Protesters and National Guard face off. Protesters asking them to march with them.
Wow 
People are ecstatic!
It took one National Guard solider. And then there kneeled down. Then one of them stood up and beckoned for the other soldiers and they all got on their knee and stayed there for about 3 minutes. “Thank you!” The crowd yelled.
Now they’re in a tight group talking. I’m trying to hear what they’re saying but the helicopter above is too loud.
Also just a shout out to my amazing friend Lindsey who drove out to me just to give me a phone charger!
Ah shoot. An arrest happening, but sure why. People are getting agitated. “Don’t F up!” People scream at the police and National Guard. “Let him go!” They chant. “Effing pigs!”
Ok I’m hearing he was a looter, but someone here is also telling me he didn’t do anything and was simply running to a friend. Guess we’ll find out later.
Also: Some people seem to be here for the photo ops. Pulling stunts and posing for pictures in front of cops and National Guard.
Wes, 28, was the guy who engaged in a conversation with the National Guard. He told them, “We’re all human beings. I know we share the same humanity. But when you wear that uniform, you become part of the system.”
He says whenever a cop stops him, his heart beats really really fast bc he’s black and he knows things can escalate really fast and boom!— he’s dead. He fears for his 18-y-o brother constantly too.
Wes says his job is to get in front of conflict and be as articulate and calm as he can: “But it’s not that I’m not angry. I’m the most angry! But I want what I say to pierce the heart. It’s a slow, gradual change, but it starts w communication.” Saw he give the solider a hug.
Some protesters are now sitting in the middle of Sunset Blvd. “This is what democracy looks like!” They chant: “No racist police!”
Young guy talks to a sergeant. Asks her to join her. She says, “I would if I could! But I have a post!” They then decide to do a moment of silence together.
Taking a moment of silence.
“This is not normal! And that’s the problem.”
“This is what it’s about.”
“Respect! Use your voice and authority for our voice to be heard!”
“This is not normal! And that’s the problem.”
“This is what it’s about.”
“Respect! Use your voice and authority for our voice to be heard!”
The young man who got the sergeant to take a moment of silence together is Malcolm and he’s 22. He said he’s been to two other protests that got kind of violent and he’s upset bc “I don’t want ppl to blame my ppl.” Said he wishes he can engage in dialogue with more officers.
It’s almost curfew time...
Someone with a loudspeaker telling everyone to “Go home! Go home!”
Thousands of people gathering for a protest in Hollywood for abt 6 hours, and I saw a few arrests (for looting, according to police), but no tear gas, no shooting, no one hurt or dead. I saw the National Guard and a police sergeant kneel. I’d say this was a peaceful protest.
Well, maybe I spoke too soon bc although most of the original crowd has dispersed, there are still dozens of protesters here with police surrounding them. Hoping it still stays peaceful.
Some people are now setting off fireworks.
LAPD has now left. When National Guard drove off, crowd cheered. Seems like some of them liked those guys.
Man, it’s like a party going on now. Like people have been holed up at home for too long during the pandemic and now need to let something out.
Now there’s a little scuffle happening between two guys (both not cops) and people jumping in screaming, “NO! Peaceful protest! Peaceful protest!” Thankfully they move on.
