According to The Seattle Times, a Seattle judge has issued an injunction barring Seattle police from making vandalism-related arrests under the Vandalism Act.
The defendants in this lawsuit allege that the City Attorney “writes, paints, or draws any kind of inscription, figure, or mark on any public or private building” if the property value is low. He argued that the law that provided for prosecution did not apply. more than $1,000 violates First and Fourteenth Amendment rights; According to the Seattle Times. The injunction was issued in Tucson et al. v. Seattle, in which the defendants were indicted as a result of graffiti drawn during a protest in Seattle in 2021. According to KIRO 7 Seattle.
The Seattle Attorney’s Office won’t prosecute anyone arrested for graffiti, at least for now, after U.S. District Judge Marsha Peckman issued an injunction.
The judge said Seattle’s property destruction ordinance was vague and targeted at speech, “posing a real threat of censorship.”
— Gary Horcher (@GaryKIRO7) June 14, 2023
U.S. District Judge Marsha Peckman argued that the law “posed a real threat.” [of] censorship,” According to KIRO.
The move enraged some conservatives, with notable commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk saying that “vandalism is now clearly legal in Seattle.”
The Seattle Police Department has been told it must suspend its crackdown on property crimes involving damages less than $750 “until further notice.” Vandalism is clearly legal in Seattle.
This is what the left means by “fairness.”
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 14, 2023
Seattle became the epicenter of Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, making it famous for its borough “Capitol Hill Occupy Protest” or “CHOP.” The mayor of Seattle at the time said in an interview with Chris Cuomo that there could be protests in the area. “Summer of Love” According to the Washington Examiner. Since then, the borough has seen numerous arrests and teenage deaths. (Related: Before and after photos: What Seattle’s ‘CHAZ’ did to the city | The Daily Caller)
Seattle has seen a recent surge in crime following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, with 24% more crime in 2022 than in 2021. Rape and aggravated assault also increased by about 4% and 5%, respectively.
“As evidenced by the thousands of service calls we receive each year reporting vandalism and other forms of property damage, property damage is indeed a serious crime for local residents. We know there is.” Seattle police press release pursuant to an injunction.
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