In February, President Obama hosted a meeting of civil rights leaders of the past and future and praised DeRay McKesson for his “outstanding work mobilizing in Baltimore” around the issues of “justice and equality and economic opportunity.”
So it’s reassuring to know that McKesson, who for a while was physically present at every volatile race-based flare-up in the country, tweeted his solidarity with the protesters marching through Charlotte Wednesday night protesting the shooting of an armed black man by a black police officer working under the supervision of a black police chief.
#CharlotteProtest, we stand with you.
— deray mckesson (@deray) September 22, 2016
That seal of approval, coming from someone who has worked with the White House on criminal justice reform, certainly loaned legitimacy to the protest, at which one person was shot, several buildings were vandalized and looted, police were injured, reporters were assaulted, and a state of emergency declared.
I have declared a State of Emergency & initiated efforts to deploy the Nat'l Guard & Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement in CLT
— Pat McCrory (@PatMcCroryNC) September 22, 2016
Rather than go to the trouble of Photoshopping DeRay into each of these photos, just imagine him standing there doing his black power salute.
CATS bus destroyed. pic.twitter.com/DZ3MT5juBE
— Brett Baldeck (@BrettFOX46) September 22, 2016
Protestors just tried to throw this man into the fire they started.He was saved by PD.This is outta control.#CharlotteRiot #CharlotteProtest pic.twitter.com/gXyrFPyY7c
— Sadie the Trump Lady (@SadieStormborn) September 22, 2016
WCCB is reporting a few people tried to put a news photographer into a flaming trashcan and police came to his aid
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) September 22, 2016
Our Chief Photographer, Eric Alkyer and Reporter Mary Sturgill were attacked in Charlotte tonight. They're expected to be ok. https://t.co/KHzIOoD8kU
— JR Berry WLTX (@JRBerryWLTX) September 22, 2016
One of our crews was attacked in Uptown.
Reporter & Cameraman taken by ambulance to hospital.
— Mike Hanson (@MikeWCNC) September 22, 2016
@Photog20WLTX and I are at Presbyterian Hospital in downtown Charlotte. After he was punched and I was tackled by agitators.
— Mary Sturgill (@MsMarySturgill) September 22, 2016
My crew and I are in uptown Charlotte where crowds of agitators are tossing bottles at cars. I was hit in the back w/ what felt like a rock.
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 22, 2016
We are officially evacuating all of our FOX crews from uptown Charlotte. National Guard en route, SWAT sent out, protests escalating.
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOX46) September 22, 2016
Well, @theobserver lobby took a hit pic.twitter.com/Tj0QrRmbVK
— Ely Portillo (@ESPortillo) September 22, 2016
Smashed windows at Nascar HOF Buffalo wild wings pic.twitter.com/AGKbSHgReR
— Ely Portillo (@ESPortillo) September 22, 2016
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 22, 2016
Just saw a guy get the crap beaten out of him by another guy in street clothes on 4th street
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 22, 2016
Blood smeared all over a CMPD van uptown #KeithLamontScott pic.twitter.com/ByyBFLakol
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 22, 2016
It’s cool everyone; DeRay stands with #CharlotteProtest.
I just had some grapes for sort of dinner. And lemonade. I am going to continue searching for real food.
— deray mckesson (@deray) September 22, 2016
Brave.
