SPECIAL NOTE: I am engaged in a major cross country move over the course of the next week so my daily summaries and analysis will be very spotty until next weekend at the earliest. I hope you Freepers can keep the documentation up and weed out the bogus from the real. The insurrection riots have raise the stakes up another notch and we all need to pay attention to escalation events (militias on both sides, etc). BTW - bad countries around the world would like nothing more to stick a knife in the US while occupied by internal conflict.
Domestically, the situation has changed significantly from virus to riots/insurrection.
Wuhan Virus -
Great breakdown of the data here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3850166/posts
Virus news has essentially vanished in the face of the growing insurrection.
Globally, nations are working through their own re-opening of their societies. Russia’s death toll has started to decline.
Economy -
The Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta released a revised Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth estimate Friday. They lowered their expectations for the American economy from a -40% growth rate yesterday to -51.2% on Saturday. They cite: sharply lower estimates for personal spending, and sharply lower exports. Global economic activity will continue at very low levels as well, blunting demand for our products overseas.
May jobs report expected to show unemployment at 20%
In May 2009, 29 major companies filed for bankruptcy, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. And year-to-date, there have been 98 bankruptcies filed by companies with at least $50 million in liabilities — also the highest since 2009, when 142 companies filed in the first four months. Economists believe it the bottom hasn’t been reached yet.
Impacts from rioting haven’t been figured in yet. Thousands of businesses across the country that were looking to re-open are now destroyed.
CW2/Civil Unrest -
What we’re seeing now is not democracy. It’s anarchy.
Texas Freedom Force Militia group has taken Thursday night’s vandalism into their own hands and are standing guard while armed with rifles and shotguns out in front of the Alamo Cenotaph.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Saturday he has authorized “full mobilization” of the state’s National Guard - something that has never been done in the 164-year history of the Minnesota National Guard. Minnesota’s National Guard is comprised of more than 13,000 soldiers, according to the Guard’s 2019 annual report. Waltz has also admitted he is in over his head on this situation. He also confirmed that outside groups are instigating most of the violence.
(The Hill) St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter (D) said Saturday that all of the protesters who were arrested in his city the previous night were from out of state - he later had to walk that claim back
However, a report by KARE 11 showed “about 86 percent” of the 36 arrests listed their address in Minnesota, and that they live in Minneapolis or the metro area, according to data the outlet analyzed from the Hennepin County Jail’s roster. Five out-of-state cases came from Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri, according to KARE 11.
Every single major artery into Minneapolis and St. Paul is getting closed down tonight.
Following a clash Saturday, the Secret Service issued more warnings during a second standoff. The protesters heeded the additional warnings and are moving to another location to join another group. National guard joined the SS Saturday night to secure the WH.
Gov. Mike DeWine on Saturday deployed the Ohio National Guard, as well as the Ohio State Highway Patrol, to keep order amid protests in Columbus. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther also imposed a curfew for the city of Columbus from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Saturday night and continuing indefinitely...Mayor Ginther, speaking after the news conference, said the decision to call out the Guard and impose the curfew came after police gathered intelligence that an increasing number of people from groups such as Anonymous are coming into Columbus to commit acts of destruction and violence “to further their own end goals.” Those goals, he said, include in some cases “the disruption and the overthrow of the government.”
Pittsburg police chief reportedly said that “anarchists” (ie Antifa) hijacked peaceful protests.
Bullet Items (too much stuff to cover in detail):
- Pittsburg has closed down town to protestors and kicking in a curfew.
- LA curfew will apply to downtown Los Angeles between the 110 freeway on the west, Alameda on the east, 10 freeway on the south and 101 freeway on the north from 8pm to 5:30am . In a rare move, the LAPD has mobilized the entire department meaning basically all in, days off cancelled, two shifts, placement of detectives, special units out in the field to get as many cops on the street as possible. They are responding only to priority calls.
- Governor of Utah activates National Guard to help control escalating situation in Salt Lake City.
- Atlanta, GA mayor issues curfew beginning at 9pm tonight, ending at sunrise.
