This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/11/us/deray-mckesson-arrested-in-baton-rouge-protest.html

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
DeRay McKesson Among Protesters Arrested Nationwide DeRay McKesson Released After Arrest During Protest
(35 minutes later)
DeRay McKesson, a national voice for the Black Lives Matter movement, was among hundreds of people arrested at demonstrations across the country late Saturday and early Sunday, as protesters expressed anger over the shootings of two black men by police officers last week.DeRay McKesson, a national voice for the Black Lives Matter movement, was among hundreds of people arrested at demonstrations across the country late Saturday and early Sunday, as protesters expressed anger over the shootings of two black men by police officers last week.
Thousands of people took to the streets in San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Phildelphia and other cities. In just two cities — St. Paul and Baton Rouge — where protests escalated at times into tense encounters with the police, more than 200 people were arrested. Thousands of people took to the streets in San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities. In just two cities — St. Paul and Baton Rouge, La., — where protests escalated at times into tense encounters with the police, more than 200 people were arrested.
In St. Paul, protesters angered by the killing of Philando Castile in nearby Falcon Heights, clashed with police officers wearing riot gear, shutting down an interstate for hours. At least 20 officers were injured as people threw rocks, bottles and bricks, the police said. In St. Paul, protesters angered by the killing of Philando Castile in nearby Falcon Heights, Minn., clashed with police officers wearing riot gear, shutting down an interstate for hours. At least 20 officers were injured as people threw rocks, bottles and bricks, the police said.
The authorities in Baton Rouge, where Alton Sterling was fatally shot early Tuesday, said they arrested more than 100 people in connection with a protest outside the city’s police headquarters, charging most with obstructing the road. Eight firearms were confiscated and one officer lost several teeth after he was struck by a projectile, the police said. The authorities in Baton Rouge, where Alton Sterling was fatally shot early Tuesday, said they arrested more than 100 people in connection with a protest outside the city’s Police Headquarters, charging most with obstructing the road. Eight firearms were confiscated and one officer lost several teeth after he was struck by a projectile, the police said.
Among those arrested in Baton Rouge were three members of the news media and Mr. McKesson, who filmed his encounter with the police using the live-streaming app Periscope. He was released around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday after more than 17 hours in custody. Among those arrested in Baton Rouge were three members of the news media and Mr. McKesson, who filmed his encounter with the police using the live-streaming app Periscope. He was released around 3:30 p.m. Sunday after more than 16 hours in custody.
Mr. McKesson, 31, was confronted by a police officer at about 11:15 p.m. as he and other protesters were marching along the shoulder of Airline Highway, which passes in front of the city’s police headquarters. The police warned them not to stray onto the road. Mr. McKesson, 31, was confronted by a police officer around 11:15 p.m. as he and other protesters were marching along the shoulder of Airline Highway, which passes in front of the city’s Police Headquarters. The police warned them not to stray onto the road.
Mr. McKesson tells viewers in the broadcast that there is no sidewalk where they are walking. An officer can be heard shouting, “You with them loud shoes, I see you in the road. If I get close to you, you’re going to jail.”Mr. McKesson tells viewers in the broadcast that there is no sidewalk where they are walking. An officer can be heard shouting, “You with them loud shoes, I see you in the road. If I get close to you, you’re going to jail.”
“I think he’s talking to me, y’all,” says Mr. McKesson, who often wears red sneakers to demonstrations.“I think he’s talking to me, y’all,” says Mr. McKesson, who often wears red sneakers to demonstrations.
Later, Mr. McKesson says: “Watch the police, they are just literally provoking people.” Later, Mr. McKesson says, “Watch the police, they are just literally provoking people.”
Then, about five minutes into the broadcast, the video gets shaky and a police officer can be heard saying: “City police. You’re under arrest. Don’t fight me. Don’t fight me.”Then, about five minutes into the broadcast, the video gets shaky and a police officer can be heard saying: “City police. You’re under arrest. Don’t fight me. Don’t fight me.”
As Mr. McKesson is taken into custody, his phone is passed into the hands of fellow protesters who continue the march and demand to know where he has been taken. As Mr. McKesson is taken into custody, his phone is passed into the hands of fellow protesters who continue to march and demand to know where he has been taken.
In a booking record, the Baton Rouge authorities said Mr. McKesson ignored a police officer’s order to stay out of the road. He was charged with simple obstruction of a highway of commerce.In a booking record, the Baton Rouge authorities said Mr. McKesson ignored a police officer’s order to stay out of the road. He was charged with simple obstruction of a highway of commerce.
who was with Mr. McKesson when he was arrested, said he had communicated with friends early Sunday and said he was not physically harmed. Brittany Packnett, an activist who was with Mr. McKesson when he was arrested, said he had communicated with friends early Sunday and said he was not physically harmed.
