Posted on 08/13/2017 10:08:46 AM PDT by Altura Ct.
I am not a writer but will do the best I can. I arrived about 10:30ish. Was actually surprised that I was able to find a parking space relatively close to Lee Park. In fact I thought that perhaps the turnout wouldn't be as big as I was anticipating because I didn't see much at first and I was only 5 blocks from ground zero but I was wrong. By the time I had walked one block toward the park the police presence was strong. Many in riot type gear. They had most streets and walkways blocked off funneling everyone into two or three entrances to ground zero. As I got closer to the park you could feel the tension. The Antifa presence was strong as was BLM. Didn't see many 'alt-righters' till I got to the park. (One note here - I think some people were there just to watch. It also wasn't always clear who was who.)
E Market St was the only way the police were allowing entrance to the park. The park is not huge. I'm guessing, but maybe 1.5 acres or so. It also is on a mound/hill so you have take steps up from Market St to get to it. There are two sets of steps up to the park from Market St. I was coming from the south. The northern entrance was for those protesting the removal of the statue and had been cordoned off as best they could. The southern entrance was for everyone else although most people in the park were statue removal protesters (alt-right). As I got to the park the crowds were already pretty thick. The northern entrance had some priest/religious figure locking arms with antifa and blocking the entrance. The rhetoric and name calling was heavy from both sides. By the time I got to the park it was maybe 10:45 with the event slated to start @ noon. It looked to me there were about 300-400 alt-righters up top at the park and maybe 1000 -1500 others on the street being a mixture of the left and right but mostly left. By noon I would say the total number of people on all sides had swelled to 4-5,000. I position myself at the southern entrance on top of a retaining wall alongside 3 or 4 reporters/photographers. There were plenty of BLM signs, African Flags & various left supporting banners/flags. Of course many signs spouting about hatred and Nazi's too. The right had many Confederate Flags, various state flags & US flags, A Few Don't Tread On Me and a couple I didn't recognize. I've seen some pictures that show a few Nazi Flags/armbands but I didn't see them. Not saying there weren't there but again I didn't see them.
About 11:10 or so a group of about 50-75 statue supporters were making their way down Market street toward the park from the South. As they approached the southern entrance to the park is when the first violence started. Bottles of water, balloons of paint and bags of urine were thrown at them from the crowd. When that happen the shoving started, fist were flying and people hitting each other with sticks. Of course the right stood up for themselves. Now I'm not saying some on the right wouldn't be violent anyway BUT I can say for a fact they didn't start it. Also the police did nothing to quell the violence. Once it started it went on for at least 30-40 minutes or more with crap flying every which way. Also within this 30 + minutes a second group of about the same size also made there way down the street and this just exacerbated the chaos.
In looking at the pictures I took I see there aren't really any during this timeframe. I also wish I had taken more overall but all I know is if you weren't looking up and paying attention you were liable to be hit. Crap was being thrown in all directions but in a general direction without care to where it landed. I myself stopped 6 bottles coming in my direction, one from hitting the photographer next to me in the head.
As we approached noon the violence and shouting was prevalent. At this point the police started making the announcement on a bullhorn that the alt-right was having what had been declared an illegal gathering and that they must disperse or be arrested. They did nothing to contain nor restrain the left only the right. The right, who had legally obtain a permit to be there. They complied which I not sure if I was in charge I would have done, but that is another story. After this, while things continued to be chaotic people became more spread out and violence started to dissipate. As a side note I didn't see the vehicle thing.
I've never been in the middle of something like this. I found it fascinating & unnerving at the same time. In a split second things can escalate.
You can say what you want about those that were present on the right. They were there to speak to the removal of that statue and history. The MSM and politicians are railing on about the hatred and violence from the 'white supremacist' yesterday? But the left was full of vitriol & had no problem with violence even though you'd never know it from the press. I am not saying those on the right were all boy scouts but they had a right to be there and to have their right protected to assemble. Had the left not been there I am relatively certain no violence would have happened.
