Interview · moment 2 of 28
Inside Chaz: Gentrification, Amazon Workers, and Protest Cosplay
from #204 - Katie Herzog | The Tim Dillon Show · #204
2 min
Guest
Katie corrects the zone's actual name (CHAZ/CHOP) and describes the gentrified, gay historic neighborhood it occupies, contrasting wealthy condo owners with the occupation, while she and Tim discuss why Seattle and Portland are hotbeds for anarchist activism and liken Proud Boys vs Antifa clashes to LARPing.
- The Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone is actually called 'Chaz,' which sounds like a tennis coach name.
- The autonomous zone was declared in a highly gentrified neighborhood where Tim's former office was located.
- Protesters graffitied 'Fuck Herzog' on the door of The Stranger, making it awkward to enter the zone for work.
- The Capitol Hill area is Seattle's historic gay neighborhood with rainbow crosswalks, now mostly chain ramen shops and $3,000-$4,000 studio apartments.
- Many Amazon workers live in the gentrified Chaz neighborhood, raising the question of what they think about their new protest overlords.
- The occupied park is surrounded by multi-million dollar condos and townhouses, creating tension with wealthy residents.
- Tim wonders why the Pacific Northwest, particularly Portland and Seattle, has historically been such a bastion of activism and anarchism.
CHAZAmazonPortlandSeattleThe StrangerPacific Northwest activism