Ms. Packnett suggested that Mr. McKesson had done nothing to provoke the arrest. “They told him they would arrest him if he stepped over the line, and like every single eyewitness and the video prove that he never stepped over that line,” she said. Ms. Packnett suggested that Mr. McKesson had done nothing to provoke the arrest. “They told him they would arrest him if he stepped over the line, and, like, every single eyewitness and the video prove that he never stepped over that line,” she said.
As word of Mr. McKesson’s arrest spread on Twitter, where he has more than 460,000 followers, #FreeDeray began trending, with thousands tweeting out messages of support. As word of Mr. McKesson’s arrest spread on Twitter, where he has more than 460,000 followers, #FreeDeray began trending, with thousands posting messages of support.
The Louisiana National Lawyers Guild, which is providing legal support to protesters, set up a fund-raiser to help bail out Mr. McKesson and other protesters who were arrested.The Louisiana National Lawyers Guild, which is providing legal support to protesters, set up a fund-raiser to help bail out Mr. McKesson and other protesters who were arrested.
State Police officials defended the arrests of Mr. McKesson and others as a matter of public safety.State Police officials defended the arrests of Mr. McKesson and others as a matter of public safety.
“Well, they’re clearly blocking the roadway,” a Louisiana State Police spokesman told Maya Lau, a reporter with The Baton Rouge Advocate, in a video she posted on social media. “We welcome the protests. We want them to voice their opinions. That’s what we’re here to do, to make sure they’re safe and they’re able to do that.“Well, they’re clearly blocking the roadway,” a Louisiana State Police spokesman told Maya Lau, a reporter with The Baton Rouge Advocate, in a video she posted on social media. “We welcome the protests. We want them to voice their opinions. That’s what we’re here to do, to make sure they’re safe and they’re able to do that.
Three members of the news media were also arrested in connection with the demonstrations in Baton Rouge. Ryan Kailath, a reporter with the public radio station WWNO; Chris Slaughter, a field producer for the local broadcaster WAFB; and Lee Stranahan, a reporter for Breitbart News, were all charged with obstruction of a highway, the news organizations said.Three members of the news media were also arrested in connection with the demonstrations in Baton Rouge. Ryan Kailath, a reporter with the public radio station WWNO; Chris Slaughter, a field producer for the local broadcaster WAFB; and Lee Stranahan, a reporter for Breitbart News, were all charged with obstruction of a highway, the news organizations said.
Largely peaceful but intermittently tense demonstrations have taken place each night in Baton Rouge since Mr. Sterling was fatally shot by the police last week outside a convenience store. Thirty people were arrested Friday night and early Saturday, officials said.Largely peaceful but intermittently tense demonstrations have taken place each night in Baton Rouge since Mr. Sterling was fatally shot by the police last week outside a convenience store. Thirty people were arrested Friday night and early Saturday, officials said.
Mr. McKesson, a public school administrator turned activist, first gained national notice with his blunt critiques on Twitter of the police response in Ferguson, Mo., after the death of Michael Brown in 2014.Mr. McKesson, a public school administrator turned activist, first gained national notice with his blunt critiques on Twitter of the police response in Ferguson, Mo., after the death of Michael Brown in 2014.
He ran for mayor of Baltimore, his hometown, this year, ultimately losing the Democratic primary in April to Catherine E. Pugh.He ran for mayor of Baltimore, his hometown, this year, ultimately losing the Democratic primary in April to Catherine E. Pugh.
Mr. McKesson’s campaign was seen as a major step into the mainstream for the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been criticized for a lack of organized structure and tactics. His detractors have accused him of being an antipolice anarchist whose comments helped foster protest violence.Mr. McKesson’s campaign was seen as a major step into the mainstream for the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been criticized for a lack of organized structure and tactics. His detractors have accused him of being an antipolice anarchist whose comments helped foster protest violence.
Mr. McKesson traveled to Louisana Saturday morning to join the protests there. As he was being taken away by police officers late Saturday, several supporters cried out. “What was his crime?” one shouts. “Why is he being arrested?” Mr. McKesson traveled to Louisiana on Saturday morning to join the protests there. As he was being taken away by police officers late Saturday, several supporters cried out. “What was his crime?” one shouts. “Why is he being arrested?”