Thread by @AlexCTaliadoros

One week ago MPD lured, trapped, roughed up and arrested 194 nonviolent protesters on #SwannStreet – while pepper-spraying and besieging protesters who were given shelter in a private home.

This is a thread with details and new footage of what went down to hold MPD accountable.

Two things to keep in mind:

1️⃣ The only thing the protesters are accused of is violating the Mayor's curfew – a curfew MPD didn't enforce for others, even those across the street that same night!

The curfew was used to crack down on a First Amendment #BlackLivesMatter assembly.

2️⃣ By all witness accounts, the #SwannStreet protesters were nonviolent. They constantly deescalated, stayed calm while being kettled for hours, and pulled back anyone who acted up. And this despite many being assaulted hours earlier at #LafayetteSquare.

youtube.com/watch?v=gEiMiC…

MPD said the group threw projectiles and set fire to a police car but the most aggression from the group was throwing a few water bottles after police sped up to them on 14th and the group feared they may ram into the crowd. Soon after they kept marching.

youtube.com/watch?v=_XyRS2…

But instead of letting them march, MPD officers in cars, bikes, and on foot pressed the protesters into #SwannStreet, where they had blocked off both sides of the street and alleyways. Some felt that undercover cops in the group had guided them into Swann then made a quick exit.

Despite being blockaded, protesters keep their calm and chant "Hands Up, Don't Shoot." They also chant "Let Us Leave" and plead with police to let them go home. Many had parents waiting for them, and all they had done was stay out past curfew protesting.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1268015806216110080

And here on the other side of #SwannStreet, riot police and National Guardsmen close in on an even younger group of protesters as a neighbor decries the absurdity of detaining these kids and correctly predicts the chaos it will bring to the neighborhood. (📽️: @DanielleMisiak)

Standard practice in DC is to issue a warning to protesters before making arrests, but protesters on both sides of #SwannStreet and reporters near the front lines say they didn't hear a warning from MPD. Some said they were being told to disburse once they were already boxed in!

Before we see what happened, here's how @ChiefNewsham describes MPD's conduct on #SwannStreet. He praises officers' "judgement and restraint" (!!) while admitting that they mass detained nonviolent protesters during a pandemic for "not a serious offense."

https://twitter.com/i/status/1268285488370237441

And in the same press conference, @ChiefNewsham is astounded that anyone would even *suggest* that MPD officers beat up anyone.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1268217454116962310

Well, here's what it actually looked like when MPD moved in.

MPD ram protesters with riot shields, mace people, shove others against cars, and cause panic. Six cops jump on one man trying to get out. It only deescalates when protesters again put their hands up and hold firm.

Here's what it look like on the ground. Cops with full riot gear roughing up and pepper-spraying unarmed protesters with a helicopter circling overhead. All because these people were protesting past curfew!

Does this look like sound judgment and restraint?

Even journalists weren't spared. Here's @MikeBrestDC getting hit by pepper-spray and shoved to the ground despite cautioning that he was a member of the press.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1267631980998524928

As the panic set in, #RahulDubey opened his door and welcomed as many protesters as possible. Unable to stop them all, MPD maced people as they entered. Even at a distance you see mace used by Rahul's door at the 0:20 mark. MPD kept spraying into the home.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1267825283349934080

Need more proof? Here's a video from inside the house after Rahul closed his door, when protesters see MPD officers wreak havoc by spraying mace into the house and rush to close the windows.

And here's the aftermath. Dozens of people coughing in agony with their eyes stinging inside Rahul's house.
Most people at Rahul's weren't maced on their way in, but were overwhelmed when MPD's pepper spray filtered through the house.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1267672002355216389

And here's a video from @MekaFromThe703 showing protesters a few minutes later still trying to recover.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1267643524960464899

Here's an interview with Rahul the next morning with @hunterw where he clearly recounts how MPD maced people on their backs as they ran away, then into the front entrance, and then finally through the front windows until protesters rushed to close them.

pscp.tv/hunterw/1eaKbQ…

Chief Newsham made a big deal about MPD being concerned that protesters had forced their way into homes on #SwannStreet, but they barricaded Rahul's home for five whole hours *after* he confirmed that he lived there and was hosting the group voluntarily.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1267719264162787328

During that time, MPD tried and failed to:
❌ Coax protesters to step outside
❌ Sneak in through the backyard
❌ Send fake protesters to the home
❌ Block a delivery of pizza
❌ Pretend there was a medical emergency
❌ Have undercover cops record people's license plates

All in all, four #SwannStreet homes took in protesters – and others provided supplies, alerted news outlets, and pressured MPD to leave the neighborhood by morning.

MPD chose Swann Street to trap protesters assuming they would be isolated there, but it blew up in their face.

That's only half the story though.

The other protesters who didn't find shelter were trapped in the kettle for hours without access to food or bathrooms. They were guarded like prisoners of war, and waited to be arrested and spend the night in custody.

(📽️: Sebi Medina-Tayac)

Even when the police's stampede had ended and people had calmed down, MPD still found ways to beat them.

Here you can zoom in and see the woman with a white backpack getting *punched* by an officer while having her hands up. Such restraint and good judgement!

(📽️: Medina-Tayac)

When arrests started happening, the group quickly realized that MPD – ever so professional – was singling out men (especially black men) to arrest. So white women stepped to the front and insisted that they be taken.

This is allyship!

(📽️: @rettumlraep)

https://twitter.com/i/status/1268022604805345280