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Full on battle in the streets of Minneapolis right now. The rumor mill is saying members of a local militia are en route. This is via police scanner apparently. https://twitter.com/UR_Ninja/status/1265467731056394240
Folks might be surprised at the idea of militia coming in to support protesters against police. But much of the 'Boogaloo movement' is a reaction to police brutality. This popular meme ties Eric Garner to the Weavers (Ruby Ridge) and LaVoy Finicum (Malheur).
If militia are en route this is a tremendously dangerous situation. The Boogaloo movement is, above all else, inspired by a desire for violent confrontation with local and federal authorities.
Claims on the radio of shots fired at an officer. Unclear what those shots were (they were talking about paintball guns earlier). The officer was not hit. But the situation is growing more tense by the minute.
Police are now talking about a "large brick" that was thrown at them in front of the precinct.
III%er John Roland, a militia dude, seen here cheering the situation on in the hope that it will descend into a civil war.
Here we see another militia man sharing a meme about George Floyd, who was murdered by Minneapolis police.
This meme is in the same style and same phrasing as similar memes about Duncan Lemp, a militia figure who was shot by police during a no knock raid.
This meme is in the same style and same phrasing as similar memes about Duncan Lemp, a militia figure who was shot by police during a no knock raid.
Police scanner now saying that the area around the front door of the precinct needs more barricades because it is being "overrun".
There are reports of an officer hit in the neck with a rock now.
Officers in the precinct have just called for 15-20 additional barricades due to a barrage of rocks.
Officers in the precinct have just called for 15-20 additional barricades due to a barrage of rocks.
Here is a local telegram channel where people on the ground are sharing their experiences: https://t.me/joinchat/AAAAAFgS25C4BoKfaZgGaw
According to folks in this channel police have started using tear gas on the north side of the precinct. This is consistent with other reports from the area: https://t.me/c/1477630864/76
Incredible photos here from a journalist who is on the ground currently: https://twitter.com/CarlosGphoto/status/1265455823700070401?s=19
Local telegram group claiming that things have begun to clear out, which is certainly a hopeful sign. Police chatter seems to be reducing too.
Police are saying a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle. Circumstances unclear but EMS seem to be en route.
It seems unlikely at this moment that militia are en route. Likely police believed they were due to posts like the ones I shared earlier, from local boogaloo types discussing their desire to show up.
This is going to keep being A Thing as summer heats up and protests continue.
This is going to keep being A Thing as summer heats up and protests continue.
Numerous protesters on scene have claimed their Facebook livestreams have been taken down. I can confirm I was on one that stopped suddenly.
Impossible to say if this is due to something nefarious or just a common issue of bandwidth. Worth an investigation.
Impossible to say if this is due to something nefarious or just a common issue of bandwidth. Worth an investigation.
At least one of the closed off roads (Hiawatha?) seems to be reopening, according to the police scanner.
There is now a report of shots fired at 909 Logan.
Precinct day watch officers are being recalled back inside the precinct due to arson? Hard to say exactly but the code over the radio was for arson.
Enough of the radio chatter I'm hearing now appears to be unrelated to the protests (the assault on Oliver was pretty distant). I'm going to close this out for the night unless something really pertinent crops up.
Here's something worth reading: this is a local conservative livestreamer, who was present at the protests. In the comments see a significant mix of his presumably right-wing followers all arguing about whether the protesters or cops are more to blame
https://www.facebook.com/MillCityCitizenMedia/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCo8Dc_ZF2IAcyhPhTola_lTNU1lhR6h0zGD0j5xf_zNWIzZJd244mWj_Otc-crJIE0gbLiXM7FF1db
https://www.facebook.com/MillCityCitizenMedia/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCo8Dc_ZF2IAcyhPhTola_lTNU1lhR6h0zGD0j5xf_zNWIzZJd244mWj_Otc-crJIE0gbLiXM7FF1db
Police saying they're now getting shot at by fireworks.
Apparently things have calmed down enough that the cops are having pizza delivered, so that's nice.
Police are having steady barrage of rocks chucked at them and are deploying "green tips", which is likely a reference to 40mm training rounds that do not explode. These are essentially dud grenades.
Well shit. It definitely looks like some boogaloo boys were in fact present tonight.
While green rips can refer to the Mk281 practice grenade ammo, context in this case has made if clear the "green tips" Minneapolis Police are shooting are loaded with a die to mark people. Police are talking about attempting to apprehend marked folks.
Police now talking about a "large group of chanters" and, they claim, rock throwers beyond that.
Boogaloo Facebook is VERY much paying attention. Here we see one man claiming he has a group of men he can get "on the ground". He asks for someone to "Say the word". In general a lot of folks wondering who is actually in charge.
Alright, I seem to have located the Boogaloo Boy with the flag. He claims to be part of a group of sixteen who attended the protest. One commenter urges them to "shoot, move, communicate".
Things move very fast in these online communities, and there has been an immediate effort to start creating and spreading memes that express solidarity with the Minneapolis protesters and urge them to arm up and prepare for a violent confrontation.
