Thread by @KaleyAJohnson

Fourth protest in Fort Worth for #GeorgeFloyd. Last night, protesters were tear gassed by police. Right now we’re in front of city hall. Couple hundred people here. #protests2020

“George Floyd!” “I can’t breathe!” Protesters chant as they march down Taylor Street.
The mayor issued an 8 pm curfew for tonight. Protesters have two hours and then police wouls presumably begin arrests.

Protest leaders said they plan to be done by 7:30 to abide by the curfew.

They encouraged people to leave the bridge last night before police launched tear gas, said they didn’t want anyone hurt

Crowd about to meet up with another huge crowd at the courthouse

The marchers just joined with a crowd at the courthouse and joined Them to kneel.

Protesters kneel in front do Tarrant County courthouse. #GeorgeFloydProtests

I try not to estimate crowd sizes so here’s are photos so you can see yourself.

Passing Flying Saucer. Diners take video.

Triston Holley from Fort Worth says he is out here to “fight against a system that’s been against us from the beginning.”

Fort Worth police chief Ed Kraus is marching with protesters.
He said organizers have been doing a way job keeping things calm but people “infiltrated” the protest with a different agenda.
Said half of those arrested last night were from out of town.

Here is Fort Worth chief police talking with a protester, who is demanding to know why they weren’t allowed through West 7th last night.
Kraus says they had info that some protesters were going to loot.

Fort Worth police chief talking with protester Patrice Jones.

Organizers are telling protesters its almost time to go home to make sure everyone is home for the 8 pm curfew. Some protesters disagree, yell they’re not going anywhere.

Carol Harrison-Lafayette talking with police chief Kraus. Says young people should be encouraged to be out here, not discouraged by police taking actions like they did last night.

Protesters standing on courthouse steps in Fort Worth.

“I am not telling you to get arrested. I am telling you to stand your ground.” Someone yelling to the crowd on the courthouse steps. Curfew is in 45 minutes.

Robert Johnson is an organizer. He said they don’t want anyone to stay post curfew and be arrested
“You don’t have to go to jail for justice.”

“F— Donald Trump” being chanted

I’ve seen a ton more TV cameras out here today- I didn’t notice any at yesterday’s protest.

Again with the “f— Donald Trump chant” #protests2020 #GeorgeFloyd

Tarrant County is historically Republican, but it voyed majority democrat for the first time in decades in the 2018 election between Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz.

Here are some other photos from today’s protest so far.
20 minutes until curfew.
#fortworthprotest #GeorgeFloyd #protests2020

Ten minutes until curfew and this is how many people are still here.

A small shrine for George Floyd and Atatiana Jefferson on the steps of the courthouse.

A protester starts to sing. The crowd slowly quiets and then kneels.

A church bell is sounding for 8 pm. Curfew has hit in Fort Worth. Hundreds are still in front of the Tarrant County courthouse.
“If you want to go home, go home. But remember Atatiana Jefferson was shot in her home,” someone said in the megaphone.

It’s 8 minutes past the curfew @MayorBetsyPrice set today. Some officers are on bikes behind protesters but there has been no movement by police.

“If violence erupts in the streets of Fort Worth tonight, I want to be very damn clear. It was not us that brought the violence here... It was them,” a protester says.

Police pull up to protesters at 8:30, thirty minutes past curfew. Many run but then come back.

Police announce protesters are in violation of Fort Worth curfew.

Protesters link arms. They aren’t moving:

A couple officers are inside the Tarrant County courthouse

“Just take a knee!” Protesters shout at cops.

Protesters take a knee in front of the Tarrant County court house.

Protesters inching closer to police.

I can’t believe it. Police took a knee. Protesters and police embrace.

Many protesters say they’re going home now. Some protesters and cops hug.

While this was going on, of Officer in riot gear showed up from the side. Someone threw a firework.

In the last 30 seconds, we went from police and protesters hugging to riot police coming from a side street.

And we are at a standstill.

Some protesters sprinting around the block.

Don’t know what’s going on now. Several rows of cops on two sides.

Police on Weatherford and Main Street. Protesters not leaving.

Conversations happening between police and protesters. Cops says he agrees with what they’re doing, and as long as they don’t have stuff thrown at them, they’re okay.

This woman just sprinted at police. They didn’t do anything to her, protesters stay back too. Someone yelled “she ran at them, don’t go over there.”

This officer was the first to kneel with protesters. He picked up flowers from the street and put them in his bag

Police chief Kraus is taking a knee work protesters.

Officers in riot gear are taking a knee too.

Police chief and the assistant chief kneel to pray with protesters. #GeorgeFloyd

SWAT just turned around and left after chief Kraus talked to them.

“When SWAT leaves, we leave,” one person shouted to the crowd

Protesters just turned around and left.
“You just showed the nation how it’s done,” Chief Kraus yells.

Okay everyone. Here’s a rundown of what the chief told me:
- the first officer who kneeled and the ones who followed did so on their own
- when the protesters rushed forward to embrace the officers, special response team thought it was an attack

That resulted in a tense standoff with protesters, so Kraus and assistant chief Swearingin came down from the command center to talk with protesters.
They talked and prayed. Protesters said of SRT left, they would too, so Kraus gave the order.

I’m headed out. Protesters and police left, a few people stayed behind to clean up water bottles, etc. Overall, not how I - or probably anyone - expected the night to go.

Check out -@JHowl04 and @ByJamesHartley, who are atil covering the Dallas protests.

Thank you everyone for following along. Stay safe!
Here's the story, which includes some incredible photos from @AMcCoyPhoto #GeorgeFloyd #protests2020 #FortWorth
star-telegram.com/news/local/for…