- An explosion was reported at the Philadelphia city hall, other protestors were reportedly dropping air conditioner units onto the streets below. Primary participants reported to be Antifa.
- Militias are forming up in Houston. Pallets of bricks were discovered positioned in various places in Dallas.
- Rioters have set the Market House on fire in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Market House is a National Historic Landmark, which has ties to slave sales in the 19th century.
- Nashville city hall is on fire, while the mayor talked about joining BLM’s protests.
The number of cities experiencing riots increased during the day Saturday and thru the night. I had hoped it would start burning itself out - but things have intensified.
AG Barr “Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate and violent agenda. In many places, it appears the violence is planned, organized, and driven by anarchistic and far left extremists, using Antifa-like tactics, many of whom travel from out of state to promote the violence.” He seems to have intelligence showing that Antifa is behind this violence and mayhem.
A USA Today report “The real hard-core guys, this is their job: They’re involved in this struggle,” said Adam Leggat, a former British Army counterterrorism officer who now works as a security consultant specializing in crowd management for the Densus Group. “They need protests on the street to give them cover to move in.”g locals and outsiders could be involved in conflicts with authorities.
Leggat, the security consultant, said intelligence reports from his colleagues indicate most of the hard-core protesters in Minneapolis are far-left or anarchists, and that far-right groups have not yet made a significant appearance. He said looting is typically done by locals – usually people with no criminal record who just get caught up in the moment.
But direct conflicts with authorities come from a mix of both locals and outside groups who see these conflicts as a core part of their mission. Many of the anarchists, he said, target banks, chain-type businesses and even luxury cars as symbols of corrupt institutions. He said even a peaceful protest can turn violent if outside agitators decide to participate, hijacking the message.”
Summary of States that have activated the NG:
Utah Ohio Georgia Washington Minnesota Texas
Colorado Arizona District of Colombia (Maryland) California
Tennessee Kentucky Missouri Wisconsin
TACTICS: Water guns with caustic substances out in force today, causing a lot of eye injuries - classical ANTIFA tactic. Rock and bricks have been prepositioned in at least one city. There are also an appearance of explosive devices beyond molotov cocktails. Many are using skate boards for both quick movement as well as a lethal weapon. Physical violence escalated yesterday/last night as well. Police under increasingly lethal attacks and responding in a more physical manner. Civilians starting to reach their “Roof top Korean” point, as reports of business owners resorting to lethal methods to ward off looters and rioters. We will have crossed the Rubicon if the rioters start using guns to attack the police and other targets.
MY ASSESSMENT: Without a doubt, Antifa has coopted the more peaceful protests to start their “American Spring”. The targets being attacked, and methods are unmistakable. The marxist leftists are still pushing for a “Kent State” moment, expecting to galvanize public opinion in their favor. They want the optics of police/military shooting at ‘blacks’. Across the board, civic/law enforcement leaders are noting that these riots have been organized and are not as spontaneous as MSM would suggest. Nor can white supremacists account for all of it. The pattern fits Antifa and related to a tee. The increase in numbers of riots and intensity strongly suggest behind the scenes activity - pallets of bricks/rock appearing out of no where should be a clue. Riots are also running out of urban targets to burn up. I suspect that at some point they will try to focus on suburbs. I also expect the formation of militias to provide local security outside or along the periphery of riot zones for property and protection of civilians.
One other observation - the intensity of the riots also suggest that the marxist left is desperate to divert efforts by the DOJ to investigate / arrest those involved with the ‘soft coup’ against the president (ie, Russia and Ukraine and spying). Had the death of Floyd not happened, some other event would have been generated to ignite this insurrection.
Hong Kong -
Britain is prepared to offer extended visa rights and a pathway to citizenship for almost 3 million Hong Kong residents in response to China’s push to impose national security legislation in the former British colony.
Be safe in your cross country move and avoid the ANTIFA/Back Lies Matter highwaymen.
Its too bad you have to transport your personal protection with you, shipping costs and long waits being what they are today.
This will be my last detailed post until this weekend at the earliest.
Domestically, the situation has changed significantly from virus to riots/insurrection.
