Seattle cops clear ‘occupied’ zone, more than 20 arrested

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Protesters stand holding up their arms in front of a road blocked by police in the Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone early Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in Seattle. Police in Seattle have torn down demonstrators' tents in the city's so-called occupied protest zone after the mayor ordered it cleared. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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SEATTLE (AP) — Police in Seattle have cleared out protesters and torn down their camping sites in the city’s so-called occupied protest zone after the mayor ordered it cleared. Officers used their bicycles Wednesday morning to herd dozens of protesters so the officers could carry out the order imposed after two fatal shootings at the site in less than two weeks. Seattle’s police chief says at least 23 people were arrested at the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone. The protesters dispersed several hours after police launched their operation at 5 a.m. The zone was set up following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.