– A prominent Black Lives Matter activist, three journalists and more than 120 other people were taken into custody in Louisiana over the weekend, authorities said Sunday, in connection with protests over the fatal shooting of an African-American man by two white police officers in Baton Rouge.
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“The only people that were violent last night were the Baton Rouge police department”, McKesson told reporters outside the jailhouse.
Police arrest activist DeRay McKesson during a protest against the recent killings of two black men.
The police arrested 74 protesters in NY and charged 30 in Baton Rouge. An affidavit of probable cause claims Mckesson “intentionally” put himself in the road after being told by police to stay out of the roadway.
Upon his release, Mckesson said Baton Rouge Police were provoking peaceful protesters.
Protesters were demonstrating against the shooting death Tuesday of 37-year-old Alton Sterling.
Nearly 150 people have been arrested since Friday afternoon as more protests and rallies are planned for the fifth day of demonstrations following the death of Alton Sterling. Although armed, Sterling was on the ground and being subdued by police when shot. “Why are (police) in riot gear?” he said.
In Boston, organizers for Sunday’s demonstration announced on Facebook: “This is a peaceful protest”.
The demos also come after 25-year-old black army veteran Micah Johnson used a high-power rifle to kill five police officers and wound seven in a sniper attack at a protest in Dallas, Texas late Thursday.
A police spokesman said two firearms were confiscated and several arrests made.
More protests unfolded in cities including Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to decry police brutality after last week’s killing of Sterling and Castile.
Protests also took place Saturday in Nashville, where protesters briefly blocked a road, and in Indianapolis. “They weren’t on the street or anything”, Bowers said.
“I can assure everyone we are hearing the protesters”, the governor added at the news conference. A Baton Rouge Police Officer had several of his teeth knocked out as a projectile was thrown from the protest, ” the release states.
“The occupation and shutting down of Interstate 94 last night were unlawful and extremely unsafe”, said Dayton, who praised police for repeatedly trying to resolve the situation peacefully and protest leaders “who were doing their utmost to stop this very risky escalation”.
Reynolds cried as she recounted the shooting and said her daughter, who was shown on camera comforting her, is still telling her “it’s gonna be OK”.
The owner of a community social services organization says the gunman who killed five police officers at a Dallas protest march worked for his organization.
In Chicago, hundreds of protesters held demonstrations downtown Saturday, and a group attempted to disrupt the a city-sponsored food and music festival. “They have provoked people, they chase people just for kicks”.
One man in attendance, named Banditsu, told CNN: “Black lives matter, I’m exhausted of seeing my brothers and sisters becoming a hashtag”. They are analyzing information in the journal, police said.
Mckesson is one of the most recognizable faces to emerge from the Black Lives Matter movement.
Authorities said they pulled in officers from nearby parishes to buttress their numbers.
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Protesters clash with police during a Black Lives Matter protest in Baton Rouge.
