Protests in Washington, D.C. this weekend were mostly calm during the day where moments of silence, marching, kneeling & speeches on police reform, race and inequality dominated.
But at night, a far different contingent emerged.
A thread of what @JackRodgersCNS & I witnessed:
But at night, a far different contingent emerged.
A thread of what @JackRodgersCNS & I witnessed:
What I witnessed regularly were moments like this one where a protestor would get close to the line, loudly yell, curse or gesticulate but mostly, ask police how they justify behavior that gets people like George Floyd killed.
(Photos by me unless otherwise indicated)
(Photos by me unless otherwise indicated)
It was moments like this that I saw repeatedly.
And for perspective: there were literally thousands more instances of this below in the streets of Washington, D.C. this weekend than there were burning trashcans or shattered windows.
And for perspective: there were literally thousands more instances of this below in the streets of Washington, D.C. this weekend than there were burning trashcans or shattered windows.
There was exasperation and exhaustion writ large on the faces (and signs) of many protestors who took to the streets of Washington this weekend.
I watched the facial expressions of police very closely on Saturday as throngs of protestors approached the barricades erected near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. It is hard to see their faces through riot gear but I leave the photos to you to interpret.
Just a few short blocks from the White House amid the protests Saturday there was a group providing free meals in green plastic bags to the homeless, cash-strapped and hungry. The line moved fast but when I passed w/@JackRodgersCNS, there were probably about 20 folks served.
A full-throated "No Justice, No Peace" boomed from the megaphone of this protestor Saturday as we walked toward a 10 minute moment of silence for #GeorgeFloyd at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
At the museum, a large crowd sat down and were asked to raise their fists for 9 minutes, roughly the time it took for George Floyd's life to be snatched from him. Everyone started with a raised fist, but about 5 minutes in, a lot of arms grew tired.
A powerful means to reflect.
A powerful means to reflect.
Here's a video from @JackRodgersCNS of that sit down at the museum:
As we moved from a sit-in at the museum late Saturday afternoon, hundreds and hundreds of protestors marched toward the Lincoln Memorial next where they gathered on the steps to share and listen to each other's truths, pain, anger and plans for action for roughly an hour.
Bicycles were abundant among protestors spread throughout D.C. but more often than not, folks were considerate with an "excuse me, on your left!" or a ring of a bell if they zipped by. Among BLM activists and related protestors, it was easy to feel safe as a reporter in the mix.
I have a lot more photos and insights to share with you momentarily.
Upon making it to the Lincoln Memorial, several people spoke on the importance of investment in black businesses and education, family and human rights. When this young man came up to speak, a person called out "We Love You!" and the memorial burst out with applause and hollering
The timeless words of Angela Davis were held on high by a woman exercising her First Amendment right on the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial where BLM speakers called for passionate, persistent engagement but condemned outright violence and destruction.
As @JackRodgersCNS and I departed w/the group to Lincoln Memorial, we headed to Constitution Ave.
This was a part of our day that became confusing. Fast.
As we walked, ppl suddenly came running up from behind, moving toward a small clearing among some trees & toward the street
This was a part of our day that became confusing. Fast.
As we walked, ppl suddenly came running up from behind, moving toward a small clearing among some trees & toward the street
We heard a man yelling in the field something that sounded pro-BLM but it was hard to hear since a helicopter was suddenly overhead and he was far away. I snapped a pic of the chopper & in a second, before I could turn my head, the man (who appeared white) was hauled off.
Some of those who ran to the clearing suddenly took off toward the man who was being arrested. Others were still running up toward 20th and Constitution & that's where we went. A few squad cars were already on the street. People were shouting and crowding.
More squad cars showed up. We were unable to discern what prompted the rush. As we tried to piece it together we saw a group form again in the nearby field. In the street, two cars stopped and honked their horns in solidarity as protesters and police gathered in size quickly.
It was then that we looked across the street and I said to @JackRodgersCNS, Look. It was a cop walking into the crowd with a canister of pepper spray. We started moving closer to get a better look and document. We couldn't see through the crowd and then:
Moving away from the pepper spray, we went to the sidewalk on Constitution to assess what was happening.
Then, moments later, again w/the pepper spray. This time, we moved further and darted between squad cars flanking the street.
Then, moments later, again w/the pepper spray. This time, we moved further and darted between squad cars flanking the street.
.@JackRodgersCNS grabbed the camera and went to document the immediate aftermath.
The look on the face of the shirtless man with his hands up says more than I ever could:
The look on the face of the shirtless man with his hands up says more than I ever could:
We got away without taking much tear gas and were in DC until early evening Sat. w/plans to return on Sunday.
An observation: on the one occasion Saturday we witnessed vandalism happening in real-time, it was a young white male tagging "F12"; shorthand for "fuck the police."
