dimensionallava
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2015
- Messages
- 6,414
- Reaction score
- 1,524
- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
- Communist
Mass arrests are occurring as thousands protest police violence and institutional racism in cities all across the USA.
Militarized police forces throughout the US carry out mass arrests - World Socialist Web Site
Following the killing of five police officers by a lone gunman, Micah Xavier Johnson, police and government officials have used the attack to further curb democratic rights and clamp down on anti-police brutality protests across the country.
According to CNN, at least 309 individuals have been arrested in New York City, New York; Chicago, Illinois; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana for participating in protests against the police killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.
St. Paul police arrested 46 individuals last Saturday night on charges of third-degree riot for allegedly marching onto Interstate-94 and injuring 21 officers by throwing rocks at them. Bail was set at $1,500 for each gross misdemeanor charge, and they could appear in court as early as this morning.
On Sunday, St. Paul police arrested another 52 demonstrators for marching on Grand Avenue. They are currently being cited for public nuisance and unlawful assembly.
In Baton Rouge, riot police armed with military grade equipment had arrested some 102 protesters by Saturday night, most of whom were charged with obstructing public property. Among those arrested was prominent Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson. He was charged with allegedly blocking traffic.
McKesson, who was taken to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, described conditions in the prison to the New York Times, stating, “Not everybody could fit. Some of us had to stand. I, like many other people, slept on the floor or didn’t sleep at all because there just wasn’t enough room.”
McKesson also claimed that prior to his arrest police had attempted to provoke individuals. Witnesses say police tackled McKesson and slammed him to the ground, in what appeared to be a deliberate targeting. The incident was captured on a cellphone video. McKesson was released on Sunday.
According to CBS News, officers also arrested dozens of protesters who had been invited to demonstrate in a local Baton Rouge woman’s yard. Video footage shows that officers in riot gear surrounded the house before moving onto the property to carry out the arrests. Police officials later justified these actions by claiming that protesters planned on marching onto the interstate and disrupting traffic.
Militarized police forces throughout the US carry out mass arrests - World Socialist Web Site