Ford Fischer Profile picture
Aug 31, 2020 15 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Tonight at #BlackLivesMatter Plaza in DC, protesters mocked police putting on riot gear by saying "let's hydrate the pigs" and throwing water bottles at them.

Police responded with tear gas.
The first tear gas canister was right in the center of the crowd, which caused people closer to the cops to go toward the cops to avoid it.

Those lucky people, such as yours truly, had to run back through the tear gas to get away.
At least two different types of gas were used. Some of it was white, but for a moment, the entire area north of the White House was filled with yellow gas.

Protesters tried to use umbrellas to protect themselves from it, which was largely ineffective.
As most of the protesters retreated, one used a lacrosse stick to intercept a tear gas canister and throw it back toward the police.
As protesters retreated, police continued firing non-lethals into the crowd, about a half a block forward.

This was still on #BlackLivesMatter Plaza. The police fired munitions from the "R" in "Matte*r*" to the protesters who were on the "T" as in "Mat*t*er."
Police physically pushed forward using bikes. This moment was a bit of a mess and I was mostly focused on not getting arrested myself, but I believe some of the estimated 7-10 arrests occurred around this moment.
An individual was being arrested and two people tried to come to his aid and were maced.
Police continued firing into the crowd to push them northbound up 16th street, and ultimately held their ground at 16th and I.
Several protesters were injured, and police followed from a distance as they attempted first aid while continuing to retreat all the way to Dupont Circle, where they ultimately dispersed.
Here's my full HD video of the violence that broke out in front of the White House tonight during #dcprotests.

More video from tonight on the way.

I don't want to just focus on the later violence. Let's look at the march from the beginning.

Protesters with the "Abolish the police" march began at the White House, and marched through DC constantly shooting off fireworks.
The activists - led by a shield formation - spoke to outdoor diners at a relatively fancy restaurant called "Le Diplomat."

"Fire, fire, gentrifier!" they chanted at the staff and people eating, before talking about police violence.
"If we don't get no justice, you don't get no sleep!"

At about 11pm, the protesters marched through a few residential neighborhoods, chanting "fire fire, gentrifier!" and "Black people used to live here!"

They used fireworks on lawns and strobe lights to wake people up.
Here's my full video of the "Abolish the police" march that occurred in DC before the tear gas etc. incident at the White House.

Raw copies of all footage available to license. Excited that in fact, ABC7 licensed footage from earlier in this thread.

As a reminder, you can see the full context for every shot in this thread in the livestream:

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More from @FordFischer

Apr 15
THREAD: I was one of only two media I'm aware of in the courtroom today for a lengthy hearing where the federal government fought to hold Russell "Duke" Vane IV pre-trial.

This thread will be based on my notes and court documents.

No cameras, phones, etc were allowed inside.
2) U.S. Marshals brought Vane into Room 400 of the Eastern District of Virginia Courthouse in a green jumpsuit before Judge William B Porter.

FBI Special Agent Marc Gastaldo, who wrote the criminal affidavit, testified to "multiple positive tests for Ricin" in the past 3 days. Image
3) Defense attorney Geremy Kamens made arguments matching some in this filing.

He noted a relatively small amount of actual Ricin found in Vane's house, no fingerprints as of now, and no proof of when the Ricin was produced.

Judge found probable cause, shifting to detention.Image
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Read 39 tweets
Apr 12
BREAKING THREAD: On April 11, Russell Vane IV - the subject of my reporting who allegedly attempted to provoke a Virginia militia group into producing explosives - was arrested.

He is charged with "Attempted production of a biological agent or toxin."


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2) According to the criminal complaint, the FBI received multiple tips after I published the story about Vane - who went by Duke - on April 1.

He apparently tried to legally change his name on April 3, the same day a false obituary of him appeared.

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3) The feds cite my reporting, where I show unclassified government documents that the Virginia Kekoas militia members were allegedly handed by Duke, and he later appears to acknowledge giving them.






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Read 19 tweets
Apr 1
INVESTIGATIVE VIDEO THREAD: The Virginia Kekoas, a pro-gun prepper militia based in Eastern Virginia and formerly affiliated with the Boogaloo movement, tells News2Share that they recently kicked out a member they believe may have been plotting an explosives-related entrapment attempt against the group, or worse.

Russell Richardson Vane IV first made contact with the Virginia Kekoas in April 2022, according to the group's leader Eddie Ray, who goes by "ICE" and member Cody Beckner, who goes by "Sasquatch." Vane allegedly adopted the call sign "Duke."

The pair provided extensive screenshots and documents showing that since joining, Vane - as "Duke" - engaged in an escalating sequence of unusual behavior that included apparent provocations for the group to develop homemade explosives. Homemade explosives lacking an ATF registration are generally a federal felony.

"Sasquatch" and "ICE" spoke exclusively to News2Share to provide a thorough timeline of the events that led up to "Duke" being removed from their organization.

2) ICE and Sasquatch say that upon reaching out to the Kekoas in 2022, Duke identified himself as working for the CIA, but was allowed to remain a prospective member rather than being ejected because they believed he may have advanced knowledge of world-altering events.
3) Within two weeks of joining, the pair say Duke asked about a "group fund." They say no fund exists and members pay their own way, but such a fund could "fall under certain federal laws" like RICO.

ICE says Duke also asked about forming his own chapter and was denied.
Read 54 tweets
Mar 23
Here at Lancaster Public Library in Pennsylvania, both supporters and protesters had permits and planned to gather over a Drag Story Time.

The event, slated to start at 1pm, has now been cancelled after a “suspicious package” was reportedly found.
#Lancaster
Read 16 tweets
Feb 27
VIDEO THREAD: Bodycamera footage has been released showing a Chicago Police Officer last month blindly firing his gun toward a child who had been playing with fireworks, missing every shot.

The shooter was one of three cops responding to a faulty "ShotSpotter" alert of gunfire.
2) A Ring camera shows the child playing with a ball and fireworks.

About 15 seconds in, the fireworks ignite, followed immediately by police gunfire.

"No, it's just fireworks!" the child says about 28 seconds in.
3) A second bodycam from the January 25 incident was also released.

This officer erroneously reports "shots fired at police" but unlike his fellow officer, he does not shoot in the direction of the unarmed child.
Read 6 tweets
Feb 27
VIDEO THREAD: Pro-Palestine activists burned an Israeli Flag outside the Israeli Embassy tonight while playing the audio of U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation here from just one day ago.

"This is in solidarity with Aaron, who burned his body. At the very least, we can burn the Zionist flag," one said.

"If we burn, you burn with us!" the group chanted.

"Quit your jobs!" they chanted at police guarding the building.
2) "You killed that man!" an activist yelled at Secret Service guarding the Israeli Embassy. "You pulled your guns out instead of a fire extinguisher!"

Ashes from U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation remained on the sidewalk beside the officers' feet.
3) "In a selfless and devastating act of immolation, this service member laid down their life to spotlight the struggles, the injustices, and the relentless pain endured by countless individuals every day in Palestine. His last, true, words were 'Free Palestine.'"
Read 10 tweets

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