Andy Rowell

Category: Minneapolis

  • Saturday May 30th, 2020 Law enforcement violence on media in Minneapolis

    I started a thread that night and just kept adding to it as Minnesota law enforcement enforced a curfew forcefully including targeting media. 

     

    First tweet: 

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1266929335597965312

    Last tweet: 

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1271098156651077632

     

    Thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1271098156651077632.html

     

    PDF of thread: 

    Download Saturday May 30 law enforcement violence on media in Minneapolis

     

    This will be more difficult to read below but I will paste it anyway: 

    So the story tonight in Minneapolis, (perhaps because I follow many journalists) is media getting shot with rubber bullets, gassed, and arrested as they get between protesters and police.
    (Many media were terrified of the mayhem without police presence the last two nights).
    Law enforcement seem to not understand protocol around ignoring media. Media seem to be confident that they can go wherever they want because of their press credentials. I think there is legitimate confusion going on here on both sides.
    Last night (Friday night), media feeling unsettled because of the chaos. And this does not include all of the videos of cars going fast through crowds and fires.

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    Media getting hit by rubber bullets and gas and pepper spray on previous nights.

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    And this is the most terrible story, of a photographer being blinded in one eye. Horrible.

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    Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell, who is briefing on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety says:

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    More on Schnell response:

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    Tonight's incidents:
    Molly Hennessy-Fiske – LA Times

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    Ali Velshi – MSNBC

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    Morgan Chesky – MSNBC

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    Tom Aviles – WCCO CBS

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    Maggie Koerth

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    Mike George – CBS

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    Press:

    Danger journalists are in from crowds:

    What is the proper way for journalists and law enforcement to work together?

    Star Tribune car shot at by police with rubber bullets:

    WCCO photographer freed:

    The media from elsewhere should have been in Minneapolis Tuesday, Wednesday, or especially Thursday and Friday, if they wanted to document mayhem. But they are welcome to browse my twitter feed from those nights.

    A new report from tonight. It is his first night here.

    Michael Anthony Adams – Vice News

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    Oh no! This sucks.
    Ryan Faircloth is a Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter:

    Ryan Faircloth seems okay and is filmed here by Maggie Koerth who also got threatened by police earlier in the thread:

    St. Paul too.

    ☹️
    She survived a lot of chaos the last two nights and now this.

    It is hard to remember back to 6:20 pm (and now it is 12:45 am) but back then law enforcement and much of the city was afraid.

    And law enforcement felt for the first time since Monday that they had a groundswell of support to protect neighborhoods.

    Also, on Friday morning, it was clear that Governor Walz and Minnesota National Guard's Jensen felt that the law enforcement response was totally disorganized and inadequate. But they too failed Friday night. Tonight (Saturday) night was the first glimpse of coordination.
    I agree that there are far too many incidents described above of law enforcement treating the press carelessly (despite some media sometimes clumsily getting in the middle of operations). Bad training, and yes, likely some of them thinking "media are the enemy of the people."
    Still happening here after midnight to Star Tribune reporter:

    From earlier in the evening:

    Ryan Raiche – KSTP ABC

    I did not mention the arrest of Omar Jimenez at 5:10 am on Friday morning while live on CNN by Minnesota State Patrol. He was released soon after.

    Governor Tim Walz, by 6:38 am, repeatedly profusely apologized to all journalists.

    Here is the long version of what happened to Molly Hennessy-Fiske LA Times and other journalists she was with. Horrible.

    Julio-Cesar Chavez and Rodney Seward from Reuters.
    (I think they were next to Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Carolyn Cole of the LA Times).

    Susan Ormiston – CBC (Canada) hit by a rubber bullet in the shoulder and tear gas canister in the back.

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    Andrew Buncombe – The Independent (UK)

    Way back on Thursday

    Tyler Davis – USA TODAY
    was pepper sprayed.

    Video:

    Tweet:

    Tim Arvier – 9 News (Australia)

    Simon Moya-Smith – NBC News Think

    Wrap up post from @toreyvanoot

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    Live press conference where questions will ask about media and violence.
    Just want to add that as resident of Minneapolis and believer in the importance of truth, I am very disturbed by the treatment of the media this week by law enforcement. Video evidence uncovered the truth. Thank you, reporters.

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    This should not have happened to Ed Ou and the journalists with him in Minneapolis. Horrible. He had to ask for help repeatedly with blood streaming down his face (Bloody photo:

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    and no law enforcement helped him. Horrible.
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    Ed Ou, Mike Shum, Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Ryan Raiche, Carolyn Cole, Julio-César Chávez, Rodney Seward were all together.
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    Terrifying videos and photos and accounts and injuries.

