Boston Police Headquarters currently surrounded by metal barricades, with approximately 20 bike cops standing guard. This is a fair way from the current #bostonprotest , but they're clearly preparing. Multiple helicopters overhead.

#BostonProtest crowd moving out slowly. Hard to see extent of crowd; fully filling multiple blocks of street with chants of "no Justice, no peace" and "I can't breathe". Limited police presence; no uniformed officers in sight (thankfully).

At Ruggles and Washington, cars trapped by the crowd honk in support. First sight of police is a half dozen stationary motorcycle cops at Washington and Williams.

Crowd holds up its hands as they walk by the motorcycle cops, shouting "hands up, don't shoot"; a small group stays back near them.

Passed two dozen or so cops from the special ops bike unit at Melnea Cass. Street is blocked off by volunteers and police as more than a thousand protesters filter by.

Crowd is spreading out as we head further up Washington with the wider road; still have no idea how big the crowd is, having seen neither the start nor the end of the March. Crowd minders trying to keep the bus lane clear on Washington, with limited success; all buses are holding

As we pass BMC at Mass Ave, some cars tire of waiting and attempt to turn around; limited motorcycle cops largely standing by at large intersections.

One protester has the number of legal support on the back of her sign, something that seems like a good idea.

Members of Boston Teacher's Union carrying solidarity cards as they march with the crowd. #bostonprotest

Entirely unsurprised that the person flying aDJI Mavic drone directly over the crowd for 10 minutes is a scruffy white guy. #bostonprotest

The uniformed Domino's driver cheering with the crowd as he is trapped in traffic made me smile. #bostonprotest

Appreciate the cyclist standing guard on the sidewalk, protecting someone who is likely sleeping rough, ensuring the crowd is forced to walk around this person who likely just wants his sleeping spot. #bostonprotest

FedEx truck driver honking in support as he drives under the crowd as we cross i-90. Walking through the neighborhood and then into this massive highway really makes it clear how much the interstate system can tear inner cities apart. #bostonprotest

As we pass Tufts Medical, dozens of medical staff clap for the protest, while those marching clap far louder in support of the Frontline medical workers keeping people alive. #bostonprotest

As we pass through Chinatown, I spy a couple with their infant in a baby sling, shouting "George Floyd" in response to calls of "say his name", and hope this child doesn't get maced like the 9 year old hit in the face but Seattle PD yesterday. #bostonprotest

Cynically, Orange Barrel media clearly knows how to get their name in photos: everyone walking by snapped a pic of this advertising screen at the Chinatown station. #bostonprotest

(that said, I always appreciate when companies do a good thing, even when it's in their own self interest.)

Still have no idea how large the crowd is, as we filter across the common to the state house; "thousands" is all I can tell. #bostonprotest

Appears the city has set up a massive fenced in area where folks would usually gather next to the state house; this is filtering most foot traffic through a small gap in the gate up to the street, while also splitting up those who are coming in near Park Street. #bostonprotest

Seems like this is the result of a National Parks reconstruction project of some kind, but I don't expect this fence to survive the night: it feels targeted (even though it's likely not) and is now surrounded by protesters. #bostonpolice

This massive crowd is attempting to filter through a single set of stairs about 15' wide. This is when I hope to goodness there isn't any police action, or a lot of people are gonna get hurt. #BostonProtest

The crowd still on the common has lit up the night, using hundreds of cell phones as lights in a less fire prone version of a candlelight vigil. #BostonProtest

In a "least surprising thing ever" moment, the fenced in construction area is no longer as fenced in. #BostonProtest

Fireworks launched from the south side of the common, near the movie theater elicit cheers from the crowd. There's no longer a coherent center of the event; folks scattered all over the common and the street in front of the state house. #bostonprotest

Hundreds kneel, and hold their hands up in the air as a form of protest, calling out "hands up, don't shoot", in the common to the West of the statehouse. #bostonprotest

The crowd has begun to thin out somewhat, leaving one large cluster immediately in front of the statehouse, with another on the common. #BostonProtest

Massive crowd running away from Park Street station, as motorcycle cops with sirens blaring attempt to clear Tremont. #BostonProtest

Bike unit slowly marching down Tremont; many water bottles being thrown as a handful of protesters face down cops in the street. #BostonProtest

Along the sidewalk, a dozen cops carrying wooden batons keep pace with the bike marches down Tremont. I pass by a pepper sprayed protester. #BostonProtests

Some kind of smoke deployed; seems likely to have been protesters rather than police. #BostonProtest

Bike Unit has stopped moving and is clustered together; patrol cars now acting as rear guard for the bikes as they continue down Tremont. #BostonProtest

One patrol car left behind with a single cop had it's rear window broken in. Hopped up white boys started beating on it, pulled away by black protesters screaming at them not to touch it. #BostonProtests

Riot police blocking Tremont West. Other cops blocking East. #BostonProtests

Several windows smashed along Tremont. Currently a half dozen officers surrounding the broken cop car. Things mostly at a detente, though a paddy wagon pulled up near Park St. Right now I can't see a way out of here that doesn't go through cops. #BostonProtests

Police chopper hovering lower, using spotlight near the state house. #BostonProtests

Line of baton equiped cops standing toe to toe with protesters in several spots. Park Street station closed. Unclear what the fuck triggered any of this, but at this point, most people have bailed, and I think I found a way out. #BostonProtests

My advice to anyone downtown: get out if you can. Nothing good will come out of the rest of the night. Cops standing with batons at the ready on every corner, ready to bash some skulls. #BostonProtests

Passed by another busted up SUV by the Omni, and in front of Kings chapel is a military style vehicle. #BostonProtests

Some analysis here, once I got out safely. If you're looking at this thread, and thinking that the "violence" here was instigated by anyone other than the cops, that was bad reporting on my part. https://twitter.com/crschmidt/status/1267279702621917184