An observation: on the one occasion Saturday we witnessed vandalism happening in real-time, it was a young white male tagging "F12"; shorthand for "fuck the police."
As a reporter, some of the takeaways from Saturday for me:
- Repeatedly listened to BLM activists and affiliates advocate for peace and actively argue AGAINST destruction of property.
"This is our city. We built this city. This is your hard work. Don't destroy it."
- Repeatedly listened to BLM activists and affiliates advocate for peace and actively argue AGAINST destruction of property.
"This is our city. We built this city. This is your hard work. Don't destroy it."
More takeaways from Sat.:
- Listened to multiple black protesters say this isn't a "black vs white, us vs. them" issue. For many I heard it was important to have it expressed that oppression/inequality is founded in *systemic* racism requiring more than platitudes to dismantle.
- Listened to multiple black protesters say this isn't a "black vs white, us vs. them" issue. For many I heard it was important to have it expressed that oppression/inequality is founded in *systemic* racism requiring more than platitudes to dismantle.
Now to the photos from Sunday, May 31, after D.C. first burst into fits of unrest overnight following a day of peaceful protest for #GeorgeFloyd & days before Trump's use of force on Americans exercising their First Amendment right in his own backyard.
Sunday was a day of messages delivered from Saturday night. Some were angry. Some graphic. Some sad. Some simple. Some hopeful. Some were, well, just love.
On this day, I won't know who wrote what. I won't know exactly why. I'm left, like so many, to look and feel the weight.
On this day, I won't know who wrote what. I won't know exactly why. I'm left, like so many, to look and feel the weight.
Whether you looked up or down, #GeorgeFloyd's name left a mark on buildings, streets, construction sites. It was everywhere.
#GeorgeFloyd was not the only name @JackRodgersCNS and I saw scrawled on buildings as we walked through D.C. on Sunday.
A memorial to the 25-year-old Baltimorean #FreddieGray, who was killed in police custody 5 years ago.
A memorial to the 25-year-old Baltimorean #FreddieGray, who was killed in police custody 5 years ago.
And other messages like this were spraypainted on the wall of a building in Washington not terribly far from St. Johns Church; leftovers from the evening's unrest on Saturday, May 30. Photo was taken Sunday, May 31.
Construction site signs were tagged frequently with messages like this one as well:
Eyes on you, DC.
I should clarify, lest I confuse anyone!, the "wet paint" was one we saw on Sunday May 31.
Well into Sunday, cleanup was still underway at certain buildings, large corporate banks mostly.
This juxtaposition of this particular moment will stick with me.
This juxtaposition of this particular moment will stick with me.
Boarding up windows on Sunday afternoon after unrest in the wee hours in Washington.
So, the afternoon waned on Sunday, we began bumping into more protesters, like this one. Eventually coming across larger and larger groups who would begin to fill the air with chants of "No Justice No Peace"
It went from being a few hundred people to a thousand in minutes, they poured around the corner, chanting and marching, mostly everyone masked as they came.
The stream of people that kept coming was something to behold. Saw many, many signs with this same sentiment.
.@JackRodgersCNS also shot video of the river of peaceful protesters that moved through our city.
#GeorgeFloyd
#GeorgeFloyd
Take responsibility.
Peep the shirt of this young man.
And his sign echoing what so many young people are demanding as they grow up in a world of great uncertainty and rampant injustice.
And his sign echoing what so many young people are demanding as they grow up in a world of great uncertainty and rampant injustice.
More young people that marched in Washington late into Sunday afternoon.
"Respect Existence or Expect Resistance"
"Respect Existence or Expect Resistance"
Two gentlemen proudly sporting the UNIA flag or Black Liberation flag designed by Marcus Garvey in 1920.
In Washington, since Saturday, there have been helpers in abundance, offering pumps of hand sanitizer, water, snacks and in some cases, first aid.
"Free-ish?"
There were hundreds more pictures I could share from this past weekend but we'll end it here for now.
Tomorrow, June 3, @JackRodgersCNS and I will be out on the streets again. Stay tuned.
#GeorgeFloyd
Tomorrow, June 3, @JackRodgersCNS and I will be out on the streets again. Stay tuned.
#GeorgeFloyd
Today, Thursday, June 4 was a thing to behold as protesters gathered in Washington en masse while a memorial for #GeorgeFloyd was held in Minneapolis
You can read the story on what @JackRodgersCNS and I witnessed today here:
courthousenews.com/demonstrators-…
Below, McPherson Square.
You can read the story on what @JackRodgersCNS and I witnessed today here:
courthousenews.com/demonstrators-…
Below, McPherson Square.
But before I share photos from today, I would like to pick up the diary where I left off and share with you what I captured on Wednesday, June 3.
Let's take a look.
"We're Going to Keep Getting Madder until Black Lives Matter."
Photos by me and @JackRodgersCNS.