    @MnDPS_MSP failed here.

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  • Lessons from Minneapolis one week after George Floyd’s death

     

    Whole thread: 

    https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1267698646180483072.html

     

    First tweet of thread: 

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1267692150130540544

    Last tweet of thread: 

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1267698646180483072

    PDF:

    Download Lessons from Minneapolis one week after George Floyds death

     

    Pasted below: 

    Lessons from Minnesota (1 week)
    Thread
    1. Do not murder people.
    2. Do not abet murder.
    3. Do not have a history of killings by police.
    4. Do not have a history of rendering people unconscious with neck restraints
    5. If someone does commit murder, cry out for justice.
    6. Do elect thoughtful, collaborative, compassionate public officials. If some leaders speak without compassion, minimize their responsibilities. In crisis, update 3 times a day.
    7. Protests and demonstrations may be unpleasant for those who are not used to being inconvenienced.
    8. Protests and demonstrations are best when led by people with a history of integrity and compassion. They know how to protest in symbolically powerful, spectacular ways without violence, looting and arson. They understand the web of interconnected issues that need challenging.
    9. Local, state, and National Guard will initially have difficulty coordinating their efforts.
    10. They may initially need to allow some property damage (strip malls, fast food restaurants, liquor stores, big box stores) in order to prioritize saving lives and crucial locations.
    11. It is impossible to stop looting and arson if any of these are true:
    (a) there are thousands more trouble-makers than law enforcement,
    (b) there is a general sense that police deserve to be humbled rather than be cooperated with,
    (c) politicians ignore legitimate demands.
    12. If the general public get angry at the looters and arsonists and decide to protect their businesses and homes, politicians act reasonably, good activists direct protesters, and outside law enforcement act compassionately, looting and arson may slow.
    13. Law enforcement need to avoid hitting media. Media need to communicate clearly who they are. Media need to try to avoid getting caught in the middle and interfering with law enforcement operations.
    14. Rubber bullets are very dangerous to eyes. Wear eye protection.
    15. Curfew *may* help to slow looting and arson but only if public despises looters and arson more than government.
    16. Even after order resumes, government officials will still need to be responsive to wise protesters and avoid brutality or rage may burst out again.
    17. Learn about how to wash out tear gas and pepper spray.
    18. Local media (newspaper, radio, TV news, TV news online streaming, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) are very important. In a crisis, the public are desperate for accurate and the most recent information.
    19. Government officials need to go to great effort to affirm and coordinate generous, sacrificial efforts to protect property, clean up, and provide supplies to the hurting by the general public. Yes, it is less messy to just have government do it, but public support is crucial.
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  • Immediate reaction to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 26-27, 2020

     

    First tweet of thread on the day after George Floyd was killed: May 26th.

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265372677696442368

     

    Last tweet of thread on May 27th

    https://twitter.com/AndyRowell/status/1265517346355056655

     

    Whole thread: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1265372677696442368.html?refreshed=yes

     

    PDF of immediate reactions to George Floyd's death in Minneapolis:

    Download George Floyd death

     

    This will be more jumbled below: 

    This is horrifying and wrong. I am mourning and angry.
    (Facebook 10 minute video below).

    Minneapolis has fired the four officers involved.

    Press conference with reaction from police chief, mayor, and outraged representatives of the black community.

    Local news coverage:

    MPR (local NPR station)

    Minneapolis Star Tribune (newspaper)

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    More local coverage:
    twitter.com/ChaoStrib
    More national reaction:

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    This occurred 11 minutes from my home.
    Both officers visible have been involved in violent incidents in the past.

    His boss and landlord and his partner grieve:

    #GeorgeFloyd

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    More reaction:

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    Coverage of protests:

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    More reaction:

    I pasted above a lot of reactions so that Minneapolis people can see that there are people I like who are disturbed about this all over the nation. And I also want those people to know that the story checks out here in Minneapolis.
    Also, I am "introducing" people to one another.
    Minneapolis Star Tribune Reporter:

    Washington Post Editorial Board:
    washingtonpost.com/opinions/anoth…
    Grew up in Minneapolis:

    Police seem to have little problem handcuffing him. The one who kneeled on his neck arrived later.

    Organized demonstration was from 5-7 pm: facebook.com/events/s/i-can…?

    Thread on violence afterward (first tweet 7:16 pm) until now (past midnight).

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