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
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Today protesters with @XRebelDC & @ShutDown_DC targeted several @WellsFargo bank branches in DC to demand they stop funding Line 3 Pipeline.
When group arrived at the branch near Freedom Plaza, officers toppled over their makeshift oil drums as they got behind the police line.
As the activists began smearing fake oil onto the windows of the Wells Fargo branch, a shirtless man confronted the group, getting up in their faces and threatening to fight for the bank's private property.
Officers removed the man when he grabbed someone's sign.
"STOP LINE 3" the @XRebelDC activists left behind written into the fake oil smear on the Wells Fargo branch.
I've filmed them do this before; the substance is food dye, corn starch, and water. It washes away easily.
BIG THREAD: Tonight police wielding shields and less lethal weapons in #ElizabethCity again formed a line and pushed back on protesters who remained peaceful but present past the beginning of the 8 pm curfew.
At about 9:20pm, they began to push.
As officers pushed past alleys and backyards, they checked to make sure nobody escaped those directions.
In this instance, an officer pointed a weapon around a corner, while another unholstered his handgun as he searched the area.
They found a bag, but not a person.
Here's the scene of the first arrest.
"We just want justice, that's all!"
"Leave now, or you will be arrested!"
Officers pushed forward, grabbed a man, and pulled him away from sight behind the shield line.
VIDEO THREAD: Tonight, riot police in #ElizabethCityNC pushed in to arrest #AndrewBrown protesters for violating an 8pm curfew at about about 10:30pm.
This clip shows the first couple arrests.
I had been livestreaming since about 6pm, and no violence or vandalism had occurred.
Police slowly pushed forward against the crowd, while an arrest squad grabbed a third individual.
Police and the man briefly struggled during the arrest.
One water bottle was thrown toward police (which missed) which was the only time I saw something like that all night.
Across the street, a fourth person was arrested. I didn't see what led to it, but it most likely was a similar arrest for being out (without being credentialed media) past curfew.
In a story about the federal government making illegal a drug (menthol) that NBC describes as used by 85% of legal cigarette smokers who are Black, they don’t include any voice that oppose the ban or consume menthols.
This ban is being framed by NBC as possibly “a significant positive impact on the health of Black Americans” but never mentions unexpected consequences.
If/when somebody dies in the enforcement of this law, will NBC note its racially targeted origin?
If/when sale of Menthol cigarettes is criminalized, do you believe law enforcement will be equitable across communities in enforcing laws against what they believe to be illegal cigarettes?