Thread by @FordFischer

To those who follow activism news, you know today is the big day.

Here at Freedom Plaza, you can see the right-wing “#DemandFreeSpeech” Rally stage being set up.

Police have barricades setup up in every direction around it, and roads blocked two blocks each direction.

Here’s the scene at Pershing Park, where antifa is expected to gather at 11am to counter it with a competing rally.

Of course the question everyone has is whether the two sides will clash.

At the end of the clip you can see how close these locations are to eachother.

Police in the area are wearing more protective gear than normal. The vests are standard, but the extra shoulder protection isn’t.

Right now: Proud Boys and others enter chanting “Trump 2020!” And “USA! USA!”

The police have a pretty solid line and a four-lane street as a no-man’s land between the two parks.

On the right-why side, a group of Proud Boys hangs out.

Some pointed out their t-shirts.

“Anti-communist Action”

“Death to antifa”

“Free Helo rides”

“Fuck antifa”

Here’s a look at the police line separating the two sides.

As I took the shot, a Lieutenant walked cop-to-cop letting them know that no civilians will be allowed to walk in that space the cops occupy.

So @medeabenjamin from @codepink is here live-streaming herself talking to some of the #DemandFreeSpeech rally participants.

Some were skeptical of talking to a lefty, but these few went on.

Right now @DLamontJenkins is arguing with the Proud Boys. I live-streamed for a while and then the feed shut down without me telling it to. Phone may be overheating.

The location is really cooking.

https://twitter.com/fordfischer/status/1147512990310125575?s=21

Guys dressed as Batman and Robin are here at the event.

They have a camera guy with them wearing an Andrew Yang ball cap.

“Gays for Trump!” one guy yells across to the antifa side.

The rally is just about to kick off.

I’ll be live on the @N2Sreports Facebook: Facebook.com/b2sreports

Livestream on FB failed after 10 minutes. I’ll be posting clips on here instead in real-time at #DemandFreeSpeech rally.

I truly believe in the value of livestream at events like this, so I’m sorry it won’t be technically possible.

I’ll do my best to completely cover via Tweet.

The organizer of the event just spoke briefly, promising a great time and leading a quick USA chant.

Marine Greg Aselbekian says those who burn the flag should “get the hell out of America” (he was involved in the confrontation two nights ago.)

He thanks Trump who he says he “can’t wait to vote for again” for “supporting our free speech.”

“Pantifabook Zuckerpunks will never settle for anything less than the complete eradication of America or themselves” claims one sign.

“Jews own USA” claims one sign.

I spoke to a pair of friends with signs saying “trolls held society” and “stop the bias.”

Guy on the right has a “it’s ok to be white” shirt on. He says it’s nothing against minorities, but he wants to push a little harder for free speech.

“Gays for Trump” founder Peter Boykin - who was banned from Twitter - opened his speech by saying his “#MeToo” moment was being “raped by social media.”

With some clouds coming through now it’s not as likely my phone will bake and overheat.

I’m about to go live again at Facebook.com/n2sreports. Follow me there.

My second try to livestream on Facebook failed again, but you can see what I got here, which includes Gavin and Milo: facebook.com/N2Sreports/vid…

Just now, Milo dressed as Laura Looker introduced her.

As Laura Loomer spoke, one guy held an anti-Semitic sign.

Proud Boys confronted him.

As that guy was removed by the Proud Boys from the rally, Jovi Val came to the guy’s defense.

Val is a former Proud Boy who has been disavowed from their group.

Police have now removed Jovi and put him into his own one-man zone.

Jovi Val attempted to speak to antifa but police forced him to leave as the conversation escalated.

So as things wrapped up, I live-streamed the antifa side where some activists from the right wing side came over, and police would perpetually remove them.

Here, antifa throws water bottle at a guy being removed, and one is knocked over by police.

Police say it was an accident.

Congressional candidate @JoeySalads went over to the antifa side of the street after the rally and police forced him to leave preemptively.

After @JoeySalads left, one antifa supporter threatened him, saying very specifically that he’d “whoop” him tonight, and that he’d force Joey to “fight back” so they’d “both go to jail.”

Just finished importing my footage.

Earlier today I accidentally slightly misquoted @Gaselbekian while on the field, which @Timcast called out.

In the spirit of that, I've uploaded the full speech he gave to see for yourself raw and in context.

Milo Yiannopoulos came onto stage dressed as Laura Loomer. I'll have his full speech online later, but one interesting moment:

Milo suggested that until more mainstream conservatives like @benshapiro get banned, nobody will care. So - he says - conservatives should report them.

Milo spent about a minute of his speech calling @thedailybeast reporter @willsommer's wife "ugly" in a variety of ways.

Some of the crowd was visibly uncomfortable with this point, and he said that to those "squeamish" people, they should know that antifa "want you dead."

Right now: Antifa heading to the after party. Follow on Facebook.com/n2sreports

Right now: I stopped live-streaming because it was about to rain and the antifa/MAGA faceoff seemed to be ending.

It didn’t, and now we’re being badly rained on.

Cops v antifa v... rain.

Importing my footage now from the antifa versus #DemandFreeSpeech afterparty fight.

As the group headed to Trump tower, they tried to fistbump the cops, apparently referencing the Proud Boys doing so two nights ago. Here's what they had to say when that didn't work.

When the antifa reached Trump Hotel, they came in contact with some Proud Boys and other #DemandFreeSpeech activists on their way in.

The usual words were exchanged, challenging eachother, accusations of assault, and "Fuck antifa! Fuck antifa!" until the fight in the next tweet.

At one point, a scuffle started where a Trump supporter (unclear if Proud Boy) and antifa activist physically fought. Police separated the sides wielding batons, and detained the antifa guy. At first they didn't handcuff him and it was unclear if he'd be arrested.

Several minutes later though, he was handcuffed and put into a police van. I was unable to capture him being loaded into the van but you can see him handcuffed here.

I didn't see the very first moment of the fight, so I can't say "who threw the first punch." For what it's worth, here's my iPhone angle which is technically a separate angle from the first one and may have more to offer/analyze.

Sorry to jump around, but my full video from earlier of Milo Yiannopoulos and Laura Loomer speaking at #DemandFreeSpeech rally is premiering now.

Wrapping up the reporting on the #Antifa fight at the #DemandFreeSpeech after-party: Police continued to separate the two sides effectively for the remainder of the evening. Here's some of the words exchanged.

You can see the full livestream here: facebook.com/N2Sreports/vid…

I'll wrap the thread by noting that one guy on the #MAGA side was wearing a "Pepe the Frog" mask. Antifa made fun of him for using an "outdated" meme.

Here's my raw video summary of the after-party confrontation between Proud Boys/MAGA and @DCDefend.

As always, all @N2Sreports footage available for license.

Here's a highlights video from some of the speakers today. I realize this is just some select clips; if anyone has any other specific speeches or segments they'd like to see recordings of, let me know. #DemandFreeSpeech

I wanted this in a separate video: One individual showed up at the #DemandFreeSpeech with a sign that said "Jews Own USA." Proud Boys confronted him and kicked him out. They also kicked out Jovi Val, an activist recently known for wearing swastikas.

I'm getting some much needed sleep now, but maybe now would be a good time to remind @TwitterDC that now would be a good time to make me @verified #VerifyFord

And also if you'd like to support @N2Sreports, check out our Patreon: Patreon.com/fordfischer

Point of clarification: I’ve heard a lot of people report/claim that @MrAndyNgo was there yesterday covering antifa at the #DemandFreeSeech rally in DC.

I did not see him or any documentation indicating this. It seems to have been a mistake on someone’s part that spread.