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Evidence of Cops and Far-Right white supremacist extremists inciting violence, infiltrating demonstrations, and starting riots at the #GeorgeFloydProtests across the US, a thread.
(Fact checked and with links to threads/footage for context)
(Fact checked and with links to threads/footage for context)
THE COPS:
Below I’ll highlight a bunch of examples of police inciting violence, provoking protesters, and using excessive force. Let me be clear, there ARE cops doing the right thing and demanding change, like these legends in New Jersey. https://twitter.com/i/status/1266895422397779968
And these amazing cops in Flint, Michigan, who set down their arms to walk alongside demonstrators and show their support. https://twitter.com/JoshuaPotash/status/1266926177878519809
So, not all cops, but definitely these fucking guys:
Cops firing rubber bullets at peaceful bystanders filming the protests https://twitter.com/bleeezyy_/status/1266894195865931778
Cops firing rubber bullets at peaceful bystanders filming the protests https://twitter.com/bleeezyy_/status/1266894195865931778
Cops firing rubber bullets on people protesting from their own freakin' porches after curfew. https://twitter.com/BNONews/status/1266942896659406848
Cops smiling and laughing as they look for protesters to fire on/crowds to disperse. https://twitter.com/i/status/1266821001997881344
A fucking army descending on a small group of unarmed, sitting protesters who threw a rock at an undercover cop car. SEEMS LIKE A TOTALLY PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE. https://twitter.com/pattycast_/status/1266926119661391873
A 9 year old child maced by a Police Officer at a demonstration in Seattle. Testimony from crowd and witnesses, plus footage, proves this was a lengthy, peaceful and safe demonstration, until the police arrived and began firing tear gas at the crowd. https://twitter.com/witchyblvd/status/1266904233393217543
There is testimony from all over the country that protests were peaceful “until the cops showed up”. Search the terms “cops” and “tear gas” and you’ll see hundreds of videos. https://twitter.com/gothporl/status/1266804420693680129
In Pittsburgh: https://twitter.com/jordyngarlow/status/1266921283578667008
The police at the #Louisvilleprotest dumping the water and medical supplies peaceful protest organisers set up, TWICE, and then firing tear gas into the crowd, hitting demonstrators, as well as this journalist and her crew. https://twitter.com/nataliealund/status/1266877181164089349
This entire thread of the escalation initiated by cops gassing demonstrators in Denver, Colorado. And then making efforts to potentially kettle them (which means surround them so they can’t escape). https://twitter.com/dcwoodruff/status/1266931673826025474
And on that, at many demonstrations, protesters are building barricades (or attempting to) to protect themselves from police, who seem to be attacking at random and charging on unarmed crowds in rows, as though in a fucking cavalry. https://twitter.com/dcwoodruff/status/1266905663743156227
There’s testimony and footage of alleged undercover cops smashing windows, lighting fires, looting, and encouraging others to do the same. However, due to them being “undercover” it’s difficult to verify. I’ll highlight some of the most obvious and likely cases.
A white man, dressed in all black smashes the first windows (& allegedly starts the first fires) at the Minn. protests. He's said to be police officer Jacob Pederson (St Paul Police Dept. deny his involvement). He is evidently not part of the protest. https://twitter.com/i/status/1266222612641992704
Snopes has a good fact check, where it remains inconclusive, but it’s important to note that the St. Paul Police Department have yet to provide any alibi or evidence that this man is not one of theirs, even after it was requested. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/officer-jacob-pederson-protests/
Another random white guy (or guys) said to be an undercover cop by eye witnesses, started smashing windows in Minneapolis, prompting police to start using force on a peaceful demonstration. https://twitter.com/WillRobiiinson/status/1266224920847056896
In NYC, a group of undercover cops arrest peaceful protesters. This is a riot control tactic known as a ‘snatch squad’, but is supposed to be only used if the protester does something illegal (like loot). This was unprovoked, according to bystanders. https://twitter.com/o_isaac_me/status/1266529241795104768
And then of course, there's this terrifying tactic cops have picked up where they fire rubber bullets at cameras, journalists, people holding phones - anyone who is trying to document what is actually happening. https://twitter.com/JeffEisenband/status/1266927721042583553
Make no mistake, none of these acts of violence are isolated to one district, or one bad cop. They are strategic, coordinated and have been enacted at most demonstrations so far, indicating these are tactics they've been ordered to use, whether officially or unofficially.
