page_title: Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
section_title: Services
hierarchical_section_title: Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone / Culture and amenities / Services
caption_attribution_description: English: The umbrellas were used to defend against chemical attacks by the police in the days previous to the establishment of CHAZ.
context_page_description: The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, also known as Free Capitol Hill, the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or the Capitol Hill Organized Protest, was an occupation protest and self-declared autonomous zone in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. The zone, originally covering six city blocks and a park, was established on June 8, 2020 by George Floyd protesters after the Seattle Police Department left its East Precinct building, and was cleared of occupants by police on July 1, 2020.
  The zone's formation in the Capitol Hill neighborhood was preceded by a week of tense interactions between protesters and police in full riot gear that began on June 1 and escalated on June 7, after a man drove his vehicle into the protesters and shot one of them. Tear gas, flash bangs, and pepper spray were repeatedly used by police in the densely populated residential neighborhood. The mayor issued a ban on tear gas on June 5. City, county, and state representatives joined demonstrators on the front lines on June 6, when flash bangs and pepper spray were used on the crowd.
context_section_description: Protesters established the No Cop Co-op on June 9, 2020, offering free water, hand sanitizer, and snacks donated by the community, along with kebabs. Stalls were set up which offered cuisine such as vegan curry while others collected donations for the homeless. Organizers pitched tents next to the former precinct in order to hold the space.  Two medical stations were established in the zone to deliver basic health care. The SDOT provided portable toilets. The city provided services to the area, including waste removal, portable toilets, and fire and rescue services; the SPD also stated they responded to 911 calls within the area. The King County public health department provided COVID-19 testing in Cal Anderson Park for a period of time during the protests.
  The Seattle Times on June 11 reported that restaurant owners in the area had an uptick in walk-up business and a concomitant reduction in delivery costs. However, on June 14, USA Today reported that most businesses in the zone had closed, "although a liquor store, ramen restaurant and taco joint are still doing brisk business". The New York Times reported that "business crashed" in the zone. Activists lived in tents inside the zone. Outside the zone, urban camping is illegal in Seattle, though even before the zone this law was seldom enforced.
caption: The No Cop Co-op on June 10
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