Another thread as the Merle Hay protest moves along Douglas.

The armored vans are parked by Target, as well as a few squad car. I do not know where the line of police with shields has gone.

At this point the crowd is moving as one through the intersection and along Douglas. They went toward the mall, now back past AT&T.

Okay so here’s the latest— Rep. Abdul-Samad said a few minutes ago that he and other community leaders had reached an agreement with police to allow protesters to march peacefully down one side of Douglas.

But the protesters walked down Merle Hay instead. They spent some time confronting police at Merle Hay and Urbandale but the crowd is now moving along.

Yelling at police but no violence. Crowd on the move.

Seems like marching agreement has been extended to Merle Hay. Several cars follow the crowd, some with people hanging out windows and skylights.

Okay, crowd is turning around now. Headed north on Merle Hay.

Police with riot shields met protestors at the intersection of Urbandale and Merle Hay. At first just a few protesters approached but the rest of the crowd followed.

March continues north.

Crowd stops at the River City plaza, confronts parked police again. Some kneel, others standing and chanting.

Abdul Samad caught up with a bullhorn. Things are tense, I think he’s pushing to the front. Abdul-Samad said earlier he planned to address the protest and direct them to peacefully march toward downtown.

Abdul-Samad is addressing the crowd. “Put your hands in the air and listen just for a minute.”

He’s asking the crowd to kneel and then disperse. Some officers will kneel in return, I think.

The crowd is not having it. Lots of yelling, Abdul-Samad yelling “listen, listen up”

Using a chant of Hands Up / Don’t Shoot to get protesters to listen.

The issue at hand (one of many, but the current one) seems to be that some cops will not kneel in solidarity with protesters. Protesters want all the officers to kneel with them.

Abdul-Samad is hearing protesters individually. Talking about the fear they feel, the lack of community unity with the police.

“That’s a poisoned system,” one yells. “That’s a bad system.”

On the move again. Headed north.

A smal group of white are standing in the Subway parking lot, confronted the protesters as they passed. Crowd quickly gathered around them.

Just talking/shouting right now, protesters urging the march to move along.

Chant of “Fuck these guys”

Several people at the front urging people to keep moving. The crowd is beginning to continue north.

But one punch thrown and the crowd presses back. Protesters still saying “let’s go”.

Car just drove into the Spotfeee car wash, several people dancing on the roof. Not sure what’s happening but it stopped (or at least paused) the impending fight.

Crowd is at the car wash now. Chants of “no justice, no peace.”

A chant of “hands up, don’t shoot” and the crowd is northbound again. The fight with the group of men is forgotten.

As the protesters marched north, some broke from the group and broke windows at JiffyLube and Hardee’s along Merle Hay Rd. Other protesters yelled at them to stop.

There was a short clash between protesters and police at the original intersection, Merle Hay and Douglas. A few fireworks shot, some tear gas fired.

Now the crowd is quiet, gathered in the Verizon parking lot on the corner.

Abdul-Samad addressed the crowd again, proposed his plan: protesters and officers will kneel together, say a prayer and go home. Then they will set a meeting with city officials.

I don’t think the entire crowd that was marching is here. But those that are here are supportive.

A young man has the microphone now, Wallace something (don’t have his last name). He notes that meetings have been happening forever, he plans to stay in the streets until there is change.

“Fuck the windows and fuck you for caring about them”

Crowd cheers along, stay peaceful.

Abdul-Samad back. Speakers want everyone to show up to the next city council meeting, which is apparently June 1 (tomorrow).

A deal has been made, speaker says, but the crowd is getting rowdy.

There are fireworks across the street. Speaker continues “we want a policy change, right? this is how we get policy changed.”

Okay the meeting is actually June 8. Crowd has grown, speaker estimates 200.

More fireworks, two individuals in the crowd yelling at Abdul-Samad, telling him he hasn’t done anything.

Crowd has turned on the KCCI camera crew, asked them to turn the cameras off. The crew did not turn off cameras but did move to the side of the lot.

Men are standing on tall flower planters while they argue with each other. Abdul-Samad back on the megaphone, leading the people who talked abt the deal (kneel peacefully and go home) to gather with him at the door of the Verizon store.

Most of the crowd is just standing around.

“If you are a part of the deal that was made, step over here,”
Abdul-Samad said.

Some protesters notice an armored car in the entrance of the lot and leave. Chants of “fuck that deal” now

Police are gathered across Douglas on the mall side. Protesters leave Abdul-Samad and head to the other side of Douglas to stand off.

Abdul-Samad in the middle of the crowd, still pleading for a peaceful resolution. Police lined on the hill.

There was a sound of breaking glass and the crowd scattered. Not sure what broke but the police didn’t advance. Crowd returns.

Some police, including the police chief, take a knee. Some protesters get down, others keep yelling

Few protesters are kneeling. Police just got back up.

A smal group of protesters are kneeling and praying. Others are mulling around, including on the hill by Merle Hay Mall.

Police joining the prayer while other protesters clash on the hill. Tear gas deployed and the prayer circle scatters.

About 200 people still here, just standing in Douglas Ave. Abdul-Samad still talking with people.

People are starting to peel off and go home. A core group in the center of the street is arguing still, but more quietly. There haven’t been chants in a while.