Thread by @SophiaLeeHyun

Omg. It’s happening.

The guy is ok. He got a scrape on his ankle and is in shock.

Santana Lopez, 25, has been at the protests for 3 days. I’m seeing her running around screaming for people to stay peaceful. She says she’s seen the looters and vandalizers and they’re mostly white folks and it makes her angry bc “they’re going to blame us.”

One guy threw a water bottle at a passing cop car. One woman jumps up and screams, “Hey! Don’t break the peace!” This group— the majority of them— are desperately trying to stay peaceful. “Don’t give them a reason to hurt us!” One woman yells. “Them” = the cops.

“George Floyd! Don’t shoot!”

Protestors begging angry people to stay back and stay safe.

Businesses are boarding up their windows in preparation for another possibly chaotic night.

All in wait. One guy screams at them, “Eff you! You’re not the only ones with guns!”

Law enforcers blocking off the highway.

William Claybrooks, 27: “Change will come. By force. We’re gonna burn all these b***ches down. They gotta feel it for change.” I asked him, “Burn it all down? But this is your city!” “Nah, I don’t live here. I live in South LA. These are big corporations. They got insurance.”

Someone tagged this bench and another protestor, Ricky Woznichak, yelled are him: “Stop vandalizing.” He told me he’s upset because “this is not a good look. I don’t want the wrong ppl to get blamed.” He was at the protest in Fairfax yesterday, got shot rubber bullets by cops.

“If you’re a person of color! To the middle! If you’re white! Go to the edges!”

Just want to add that as of now, this is STILL a peaceful protest! Many people working hard to keep it that way!

Volunteers passing out bottles of water to protestors. Drivers honking to show their support.

I asked around if anyone know who the organizers are. “No idea.” “The internet, man.” “Who knows?” Apparently the organizers told protestors they’ll be kicked out if they get violent.

“You will not hurt anyone! You will not destroy property! Who are we here for?” “George Floyd!”

This group has been trying to make it to city hall. The police blocked them the first time. They made multiple loops, cut through Grand Park, and are now gathering in front of the city hall building.

Many knees down in front of city hall. Still maintaining peace. “Hands up! Don’t Shoot!”

Military police inching in.

“Keep the peace! Keep the peace!”

There are other protestors in front of them warning them to stay back. Now they’re chanting, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”

“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”

My gosh.

Curfew is at 6 pm. We’re about an hour away from that. My phone is running out of juice. Crowd is inching closer and closer to city hall. Praying this stays peaceful.

I’m worried bc one of the guys here is carrying a gun. I told him, “Please don’t use it.” He smiles: “Not unless I got to.” He adds, “I won’t use it on you.” I’ve seen him yelling f-bombs all afternoon at cops. Many are watching him, pulling him away when he gets aggressive.

Guy with loudspeaker now addressing the crowd: “We do not want anyone rioting or looting! If you’re going to loot, get the F out of here!” He goes on to say, “We’re going to change this. We are going to vote! Be calm, stay calm! Think think think!”

“This is a peaceful protest. They told us we can’t do it and here we are! This is an opportunity for our generation to decide who is going to be Americans! Be angry! But sin not!” Crowd cheer.

We’re ending the protest with a moment of silence on the knee: “I beg you— make it home safe tonight. Remember, no looting!”