‘Don’t cut a cent:’ Dave Ross on why the national debt never gets under control

The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, and every president says it has to be under control. And yet, it never is.

7 months ago

voters hormone...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters weren’t just voting for change, they were voting for a hormone

The more I read the post-election analysis, the more I’m convinced voters weren’t just voting for a change – they were voting for a hormone.

8 months ago

ross o'brien - Seattle's Morning News...

Frank Sumrall

Dave Ross, Colleen O’Brien departing after co-hosting ‘Seattle’s Morning News’ for a decade

Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien, the co-hosts of "Seattle's Morning News" on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio are both leaving the show.

8 months ago

election day...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross: Election Day and Decision Day are two separate things

Tomorrow is Election Day – that’s what the calendar says. But there are two problems with the term "Election Day."

8 months ago

Ross: Failures of CHOP a cautionary tale for protesters