https://twitter.com/bad_takes/status/1272701798957166593?s=21
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The fact that dispatch was afraid of being called a snitch for reporting a murder is appalling.
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I hung out next to the Portland Justice Center fence the other night. Crowd was sparse right before sundown, maybe a couple hundred protesters. None of the usual chanting slogans going on. Everyone just hanging out calmly socializing. Light police presence inside the fence, one SUV on my corner.
Crowd started building after sunset. Multiple people climb the two stage fence taunting the SUV. Saw two ballsy protesters jump the fence entirely but couldn’t see the result of doing that. Police loudspeaker thing blares that the street behind the fence is closed and entering it will subject you to use of force, including projectiles, and arrest.
A few people up front try dismantling the fence and partially succeed. Lots of ACAB chanting, “Say his name, George Floyd. Say her name, Breonna Taylor.” Quit your job. Crowd starts to swell and get louder. The frequency of plastic bottles and cans being thrown over the fence increases. Announcement from loudspeaker changes to, there are illegal activities going on and peaceful protesters should leave to the west. I think there was also something about use of force in that one. Protesters don’t care.
After half an hour or so of that they declare an illegal assembly around 10:30 which is obviously where the fun starts. Still only the one SUV visable behind the fence, but he advances close to the fence and seems to turn the volume up on the illegal assembly broadcast. It was creepy. Protesters do slowly start to move west away from the fence. Batches of three SUV convoys start patrolling two sides essentially corralling protesters down one street. One convoy with the loudspeaker gets behind the march, which is now maybe one thousand or so, and starts firing flashbangs and gas at the tail of the crowd. I can hear a similar thing going on a few blocks away also.
“Stay together! Stay tight! We do this every night!”
Cops, who were absent all protest, are now out in force and swarming the protest from a block away in all directions, still firing gas occasionally at the back. Very surreal and scary experience to be a part of. You are moving in the direction they say, you feel sort of trapped and they fire gas at you. My friends and I peeled off after ten or so blocks, which wound up being sketchy as multiple three SUV with lights, sirens and serious looking cops went by us. Didn’t feel safe till we were out of downtown.
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Meanwhile, in Florida
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1272713265529991174?s=20
I don’t even need to list the city, because you know it already.
The Villages, ldo
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Another trip report from last night where I accidentally joined a small protest downtown. I was riding my bike from one side of the city to the other a little before ten. Saw a small group of maybe fifty protesters marching. Seemed like a peaceful group and I rode a few blocks with them.
Had to go meet a friend, so I rode ahead of the march where I saw a troop transport van with ten riot gear cops hanging off. I stopped to take a picture as they jumped off and walked in my direction with the protesters two blocks behind me. I did my best good citizen impression and held my breath as they passed by me on both sides. I sadly complied when the cop said “please clear the street sir”.
They formed a line in front of the small peaceful protest. Announcer cop car and two others pull up. Immediately declare the assembly illegal and fire gas at them. I was surprised they were so aggressive early in the night, especially since it was such a small group. Must have been some of those ANTIFA terrorists in the crowd.
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Damn bro. Call some friends or something. Or chat here.
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PC I appreciate you and everything you do
stay safe
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The news reports of my protest missed the main confrontation entirely.
what the fuck
Not sure why you ■■■■■ were making and selling us this shit in the first place, but good on ye for at least stopping.
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Did they get tear gassed?
Not making an excuse here, but part of this is that you are witnessing the limitations of reporting. Often it’s the best we have, but it’s full of human error, be it intentional or not. Seeing something reported that you have witnessed yourself is a very educational experience, and makes you also read reports about other events in a different light. Even the best reports only give you a partial and biased perspective.
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For anyone who doesn’t follow MMA Jon Jones has been one of the biggest scumbags in the sport for a long time. Cheats in almost every way possible in every fight, has gotten slaps on the wrist for multiple dirty drug tests because he’s popular. Had a hit and run where he crashed into a pregnant woman while high as fuck, ran from the scene, came back to get his drugs/money from the car, and ran again and hid out for a two days to sober up.
Also to be clear I stopped following the sport awhile ago and stopped giving the UFC my money in like 2015 because it is such a scumbag organization At this point I’ll just download a fight if I hear it’s a really good one.
Made it look like he was swinging a wiffelball bat.
Third black man found hanging from tree in Manhattan. Obv ruled suicide
Also this one, but they don’t mention race
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This is unbelievably disturbing. I feel weird saying it, but like where’s the fucking FBI on this shit?
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They’re probably the ones fucking doing it.
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For the most part I agree most people don’t want to hear shit from celebrities but I feel like Tupac would have been a fucking great leader during all this. Like he could have made a big difference at least on a local level in democratic cities.
I wonder what kinda impact he could have had on a Bernie/progressive movement. He would have easily been the biggest celebrity to support it
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https://twitter.com/kristavernoff/status/1272561179462754304?s=21
Good thread about how basically middle class white kids are allowed to ‘make mistakes’ but black kids ‘commit crimes’.
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