Today armed Black Lives Matter and "boogaloo" protesters joined forces for an open carry rally against police violence and government overreach. I'll have HD video up ASAP, but here are some photos I snapped today.
Betcha didn't see this on cable news today.
Betcha didn't see this on cable news today.
I'll use video in addition to the livestream to try to detail what happened, but a handful of white nationalist-type activists showed up. (such as 1st and 2nd from left in this photo)
Boogaloo and BLM people chanted "white supremacy sucks" and condemned them.
Boogaloo and BLM people chanted "white supremacy sucks" and condemned them.
I have another story I'm about to cover, so I'll be doing more in depth video later, but I wanted to post some HD clips on this incident:
"How many racists do I see here?" asked a speaker. Three raised their hands.
"How many racists do I see here?" asked a speaker. Three raised their hands.
Later, a group called the "Propertarians" spoke, which split the crowd. The speech was largely white nationalist talking points.
"White Supremacy sucks!" the boogaloo boys and Black Lives Matter activists chanted as they marched back to where that speech was happening.
"White Supremacy sucks!" the boogaloo boys and Black Lives Matter activists chanted as they marched back to where that speech was happening.
Some in the audience of the speech were in disagreement about whether the "Propertarians" are racist. This led to arguing and a very very brief physical confrontation.
One guy accidentally dropped his mag and had to put it back in.
One guy accidentally dropped his mag and had to put it back in.
"We don't do that Nazi shit!"
Mike Dunn, a marine veteran and the organizer of the event, talked to his group after the confrontation explained what happened.
Mike Dunn, a marine veteran and the organizer of the event, talked to his group after the confrontation explained what happened.
This clip better represents the vibe of the day.
Earlier, police had refused to allow the #BlackLivesMatter and #Boogaloo people in a certain area.
They linked arms and went into the area (armed) without police intervening. No arrests made today.
Earlier, police had refused to allow the #BlackLivesMatter and #Boogaloo people in a certain area.
They linked arms and went into the area (armed) without police intervening. No arrests made today.
I'll have more HD video from this story but right now I'm back in DC where there's plenty to cover tonight.
Stay tuned for a jam packed evening on my Twitter feed, and HD video from all the stories later. As reminder, here's my live of the full 2A event.
Stay tuned for a jam packed evening on my Twitter feed, and HD video from all the stories later. As reminder, here's my live of the full 2A event.
I didn't get to promptly publish some of my HD footage from this morning's BLM/2A rally in Richmond because I had another story in DC. Apologies for delay, but catching up!
Here's my HD summary of their confrontation with the "propertarians."
Here's my HD summary of their confrontation with the "propertarians."
Let's review some moments starting from the beginning.
#BlackLivesMatter and "#Boogaloobois" found common ground especially on the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Duncan Lemp, a black woman and white man respectively who were both killed in no-knock police raids this year.
#BlackLivesMatter and "#Boogaloobois" found common ground especially on the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Duncan Lemp, a black woman and white man respectively who were both killed in no-knock police raids this year.
Organizer and boogaloo activist Mike Dunn said that he's disappointed in racial profiling, and he's "disappointed gun owners are profiled as well."
Wearing an "I can't breathe" hat (and a few firearms) #BlackLivesMatter activist "Pops" said that "If George Floyd would have been a blonde hair blue eyed white guy, I still would have been pissed."
This dialogue was also fascinating. Here, boogaloo boys explain their ideology - as they see it - to Black Lives Matter protesters.
I think this conversation may be illuminating to those having trouble understanding how these groups found agreement.
I think this conversation may be illuminating to those having trouble understanding how these groups found agreement.
I talked to a few boog guys hanging out after the event about what common ground they see with BLM.
"Anti-authoritarianism is a broad spectrum, and a lot of people call fall under that," one explained.
Another says the media tries to vilify them and misrepresent their views.
"Anti-authoritarianism is a broad spectrum, and a lot of people call fall under that," one explained.
Another says the media tries to vilify them and misrepresent their views.
Hi again @TeamYouTube. This appears to be a genuine glitch/error.
Last night I uploaded my documentary news video of the unusual protest that occurred yesterday. It's a ten minute summary, not a livestream, but was removed for a policy on livestreams. I appealed. Please fix.
Last night I uploaded my documentary news video of the unusual protest that occurred yesterday. It's a ten minute summary, not a livestream, but was removed for a policy on livestreams. I appealed. Please fix.
While I wait for Youtube to hopefully fix their error (link below), here's a clip I put in the Youtube summary but hadn't tweeted:
A woman complimented the guy with a Katana which reminds her of "Walking Dead." I then interview Katana guy.
A woman complimented the guy with a Katana which reminds her of "Walking Dead." I then interview Katana guy.
I hate to dwell on this, but just one final note to @TeamYouTube:
Please note that CBS's video of the exact same rally with extremely similar (although less thorough) visuals is not only online, but monetized.
Theirs:
Mine:
Please note that CBS's video of the exact same rally with extremely similar (although less thorough) visuals is not only online, but monetized.
Theirs:
Mine:
Actually, one more note:
Read/watch my whole thread, then watch CBS's one-minute version of this story.
They outright ignore the armed Black Lives Matter activists and show one BLM guy who was PART OF THE EVENT and call him a "counter-protester."
Read/watch my whole thread, then watch CBS's one-minute version of this story.
They outright ignore the armed Black Lives Matter activists and show one BLM guy who was PART OF THE EVENT and call him a "counter-protester."
