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Heading out soon to check out the @WeAreProBLAC Portland Solidarity demonstration scheduled to start around 7:30 here in Omaha. The demo also aims to call attention to the continued miscarriage of justice in the #JamesScurlock case.
It’s a hot one, folks. If you’re local and heading out, don’t forget to stay hydrated
Small group gathered here at the corner of Turner Blvd and Farnam, along with a small gaggle of press
A few of the small group gathered here - plenty of drivers honking in support as they pass by
Looks like around 30-40 people here so far
Chants of “who’s streets? Our streets!”
Got a pretty diverse group of folks here, including more than a few folks who came ready for anything - multiple protestors with leaf blowers, gas masks and goggles
Some good signs tonight
More than a few folks have joined this group from the street after hearing the chants from down the road
This crowd has easily doubled in the last 15 minutes
Some nice chalk art on the sidewalk
Many signs for folks to pick up if they want
Angry folks yelling obscenities out their windows at the protestors
“If we don’t get it - shut it down!”
More chalk art - chants of “All power to the people!”
Some added chalk art for the main walk through the park here
Chants of “2-4-6-8 Stop the Violence Stop the Hate”
Roughly 150-200 here
Roughly 150-200 here
More than a few passersby are not happy - trying to scuff off the chalk
Got a bit of a dance party going on the corner here in between chants
Posted with permission - a local artist made this Black Lives Matter banner
Cole here has been teargassed twice already and came prepared. “I would hate myself if I wasn’t prepared.” (Posted with permission)
Stolen “Back the Blue” banner from the pro-police rally has been repurposed
“They look at Omaha as a city of obedience...a city that does not take direct action....what do you think of that?”
Huge boos from the crowd
Huge boos from the crowd
The crowd is roughly 250ish at this point?
Folks are gearing up to move
Heading down the middle of Farnam street toward the courthouse
So far cops are letting the march continue, blocking traffic
“Say his name, James Scurlock!”
March is reaching 26th and Farnam
They’ve completely blocked off the road - super high energy here
“No justice, no peace!” Echoing off buildings here
Tons of “fuck 12!” From the crowd
Unlawful assembly declared, shits tense as we head downtown
The March is continuing downtown
Plenty of folks moving to the sidewalk to try and avoid cops, presumably
Cops have the blocks around the march surrounded, coming up to the courthouse now
300ish? Folks still marching
Folks reaching the courthouse, second unlawful assembly order called
Folks have fists raised, approaching courthouse
Walking past the courthouse how into downtown
A passerby: “Are you guys fixing to break out windows? I wanna do that!”
COMPLETELY PEACEFUL march happening rn
COMPLETELY PEACEFUL march happening rn
Walking into the Old Market shortly...worst place to be to escape a kettle
Lots of cops
Walking into the old market proper - heading closer to wear James Scurlock was murdered
Heading back to the intersection where many protestors were brutalized by police in june
Unlawful assembly called for a third time, the old market is packed with people
And the order for a fourth
And the order for a fourth
Folks now heading back out of the old market toward farnam
Unmasked diners and a protest nearby
“Your silence is violence” to the diners
Heading up Harney to the site of James Murder
Passing by
Blocking traffic on Harney
Folks are directing traffic and most feel fine to wait
Many cars honking in support as folks pass.
The March is still high energy as they head back up Harney
The March is still high energy as they head back up Harney
Chants of “fuck Donald Trump” and “fuck jake Gardner”
Walking back up Farnam away from downtown now
The March route is being organically decided by the group in real time
The back of the March being protected by protestors in their cars
Still high energy here, the group hasn’t seen many folks peeling off
“No justice no peace - fuck the police”
Still on Harney, headed back to Midtown Crossing
Reaching the 480 bridge- natural choke point here
Blocking us in
Been detained
Cops pepper balled folks at point blank range and might have broken another protestor’s nose when they slammed him to ground
Multiple protestors were in a lot of pain as they held everyone on the bridge for multiple hours - they are still processing people
the legal observer was also detained - unsure if arrested
the legal observer was also detained - unsure if arrested
The first couple of minutes of the police escalation, featuring me getting shoved violently
The cop who detained me refused to take my press credentials, citing instances where people faked being press to avoid arrest.
I recorded the first like 7 minutes of my detainment, will upload when my hands aren’t numb anymore
There were at least 60 arrested tonight. Send bail funds to neleftcoalition@gmail.com on PayPal.
Sounds like they got folks for obstructing traffic and unlawful assembly
Sounds like they got folks for obstructing traffic and unlawful assembly
Most of the cops either had no badges, taped over badge numbers, or had them on the back of their vests. Very few responded to questions and none of them have detainees water
Press badges completely ignored by police while we were detained
@Night____Moves and @solidarity_goth held it the fuck down across the bridge - overheard a fuckload of shit from the cops. Apparently there was a pretty intense argument about whether we were going to be detained or also arrested. Wasn’t til a Lt. showed up that we were released
Cuff marks and my scraped hands. Those protestors got the worst of it - there was blood on the pavement from violent arrests
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Road rash from a dumptruck of a cop shoving me so hard I lost my phone and nearly brained myself on the steel bridge railing
Please donate to the bail fund to get folks out - they need support
Learning now that the legal observer has been arrested
Does not bode well for OPD
