Rantz: Militant Antifa group policing CHOP or CHAZ

Jun 14, 2020, 6:18 PM | Updated: Jun 15, 2020, 10:29 am

Security are on standby at one entrance and exit to the CHAZ or CHOP. (Photo: Jason Rantz/KTTH) (Note: Since there's no central leadership, it's unclear if this is individual is working as a volunteer or with a larger group.)

A protester uses a scope on top of a barricade to look for police approaching the newly created Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle, Washington on June 11, 2020. - The area surrounding the East Precinct building has come to be known as the CHAZ, Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. Volunteer medics are available to tend to medical needs, alongside tents with medical supplies, gourmet food donated form local restaurants, fruit, snacks, water bottles free for whomever needed them. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images) (Note: Since there's no central leadership, it's unclear if this is individual is working as a volunteer or with a larger group.)

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 10: A volunteer works security at an entrance to the so-called "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone" on June 10, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The zone includes the blocks surrounding the Seattle Police Departments East Precinct, which was the site of violent clashes with Black Lives Matter protesters, who have continued to demonstrate in the wake of George Floyds death. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

A security volunteer questions a woman as she drives into the only street not blocked off to cars. (Photo: Jason Rantz/KTTH) (Note: Since there's no central leadership, it's unclear if this is individual is working as a volunteer or with a larger group.)

A sign outside the "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone." (Getty Images)

BY JASON RANTZ

AM 770 KTTH host

A militant Antifa group known as the Puget Sound John Brown Gun Club is patrolling the six blocks known as CHOP or CHAZ. In other words, the activists that kicked cops out of the occupied space now have their version of “police,” but with no meaningful police training and stubborn ideological beliefs. What could possibly go wrong?

Though some media outlets prefer to treat CHOP or CHAZ as a peaceful, social justice Utopian paradise, the illegally occupied area has policing needs. But they don’t trust highly trained officers. So, organizers turned over the security to people willing to use violence to stifle activists with positions they disagree with.

Although, perhaps “turned over” isn’t the right term. They’ve just assumed the role.

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Antifa group protecting CHOP or CHAZ

PSJBGC is a group of activists that believe they’re fighting Nazis. And they’ve taken to support and protect CHAZ or CHOP from its perceived enemies.

The group claims to back “active resistance to the corrosive and destructive social effects of white supremacy, sexism, bigotry, and economic exploitation.” They laud former member Willem van Spronsen as a hero and martyr, when in actuality the domestic terrorist tried to firebomb the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.

Shattering the claim that Antifa groups aren’t organizing nor operational at CHAZ or CHOP, PSJBGC openly touts the security services they offer. Speaking to the Daily Beast, a member explained they were “tapped to provide a security escort for ‘some very prominent black voices who were doing speeches here at the Autonomous Zone.'”

PSJBGC members are not the only ones providing armed — and unarmed — security to the CHAZ or CHOP. Indeed, many individuals have come on their own and, in the photo gallery above, it’s unclear if anyone photographed is with a group or acting independent.

“It’s not our intent to try to create any paradox to try to incite violence or have that be a motif,” activist Maurice Cola told KIRO Radio’s Nicole Jennings. “We’re not trying to use our guns to flash around — it’s for defense.”

How the security works at CHAZ or CHOP

Security members man each of the entrances and exits to CHAZ or CHOP. There’s only one entrance for drivers into and out of the autonomous zone.

In the occupied zone, security personnel patrol on foot. When violence breaks out, they offer help. But they appear also willing to help stop the media from accurately covering the violence on the ground.

When people film any fights or other acts of violence, activists in the crowd presumably “working” under the security personnel, purposefully bump into and block anyone filming with their cell phones. They did it to me on Saturday as I filmed a fight that broke out on stage.

A man with his face covered repeatedly bumped into me and stood in the way of my phone. When my friend Julio Rosas of Townhall.com got too close to the filming, the same activist tried to stop him from recording. It ended up being a futile effort, as both Rosas and I picked up plenty of footage.

A fight broke out at CHAZ.

There are security/activists here who try to block all the videos so we can’t film. You can see the guy in blue constantly bump into me.

Meanwhile, some media outlets pretend none of this is happening. pic.twitter.com/rUB8T8Gm9L

— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) June 13, 2020

After @Julio_Rosas11 got closer, blue activist started to follow him to try to block the view. pic.twitter.com/M2YZ6JsO6b

— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) June 13, 2020

Meanwhile, in the crowd, some activists take photos of those they deemed problematic to the CHAZ or CHOP. In one creepy moment of the day, documentarian Kyle Seago posted a photo of me with the hashtag #seattleprotestcomms. It’s a way to share information with other activists to either avoid dealing with someone or, potentially, harass them.

Pretty sure Jason Rantz has entered the Autonomous Zone formerly known as CHAZ #seattleprotest #seattleprotestcomms #chaz pic.twitter.com/bsLf2pdcNu

— Kyle (@kseags) June 13, 2020

The irony of the CHAZ or CHOP security

I don’t personally care that the PSJBGC carry weapons, concealed or otherwise. They have that right (though it’s worth noting that under Mayor Jenny Durkan’s toothless emergency decree, weapons are banned). But it’s worth noting the irony of left-wing activists setting up this kind of security.

Fringe voices on the Left — the kind that would, say, overtake a six-block piece of land thanks to feckless leadership of a terrified mayor — believe borders are racist. Some even argue they shouldn’t exist. Yet, when it comes to “their” land, they see some benefits to using borders to keep some potential dangers out.

And of course, far Leftists are anti-gun. Indeed, they constantly speak of repealing the Second Amendment. Yet, these voices are silent when it comes to heavily armed security as they play fort on Capitol Hill.

If Dr. Frasier Crane was still in Seattle… pic.twitter.com/nXF8gCAf5r

— matt’s idea shop (@MattsIdeaShop) June 13, 2020

Listen to the Jason Rantz Show weekday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (or HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow @JasonRantz on Twitter and Instagram or like me on Facebook.

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