The Far Right:
Libertarian extremists and white supremacists are a bit easier to verify because they keep posting about it online like idiots, and even at the protests... they aren't exactly subtle.
Libertarian extremists and white supremacists are a bit easier to verify because they keep posting about it online like idiots, and even at the protests... they aren't exactly subtle.
The above guys are part of a libertarian militia called the 'boogaloo bois', who originated on a 4chan weapons board, and aspire to start the 'boogaloo' which is a second civil war between civilians and cops. No I'm not making this up. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/05/27/the-boogaloo-movement-is-not-what-you-think/
Predominantly white men (but with some insistent they aren't white supremacists), they openly organise to incite violence and bring weapons to the protests, even though BLM protest organisers and leaders have explicitly said not to bring guns to protests. https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/pkyb9b/far-right-extremists-are-hoping-to-turn-the-george-floyd-protests-into-a-new-civil-war
You might remember them as the Hawaiian shirt guys at the recent Covid protests. They've been spotted at BLM protests all over, often in disguise but sporting identifying emblems such as this American flag made with Hawaiian print, or guns. https://twitter.com/schroedingereqn/status/1266624750161399808
Scarier are the white supremacist accelerationists who've co-opted this lust for ultra-violence but don't give a damn about black lives lost to the cops. This is what inspired the Christchurch terrorist attacks, & they're at the protests right now. https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/11/11/20882005/accelerationism-white-supremacy-christchurch
Minneapolis Mayor says white nationalist groups are encouraging each other to join the protests and loot
https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/1266742843722403840
Minnesota officials confirm they are looking into white supremacists organising online in an attempt to incite violence. https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1266742854266900483
White men at the Minneapolis protest, walking past CNN reporter, flashing the “White Power” sign to the camera
https://twitter.com/ThomasBMalone2/status/1266820550699204610
White people smashing windows in Eugene, while black protesters scream at them to stop. https://twitter.com/thejordynbrown/status/1266633436359344136
White people walking up beside groups of black protesters and shooting fireworks at the cops at least THREE times in downtown Atlanta.
https://twitter.com/OG_TrapLanta/status/1266651639148163072
A white guy literally shooting arrows at a crowd of protesters with a hunting bow, gets stopped and then lies to reporters, saying he was attacked by demonstrators because he shouted "All Lives Matter". https://twitter.com/tariqnasheed/status/1266924259991060486
I think it's important to point out what the accelerationist strategy is, which is to provoke retaliation, and fan the flames of violence. So the average white American can justify their own prejudices using videos of black people reacting to this white violence.
We should all be aware that this was planned, well in advance, with white supremacists increasingly infiltrating the police force and recruiting from the police force. And American authorities knew it was happening. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/fbi-white-supremacists-in-law-enforcement
(what distinguishes these fuckers from the Boogaloo Bois is the fact that the Boogaloo Bois were established as a reaction to police custody deaths. That these white supremacists have infiltrated them is a bastardisation of their own libertarian ideologies. Poor bois. :()
White people, please understand that when you watch these "riots", what you're looking at is a decades (or centuries) in the making coordinated attack on black Americans & their allies, the "thugs" are the white supremacist murderers, and those who've done nothing to stop them.
To bring home that point, here's a cop flashing the white power sign at a protester. This isn't a conspiracy. This is just fact. https://twitter.com/santiagomayer_/status/1266953238835679234
I'll leave you with this incredible speech by activist Tamika D Mallory. Please listen to the whole thing, and do whatever you can to support black people, Indigenous people, and all those vulnerable to white supremacy. #BLACK_LIVES_MATTER https://twitter.com/RicWilson/status/1266494410063319041
P.S. The above is just the tip of the iceberg. Here's a solid (and very hard to watch) compilation of clips from social media of extreme and unprovoked police brutality at the protests. It's real, it's happening, and it needs to be stopped. https://twitter.com/i/status/1266917228752056320
