I’m in #Lafayette, Louisiana where the all-Black #NFAC militia is planning to march at 4pm EST.
A number of opposing militia groups are also here, setting up across the parade route.
Here, the “Cajun Guard” forms up with officers near the beginning of the march route.
Under police guard, the #NFAC is forming up at Lafayette Public Library.
They are expected to march 3 hours from now, 4pm local time (apologies, in an earlier tweet I said 4pm est.)
For now, they don’t want press nearby.
Police erected barricades that track the entire planned #NFAC march route. Theoretically, the group will march to Parc San Souci which is only a few blocks away.
After a rally there, they are expected to perform the same march in reverse back to the library.
Here at the park itself, folks who aren’t in the NFAC are gathering as well. Some are armed, but most are just hanging out.
A voter registration drive is taking place as well.
Some militia guys are marching / standing outside the park where the #NFAC will expectedly end up.
The few I’ve spoken to today have all referred to themselves as “independent” rather than connecting themselves to a specific militia organization.
About 100 #NFAC members here gathered at library about 2 hours before their anticipated march.
Something usual: they’ve agreed to disarm.
None are carrying guns right now, and just before this clip, as one went to join his friends with a rifle, they made him out it away.
Near the park that the NFAC will show up at, militia groups are hanging out.
One sat down with his gun and his Bible and said a prayer.
I asked about their plans for the day:
As some NFAC members roll up with rifles, a member ran over to them to tell them “no guns, no guns!”
It seems this event will actually proceed unarmed.
Right wing militias and some Black Panther types outside the NFAC are still plenty armed around Lafayette.
NFAC’s “Grandmaster Jay” scolds some members of his group.
“Grandmaster Jay” checks members’ ID’s.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
VIDEO THREAD: Police clashed with pro-Palestine protesters Friday night in New York City as President Biden visited Stonewall for an "LGBTQ+ Gala" and protesters demanded "No war criminals at pride!"
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.