We would like to acknowledge that CHOP as well as the UW Seattle and Bothell stand on the lands and waters of coastal salish peoples, Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations. This acknowledgement means that we would think hard about how this project can strive to recognize, acknowledge, and confront the historical legacies held on the lands we occupy.

This interactive map experience provides a digital record and public commons exploring the geography of the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) in Seattle which took place in June 2020. The map allows users to:

• Experience an aerial view of the CHOP.
• Read and explore the messages and street art made throughout the CHOP.
• Share and view memories or comments on different locations within the CHOP.
• Access the map’s open data.

The physical space that was transformed by the CHOP has since been reinstated and returned to its pre-protest state. However, we recognize the existence of diverse, and at times, polarized views surrounding this protest, which sadly witnessed the loss of three lives. Our aspiration is that this digital archive acts as a platform for engaging with this significant chapter in Seattle's history and serves as a public record for the unique community that emerged from CHOP. Before you delve further into this website, we kindly request you to take a moment and review the following usage notes:

• Content Warning: Please be advised that some graffiti on this website may contain inappropriate or offensive language. If you are uncomfortable viewing this content, we recommend browsing with a parent or guardian, or refraining from continuing to browse this website.
• Non-Retaliation: This website and its contents are not to be used by any group for retaliation or any other purpose that seeks to incriminate any participants in the CHOP.
• Community Standards: In providing this interactive map where folks are able to share their memories and perspectives on the CHOP, we expect the contributions to be authentic and civil. We ask that contributors refrain from leaving any content that is abusive, defamatory, or that doesn’t relate to the goal of providing this community resource.

We welcome your contributions and ideas for improving this web map - please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or suggestions. Together, we can keep the spirit of CHOP alive and make a positive impact on the world.

In the summer of 2020, the United States witnessed a remarkable display of collective action and dissent on the grounds of Capitol Hill in Seattle, Washington. Known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) or the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), this unique and controversial movement aimed to create a self-governed zone, free from police presence and systemic injustice. The CHOP attracted both widespread attention and divergent opinions, sparking debates about the limits of protest, the role of law enforcement, and the pursuit of social change.

In the wake of George Floyd's killing on May 25, 2020, protests against police brutality erupted across the United States. In Seattle, demonstrators established the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) on June 8, 2020, following weeks of protests in downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill, declaring it a self-governed space. The Seattle Police Department vacated the East Precinct building within the CHAZ on June 9, 2020. The drone photo used in this map was taken on June 14th, 2020, right in the middle of CHOP’s existence. The area was later renamed the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) on June 20, 2020 to place a greater emphasis on police reform and community empowerment . Tragically, shootings occurred within the CHOP on June 29, 2020, resulting in fatalities and injuries. The CHOP was dismantled by an executive order from Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan on July 1, 2020, citing public safety concerns.

Supporters of the CHOP argue that it provided a unique space for peaceful protest, highlighting the urgency of police reform and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. They view it as an innovative experiment in community-led governance and an opportunity to reimagine public safety. Critics of the CHOP, however, express concerns about the lack of law and order within the zone, pointing to the shootings and other criminal activities as evidence of its inherent instability. Additionally, some individuals question the effectiveness of the CHOP, suggesting that it failed to bring about tangible policy changes or sustainable progress. They argue that engaging in dialogue and pursuing legislative avenues might have been more productive in achieving lasting social change.

If you use or mention any of our work in your own projects or writing, we hope you can acknowledge our team and our contributions using the proper citation practices. Please check the citation (in APA format):

Zhao, B., Koopman, D., Jung, J.-K., Sun, H., & Anderson, C. (2023). Archiving the Capitol Hill Organized Protest. Humanistic GIS Laboratory. doi: 10.6069/4KHS-3W59

In addition, we welcome individuals, scholars, or industrial experts to download, reuse, or analyze the drone image for social goods. You can download the data by filling this form. Please refer to this image in your work using the citation below:

Koopman, Dan. (2022). Orthoimagery of Capitol Hill Organized Protest [Data set]. Humanistic GIS Laboratory. doi: 10.6069/1DV9-8C36

Like many others in Seattle and across the US, I felt moved to social action after the death of George Floyd in 2020. As the beginnings of a community emerged through CHOP in Seattle, it seemed important to map this newly redefined community just as any other community is mapped. I used a camera drone to capture and stitch a map for CHOP, and was drawn to the street art and graffiti that you could read in the streets, sidewalks, and urban spaces from above. Being able to read the speech scrawled across CHOP provides a static record; the work that the team has done here to enable individuals to add additional details and memories offers the potential for a dynamic community resource. I hope that the map and data will inspire those who were there, or who want to learn more about this physical and virtual community in the years that come.

———— Dan Koopman, Jan 4th, 2023