The “right” is those of us for a Constitutional guaranteed rights representative government with free markets and free people.
The socialist Nazi’s are not “right” or “Alt right” and are closer to “Left”......
thugs
bkmk
A proper search wouldn’t be via internet. If you can acquire a transcript of all communications, specifically verbal communications, between Soros and top democrat and republican officials, it would be a very good start.
I see. So I am pretty much out of luck.
Yes, I learned that in DETAIL from watching Dinesh’s movie Hillary’s America.
Thanks for the report.
Today for those in the Left, like the MSM who are so insistent to get the meme they need, Trump patiently spelled out what his obvious statement meant. Still he did not say that, and I wish he would have, that we cannot forget history, good or bad, for to do so, would doom us to constantly repeat it. For this to stand unchallenged would mean that to stay relevant, we must remove every MLK street in America, but, that is just my opinion.
Did you ever post your photos?
“Half the Freepers are on the Antifa side it seems.”
Have you ANY proof of that statement?
I certainly would not like to be thought of as part of the “Antifa” crowd!
Think modern day “Brownshirts!”
Not FRee Republic kind of people, IMHO!
ALL the violence at these rallies has been perpetrated by George Soros paid “Rent a Mobs!”
They are LIEberal/Socialist/Marxist/Fascist/Communist assholes who are paid to create violence and mayhem and, ultimately, to bring all of Western Civilization down to the level of Third World banana republic.
George Soros and his minions would LOVE to see Venezuela repeated in America!
Ophonybama’s Organizing for Action is heavily involved in all this unlawful behavior, too!
Good AAR! Thanks!
Taxman Bravo Zulu for having the courage to go out there and report FRom the FRont line!
Since we’re living in “witch hunt” times, the presence of one or two constitutes enough proof for some that FR is basically an Antifa stomping ground. And when the Left, in its synthetic attempt at fairness, attempts to round up a few Antifa’s to satisfy what remains of those Americans who think only part of the time (and who feel that voices on the Right are just as much or more to blame for the nation’s divisiveness and woes), they might just as well begin here.
(Far-fetched, perhaps. But is it really too hard to think that trolls reside here and are bound and determined to subvert the cause of honest conservative debate and discussion? But come up with your own scenario about how the Left will attempt to bring down such a place as FreeRepublic).
We are living in increasingly dangerous times. Today, it’s statues. Tomorrow...(and, yes, I know all about the firepower located in the lakes not too far from where many here reside)
I am satisfied that, based on being a FReeper since the March for Justice in 1998, there are no true FReepers who are “Antifa!”
HST, I know that the ranks of FR have been infiltrated by George Soros, Hitlery the venomous harridan and Ophonybama’s OfA operatives.
When found out about, they MUST BE OUTED, and banned!
I have not read all of this thread, yet. But so far, I have not seen a FReeper stand up for the Antifas.
No - just me throwing a temper tantrum based on a few posts Saturday that seemed to neglect any mention of Antifa’s role in any of this.
No “true” Freepers would be Antifa, that’s for sure. Many poseurs, though, have been outed - and that is the key now, more than ever, given the times we seem to be entering.
“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
I agree with you: “No “true” Freepers would be Antifa, . . . .”
HST, let us understand that the LIEberal/Socialist/Marxist/Fascist/Communist Organizing for America thugs and the various Soros thug groups are well paid, well organized and well trained to cause massive disruptions in our society.
Their hateful activities will only get more violent in the future!
They are certainly among us, and when we discover them, they must be called out!
I only hope that the Trump Administration can somehow, someway, squash these thugs like the little bugs that they are!
a Federalized National Guard, anyone? Since the local police forces have been given stand down orders?
If I were President Trump, I would bring the full force and power of the federal government to stop these treasonous bastards in their tracks!
Roundem up and lockemup!
I kind of thought that was what it was.
As MarDav said, “No “true” Freepers would be Antifa . . . .”
BTTT
So WHY were YOU there for???
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