Five years after Seattle’s police-free CHOP zone, Fox Nation’s ‘Summer of Chaos’ special revisits the lawlessness that led to violence, deaths, and unrest in the city. The report, hosted by Fox News Seattle-based correspondent Dan Springer, is part of a broader effort to analyze the social and political implications of the 2020 protest movement triggered by George Floyd’s death.
Springer recounts the summer of 2020, when protests erupted across the nation after Floyd’s death, leading to the establishment of the CHOP zone. He notes the city’s decision to withdraw police presence from the area, resulting in a state of lawlessness. The special emphasizes the chaos that followed, including violence, shootings, and reports of sexual assaults, which critics argue were exacerbated by the absence of police enforcement. Springer frames the incident as a cautionary tale about the risks of defunding law enforcement, a topic that has sparked national debate.
While the show acknowledges the anger over police brutality that drove the protesters, it also highlights the consequences of the lack of oversight. Springer notes that the police department’s absence led to a breakdown in public safety, with reports of arson, property damage, and a rise in criminal activity. Some residents and business owners expressed concerns about the impact on their communities, with lawsuits filed against local officials for their role in the experiment.
President Trump had previously criticized the decision to withdraw police from the area, calling it an endorsement of anarchists. Springer, however, presents the episode as a reflection on the broader societal and legal challenges posed by the CHOP zone. The special, released in two episodes of around 25 minutes each, is part of Fox Nation’s programming aimed at examining the ongoing consequences of the event and its influence on contemporary discussions about policing and community safety.