OCTOBER 2020 WEEK 1 FEATURE //
A Reflection on CHAZ/CHOP

(The following reflections were written by Sean Sebastian, Inner Sleeve’s founder and current Head of Distribution.)

On Juneteenth of this year, 6/19/20, I went to the (then) newly established Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) or Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) zone to find out what was going on, on the ground, in person for myself.

In addition to passing out a few stencils (sparking the idea for inclusion in our first issue), I also conducted a few interviews that day.

The one with Drayton Jackson, who I met at the BLM March to Jimi Hendrix park, was included in print in our first issue. The other I conducted with a resident/volunteer at CHAZ about their experiences working and staying there.

Held in the archive to repost once we felt it was time—here is the original (un-edited) transcription below.

Juneteenth //
A Reflection on CHOP -
Seattle’s Autonomous Zone

Upon approaching the edge of Cal Anderson park, I saw a small crowd primarily made up of white people roaming the perimeter while most people of color were within the park designated as the blackout zone created for the day in acknowledgement of Juneteenth. Most were reading various signage posted up along the street. I walked towards the former police station and met up with some friends who introduced me to a current CHOP resident(who asked to remain anonymous) willing to speak about their recent experiences.

Sean: So you gave up your job to come out here, and do this work then?

Anonymous: Mhmm, gave up the job. Gave up the group.

S: Wow. How many people have you met in similar situations here?

A: Well, everyone has a different story. There are mostly locals. Some people from just outside the area, but locals still. 

S: That’s cool.

A: Some people have decided to camp out, I don’t know exactly if they had given up all that other stuff. But that’s just what happened for me, it’s not like I’m special.

S: Yeah, different people make different sacrifices.

A: Right, everybody has made different sacrifices to be here. Some still have jobs and are able to make it, which I also still appreciate, it’s great. To still have the commitment to your job, and to still have time for that and still give us what else you have, you know. We’ve got people with different stories. People have different time constraints.

S: It’s different for every person what they are able to give.

A: Some have families. Everybody is making a sacrifice here. But it’s beautiful, cause everyone’s coming together.

S: You’ve seen some pretty cool things here over the past few days?

A: A lot of love. A lot of love. Outside of this community, it can be very hit and miss. There’s nice people but they still seem cold and distant. But here everybody is just all love. A lot of cooperation, and it’s a beautiful thing to see because before I came out here I was very depressed. And I started to question whether there was any love left in the world. That people just don’t care. 

S: Right.

A: That people just talk about it, and that they’re not really willing to fight hard for it. Because like I’ve been kinda pushing that for years, but it’s difficult when people aren’t proactive enough, or not motivated enough. It’s like people want change, but they aren’t willing to fight hard enough to make that change. That a lot of the time, change is uncomfortable. Change is inconvenient, and a lot of times you’re gonna have to give up something to get what you need, you know? Sometimes you have to take a step back, to take two steps forward, you know? And there’s some people that hate what we’re doing here. People that still support the movement but yet don’t support us here. Which I find very suspect because this isn’t your time, you know? This isn’t about you. And even with this day, to give the black community the park. To say like “hey, white allies--this is important out of respect”. And like, it’s beautiful you know, because you know what? White people have taken everything. To just say, “hey, can we have some time please? Let me have some time to remember how awful this event was.” It’s beautiful from a distance [outside the park] because I get to appreciate it even more. And how amazing is it, that it would happen that Juneteenth could happen, at a time when we are fighting for black lives. 

S: The synchronicity.

A: Yes. But that it coincided with this unfortunate event. And it is an unfortunate event, but you know what? The people here are showing us that they love each other. That we all have love for each other. Pure, genuine, true love for humanity. Love for each other. And I tell ya, it’s a beautiful thing because it started to make me realize, you know what? I’m not gonna jump. I feel like I can come off the ledge, because there still is love left in the world. The cooperation here, you know--

S: There’s community.

A: It’s truly a community. Cause I started to wonder--I’ve been all over the country, trying to find where I belong, you know? And I feel like, not only is this beautiful here, but I don’t see why we can’t have this everywhere.

S: Totally.

A: This is a unique situation to this place, but the love that is here shouldn’t be unique to this place. 

S: Right. I definitely feel you. From what I’ve seen so far it’s a really beautiful demonstration. I’d like to take a look around at a few other things. Are there any other resources I should mention in the zine? Anything that’s been helpful for you or helpful for other people?

A: In reference to what?

S: I guess [for example] I’ve noticed free mask stations, and like the food being offered. That kind of stuff.

A: Oh, well you know, we have to stay fed. You know, I gave up a job. I don’t have any money. I’m completely broke.

S: Basic resources are being met though and people are taken care of?

A: Right, you know. There’s bathrooms, there’s food. There’s clothes, there’s sanitizer, there’s masks. We’re trying to make sure everyone wears a mask that comes in here. We don’t want them infecting the revolution. 

S: Enforcing the mask rule is important during this time because we need everyone, people on the line alive and doing that work.

A: And able to do their job. I’m averaging twenty-some hours a day here.

S: Wow. 

A: Yeah, I’m only getting about three, four hours sleep. The rest of the day is spent on my feet. Yesterday I was able to get a break but that was only because they were a little short [on] people, and I had to kinda hold down the fort. Watch people’s stuff, a dog. 

S: [Chuckles] The work that needs doing.

A: Yeah, sometimes you gotta just--you know, wherever they need me. I’ve done different things here so far from security…

S: You’re an all-rounder.

A: Yeah, and like helping out at the co-op. The co-op’s great. That’s where [there are] a lot of supplies and stuff like that. Food items, and just, you name it. It’s just been great. The support here, I mean they even have tents available for people, like new tents.

S: Nice. 

A: It’s great. And everybody here treats each other with respect. It’s like a family here. It really is. I feel like that’s the way it should be. It should be like that--all the time, everywhere. 

S: Right.

A: Unfortunately there’s just people that, their creedence isn’t love, it’s hate. And they take a lot of joy in bringing others down. There’s a lot of miserable people who want other people to enjoy their pain. But [here] it’s all about happiness. I’ve been down that road, but it’s a very lonely road. 

S: It’s perpetuating.

A: I may have been by myself for a number of years, but here it’s like that doesn’t really matter. This community, they allowed me in and I’ve just been giving ‘em everything I got.

S: That’s beautiful. 

A: It is, ah, thank you. I’m working harder than I’ve ever worked in my life, for free, ya know? For free. 

S: That’s really cool. And it’s the kinda thing like, I’m so happy to see people like yourself doing and I want to get more perspectives just like this. Thank you for spending some time with me, I really appreciate this. I could ask more questions but I also know you’ve got some things you wanna get back to.

A: Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. 

S: I’ll let you get back to it, thanks. And I’ll keep you anonymous…

Interview by Sean Sebastian
Event Correspondent /
Head of Distribution