New NPR Series: "We Keep Us Safe" from the Embedded podcast
3m 22s
In 2020, anti-police brutality protesters in Seattle’s Capitol Hill established a peaceful, self-governed community known as “Chop,” free from police presence and dedicated to mutual aid and justice. While initially thriving as a model of alternative community life, tensions arose when a jeep entered the camp and shouted “Shut up, fire,” triggering a shooting that killed a Black teenager. Protesters believed they were under attack, and the incident sparked deep trauma and controversy. The victim’s father emphasized that his son was committed to civil rights and Black empowerment, calling the death a profound loss. Despite years of investigation, the case remains unsolved, and the community’s idealism has been overshadowed by unresolved questions. The new true crime series *We Keep Us Safe*, produced by NPR’s Embedded Podcast in collaboration with The Seattle Times and K-U-O-W, delves into the events, interviews new witnesses, and reveals previously unseen details. The series seeks to understand how a movement built to protect Black life ended in violence, raising urgent questions about safety, trust, and justice in protest spaces.
Hi, Planet Money listeners, Kenny Malone here. Because we wanted to let you know about a new investigative series that's coming out from our colleagues at Embedded, which is NPR's award-winning documentary podcast. We could explain what that series is, but honestly they put together an incredible trailer, and we'd like to just share that, so here's that trailer. Back in 2020, a remarkable experiment took place. An intense stand-off with anti-police brutality protesters, police abandoned their own precinct. Protesters stayed, and started occupying about eight city blocks in the middle of Seattle. There's several hundred people being completely peaceful. It's like a block party. They set up tents, there was free food, a mutual aid station, a stage for speeches and music. It evolved into this community. They called it chop. The Capitol Hill organized protests. A place with no police. It was their attempt to build a better world. For a moment there, it was utopia. But protesters feared an attack from right-wing activists. Taking my group down around City Hall to monitor the group of the proud boys. Some protesters appointed themselves chop security, began walking around in tactical gear, carrying guns. "I'm not very familiar with fire. I was 15." And then one night, a jeep drove into the camp. "Shut up, fire." Protesters thought they were under attack and shot at the jeep. After the shooting ended, one of the jeep's passengers was dead. That night, protesters saw him as a threat. But his dad, who taught him what it means to be black in America, says his son was there for the cause. "To be honest, if a man died and had my son back, I wouldn't teach my son black history. Because I want to have him back right now. That's the man in here with black history." Six years later, the case remains unsolved. And no one has been able to explain how this place built to protect black life and ended up killing a black teenager. I'm Will James. And I'm Sydney Brownstone. For more than a year, we've been investigating what happened that night, sifting through rumors. "He put in work for the streets, I guess. That's what they were saying. That's why he got killed." Digging up new witnesses. Is someone chasing you? In a car chasing you? Yes, like multiple cars. And uncovering never-before-seen evidence. See this right here? That's a long gun. How did the front see? Holy s---! Listen to We Keep Us Safe, a new true crime series from NPR's Embedded Podcast, The Seattle Times, and K-U-O-W. You can find Embedded wherever you get your podcasts or at npr.org/embedded.
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
In 2020, anti-police brutality protesters occupied eight city blocks in Seattle's Capitol Hill, creating a peaceful community called "Chop" with no police presence.
Protesters formed self-appointed security, armed with tactical gear, fearing attacks from right-wing activists.
One night, a jeep entered the camp and shouted "Shut up, fire," prompting protesters to shoot it. A passenger died, leading to deep suspicion and trauma.
The victim's father, who taught him about Black history, stated the boy was acting for justice and that his death was a tragic loss.
Six years later, the case remains unsolved, with no clear explanation of how a community built to protect Black life ended in violence.
A new investigative series, *We Keep Us Safe*, by NPR’s Embedded Podcast, explores the events, interviews new witnesses, and uncovers previously unseen evidence.
Summary:
In 2020, anti-police brutality protesters in Seattle’s Capitol Hill established a peaceful, self-governed community known as “Chop,” free from police presence and dedicated to mutual aid and justice. While initially thriving as a model of alternative community life, tensions arose when a jeep entered the camp and shouted “Shut up, fire,” triggering a shooting that killed a Black teenager. Protesters believed they were under attack, and the incident sparked deep trauma and controversy.
The victim’s father emphasized that his son was committed to civil rights and Black empowerment, calling the death a profound loss. Despite years of investigation, the case remains unsolved, and the community’s idealism has been overshadowed by unresolved questions. The new true crime series *We Keep Us Safe*, produced by NPR’s Embedded Podcast in collaboration with The Seattle Times and K-U-O-W, delves into the events, interviews new witnesses, and reveals previously unseen details.
The series seeks to understand how a movement built to protect Black life ended in violence, raising urgent questions about safety, trust, and justice in protest spaces.
FAQs
Chop was a peaceful protest camp established in 2020 on Capitol Hill, Seattle, where around 300 protesters occupied eight city blocks without police presence. It became a community space with free food, mutual aid, and speeches, aiming to build a more just society.
A jeep drove into the camp and shouted 'Shut up, fire,' which protesters interpreted as an attack. In response, they shot at the vehicle, resulting in one passenger—later identified as a Black teenager—dying.
They feared a potential assault from right-wing activists and had no police presence. The sudden arrival of the jeep, with no prior warning, triggered a defensive reaction based on their security concerns.
He stated his son was there for the cause of Black life and justice. He said he wouldn’t teach his son Black history if his son were gone, emphasizing the deep personal impact of the tragedy.
Yes, the shooting case remains unsolved after six years, with no clear explanation of the events or accountability for the incident.
The new true crime series, 'We Keep Us Safe,' investigates the shooting at the Chop protest camp, uncovering new evidence, witnesses, and rumors to understand what happened that night.
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