Ford Fischer Profile picture
Aug 22, 2020 10 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Right now: as a sort of street convention called #BreonnaCon for #BreonnaTaylor takes place in Louisville, KY, III% militia groups are gathering in the area.

I’ll be doing my best to document them throughout the day, particularly their interactions with BLM and law enforcement. ImageImageImageImage
They just had a prayer and it seems like they’re going to march shortly. I’ll be livestreaming soon.
I count 24 of them, but something interesting: they tell me that actually another “Patriot” Militia will be showing up that they disavow and consider to be racist. It’s unclear to me how many that might draw.
But first, the militia has to pay to park. ImageImage
So for the past couple hours, the militia group basically stayed in the parking lot. At first, they tried to block it off so only militia could use it.

Local PD told them they couldn’t do that.

They spent the time so far guarding their cars and talking to a handful of media.
At this point it’s started to rain, so some of them are getting into their cars.

One interesting development is that the group has a new name and no longer identifies with III%.

They are now the “National Patriotic Defense Team.” ImageImage
So the competing militia rally got cancelled, so there’s basically a handful of those guys standing under a bridge near their rally point telling people to leave if they show up. Image
Meanwhile, the militia I started the day covering - which calls itself the “National Patriotic Defense Team” was just about to leave.

I asked their leader Tara "Hoggirl" Brandau whether they considered the day a success, and they said yes, opposing groups didn’t show.
The militia switched parking lots and ordered pizza.

They say that they’re “on standby” in case violence breaks out elsewhere, they’d drive to that location.

In the meantime, rifles are away and they’re just hanging out. ImageImage
The “National Patriotic Defense Team” stuck around tonight, listening to a police radio.

Their plan was basically to go anywhere a situation formed that they thought police would be overwhelmed at.

None ever came, and it seems they’re wrapping up. ImageImageImageImage

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More from @FordFischer

Sep 13
Documentary video thread: The New York Young Republican Club led a vigil for Charlie Kirk Friday night in New York City.

Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia led mourners in prayer: "May the God of all consolation embrace his wife and children with tender mercy and grant them strength in this hour of sorrow."

"That bullet did not kill Charlie Kirk. It made him immortal forever, a martyr in our movement!" said NYYRC President Stefano L. Forte. "We are all Charlie Kirk Now!"
2) "In Charlie Kirk's memory, let's make sure we keep free speech alive!" said Republican Mayoral candidate Curtis Silva. "Let it not be in vain!"
3) "He honestly was one of the reasons that I actually woke up and learned how to think for myself," one mourner says of Charlie Kirk.

Others praised Kirk primarily for his dialogues with college students.
Read 5 tweets
Sep 2
Just now: Activists demanding Trump’s impeachment and release of Epstein files enter Marjorie Taylor Greene’s office along with journalist Don Lemon.

They are told to leave, door slammed behind them, and a Capitol officer arrived to tell them to lower the volume, but no arrests.
2) Activists entered office of Rep. Joaquin Castro to demand he files articles of impeachment on President Trump. @JessicaDenson07 tells him not to wait until midterms.

Journalist Don Lemon complimented office staff for being polite and offering water, unlike Greene's office.
3) Anti-Trump activists slide flyers showing President Trump with Jeffrey Epstein under the door of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's office.
Read 8 tweets
Aug 29
4K VIDEO THREAD: Federal agents, many wearing masks, oversaw a vehicle checkpoint in the Ivy City neighborhood of Washington DC, part of President Trump's federal takeover of law enforcement functions in the capital city.

Drivers were directed to either carry on or move into one of two lanes where they'd be detained. Several were issues citations for infractions like window tint, while at least four were handcuffed, of which at least three were taken away by police.

Washington DC's MPD officers performed most of the frontline enforcement, while the feds oversaw the operation, assisted, and communicated by phone.
2) "Unconstitutional, go fuck yourselves," a driver yelled after being allowed through the checkpoint without being pulled over.

"Get him, he's on his phone!" fruitlessly yelled an MPD officer in response.

"You lost him!" I noted to the cop, who replied "that was a good one."
3) An unmarked vehicle was pulled into the line for those detained for further investigation.

When it turned out there was a uniformed police officer in the car, he was promptly let through.

Some other drivers were removed from their cars and put in handcuffs. The reasons for most arrests were not immediately clear to onlookers.
Read 5 tweets
Jun 16
THREAD: The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force has arrested Peter Stinson, accusing him of threatening to assassinate Trump.

Stinson is a veteran and founder of "May Day on the Mall," which Rep Eric Swalwell spoke to just two days ago. Image
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2) The FBI is clearly well aware of Stinson's leadership role in the Mayday Protest Movement, which they point out in page 4 of their indictment.

The timing, this arrest occurring right after Swalwell addressed the group, is uncanny.

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3) The posts Stinson allegedly wrote that the FBI say constituted criminal threats against President Trump go all the way back to 2020, and continue on X (then Twitter) until 2022. Image
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Read 15 tweets
Jun 15
VIDEO THREAD: Police in Los Angeles pushed heavily using less-lethal munitions to break up "No Kings" and anti-ICE demonstrators in the downtown area.

Officers declared an unlawful assembly and tear gassed the crowd.

Video in thread contributed by Neil Radimaker for @N2Sreports
2) Police made arrests and advanced against the crowd in a line of mounted horses ahead of gassing the crowd again.
3) Protesters and press retreated from blooms of tear gas and poured liquids on their face in an attempt to recover.

(News2Share contributor Neil Radimaker reported vomiting.)

Protesters in the distance could be seen within the plume of gas with their hands up.
Read 8 tweets
Jun 13
VIDEO THREAD: Anti-ICE protesters gathered again outside the loading bay of a federal building in downtown LA on Thursday evening, where police declared an unlawful assembly.

Officers pushed into the crowd, firing a less lethal round and arresting at least one person.
2) A man (not clear to me which agency) pointed a scoped rifle directly into the crowd of protesters and press as police threatened arrest.

The activists celebrated a small victory as a judge temporarily enjoined the National Guard from being deployed at Trump's directive without California's executive approval, a decision which has since been overturned.

Some activists, but one in particular, vehemently instructed the crowd to obey the order to leave, which ultimately fragmented the crowd.
3) A handful of protesters ended up inside of a kettle formation, which closed in on and arrested them.

Two vehicles adorned with pro-immigrant and pro-Palestine symbols were also towed from inside the kettle.
Read 5 tweets

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