Thread by @FordFischer

BIG THREAD: Today hundreds of members of the all-Black "Not Fucking Around Coalition" (#NFAC) marched through #Lafayette, Louisiana.

The group was protesting threats directed at them by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook, and the police shooting of Trayford Pellerin.

Just as the group began their march from Lafayette Public Library to Parc Sans Souci, two shots rang out at the Parc.

One was arrested and charged with reckless discharge of a firearm at a parade or demonstration, and felon in possession of a firearm.

https://twitter.com/FordFischer/status/1312576273408024581

This is what it looked like on my end when shots rang out.

A handful of NFAC members declared "there's action up ahead," and rushed forward.

NFAC leader "Grandmaster Jay" told his group to "stand the fuck down" and later made his folks pull back until it was clear.

At Parc Sans Souci, "Grandmaster Jay" led a rally. During his speech, he addressed Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan and went through every American era describing how "It ain't never been great for Black people in this country."

Hundreds of non-NFAC members gathered at the park to view and support the rally. Grandmaster Jay led them in chants of "Black power!"

"Grandmaster Jay" invited up a young speaker with a (I believe) 100-round banana clip in his AK-style rifle. The speaker goes by the name "Sleep Is For The Rich" (or "Sleep").

He encouraged Black people to start their own businesses and arm up

"Grandmaster Jay" discussed the distinction between policing today and his vision of community policing.

"Sleep" unholstered his handgun for about a minute on the stage. I'm not sure what - if anything - this was a reaction to.

Chief of Minority Affairs for Lafayette Consolidated Government Bishop Carlos Harvin spoke, but was booed and called names from the crowd. Jay told his group to not bother the hecklers.

It was explained to me that while he made peace with the NFAC, he's unpopular among local BLM

Grandmaster Jay told his group that they don't stay out after sun-down, so they wrapped their participation in the rally as the sun set.

While I focused on the NFAC today, other activists including some self-proclaimed Black Panthers and the NAACP also remained gathered.

It's impossible to capture a march this large in one frame, but for an idea of how massive this was, here's a shot of the group marching away.

The NFAC claims to be the fourth largest militia in the United States.

Back at the library where they started, Grandmaster Jay ended the event, but then (30 seconds into this clip) asked his group "y'all ready to get a paycheck?"

He promises "extra money in your pocket, more than the stimulus" to his members.

The group pledged with guns up: "I [name] will never allow the murder of another Black person, whether it be by white people or Black people! I am not fucking around any goddamn more! I am the NFC! Black power! Black people! Black man! Black woman! Black child! Black Nation!"

I've received questions about the all-Black #NFAC militia's presidential preferences.

The group didn't formally endorse a candidate, but one speaker - Verone Thomas - did say he will vote for Biden because "he's a little better than Trump, but not that much better."

Here is my full, HD video summary of Saturday's #NFAC march in #Lafayette.

As always, all footage available for license.

Additionally, I will be publishing the beginning-to-end video of their speeches. Stay tuned.

I suck at fundraising, but I should note: If you appreciate raw coverage like my footage of the #NFAC yesterday, please support me at Patreon.com/fordfischer.

This will go toward not only my footage, but I use it to hire freelancers as well!

As promised, here is HD footage of the speaking portion of the NFAC march on Lafayette, totally uncut, and also available to license.