Thread by @FordFischer

In a since-removed post on r/wallstreetbets, Redditor called for protest at SEC HQ in DC at 2pm (less than a half hour from now).

I will head there now and report back if anything happens there.

Honestly, if a single person shows up, I'm livestreaming.

https://twitter.com/AGeminiStallion/status/1354851806048751619

ITS HAPPENING! This guy just got on the metro next to me.

Holy crap.

So the lone protester I saw on the metro seems to be the only one who actually showed up (and one other photographer).

As he explained his position, two cops tried to stop me from filming because they have to protect the building.

😂🎥👮‍♂️

So this turned into a sort of first amendment audit for me. The cops conceded it’s not illegal to film the SEC building but said they have to “protect” it, hence them asking me not to film it.

The cops changed the subject and asked the lone protester (who wants to go by just first name Michael) about his sign. He explained the stock market very briefly before one cop mused “we all work for the corrupt” and went back inside.

I tried to continue interviewing Michael and the cops came back out, apparently having been left with the false impression that I was going to comply with an unconstitutional order to not film a federal building.

Officers said they “can’t allow” it.

Not done posting those clips but for the record, the protest has now grown to two. One communist showed up.

As I continued having some dialogue with the cops, another photographer showed up, and obviously took my side, cops gave up.

The protest has now grown to three as one individual in bloc arrived with an “Eat the rich” sign.

At the moment it remains three people plus three journalists including myself and @MaxBlumenthal.

After one left, I decided to head out, my fingers are freezing.

My 4K resolution complete footage of the protest as well as my video of police telling me I can’t have the SEC in the background will be up this evening.

Content warning: the SEC will be in the background.

Back at the SEC, I interviewed the communist activist that participated.

He says recent incident showed how hedge funds and "ruling class" have class consciousness, and he says working class need that too.

He suggests unions, tenant organizations and debt/rent strikes.

I asked about the situation of a communist having common ground with stock trading Redditors.

"It is a right moment for educating them," he says. "They're already starting to see that curtain get pulled away... we're just here helping them tear that entire curtain down."

I have 4K footage of this whole thing coming, but in the meantime, my camera mic caught the cop saying "we all work for the corrupt" in much better quality, so I thought I'd share that.

Here is my full, 4K resolution footage of what happened outside the SEC today.

Admittedly, about 2/3 of the video is me arguing with cops who claimed I can't point my camera toward a federal building.

As always, all video available to license.