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Good evening - I’m near @Arizona_DPS headquarters where protesters at 7 pm are gathering to decry the death of 28-year-old Dion Johnson.
Johnson was sleeping in his car alongside Loop 101 Monday. Officials say there was some type of struggle and Johnson was shot. @azcentral
Johnson was sleeping in his car alongside Loop 101 Monday. Officials say there was some type of struggle and Johnson was shot. @azcentral
The trooper who shot Johnson was a 54-year-old man w/ 15 years of service.
Earlier @PhoenixPolice said a handgun was recovered from the scene but that there is “no known video capturing the incident.”
Anyone who saw what happened is asked to reach out to police. @azcentral
Earlier @PhoenixPolice said a handgun was recovered from the scene but that there is “no known video capturing the incident.”
Anyone who saw what happened is asked to reach out to police. @azcentral
UPDATE: A protest organizer just told the people gathered here already that the protest location has been moved to Eastlake Park.
Several of the streets around @Arizona_DPS have been shut down. @azcentral
Several of the streets around @Arizona_DPS have been shut down. @azcentral
Eastlake Park has a strong civil rights history. I wrote about that back in 2019 - here’s more: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2019/02/28/a-look-at-the-civil-rights-history-of-eastlake-park-in-phoenix/2959634002/
Just got to Eastlake Park and it appears organizers are setting up on the amphitheater. There appear to be about 25 protesters here at the moment. @azcentral
Lots more people are trickling in now. @azcentral
“We are fighting two pandemics - a pandemic of COVID-19 and a pandemic of racism which has been part of America since its founding,” says a Black Lives Matter organizer (I didn’t catch her name but will try to find out).
@azcentral
@azcentral
Some of the signs at the protest decrying the death of #DionJohnson by @Arizona_DPS on Monday. @azcentral
“He should’ve had a body cam on,” says one man addressing the growing group of protesters.
@PhoenixPolice earlier said body cam footage of the shootings doesn’t exist.
The crowd begins chanting “Black Lives Matter!”
@azcentral
@PhoenixPolice earlier said body cam footage of the shootings doesn’t exist.
The crowd begins chanting “Black Lives Matter!”
@azcentral
“No justice, no peace, no racist police,” the crowd chants at Eastlake Park in Phoenix. @azcentral
The crowd sings a song decrying “racist” police, promoting solidarity with those who are oppressed. @azcentral
More of the signs being displayed here at Eastlake Park at a protest in memory of Dion Johnson, who was fatally shot by @Arizona_DPS earlier this week. @azcentral
Mika Freeman, 25, held up a flag saying “Black Lives Matter.”
“The majority of the problem is white people not taking them (people of color who experience racism/oppression) seriously. But white people take other white people seriously.”
@azcentral
“The majority of the problem is white people not taking them (people of color who experience racism/oppression) seriously. But white people take other white people seriously.”
@azcentral
Freeman is white but says he has Latino/Black family members and that’s who he’s fighting for because he says he’ll “never, ever face racism in my life.”
“We’re obligated to ... give black people a safe space to have their voices and their lives, for that matter.”
@azcentral
“We’re obligated to ... give black people a safe space to have their voices and their lives, for that matter.”
@azcentral
“If you say you’re for us, imma need you to f—ing pull up in your work spaces, in your schools —— not just online when it’s f—ing convenient.”
@azcentral
@azcentral
A person is screaming and crying as people light candles in Johnson’s memory. Organizers tell the person to “let it out,” saying that “this is how Dion hears us.”
@azcentral
@azcentral
I’m back from going on FB Live for @azcentral. We heard from family members including #DionJohnson’s mother, sister and cousin. They described him as a guy who’d give someone the shirt off his back, someone who’d never try to threaten police. They demanded answers for his death.
“We can make a difference, change can actually come - praise God,” says one of #DionJohnson’s cousins.
“God will use the traps of the enemy to set you free - praise God.”
@azcentral
“God will use the traps of the enemy to set you free - praise God.”
@azcentral
“How do you comfort a little girl and let her know everything’s going to be okay without your dad being here to walk you down the aisle or hold your hand after you have your firstborn?”
Here’s a speech by the mother of #DionJohnson’s 14-year-old daughter. @azcentral
Here’s a speech by the mother of #DionJohnson’s 14-year-old daughter. @azcentral
One of #DionJohnson’s cousins, a young girl, speaks about him.
“I just feel we had a connection because he was a Leo and I was a Leo,” she says, adding that her cousin “showed me love, he showed me passion.”
She ends her brief speech by calling for #JusticeforDion
@azcentral
“I just feel we had a connection because he was a Leo and I was a Leo,” she says, adding that her cousin “showed me love, he showed me passion.”
She ends her brief speech by calling for #JusticeforDion
@azcentral
9 pm - it appears the protest for #DionJohnson is over. People are leaving Eastlake Park. I’m going to monitor to see if this turns into a march through central Phoenix. @azcentral
UPDATE: Protesters are marching now. They were walking east along Jefferson but changed routes and are now walking north along 15th street. @azcentral
Hundreds of protesters are now heading west on Washington Street, approaching 14th street. Police appear to be trying to shut down streets. @azcentral
Protesters walking with their hands in the air and chanting “I can’t breathe!”
They’re approaching 12th Street/Washington. #DionJohnson
@azcentral
They’re approaching 12th Street/Washington. #DionJohnson
@azcentral
Protesters briefly paused at 9th Street/Washington before continuing westward. Earlier I heard chants saying they should march to @PhoenixPolice headquarters. If that’s the case, we’re about 1.5 miles away. #DionJohnson @azcentral
The march continues. Protesters decrying the death of #DionJohnson march through the streets of downtown Phoenix. They’re approaching 3rd Street/Washington. @azcentral
1st Street/Washington now. The march has passed by downtown restaurants/bars where diners were outside filming and cheering on the protesters. @azcentral
We’re now passing Phoenix City Hall. Chants of “Black Lives Matter” and “No justice, no peace.” We’re nearing @PhoenixPolice headquarters. @azcentral
“Why’d they send the black cops here? Where are the white cops?” The protesters say to two people who appear to be with @PhoenixPolice. @azcentral
BREAKING: Protesters have made it to @PhoenixPolice headquarters, where a barrier has been set up and several officers are standing by. @azcentral
BREAKING: Protest has turned volatile. I saw several things being thrown at @PhoenixPolice SWAT units that were deployed. Police have fired non-lethal methods to try and stop the protesters. @azcentral
UPDATE: Loud booms and orders to disperse by @PhoenixPolice. @azcentral
“This is the Phoenix Police Department, please disperse immediately.”
@PhoenixPolice asked the protesters to “keep it peaceful.”
@azcentral
@PhoenixPolice asked the protesters to “keep it peaceful.”
@azcentral
Some of the protesters graffitied @FOX10Phoenix studios (adjacent to @PhoenixPolice headquarters) and a bus stop nearby, and someone tipped over a few newspaper stands outside. @azcentral
It doesn’t appear that many people have left despite repeated pleas from @PhoenixPolice. The group is continuing their chants, some remain with their arms raised. A police helicopter is circling/shining its light on the group. @azcentral
“Please stay peaceful.”
@PhoenixPolice continue asking the several hundred people gathered outside of its headquarters to disperse immediately. No one seems to be following the order. @azcentral
@PhoenixPolice continue asking the several hundred people gathered outside of its headquarters to disperse immediately. No one seems to be following the order. @azcentral
Graffiti on the outside of the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse near @PhoenixPolice headquarters. @azcentral