Check this out: a debate over whether or not the protesters in Minneapolis support the Boogaloo. Interesting takeaways: "bungalow" is a new synonym for boogaloo, and the line "a lot of these protesters probably see us on the same level as the fucktard police".
Meanwhile in the real world: police attempting to move squad cars set up as a barricade because people are jumping on them.
Oh boy I'm running into claims ( https://twitter.com/matcha_chai/status/1265495537656254469?s=21) that the boogaloo boy with the flag was shot by a police rubber bullet.
There have also been protests at the house of one of the officers responsible for the murder. I've seen the same image (which includes his address) shared by local activists and by Boogaloo folks on Facebook all over the place. https://twitter.com/trappstaar/status/1265475772866686976?s=19
Lol and now a group of folks appears to be breaking into a liquor store near the precinct
Jesus this is just unending
Jesus this is just unending
Here we have one heartbreaking account of police brutality from a city council member: https://twitter.com/jeremiah4north/status/1265486669983223808?s=19
Police have formed a quick reaction force to retake the liquor store. They have formed a skirmish line.
Police have deployed flash bangs. They are being pelted with rocks by the folks in the liquor store in response.
It's hard for me to overemphasize how dejected, hoarse and broken a lot of these cops sound right now. Not trying to push sympathy on them, as they've been firing rounds into crowds wildly, but Jesus these folks sound on the ragged edge.
They are claiming no backup is needed in the liquor store, so it looks like that whole situation might be handled. Shop is cleared out, people are "milling about" outside, in the words of one officer.
And here we have confirmation that at least one person in a skullmask was present. These are a common sight among neo-Nazis and fash-ier members of the Boogaloo community. There are claims of at least 16 Boog bois present, this may be one. https://twitter.com/heupchurch/status/1265504082963378177?s=20
HUGE update. This page includes video shot by activists who claim the shots fired earlier today were by three (white) dudes with AK-47s. There is video of armed civilians marching and video of a crowd reacting to gunfire, impossible to confirm more.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2752137265019798&id=100006706549119
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2752137265019798&id=100006706549119
Here is a screengrab, clear as I can get, of one of the open-carrying men.
Someone claiming to be one of the dude's hops into the thread here to deny it was them who fired the shots.
Again, really impossible to say what is happening here. It seems fair to say conclusively that one group of three armed men was present, they claim in support of the protests. One woman who was present during the shooting claims a group of three "dudes" did it.
Alright, I am for real drawing this thread to a close for the night.
Shit is still ongoing, but it seems to be calming down and I have to like, do the other parts of my job. We'll see where this all lies in the morning. Stay safe out there, if you can.
Shit is still ongoing, but it seems to be calming down and I have to like, do the other parts of my job. We'll see where this all lies in the morning. Stay safe out there, if you can.
I lied. Police now saying a livestreamer who is on scene (i think outside the liquor store) is carrying a firearm and has flashed them with it.
Black male with dreadlocks and a black hoodie according to police. The weapon is a handgun. I have a bad feeling about this.
Police are saying his Facebook name is Derek Branch (sp). He is in front of the Minehaha Liquor store. Please stay safe Derek.
Police claim the man with the gun was listening to their transmissions, got spooked and got into a car. They did not seem to know which car.
Stay safe man.
Stay safe man.
Folks watching his stream saw no signs of a gun. Impossible to say what happened.. narrative from protesters is that police are attempting to silence one of the last livestreamers on scene.. https://twitter.com/31WA/status/1265526376305737730?s=19
Here is his livestream. It is fucking terrifying.
Derrick claims to be unarmed. I certainly see no gun but most of the image is dark. Folks who have been watching the stream longer say he referred to his battery pack as "locked and loaded" and this may have been misinterpreted? Possible cops saw his battery, heard those words
"I recently received a voice, and now I'm out here using it. That's what's up."
"Violence causes violence. I would never use violence."
Derrick suspects someone watching his livestream informed the cops of it to try to get him killed.
"Violence causes violence. I would never use violence."
Derrick suspects someone watching his livestream informed the cops of it to try to get him killed.
"My name is Derrick branch. I'm a fucking roach in Minneapolis. I came to see these cops...nothing is going to change unless you speak out. This was my first time [to protest] because I have a voice."
Stay safe please Derrick.
Stay safe please Derrick.
He is driving straight, since he thinks the police know his home address. He feels they are targeting him because he has the largest livestream.
Meanwhile, some people have broken back into the liquor store and are walking out with large boxes of liquor.
Meanwhile, some people have broken back into the liquor store and are walking out with large boxes of liquor.
Police are saying they lack manpower to arrest and so are marking people with green tips.
It sounds like a lot of violence outside the liquor store. At least one person arrested. Squad unable to reach the front of the liquor store.
Two more arrested after what sounds like a struggle. Three total arrests from the liquor store.
I was incorrect earlier: the link I posted was a group of fascists who were sharing his stream, and probably the folks who tipped off the cops about him in the first place. A selection from the comments:
At least one person in the fascist stream identifies as "anon". They have switched from Derrick to the liquor store livestream. Lot of use of the term "joggers" and gleeful anticipation that black people will be murdered by cops.