Let's take a look.
"We're Going to Keep Getting Madder until Black Lives Matter."
Photos by me and @JackRodgersCNS.
June 3 was a day where I didn't completely recognize the city I grew up in. Boarded up shops, an utterly defaced Dept of Treasury building, heavy military and police presence on every corner - literal intersections with at least 75 armed men guarding the perimeter of the WH.
There were police, military, law enforcement of every stripe and type, including some sent up from FCC Beaumont (BOP). Federal Protective Service (DHS) assisted with barricades. When cops in line were asked who they were with? DOJ and no further comment.
Though protesters were peaceful, the streets were militarized.
DEA agents, SORT - or special operations response teams - agents from FCC Three Rivers (Texas - BOP) as well, plus FBI.
And the list went on.
DEA agents, SORT - or special operations response teams - agents from FCC Three Rivers (Texas - BOP) as well, plus FBI.
And the list went on.
It was odd seeing so much military force. Washington was littered with remnants of property damage that occurred nights earlier. It was a direct contrast to the focused and compassionate tenor of those marching around D.C. against police brutality, however.
For much of the day, Jack and I spent time at 16th and I St near St. John's and by the White House. National Guard, pictured in the green and beige trucks, unloaded troops after protesters were gathered for several hours.
Protesters were packed into the square for much of the afternoon, blazing hot sun beating down. Demonstrators, like this young man, walked the line, mere feet from officers, his hands raised, chanting "Hands Up Dont Shoot"
Others like this young man in the yellow hoodie, yelled at volume "Say His Name" and repeated "George Floyd" getting those in the crowd to chant with him.
The intense frustration and pain and anger was streaming from every pore of this young man's face.
#FirstAmendment
#FirstAmendment
Meet Elizabeth. She's a public defender. She's sick and tired. And she isn't going home anytime soon.
We interviewed her.
Read more about that (and this day) here: courthousenews.com/people-are-tir…
We interviewed her.
Read more about that (and this day) here: courthousenews.com/people-are-tir…
The woman on the right, Anya, was hit with tear gas so President Trump could pose for photos in front of St. John's.
She came back the next day.
And the day after.
She came back the next day.
And the day after.
A protester sporting a @Kaepernick7 jersey walks the line.
It was over 90 degrees and the sun was beating down. I asked this young man, a native Washingtonian, why he was here.
"I'm done," he said. "I'm just done."
"I'm done," he said. "I'm just done."
A young woman lays on hot cement, her face totally covered, protesting the police killing of #GeorgeFloyd just outside of the White House and before a long flank of about 25-30 officers from varying outfits.
We overheard one demonstrator thank another for bringing their kids, because it made the space safer. A lot of families were out. Including this mother and son who had free water for anyone who needed it.
Protests here in Washington have been sacred spaces many, many times.
You can bring your family. You can come in your wheelchair. You can be any age, any color.
You can bring your family. You can come in your wheelchair. You can be any age, any color.
It is late and there is more work to do yet.
I'll continue this diary shortly.
More photos left from June 3 to share and of course, there are a few hundred images from today's demonstrations.
You can catch up on what we saw on June 4 here:
courthousenews.com/demonstrators-…
I'll continue this diary shortly.
More photos left from June 3 to share and of course, there are a few hundred images from today's demonstrations.
You can catch up on what we saw on June 4 here:
courthousenews.com/demonstrators-…
@threadreaderapp unroll please
For your convenience:
Picking the diary back up. You will forgive me I hope as this has been uploading slowly. I am only one woman and sometimes, I think there is value in letting what you witness marinate for awhile.
June 3. Two days before plaza is renamed by the mayor. It was hot. Each day brought more people. Remnants from two evenings of intense unrest, obviously and largely triggered by those outside of the greater peaceful movement, were being restored slowly. Police presence heavy.
The "restorations" included power washing of walls or hanging of construction signs over graffitied street epitaphs for George Floyd like this one.
(Left: May 30-31)
(Right: June 3)
#GeorgeFloyd
(Left: May 30-31)
(Right: June 3)
#GeorgeFloyd
Back to 16th and I. Hours after peaceful protesters had descended on the square, and after troops from the DC and US National Guard were added in force to the WH barricades, a march began. There were several hundred people that day.
We walked with them on the sidelines as they flowed down, chanting Hands Up Dont Shoot
More from the march out of 16th and I.
And on and on they went.
A man chalks the sidewalk behind marchers.
"Black Lives Matter"
"Black Lives Matter"
The scene outside of Trump Hotel in D.C. was regularly peaceful as hundreds and hundreds of people moved by on June 3.
Most demonstrators you hear from or meet had no interest whatsoever in making this place the scene or part of their movement.
Most demonstrators you hear from or meet had no interest whatsoever in making this place the scene or part of their movement.
"How Many More"
