THREAD: Today hundreds of armed right-wing and pro-Trump militia activists marched through #Louisville to City Hall, where they were confronted by antifascist activists (some armed) in their path.
There was initially no violence as they walked by their counter-protesters.
There was initially no violence as they walked by their counter-protesters.
As the right argued with the left outside the courthouse, it sometimes escalated into violence. It was relatively mild (pushing, etc) but at least two people unholstered handguns.
"Breonna Taylor!" chanted counter-protesters.
"Kyle Rittenhouse!" chanted a militia supporter wearing a viking helmet.
#LouisvilleProtests
"Kyle Rittenhouse!" chanted a militia supporter wearing a viking helmet.
#LouisvilleProtests
"Angry Viking" militia leader Dylan Stevens said "we're leaving" after a while of the violence and arguing went on, citing the fact that activists counter-protesting them had been out in that area for over three months.
"What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!"
The counter-protesters held up their handguns in celebration of the militia group's retreat.
"They left, so we need to go back," one remarked, encouraging the group not to follow the right as they retreat.
The counter-protesters held up their handguns in celebration of the militia group's retreat.
"They left, so we need to go back," one remarked, encouraging the group not to follow the right as they retreat.
"No justice! No Derby! No justice! No Derby!"
The police stayed completely out of the fighting while it was going on, but came in to establish a riot formation when the right scattered and only the left remained.
"Go get them! They're right there!" yelled a protester referring to the militia walking away.
"Go get them! They're right there!" yelled a protester referring to the militia walking away.
Here is my full, HD footage summary of the faceoff between a right-wing militia coalition this morning and a coalition of counter-demonstrators including armed antifascists and antiracists.
As always, all footage available for license.
As always, all footage available for license.
I should note that I would have posted my HD raw video news summary to @Facebook, but the platform completely de-activated me today as I was covering this story.
The "Not F***ing Around Coalition" aka #NFAC - an all-Black militia - also marched in Louisville this afternoon.
Having had an accidental discharge when they were here last time six weeks ago, this time their leader "Grandmaster Jay" instructed that nobody could chamber a round.
Having had an accidental discharge when they were here last time six weeks ago, this time their leader "Grandmaster Jay" instructed that nobody could chamber a round.
The NFAC's reason to target Louisville is to demand #BreonnaTaylor's killers be brought to justice.
Some chanted her name, and the leader made the group stop.
"NFAC does not chant," he said. "We don't do none of that shit, so if you're NFAC, I don't want to hear that bullshit."
Some chanted her name, and the leader made the group stop.
"NFAC does not chant," he said. "We don't do none of that shit, so if you're NFAC, I don't want to hear that bullshit."
"Our rules of engagement are very simple," said #NFAC's Grandmaster Jay. "Under no circumstances will you point your weapon at anyone, unless they point at you first. If they do, don't shoot them. Kill them."
The NFAC marched into the grassy area across from Churchill Downs, where the #KentuckyDerby2020 took place today.
"Get the fuck off the grass," the NFAC demanded of photographers.
You'll see me climb over a fence (it felt like it was going to break) when they commanded that.
"Get the fuck off the grass," the NFAC demanded of photographers.
You'll see me climb over a fence (it felt like it was going to break) when they commanded that.
"If you could kill me right now, you know your ass would," Grandmaster Jay told the cops. "Take your shot."
"You said I'm your worst nightmare," he told them. "Black male, could energize the Black nationalist movement. Listen to this."
He led the group in a "Black power" chant.
"You said I'm your worst nightmare," he told them. "Black male, could energize the Black nationalist movement. Listen to this."
He led the group in a "Black power" chant.
Then, something unusual happened: @untilfreedom, which also demands justice for Breonna Taylor but certainly with a vastly different aesthetic than NFAC, arrived.
NFAC struggled to keep the groups separate, and then marched away instead.
NFAC struggled to keep the groups separate, and then marched away instead.
The #NFAC concluded with their ceremonial pledge and a final "Black power" chant.
#LouisvilleProtests
#LouisvilleProtests
Here is my full, HD footage summary of today's #NFAC demonstration outside the #KentuckyDerby2020. As always, all raw footage available to license.
I'll have some other clips and photos tomorrow as well.
I'll have some other clips and photos tomorrow as well.
“Meanwhile, a few dozen members of the "National Patriotic Defense Team" militia reached downtown Louisville, according to Ford Fischer, the co-founder of Washington D.C.-based online media outlet News2Share.”
Thanks @courierjournal for featuring my work!
courier-journal.com/story/news/loc…
Thanks @courierjournal for featuring my work!
courier-journal.com/story/news/loc…
