Good morning from Columbus Ohio.
Today militia, conservative, and #boogaloo activists are gathering at the state house for an armed rally against mandatory masking and business closures during #COVID19.
I’ll be providing live coverage including livestream once things start.
The anti-maskers plan to march in a half hour, and their actual event doesn’t start for almost two more hours, but a car full of #BlackLivesMatter protesters has already arrived as well.
Still not too many people here, but here’s the obligatory “there’s a guy doing sword open carry” photo.
The Black Lives Matter folks are giving out free food today. They have a sign up calling it a “public pig roast.”
At least one person self-ID’ing with Black Panther Party for Self Defense. I count three handguns on his person.
So far there hasn’t really been a confrontational mood with anyone involved.
Only one visible “Q” person here so far.
A few dozen - many with pro-cop signs - arrive together.
One Proud Boy shirt here.
Anyway, I’ll begin livestreaming soon.
Livestream lasted about an hour before phone overheated (about 90 degrees out). Trying again soon.
https://t.co/tSy1im9Qf9
“Racism does not exist” claims one with out here.
I continued to livestream for a couple hours as hundreds of antifa & BLM activists showed up.
Proud Boys and pro-cop people on the anti-mask side opposed them, while boogaloos tended to side with antifa & BLM / stand in between.
https://t.co/LhTqjZ3EvR
The boogaloo folks had a sort of debrief with antifa afterwards.
Some saw themselves as on the same side.
Other antifa folks rejected the boogaloos, due to their friendship with right wingers who support cops.
https://t.co/WEKXU3aPiM
Today was complicated. There were a lot of factions, some forming alliances with groups you wouldn't assume.
I just imported 200 photos and 3 hours of raw footage I shot today. I'm about to start a new thread where I will do my best to go through it.
Continue here for thread with photos (and soon, video):
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