President to Gov. Inslee, Seattle mayor: ‘Take back your city NOW’

In a tweet Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump told Gov. Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan to “Take back your city NOW.”

Trump said they were both being “taunted and played.”

The president also tweeted:

Durkan responded to the president and said in a tweet:

This comes amid the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct being boarded up and surrounded by protesters who established a "Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone," which covers about six city blocks.

There are also barricades preventing the Seattle Fire Department from accessing and responding to emergencies.

Some residents in the neighborhood said access to their buildings are blocked.

“It’s a bit stressful. It’s like checking in with somebody to get into your own home,” said Mckenzie Diamond, who lives in the “Autonomous Zone.” “Just making it so people can get into their buildings. Keep the zone however they want, and move the fencing so people can go home,” she said.

The Seattle Police Department removed barriers and cleared out the area Monday to de-escalate the situation.

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