(CNN) The de facto leader of the autonomous protest zone in Seattle said Wednesday "a lot of people have already" left the area, days after the mayor said she was going to persuade people to leave. A statement from a Twitter account that claims to be associated with the protest zone -- known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), or Capitol Hill Organized Protest -- said that "few people remain in our beloved CHOP." The statement, signed by "The Capitol Hill Occupied Protest Solidarity Committee," added that "the CHOP project is now concluded." Thousands of protesters have occupied the area, a four- to six-block portion of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, since June 8 in an effort to demand police reform and in reaction to the death of George Floyd. However, in recent days, at least four shootings have been reported in the area, one of which left a person dead.

Source: CNN June 24, 2020 23:01 UTC