A few days ago I got home from #ElizabethCity, where I'd spent week covering the movement demanding answers and the release of bodycam footage in the death of #AndrewBrown.
Pic thread coming, but wanted to say: This story really burned me out. I apologize for lateness of photos.
"Would you demand footage if it was your son?"
I first arrived in #ElizabethCity on April 28th, which was be the second day of peaceful activism since the "State of Emergency" was declared as the state reviewed the bodycam footage and refused to release it.
I only took video rather than photo in the evening, but a few hours after those photos, police arrested activists and charged them with disorderly conduct and violating curfew for continuing to speak out past 8pm.
No civilian violence nor vandalism.
On May 1, a Virginia based group called the "Suited Movement" led a march through Elizabeth City to pray for and demand transparency from the police.
Full video:
May 2nd was a huge day for activism in Elizabeth City.
While their protests has previously been largely local, hundreds entered the city to show support at a major march led by @gregdrumwright.
Brown's young daughter wore a shirt reading "In memory of my daddy Andrew Brown."
Local tattoo artist Ulysses Edwards drew a mural of #AndrewBrownJr on the side of the house where he was killed by Pasquotank County Sheriff's Deputies.
Hundreds then rallied Sunday outside the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office and Elizabeth City Police Department. Speakers included Rev @gregdrumwright, @RevDrBarber, and @EricaforUSSen
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
VIDEO THREAD: Barely a day after their encampment was raided, pro-Palestine activists set up another encampment in front of a George Washington University administrators' building.
In this uncut shot, you'll see the activists set up several new tents by surprise in minutes.
2) Pro-Palestine protesters at George Washington University linked arms after forming their new encampment.
Police formed a line facing them on one side (leaving the other side open) and pushed media and others with a vantage point significantly back.
3) One MPD officer took a quick selfie from the police line.
VIDEO THREAD: Police cleared the pro-Palestine encampment at George Washington University early this morning in a pre-dawn raid, arresting dozens and apparently deploying pepper spray.
"F--- the pigs!" yelled activists as police swarmed a wide perimeter around the area.
2) Police and DC Department of Public Works could be seen dumping tents and other camping equipment where the encampment had been at GW.
This comes just hours before Mayor Bowser is set to testify before Congress.
3) As the sun rose near George Washington University, the activist who were not arrested regrouped.
Organizers recommended those who the police had pepper-sprayed go home, and others go to jail support for their detained comrades.
THREAD: I was one of only two media I'm aware of in the courtroom today for a lengthy hearing where the federal government fought to hold Russell "Duke" Vane IV pre-trial.
This thread will be based on my notes and court documents.
BREAKING THREAD: On April 11, Russell Vane IV - the subject of my reporting who allegedly attempted to provoke a Virginia militia group into producing explosives - was arrested.
He is charged with "Attempted production of a biological agent or toxin."
3) The feds cite my reporting, where I show unclassified government documents that the Virginia Kekoas militia members were allegedly handed by Duke, and he later appears to acknowledge giving them.
INVESTIGATIVE VIDEO THREAD: The Virginia Kekoas, a pro-gun prepper militia based in Eastern Virginia and formerly affiliated with the Boogaloo movement, tells News2Share that they recently kicked out a member they believe may have been plotting an explosives-related entrapment attempt against the group, or worse.
Russell Richardson Vane IV first made contact with the Virginia Kekoas in April 2022, according to the group's leader Eddie Ray, who goes by "ICE" and member Cody Beckner, who goes by "Sasquatch." Vane allegedly adopted the call sign "Duke."
The pair provided extensive screenshots and documents showing that since joining, Vane - as "Duke" - engaged in an escalating sequence of unusual behavior that included apparent provocations for the group to develop homemade explosives. Homemade explosives lacking an ATF registration are generally a federal felony.
"Sasquatch" and "ICE" spoke exclusively to News2Share to provide a thorough timeline of the events that led up to "Duke" being removed from their organization.
2) ICE and Sasquatch say that upon reaching out to the Kekoas in 2022, Duke identified himself as working for the CIA, but was allowed to remain a prospective member rather than being ejected because they believed he may have advanced knowledge of world-altering events.
3) Within two weeks of joining, the pair say Duke asked about a "group fund." They say no fund exists and members pay their own way, but such a fund could "fall under certain federal laws" like RICO.
ICE says Duke also asked about forming his own chapter and was denied.