Wuhan Virus -
No DoughtyOne post today
Warnings that the Floyd riots will cause the corona virus infections to spike - watching.
Economy -
The Floyd riots have hit areas just trying to start reopening after the corona virus shut down. Businesses that might been able to survive are now completely dead. One could almost think that this was planned.
School districts facing cut backs due to increase costs for corona virus prevention and loss of tax revenue
CW2/Civil Unrest -
What we’re seeing now is not democracy. It’s anarchy.
Sunday night riot intensity has increased in DC, NYC, LA and other major cities. The White House is the focal point Sunday night, But its has been reinforced by NG troops. About 60 SS agents have been injured by rioters. The president was escorted to the bunker complex beneath the WH for a period of time last night and the exterior lights shut off to permit SS to use night vision devices to monitor protestors.
Reports that in NYC and DC that protestors are creating car bombs for future use.
More militia groups formed overnight to protect businesses and other locations. The presence of resolute Americans caused looters/rioters to choose softer targets. Last night also brought out reports of armed groups with a stated purpose to protect the looters/rioters. One photo I saw showed predominantly white males - prompting some to misinterpret them as white racists when in all probability they were members of Socialist Rifle Association or John Brown gun club - or similar.
Also more of the protestors took more proactive stances against rioters/looters by protecting stores and other businesses, even police officers.
President Trump is preparing the paperwork to declare Antifa as a terrorist organization and AG Barr is ready to bring federal charges if any of the rioters crossed over from another state - a hint towards Antifa’s deployment into riot zones.
The separation between what i call honest protestors and the riot/looters (Antifa et al) appears to be widening ever so slowly. Saw one clip where marchers pounced on an antifa type and prevented him from throwing chunks of concrete at police. They instead grabbed him and turned him over to police who promptly arrested him.
Sacramento’s police chief Hahn : “This is a protest, that is clear to us, that there are people from outside. But it’s also clear to us that it is, the group that’s not out normal protesters are very organized,” Hahn said. “They have cars and a delivery system for water. Last night they were delivering large boxes of rocks that they were then throwing at the officers.”
The arson who set fire to the Nashville’s Historic Courthouse was arrested Sunday afternoon.
Pittsburgh police have issued an arrest warrant for the man they believe incited riots yesterday. Brian Bartels, 20, is suspected of pushing for violence in the midst of a peaceful protest over the murder of George Floyd.
In what is best described as karma, ESPN basketball reporter, Chris Palmer, tweeted a photo of a low income apartment under construction on fire and said “ Burn that S* down, Burn it all down” Two days later, reality struck as rioters came into his neck of the woods, and were in front of his building - suddenly his tone changed - “Get these animals TF out of my neighborhood. Go back to where you live.”
MY ASSESSMENT:
Floyd’s funeral is planned to be in Houston TX this next week. I anticipate a significant outbreak of violence even though it is against the wishes of family and friends. These riots are no longer about him, they have become about toppling the President and making the country ungovernable.
Reports of the construction of ‘car bombs’ is very concerning, especially those in DC. If they are deployed, they would take it to the level of active army units deploying and martial law justifiably being imposed.
The riots are still confined to urban centers with a few exceptions where Rodeo drive luxury stores were looted. Any directed move towards the suburbs will in many cases raise the specter of serious blood shed as the armed residents would be feel the need to defend their lives, their families and property.
The peaceful protestors taking action to deal with Antifa rioters has dealt Antifa a negative blow to their public status. However, they are now more hard pressed to get a Kent State moment to restore moment to their efforts. So far Sunday night has seen a lot more violence. However, a portion of that violence is the police backed by substantial NG, taking back the streets one block at a time. With Antifa losing the PR and street war, I am not sure just how much longer they will be able to sustain the current tempo. Additionally, now they are under the full microscope of the DOJ and AG Barr, facing very severe federal charges if caught.
India/China -
Tensions continue to be high in the Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. China has objected to India building a road through the valley connecting the region to an airstrip, possibly sparking its move to assert control over territory along the border that is not clearly defined in places. China’s move could place as significant area of the contested border out of reach of Indian forces to patrol.