https://www.facebook.com/joseph.redb...30435977404979
A word on what i witnessed today...as all i can tell at this point there is a media blackout so far as i can tell after about 5pm...
I rode my bike around and kept an eye on things best i could as a witness. Though i did not ‘“participate” per se, but,i am in support of the gathering today 100%, full stop.
The protestors today were peaceful. They marched through the streets and circled the statehouse and ended up back on the statehouse grounds chanting “hands up/dont shoot”, “no justice, no peace”, amid many other things. The whole time staying grouped and not causing any damage or stepping out at all. i would say around 5/530 they arrived back at the statehouse grounds. The mass phone warning of a “new” curfew (before the stated 6pm time) went out, and wishing a few minutes of that, with no provocation I REPEAT, THE PROTESTORS WERE PEACEFUL officers fired teargas and shock bombs into the crowd in an effort to disperse. Followed by a wagon train of buses of riot police from main st. Protestors were not told how to exit. They were scattered and then CHASED in as many different directions as they could. They were blocked on two sides as Gervais was blocked off at assembly and Sumter.
I rode around making sure there was no one in need as i knew where some aid for any injuries from gas or non lethal weapons was located. As i circled back coming up main st, the riot gear clad line was across gervais, and then from lady street about 3-4 police vehicles spun into assembly and started to grab random people trying to walk out of the area. These people were young, they were scared, and had nowhere to go. I personally witnessed a large white male officer literally grab a young black girl and grow her to the ground. She made it up and started to run and he took off after her. To no avail she was grabbed and zip tied.
Police were chasing people at random across the parking lot at the corner of assembly and gervais. Throwing them to the ground and zip tying them.
I got on the bike west down gervais trying to get my cameras it of my handlebar bag when i was flanked by a CPD SUV who pulled into the parking lot behind the old train depot and began a foot pursuit of two random people who were tackled and cuffed. These people were also running with no place to go and they had done nothing wrong. No property damage. Nothing.
As i was crossing the road an officer sped across ******* toward the Starbucks and blocked a vehicle exiting ******* street attempting to leave and drew his weapon on the passenger and ordered them out.
THAT is when i knew that these police are completely out on control. It was random. It was frightening for anyone at the receiving end.
The only reason i do not think i was bothered is the following:
I had a dingy yellow vest on that i wear when on the bike sometimes
I had a camera around my chest
And most importantly;....surprise, I’m a white male.
Every single person i saw chased down today was not white.
Every single police officer was.
Today is a shameful day for columbia South Carolina. Not surprisingly its a shame on the law enforcement of the area as well.
If I saw you today, and you saw me, please message me that you are alright.
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