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POLICE INSTIGATE VIOLENCE AT PROTESTS
bc of the media's tendency for sloppy reporting and focus on property damage porn w/o explaining why cities are rising up to say #BlackLivesMatter
, this will be my thread for context from #SanJose and Bay Area perspective [1]
bc of the media's tendency for sloppy reporting and focus on property damage porn w/o explaining why cities are rising up to say #BlackLivesMatter
, this will be my thread for context from #SanJose and Bay Area perspective [1]
The struggle will continue; #GeorgeLloyd's murderers still have not been brought to justice in court. So please consider donating to
@SV_DSA
's fund to provide support to Bay Area activists that get arrested + need legal help [2] https://twitter.com/SV_DSA/status/1266553171121303553
@SV_DSA
's fund to provide support to Bay Area activists that get arrested + need legal help [2] https://twitter.com/SV_DSA/status/1266553171121303553
It began like any other peaceful demonstration. We took to the streets where drivers, businesses, and onlookers were all very down for the cause. We marched for miles and we had nearly 6 blocks of ppl in the procession.
Not a cop in sight. [3]
![It began like any other peaceful demonstration. We took to the streets where drivers, businesses, and onlookers were all very down for the cause. We marched for miles and we had nearly 6 blocks of ppl in the procession. Not a cop in sight. [3]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZSgkQKUEAE1D7n.jpg "It began like any other peaceful demonstration. We took to the streets where drivers, businesses, and onlookers were all very down for the cause. We marched for miles and we had nearly 6 blocks of ppl in the procession. Not a cop in sight. [3]")
Not a cop in sight. [3]
Marching 20+ blocks to 101 on-ramp, we started getting the sensationalized, inconvenience narrative.
Then the media reports about traffic delays and 1 person smashing windows but you don't see this: Demonstrators calling out bad behavior [4] https://twitter.com/JoeKhalilTV/status/1266506320104042497
Then the media reports about traffic delays and 1 person smashing windows but you don't see this: Demonstrators calling out bad behavior [4] https://twitter.com/JoeKhalilTV/status/1266506320104042497
What gets lost is that even as we took over the freeway; we let cars go through ever few minutes on the shoulder. Some great traffic directors among us!
Once the drivers understood what was going on, people were game. Some even got out to support! [5] https://twitter.com/nbcbayarea/status/1266498809556881408
Once the drivers understood what was going on, people were game. Some even got out to support! [5] https://twitter.com/nbcbayarea/status/1266498809556881408
And to those who complain about freeway occupations inconveniencing you: that's the point.
If for 10 min you sit and understand people will risk their own safety to protest the terrible inconvenience of extra-judicial murder by police, then it works. [6] https://twitter.com/krisnoceda/status/1266494542183718912?s=20
If for 10 min you sit and understand people will risk their own safety to protest the terrible inconvenience of extra-judicial murder by police, then it works. [6] https://twitter.com/krisnoceda/status/1266494542183718912?s=20
#SJPD finally appears. They are greeted by peaceful protestors kneeling, hands in the air, or with signs.
This is when people were preparing to get arrested. This is where /I/ thought I'd be arrested for blocking a freeway. [7] https://twitter.com/VoteAlexLee2020/status/1266506711835086849?s=20
This is when people were preparing to get arrested. This is where /I/ thought I'd be arrested for blocking a freeway. [7] https://twitter.com/VoteAlexLee2020/status/1266506711835086849?s=20
There is some heated confrontation but we try to calm ppl down. The damage tho?
Broke squad car windows, one flat tire, and written messages this: STOP KILLING [8]
![There is some heated confrontation but we try to calm ppl down. The damage tho?Broke squad car windows, one flat tire, and written messages this: STOP KILLING [8]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZSn3aYUcAEhiw-.jpg "There is some heated confrontation but we try to calm ppl down. The damage tho?Broke squad car windows, one flat tire, and written messages this: STOP KILLING [8]")
Broke squad car windows, one flat tire, and written messages this: STOP KILLING [8]
Eventually we leave the 101 freeway ON OUR OWN and head back (again 20 blocks) back to city hall. Folks gather and seem to be headed back to the 101 again.
At this point I thought we'd just tire ourselves out and SJPD would stay hands off, which is smart https://twitter.com/VoteAlexLee2020/status/1266520004435927040?s=20
At this point I thought we'd just tire ourselves out and SJPD would stay hands off, which is smart https://twitter.com/VoteAlexLee2020/status/1266520004435927040?s=20
Pause for some context. I really didn't there would be police violence bc of this joint statement the day before.
