APD just stormed in here on Congress and 4th for no reason. The protest out here is small. They came in and immediately starting spraying.

APD grabbing folks off the streets

What I can only assume to be boogs are across the street. One APD officer is armed with a rubber bullet gun.

We’ve had to vacate Garrett Foster’s memorial. Medic is treating someone who was severely impacted by the pepper spray.

Honestly this is a dangerous situation with this kind of intense police aggression and boogs on the ground here. Trying to negotiate my safety as much as possible.

Ok some folks have returned to the memorial spot

Just spoke with a couple of folks across the street who say they are with a 3 percenter group but say, ostensibly, that they are out here “to support our First and Second Amendement rights.”

As I understand it, there are varied right-wing groups out tonight, some are slightly aligned for their own purposes.

It’s a very strange mix. They are looking to exploit the unrest over Garrett’s murder

We are just holding space at the memorial for the time being.

The folks across the street, the “Texas Security Force” told an Austin Statesman reporter that they are here to “protect the police.”

When they told me that they were out here to support “our rights” they were very clear that they wouldn’t be engaging with the police.

I just spoke with an armed medic out here who was treating a protester who was maced. She identifies as Boogaloo and distances herself from the Texas Security Force. I don’t want to amplify these folks too much obviously, but it’s a real mixed bag out here.

Helicopters and drones circling.

Cops on bikes and horses primed just around the block on 3rd

Things are calm but tense

Cops just advanced on horses, trampling protesters in the intersection

I don’t think went directly under hoof, but the aggression tonight is extremely escalated

#Fuck12

I just need to emphasize that APD instigated everything that is going down right now. The group of protesters was small when APD just stormed in on bikes spraying. People are seeing what’s happening on social and coming out is my feeling.

I’m not trying to downplay that things are tense organically. But there’s been a clear progression of escalation since APD’s initial advance

APD bikes retreated.

Taking the intersection again

Protesters moving with the mounted line. APD just pushed us back onto the sidewalk. Still marching toward the Capitol

Didn’t capture it but clash just broke out at 5th and Congress. Protest is splintered

State troopers out in force.

Someone is down

It may be hard to tell but the state trooper is strapped with two assault rifles

State troopers and APD have control of the streets

State troopers retreated behind a line of mounted APD at 4th and Congress

We are getting shouted down by a Qanon

Still holding space

Protesters taking the intersection

Protesters tried to hold Congress. State troopers again advanced

Marching down the sidewalk

Ok finally getting some momentum. Marching down 2nd

Paused at 2 nd and Colorado and are continuing

Heading down Lavaca

Heading east on Chavez

Returning to Congress.

Circling back on 2nd.

Still out. Haven’t seen any police response since we started marching

It’s dark but we took the service road

It’s very dark and my video is crap. Protesters are trying to take the highway but there is debate about it

Apologies for the dark video. Maybe 50 holding the interstate. The march is divided

Organizer pleading with protesters to fully take the interstate as it has been an instrument of segregation in Austin.

Driver just negotiated passage

Still holding

Protesters vacating interstate

Heading south on service road

March has decided to head to APD instead

Just getting to APD. Two people detained under bridge I hear. Cops are searching someone’s car

APD heading back to headquarters. We’re proceeding to the building

Again, with the horses

We’re divided on either side of the street by bikes and horses.

I’m exhausted and checking out for the night.