Planet Money

New NPR Series: "We Keep Us Safe" from the Embedded podcast

3 min

This episode of Planet Money introduces a new true crime series from NPR's Embedded podcast, which investigates the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone in Seattle. The series explores a 2020 experiment in policing and community safety that turned tragic when a Black teenager was killed by the community's own security, raising deep questions about justice, safety, and accountability. The case remains unsolved, and the series uncovers new evidence and witnesses.

Summarized by Podsumo

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✨ Key Takeaways

1

The Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone in Seattle was a police-free community experiment that started as a peaceful protest and evolved into a block party-like atmosphere with tents, free food, and mutual aid.
2

Tragically, the zone's own security, armed with tactical gear and guns, shot and killed a 16-year-old Black teenager, Antonio Mays Jr., who was driving into the area, and the case remains unsolved six years later.
3

The series uncovers new evidence and witnesses, including a never-before-seen image of a long gun, offering fresh insights into the mystery of how a place built to protect Black life ended in a death.

💬 Notable Quotes

"To be honest, if it meant that I'd have my son back, I wouldn't teach my son black history. Because I want to have him back right now."

— Antonio Mays Sr.
"That's the man they hell with black history."

— Antonio Mays Sr.
"See this right here? That's a long gun out of the front seat."

— Unidentified speaker (from the investigation)