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Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

Aug 22, 2020 • 10 tweets • 6 min read • Read on X

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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.

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.

https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1297214774313250817

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.

https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1297214774313250817

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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More from @FordFischer

Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

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.

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Ford Fischer

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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.

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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.

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Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

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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.

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Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

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.

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Ford Fischer

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All video in thread by @olgafe_images for @N2Sreports

2) NYPD's Strategic Response Group forcefully pushed back pro-Palestine activists and made several arrests throughout the evening both attempting to keep protesters away from the event featuring President Biden and off of the streets.

3) Pro-Palestine protesters trying to reach the Biden event ran through the James A. Farley Building, but encountered both police and Israel supporters when they exited.