After the killing of George Floyd, #BlueLeaks documents show, law enforcement agencies told police in Minneapolis that they were under attack. The culprits: antifa, “black separatists,” and social media users. By me & @AlleenBrown theintercept.com/2020/06/26/blu…
Even before the Third Precinct burned, law enforcement agencies began emphasizing to Minneapolis police that they were in danger. The evidence given: the doxxing of two of the officers involved in Floyd's killing, a few examples of vandalism, and a threatening tweet to MPD.
In an effort to rein in this purported assault, a fusion center set up in the wake of 9/11 monitored the Facebook RSVP counts for peaceful protest events, including a suburban candlelight vigil. Agencies also collected intelligence from private messaging and Slack groups.
On May 28, the MN Fusion Center warned that police should look out for a dizzying array of suspicious behaviors, including people carrying balloons or bike locks (both potential projectiles) and *wearing masks* (ahem Covid).
Elsewhere in the country, agencies warned that protesters might use "black bloc" tactics such as those used in Hong Kong, adding that these can mean "collective, frequently violent action." The behaviors listed included communicating via encrypted apps.
All of these warnings help explain why police reacted with undue force in the days that followed, by firing rubber bullets and tear-gassing protesters at close range.
On why police violence continued through June, as the whole world watched, one expert said: "The most cogent explanation is fear.”
The documents in this link explain how authorities encouraged that fear. We redacted all personal information. theintercept.com/2020/06/26/blu…
The documents in this link explain how authorities encouraged that fear. We redacted all personal information. theintercept.com/2020/06/26/blu…
