Crime Law

Capitol Hill businesses damaged in overnight protests

Police used pepper spray on crowds and arrested at least three people Wednesday night after protesters marched through Capitol Hill, damaging businesses.

An ATM at a Key Bank was destroyed, the bank’s windows were broken, and a security camera was spray-painted. Uncle Ike’s pot shop and the Canterbury Ale House were also damaged.

Video shows protesters facing off with police, and a dispersal order was issued about 11 p.m. At one point, a car blocking the road was towed and protesters got into a heated discussion with officers.

Thursday, a protest for Jacob Blake will be held outside Seattle City Hall at noon. Blake is a Black man who was shot at least 7 times in the back in Wisconsin on Sunday.

The woman who planned the protest is Blake’s Aunt, Nicole Blake Chafetz, who lives in auburn. She told KIRO 7 when she got the call about the shooting, her very first reaction wasn’t grief or anger -- it was resignation.

“I’m not surprised at all. All Black families have a turn and this is our turn,” she said.

Chafetz has watched the viral video of the shooting over and over.

“It’s like I can feel all seven gunshots when I watch the video. As (a) former criminal defense attorney, I’ve never seen anything like it before,” she said.

She said she wants protests to happen but for them to stay peaceful, saying, "If we become violent, we're like them."

Chafetz says she organized a rally but not a march, because recently, marches have devolved into violence.