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Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

Oct 4, 2020 • 16 tweets • 8 min read • Read on X

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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.

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

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.

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More from @FordFischer

Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

Dec 31

BIG THREAD: Today, I attended the preliminary/detention hearing for Brad Spafford, charged with possessing a short barrel rifle.

Federal prosecutors say more charges are coming and that his arrest yielded the "largest seizure of finished explosive devices in FBI history."

https://x.com/FordFischer/status/1869751908652720457

2) I first reported the case December 19 following Spafford's arrest by the feds, who used a Confidential Human Source (CHS) for two years to get the warrant to arrest Spafford for the alleged Short Barrel Rifle.

https://x.com/FordFischer/status/1869751908652720457

3) Rachelann Cardwell, a Suffolk Detective assigned as an officer on the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, took the stand today.

She testified that the investigation into Spafford began in January 2023 when the CHS reported Spafford disfiguring his hand with a homemade explosive.

(Photo: Suffolk PD)

Read 22 tweets

Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

Dec 19

THREAD: On Tuesday, Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) officers with the Norfolk FBI and assistance from the ATF arrested Virginia man Brad Spafford for possessing an unregistered short barrel rifle (SBR).

The arrest was the result of a multi-year Confidential Human Source (CHS).

2) A Confidential Human Source (CHS, commonly known as "informant" or colloquially as "snitch") reported in January 2023 that Spafford lost fingers on Independence Day 2021 "while working with a homemade explosive device."

He says Spafford and friends were making ammunition for "something that Spafford would not be able to do alone."

The informant reportedly saw Spafford's hands "before and after the event" which is confusingly worded; if he saw them in person, then the informant has been around the defendant for more than three years.

If he saw them pre- disfigurement some other way, like a photo, then he still has been around him for at least nearly two years.

3) In May 2023, the informant and Spafford went to a gun range together, each with "their own weapons."

The informant brought his own Short Barrel Rifle, but it was registered.

The now-defendant allegedly brought what the informant believed was also an SBR.

Read 7 tweets

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.

Read 7 tweets

Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

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.

Read 12 tweets

Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

Sep 8

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.

Read 6 tweets

Ford Fischer

@FordFischer

Jul 24

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.