In the wake of all of the past week’s shootings, protests have been breaking out all across the country, peacefully demanding for a stop in police brutality and the declaration that black lives matter. One protest in particular was held yesterday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Alton Sterling was killed by a police officer. As police intervened, they arrested dozens of protestors, reported to be over 100.
Arrests include prominent activist DeRay McKesson and at least two journalists. People who were at the protest also tweeted that at least one teenager was among the arrests as well. DeRay was streaming live on Periscope when his arrest took place.
Right before the arrest, DeRay was talking about how the police had been provoking people. “The police of Baton Rouge have been truly awful today. The police have been violent tonight, the protestors have not,” he said. Once McKesson begins to film what seems to be an arrest of another protestor, he is then arrested himself, as an officer tells him “Don’t fight me.” In pictures and video he is seen to brought to his knees.
McKesson’s arrest was captured on Periscope of Jamila Burley.
Another video of @deray‘s arrest taken by @JamiraBurley. He was well behind the white line. #FreeDeray pic.twitter.com/QZURUhHsMH
— Brittany Packnett☔️ (@MsPackyetti) July 10, 2016
Other videos have also appeared, seemingly from DeRay’s live stream.
Deray was doing the same thing as the other protesters. He was targeted #FreeDeray pic.twitter.com/aAii6s28CV
— reggie (@1942bs) July 10, 2016
Fellow activists Brittany Packnett and Johnetta Elzie tweeted about what was going on.
They told @deray, “u w the loud shoes-you’ve been flagged. Step out again and get arrested.”
He didn’t. They tackled him. On his birthday.
— Brittany Packnett☔️ (@MsPackyetti) July 10, 2016
Picture of @deray getting arrested. WHY are there so many officers on him?!? #FreeDeray pic.twitter.com/R43tYUi9Gj
— Brittany Packnett☔️ (@MsPackyetti) July 10, 2016
Protesters on the bus asked for the police officers names who arrested them and the answer was “police man” #AltonSterling
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 10, 2016
They didn’t read @deray his rights. Protesters say they grabbed him from behind. “You with the loud shoes” #AltonSterling
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 10, 2016
They are asking for people to call the BRPD.
Called the 535 number. Officer answered the phone laughing. Told me she had other things to do. @MsPackyetti https://t.co/yQkyebAsUO
— Gabrielle Horton (@gabhorton) July 10, 2016
According to Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowry, DeRay said that some of their hands were tied too tight, and he was arrested with 33 others.
Just got this text message from @deray, who has been arrested in Baton Rouge – says being held with 33 others pic.twitter.com/feLANYEdDs
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) July 10, 2016
However, WAFB (who had an employee taken into custody) says that over 100 were arrested in total from Saturday’s protest.
There has been an official CrowdRise page created to assist in bail money for those arrested. Right now, people are still asked to call the Baton Rouge Police Department at 225-358-4009 and demand for the release of the protestors.
UPDATE: Johnetta Elzie tweeted that DeRay had been released after bail was processed and lawyers were working to get others processed and released.
.@deray is free. #AltonSterling pic.twitter.com/aqaMbrZpaa
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 10, 2016
People are being released, families are outside. Lawyers are working to get them processed out. https://t.co/ap58OeIy76
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) July 10, 2016
ABC News also talked to DeRay right after he was released.
Deray McKesson speaks after being released from jail: Baton Rouge PD "only people that were violent last night."https://t.co/Vys63ZHFWj
— ABC News (@ABC) July 10, 2016
