Police in Ferguson are putting on a show of force on the third night of protests over the police shooting of Michael Brown.
A massive SWAT team just showed up to peaceful demonstration in #ferguson https://t.co/5nudRUA7vS
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
Overkill in #Ferguson. Officer won't answer my question about why this is needed. pic.twitter.com/iSPsP1Rxa1
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
"This is not open for discussion." — cop on loudspeaker, telling crowd to leave the area pic.twitter.com/KYaNaFbvzw
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
@ryanjreilly Under what authority? #FreedomofAssembly
— I Can't Breathe (@Rick_Geissal) August 13, 2014
I counted 70+ SWAT officers. Guns trained on crowds. Insanity. pic.twitter.com/stev2G6v4b
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
@ryanjreilly @OccupyAustin This is what a police state looks like.
— Jacob_Russell (@Jacob_Russell) August 13, 2014
Police have moved tank and repositioned to face protesters on sidewalk across the street. #ferguson pic.twitter.com/JRGhIErZAb
— Christine Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 13, 2014
@BmoreConetta that's not a tank
— Dr. Harrold Sak M.D. (@Strimecka) August 13, 2014
Thought this was Gaza "@ryanjreilly: Overkill in Ferguson. Officer won't answer my question about why this is needed pic.twitter.com/oVNrTeKgZB”
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) August 13, 2014
@ryanjreilly I would imagine nobody presently on-duty would speak to the media, no?
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) August 13, 2014
@Gus_802 It really looks like they are trying to start something. It's terrible police work.
— Beel (@tomservo10) August 13, 2014
Some would argue that something has already been started.
https://twitter.com/Sinixstar/status/499695054592561152
https://twitter.com/Sinixstar/status/499695477034467330
https://twitter.com/Sinixstar/status/499703757509115905
It’s understandable, yet disconcerting. It all boils down to a judgement call about how people will respond.
@Sinixstar @Kia_Mak @ryanjreilly I don't think you quite get what led to this. A cop shot an unarmed teen. What's the appropriate response?
— Owen Johnson (@OhJoh) August 13, 2014
Looting stores, burning down businesses certainly isn’t the right response. Instant justice doesn’t exist in a nation of laws.
SWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo. pic.twitter.com/FOIsMnBwHy
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499705212714491904
Great. Bring in SWAT, kick the media out. RT @WesleyLowery Police come into McD where me and @ryanjreilly working. Try to kick everyone out.
— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) August 13, 2014
This looks like it could go bad very easily.
Update: 8:44 PM August 13
@ryanjreilly and @wesleyLowery have been arrested for "not packing their bags quick enough" at McD's #Ferguson
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499716854169235456
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499717051939061760
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499717284122730497
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499717441472057345
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499717442650652672
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499718214281347072
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/499718685963984897
Well, @WesleyLowery and I have been released. That was an experience.
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014
America.