Ford Fischer Profile picture
Jul 18, 2020 15 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Good morning from Columbus Ohio.

Today militia, conservative, and #boogaloo activists are gathering at the state house for an armed rally against mandatory masking and business closures during #COVID19.

I’ll be providing live coverage including livestream once things start. Image
The anti-maskers plan to march in a half hour, and their actual event doesn’t start for almost two more hours, but a car full of #BlackLivesMatter protesters has already arrived as well.
Still not too many people here, but here’s the obligatory “there’s a guy doing sword open carry” photo. Image
The Black Lives Matter folks are giving out free food today. They have a sign up calling it a “public pig roast.” ImageImageImage
ImageImage
At least one person self-ID’ing with Black Panther Party for Self Defense. I count three handguns on his person.

So far there hasn’t really been a confrontational mood with anyone involved. Image
Only one visible “Q” person here so far. Image
A few dozen - many with pro-cop signs - arrive together.
One Proud Boy shirt here.

Anyway, I’ll begin livestreaming soon. Image
Livestream lasted about an hour before phone overheated (about 90 degrees out). Trying again soon.

https://t.co/tSy1im9Qf9
“Racism does not exist” claims one with out here. Image
I continued to livestream for a couple hours as hundreds of antifa & BLM activists showed up.

Proud Boys and pro-cop people on the anti-mask side opposed them, while boogaloos tended to side with antifa & BLM / stand in between.

https://t.co/LhTqjZ3EvR
The boogaloo folks had a sort of debrief with antifa afterwards.

Some saw themselves as on the same side.

Other antifa folks rejected the boogaloos, due to their friendship with right wingers who support cops.

https://t.co/WEKXU3aPiM
Today was complicated. There were a lot of factions, some forming alliances with groups you wouldn't assume.

I just imported 200 photos and 3 hours of raw footage I shot today. I'm about to start a new thread where I will do my best to go through it.
Continue here for thread with photos (and soon, video):

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More from @FordFischer

Dec 19
THREAD: On Tuesday, Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) officers with the Norfolk FBI and assistance from the ATF arrested Virginia man Brad Spafford for possessing an unregistered short barrel rifle (SBR).

The arrest was the result of a multi-year Confidential Human Source (CHS). Image
Image
2) A Confidential Human Source (CHS, commonly known as "informant" or colloquially as "snitch") reported in January 2023 that Spafford lost fingers on Independence Day 2021 "while working with a homemade explosive device."

He says Spafford and friends were making ammunition for "something that Spafford would not be able to do alone."

The informant reportedly saw Spafford's hands "before and after the event" which is confusingly worded; if he saw them in person, then the informant has been around the defendant for more than three years.

If he saw them pre- disfigurement some other way, like a photo, then he still has been around him for at least nearly two years.Image
3) In May 2023, the informant and Spafford went to a gun range together, each with "their own weapons."

The informant brought his own Short Barrel Rifle, but it was registered.

The now-defendant allegedly brought what the informant believed was also an SBR. Image
Read 7 tweets
Oct 30
Just now: Attendees of Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally at the Ellipse resort to climbing over the “scale proof” fences surrounding the event after exit gates were closed, apparently due to pro-Palestine protesters on the other side.
2) "Push it down!"

During some of the confusion as police wouldn't allow people to leave the Harris Ellipse speech, some pushed over a small plastic fence that divided them from other people also trying to exit.

It didn't make a difference.
3) "You say it's open but where's it open?" crowds frustrated attempted to confront police as they had difficulty leaving the Harris rally.

"No! No! No!" a cop said as a man jumped, leaving a woman with him behind, who would have had to find a not-closed gate.

Meanwhile, police attempted to confine the pro-Palestine protests outside.
Read 7 tweets
Sep 11
VIDEO THREAD: Tonight, police and protesters clashed outside the presidential debate in Philly.

I want to detail how that happened.

All was at peace until one person lit a flare, waving it around for the cameras.

Police pushed in in force, arresting him and angering the crowd.
2) A handful of frustrated protesters linked arms and pushed into a line of bike cops, mimicking them by shouting "move!"

"CPD, KKK, IOF you're all the same!" they chanted as a shoving match ensued.

Additional police arrived in riot gear and the scuffle spread and intensified.
3) With police assembling in riot gear including shields now, the remaining pro-Palestine protesters called to "disperse!"

Officers ended up facing off with a mostly empty street consisting of a handful of stragglers as well as remaining news cameras.
Read 12 tweets
Sep 8
VIDEO THREAD: "Queers love Palestine! HRC loves the war machine!"

Protesters rallied against the Human Rights Campaign dinner tonight featuring Tim Walz in DC to condemn their relationship with weapons manufacturers, which they say enable genocide.

"We're not interupting!" they chanted. "Pink washing is disgusting!"
2) Protesters put red paint on their hands to symbolize what they say is the Human Rights Campaign's support for the killing of Palestinians.

"HRC is using our name to pinkwash an administration committing genocide, burning children under rubble but those children are not human enough for the Human Rights campaign, shame!"
3) "We are here, we are queer! Zionists not welcome here!"

Protesters banged on the windows overlooking the escalator and lobby that HRC guests went through to get to the gala with Tim Walz.

Police stepped in, forcing them away from the glass.
Read 6 tweets
Jul 24
This is my 4K footage of how the violence outside the United States Capitol began today.

You can see the first mace deployed (over the heads of officers, toward the activists) which angers the pro-Palestine crowd, who begins throwing water bottles as officers continue using mace.

A little over a minute into the clip is a flash grenade, one of only a couple I saw used today.

My understanding is this occurred after Netanyahu arrived but before he spoke to Congress.
2) As police engaged the crowd, a man scolded police and was maced as well.

The crowd continued marching, taking a wider route around the Capitol and avoiding most confrontations during the march itself.
3) "Smack Netanyahu in the head with that billy club!"

Activists continued a wide march around the United States Capitol from the West side to the East side clockwise.

Some pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu activists stood along the path and were mostly ignored. Police blocked off streets heading close to the Capitol complex.
Read 9 tweets
Jul 24
VIDEO THREAD: Protesters gathered Tuesday night in front of the Watergate Hotel (the second night in a row) for a noise demonstration against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is staying inside.

"From DC to Palestine, Netanyahu's out of time!" chanted protesters using red and green smoke bombs. "Shut, shut, shut it down, no Zionism in this town!"
2) "Allahu Akbar! Hamas!" yelled one man through the fencer outside the Watergate at Israel supporters counter-protesting them from inside.

"Jewish motherf***ers!" he yelled. "We're gonna kill all of you!"

"We're gonna burn you!"

It should be noted that it was one lone individual, not the wider protest, using this specific rhetoric.
3) One man dawning an Israeli flag confronted the pro-Palestine protesters directly outside the Watergate.

"You're a coward, you should join the IDF and kill kids yourself, because you're a p***y," he was told.

The man says he's from Jerusalem, but he donates, rather than being in the IDF.
Read 7 tweets

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