Truly who could be so stupid to answer a protest AGAINST police brutality with police violence.
That's just sensible PR right? [10] https://twitter.com/DarwinBondGraha/status/1266171301317623808
Truly who could be so stupid to answer a protest AGAINST police brutality with police violence.
That's just sensible PR right? [10] https://twitter.com/DarwinBondGraha/status/1266171301317623808
Instead of letting us march back & forth; #SJPD formed a wall of dozens of cops and vehicles to block us. They CREATED a confrontation
How can you see this and call the protestors violent? Only one side has fck weapons https://twitter.com/7interlude/status/1266598835213799424
How can you see this and call the protestors violent? Only one side has fck weapons https://twitter.com/7interlude/status/1266598835213799424
I felt safe up UNTIL the #SJPD showed up
Just like every peaceful protest across the country, things get ugly AFTER the police show up — armor and firearms and all [12]
![I felt safe up UNTIL the #SJPD showed upJust like every peaceful protest across the country, things get ugly AFTER the police show up — armor and firearms and all [12]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZSt9LYUEAE82cf.jpg "I felt safe up UNTIL the #SJPD showed upJust like every peaceful protest across the country, things get ugly AFTER the police show up — armor and firearms and all [12]")
Just like every peaceful protest across the country, things get ugly AFTER the police show up — armor and firearms and all [12]
You cannot equate graffiti and broken glass to this. With nothing but a cell phone, this guy gets jumped by #SJPD [13] https://twitter.com/abc7newsbayarea/status/1266527253862719488?s=20
I'm sick and tired of politicians & cops pay lip service about injustice to communities of color while painting activists of color as violent thugs
If you feed into this narrative, you are on the side of the oppressor [14] https://twitter.com/daisugano/status/1266620213073637380?s=20
If you feed into this narrative, you are on the side of the oppressor [14] https://twitter.com/daisugano/status/1266620213073637380?s=20
This shit is scary. It's one thing for a punk to throw water bottles, but an armored, armed cop taunting and agitating? It's not a fair fight.
This is what we saw: the violence that politicians in San Jose and the media ignore.[16] https://twitter.com/bowiezamudio/status/1266765863111127040
This is what we saw: the violence that politicians in San Jose and the media ignore.[16] https://twitter.com/bowiezamudio/status/1266765863111127040
Where is the outrage from the talking heads and 'leaders' when your own people are run over in the streets? in front of every goddamn @SanJosePD
No you complain about the one officer who got KO'd for trying to snatch someone's phone. [17] https://twitter.com/grrrrrrrrrrl/status/1266601573020385280
No you complain about the one officer who got KO'd for trying to snatch someone's phone. [17] https://twitter.com/grrrrrrrrrrl/status/1266601573020385280
I was personally tear gassed, shot at, and watched ppl around me get brutalized and fear for their lives.
All bc we were gathering against POLICE BRUTALITY.
This measured response you wanted, @sliccardo? https://twitter.com/sliccardo/status/1266523224847740928
All bc we were gathering against POLICE BRUTALITY.
This measured response you wanted, @sliccardo? https://twitter.com/sliccardo/status/1266523224847740928
San Jose's protests have personally convinced me that policing is fundamentally broken. The Bay Area police are not that different from those of Minnesota or any other state.
Nothing will change if ppl refuse to see the problem in their own backyard [19]
Nothing will change if ppl refuse to see the problem in their own backyard [19]
So yes, show up in solidarity to actions to demand justice for #BreonnaTaylor #GeorgeFloyd #AhmaudArbery bc we need structural change to justice system
And just maybe, you too will get a taste of police violence black America deals with daily
#riseup #BlackLivesMatter [20]
And just maybe, you too will get a taste of police violence black America deals with daily
#riseup #BlackLivesMatter
[20]
I left after being tear gassed and having my phone die on me. We returned around 11PM with taco bell, water, and masks to give to protestors — but by then the police had broken everyone's will.
Link to events that happened when I wasn't there [21] https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/george-floyd-protest-blocks-highway-101-in-san-jose/?fbclid=IwAR2o0Y4NoCraSqtXzNgZb4Lnt5g_vrXobZE37XoYjbwxuY0h6W_z0e88WYw
Link to events that happened when I wasn't there [21] https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/george-floyd-protest-blocks-highway-101-in-san-jose/?fbclid=IwAR2o0Y4NoCraSqtXzNgZb4Lnt5g_vrXobZE37XoYjbwxuY0h6W_z0e88WYw
