The Seattle Parks and Recreation division has demolished a Black Lives Matter (BLM) memorial in Cal Anderson Park, citing concerns over rampant criminal activity, drug use, and unsafe conditions. The decision comes after years of debate over the memorial’s role in the community and its impact on public safety.
The site was the former location of the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), later renamed the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), which was the site of a weeks-long occupation during the Black Lives Matter riots that swept the United States in 2020.
The memorial, which was established in 2020 during the height of the BLM movement, was intended to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives due to police violence. However, the site quickly became a hub for criminal activity, including unauthorized camp-outs, vandalism, and drug use.
Remember CHAZ? The area in Seattle that Antifa and BLM occupied during the George Floyd riots? They built a garden in it which never produced anything. Police came early this morning and destroyed it. The Libs are mad, promising to rebuild! pic.twitter.com/EU7HSDxI3c
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 28, 2023
In a statement, Seattle Parks spokesperson Rachel Shulkin said, “The Black Lives Matter Memorial Garden posed significant public health and safety issues and the need for maintenance, including reseeding the area and turf restoration.” The city’s decision to remove the memorial has been met with mixed reactions from the community.
Police in Seattle destroyed a BLM memorial garden that has been there since 2020.
Instead of ruining community projects and gardens, what if cops focused on real crime?
What if our taxes went toward food, housing, and healthcare instead of dumb shit like this? pic.twitter.com/wTKC9QFlfb
— Fifty Shades of Whey (@davenewworld_2) December 28, 2023
NEVER FORGET: Before city crews cleared the BLM Garden and the encampment at Cal Anderson Park, I went in a few days ago to see what was going on.
Look at what the homeless and FAR-LEFT activists did to this place. The garden was no longer a symbol social justice, it turned into… https://t.co/FMQ5xSqwUK pic.twitter.com/mIg2OYX2Xy— Jonathan Choe Journalist (Seattle) (@choeshow) December 28, 2023
Some local residents and activists have expressed disappointment and frustration, arguing that the city should have taken more proactive steps to address the issues surrounding the memorial, rather than simply demolishing it. Others, however, have expressed relief, citing the need to restore safety and order to the park.
The Seattle Parks and Recreation division has stated that they are committed to working with the community to create a new, more inclusive memorial that honors the original intent of the BLM movement while also addressing the concerns of local residents.
As the city moves forward, it remains to be seen how the controversy surrounding the BLM memorial will be resolved. However, one thing is clear: the need for open dialogue and collaboration between the city and its residents has never been more important.Image:
