Originally tweeted by Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile) (@1misanthrophile) on October 31, 2020.
Hi there, coming to you live from Vancouver where holy shit well over 1,000 people have gathered to mourn Kevin Peterson Jr, who was killed by police yesterday
I passed a truck with a Trump flag and maybe 10 people gathered around it on my way in
Let’s see what happens
I’d fully intended to rest until the election but the doctor has told me to stop being a whiny baby about my foot and also come on, I can’t miss the Proud Boys
Looks like the rally is on the move. I’ll update with more details when we get there
People trickling into the new location. I don’t want to give away where it is until more people get here
Want to clear something up: I saw 10 far right people, there are very credible reports of lots more. Armed. I’m wearing my IV plate and already unhappy about it
Some Vancouver residents express what I assume is disapproval from their balconies. I can’t hear them over the shouts of “Black lives matter!” A strobe flashlight illuminates them
Ok looks like it’s out on Twitter: we’re at Esther Short Park. Heart of Vancouver
“Say his name! Kevin Peterson!”
A Black activist reminds everyone they’re here for police abolition and they arent gonna stop until that happens
“We need to get all these people out of their apartments!”
The rally takes to the street. “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, motherfucker, wake up!” Drums keep the beat
An announcement: rules in Washington are different. They will hold you until your court date if you get arrested
“That’s why we need to dearrest, dearrest, dearrest!”
The crowd prepares to march
Look at this fucking statue we just passed. What even is this
Vancouver, man
City hall received some redecoration
“What did you see? Didn’t see shit!”
A Black activist doesn’t like this. She’s currently in a very impassioned argument with other Black activists who are enthusiastic about the graffiti
Just talked to @Claudio_Report: sounds like I missed a whole bunch of chud-tastic action whilst doing that panel
A group of maybe 5 people wander into the march. They’re looking for a fight and they get one. One of them collapses clutching his eye, screaming he’s been maced
The crowd attempts to deescalate. “Keep moving!”
The rally stops. A Black activist takes the megaphone
“We’re getting reports that the family of Kevin Peterson wants us to go back to the vigil spot”
A discussion about what to do from here
The march is on the move. It took a full minute for the crowd to pass. Biggest we’ve had in a long time
The march heads towards a large line of cops, sirens blazing into the night
A call for white people to the front
Umbrellas and shields to the front. The crowd advances, hands up. “Stay together, stay tight! We do this every night!”
“Fuck this, don’t put your hands up, put your fists up!”
A chant of “fists up, fight back!”
The cop cars sit ahead on the bridge, silent
The protest turns and begins to move away from the cop line. Not sure what precipitated this change of plan
A lot of hesitation and confusion. Debate about where to go and what to do
A decision finally reached
We have arrived at the Clark County Sherrif’s Office, where a line of riot police is waiting for us, surrounding the building
It’s the feds!
Ok I guess this is a federal building. Clark county superior court
A debate over whether to engage or keep moving. A helicopter roars overhead
Gas mask time? I think gas mask time
Looks like we’re staying
“Say his name! Kevin Peterson!”
The federal protective services informs us that the building is closed. I think. It’s hard to hear over the chants
Another announcement from the FPS. They seem to be maybe telling us to stay across the street or be arrested? You’d think they could afford a decent PA with all that money they get
Looks like the Codpiece Boys are back
The protesters are saying Kevin Peterson’s name and look I am not trying to tell anyone what to do but the Clark County Sherrif’s Office is half a block away and we could shout this at that building instead. They’re the specific bastards who did a murder the most recently
DHS and ICE illuminated by flashlights like a survival horror video game
The rally chooses to leave. As they walk off the feds announce louder than before that anyone, including press, will be subject to arrest if they trespass on federal property
It’s like they want us to stay so they can fuck us up
They don’t get their wish. The crowd moves out
The protest continues to march but I, tragically, am done. Whiny baby or not, I’m gonna ice this foot instead of marching for miles in IV plate
Solidarity with everyone still out here! ✊🖤
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