Police arrested two AL.com journalists covering a protest at 7:35 on June 3. There was a 7PM curfew in effect, which exempted journalists who were carrying a letter from their media outlet; both arrested journalists were carrying such a letter and had press lanyards. Both journalists were released shortly thereafter; while in custody, they were photographed. Birmingham police later said that the arrest was made for the journalists' safety.
Two employees of Alabama Media Group were restrained using zip ties.
tags: arrest, journalist, zip-tie
id: al-birmingham-1
geolocation: 33.520453, -86.8109093
Links
Journalist Michael Harriot was covering a protest with a group of journalists; he was the only black journalist present. He left his press pass in the car for fear of being targeted by protesters, but he says he had a digital press pass on his phone.
Around six officers arrested Harriot. Per AL.com, Harriot "was asked if he could show credentials but said he did not have any with him;" per Harriot, "officers said they couldn’t let me have my phone to show my digital credentials;" he "told them they could just call the mayor’s office to verify my media credentials; they did not attempt to." Per AL.com, "the department’s public information officer... said he [asked Harriot] if there was anyway [sic] to make contact with his company to confirm he was media and Harriot said no."
According to Harriot, after being arrested, he and the other arrestees were taken to a nearby area; while he waited there, an officer tightened his zip ties so tight that he lost feeling in his hands and they swelled up. Officers had trouble getting the zip ties off; they had to use a pocket knife in addition to the usual tool. Harriot was also interviewed by two agents claiming to be from the FBI.
tags: arrest, journalist, racial-profiling, zip-tie
id: al-birmingham-2
geolocation: 33.520453, -86.8109093
Links
- https://www.theroot.com/a-letter-not-from-a-birmingham-jail-1843926346
- https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2020/06/journalist-michael-harriot-arrested-after-birmingham-protest.html
- Video
- Poynter institute guidance for journalists
During a peaceful protest, police corral protesters onto a hill. Officers snatch protesters at the edges and throw them to the ground to make arrests.
tags: arrest, knee, protester, push, shove, throw
id: al-hoover-1
geolocation: 33.385529, -86.805699
Links
- https://twitter.com/greg_doucette/status/1269810926863163394
- https://twitter.com/greg_doucette/status/1269812337696964608
- https://twitter.com/mtvtacallya/status/1267318555604910081
During an altercation with protesters, a woman falls to the ground and other protesters are pushed away after trying to help her, while an officer steps on and trips over the woman.
tags: baton, beat, kick, protester, push, shove
id: al-huntsville-1
geolocation: 34.7298523, -86.5854804
Links
Police officer exits his vehicle and begins pepper spraying protesters for no apparent reason.
tags: less-lethal, pepper-spray, protester, spray, threaten
id: al-huntsville-2
geolocation: 34.7302616, -86.5858014
Links
Police use tear gas on reporters and protesters, who are then initially blocked from leaving the area by other officers.
tags: journalist, less-lethal, protester, tear-gas, tear-gas-canister
id: al-huntsville-3
geolocation: 34.7302616, -86.5858014
Links
A Huntsville PD Lieutenant stated that they used tear gas on protesters before violence occurred, adding that "they weren't going to roll the dice".
Footage taken of a protester in a garage after shows bruises consistent with rubber bullet rounds. Another image shows a bloody wound allegedly caused by a rubber bullet.
tags: less-lethal, protester, rubber-bullet, shoot, tear-gas, tear-gas-canister
id: al-huntsville-4
geolocation: 34.7302616, -86.5858014
Links
- https://www.alreporter.com/2020/06/03/huntsville-police-deploy-tear-gas-rubber-bullets-on-protesters/
- https://twitter.com/IanHoppe/status/1268350756186460164
- https://twitter.com/ByChipBrownlee/status/1268357881381957635
- https://twitter.com/Josh_Moon/status/1268589098404642817
- https://twitter.com/taylorcanerday_/status/1268405230338813952
After disperse order is given, protesters comply and begin to back away from the police line. Police fire rubber bullets at dispersing protesters and harrass woman (filmer) who has been shot in the leg and is unable to move quickly.
June 5th date determined by Reddit submitter stating video, which is stamped "1d ago", to have been uploaded on June 6th, 2020. Confirmed that mass protests did occurr in Hunstville on June 5th.
tags: less-lethal, protester, rubber-bullet, threaten
id: al-huntsville-5
geolocation: 34.7302616, -86.5858014
Links