Ramaswamy decries indictment of Trump, presses Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to pledge to issue pardon



Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has condemned the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump, declaring that the "document reeks of politicization."

In Miami on Tuesday, Trump, who is the clear frontrunner in the GOP presidential primary contest, pleaded not guilty to charges lodged against him.

Various Republican candidates are vying for the Republican presidential nomination, while on the Democratic side of the aisle, President Joe Biden is being challenged by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson.

Ramaswamy has committed that as president he would pardon Trump of the charges, and he is calling upon fellow presidential candidates in both political parties to make the same commitment or explain why they are not willing to do so.

"Each of our paths to electoral success would be easier if President Trump were eliminated from competition, but that is the wrong result for our country. The fact that we are running against Trump gives us credibility to denounce this politicized prosecution," Ramaswamy declared in a letter to the other GOP presidential candidates as well as to the two Democratic primary contenders challenging Biden, urging them to commit to pardon Trump if they get elected president or explain why they are opposed to making such a pledge.

\u201cVivek Ramaswamy sent a letter to 2024 candidates (on both sides) challenging them to commit to pardoning Trump should they take office:\u201d
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott) 1686667572

Ramaswamy's campaign has filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking communications related to the the decision to indict Trump.

"My campaign just filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) demand to uncover *exactly* what the White House communicated to Merrick Garland & Jack Smith about the unprecedented indictment of a former U.S. President & Biden's disfavored opponent in this election," Ramaswamy tweeted on Monday.

"The purpose of this request is to obtain access to any records within the possession of the United States Department of Justice, including electronic communications exchanged by Department of Justice officers or employees with each other, or with non-government third-parties, concerning the decision to bring a criminal indictment against President Donald J. Trump," the request states.

\u201cMy campaign just filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) demand to uncover *exactly* what the White House communicated to Merrick Garland & Jack Smith about the unprecedented indictment of a former U.S. President & Biden\u2019s disfavored opponent in this election. Every American\u2026\u201d
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@Vivek Ramaswamy) 1686576660

Ramaswamy, who delivered remarks in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, declared that if the government does not respond to the FOIA request within 20 business days as required, his campaign will foot the bill for a lawsuit to press for the release of the information.

"If they can do this to Trump, they can do this to any of us," Ramaswamy said.

Vivek Ramaswamy on Trump's Indictment in Miami 6.13.23 www.youtube.com

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Roundup: The media tried to hide the fact that the Columbus teen killed by police was swinging a knife when she was shot



On Tuesday, as a 12-person jury pronounced former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts for his role in George Floyd's death, another apparent tragedy took place in Columbus, Ohio — a 16-year-old girl was shot and killed by police.

The loose "facts" of the incident proved too juicy to fact-check for left-leaning media outlets eager to fuel outrage over alleged police brutality against black Americans. Countless media figures reported before the facts were out that police in Ohio had yet again shot and killed an unarmed black person.

"As we breathed a collective sigh of relief today, a community in Columbus felt the sting of another police shooting as Columbus Police killed an unarmed 15yo Black girl named [Ma'Khia] Bryant. Another child lost! Another hashtag," Benjamin Crump, the attorney for George Floyd's family, tweeted Tuesday night.

"There has been yet another police shooting of an unarmed 16 year old Black teen girl by police in #ColumbusOhio," CNN legal analyst Areva Martin added as a matter of fact.

Image Source: Twitter screenshot

But they were wrong.

Right around the same time that Martin posted her tweet, Columbus police released bodycam footage of the incident that clearly showed Bryant aggressively swinging a knife at another girl when she was shot by police. The officer, Nicholas Reardon, rather than being a bloodthirsty racist, appeared to be a hero.

Yet even with the new information, NPR couldn't get itself to admit the obvious. In one version of its report about the incident, the news outlet stated vaguely that before Bryant was shot, she was "seen swinging her arm toward another woman." No mention of the knife in her hand.

In an updated version of its report, NPR removed any mention of the knife in Bryant's hand or of her swinging anything at all.

It says, "[Bryant] then approaches a second girl and throws her against a car parked on the driveway. The officer shouts 'Get down!' three times, pulls out his gun and shoots in Bryant's direction at least four times and she falls to the ground. ... As the officer approaches her, a knife can be seen close to her."

Don't worry, though, NPR gave itself cover by including a ridiculous disclaimer in the report, which stated, "Some facts reported by the media may later turn out to be wrong."

Disclaimer from NPR on its article (which hasn't yet been updated with new information regarding the body cam video… https://t.co/7SyfgScfUy
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1618981451.0

The Washington Post, in its report, quoted Bryant's aunt saying that her niece had a knife in hand but dropped it before she was shot by police. The Post amazingly mentions the bodycam footage but conveniently never makes clear in its reporting that video clearly showed the knife in Bryant's hand as she was shot. The outlet would rather that fact remain elusive, it seems.

@AGHamilton29 @allahpundit It's not just the headline: even though the knife is clearly visible in her hand, the ar… https://t.co/KWjzoo5WRN
— Jeryl Bier (@Jeryl Bier)1619016696.0

The Daily Beast was also dragged for its original reporting on the incident. The outlet also reported that Bryant had dropped the knife before being shot, using aunt Hazel as its primary source, and added without verification that Bryant was "fending off a physical assault when police arrived." The outlet has since updated its story numerous times.

The Daily Beast did an absolute masterclass in journalism on this one. The left screenshot is what they originally… https://t.co/O71dp7QZFF
— Greg Price (@Greg Price)1618979218.0

NBC Nightly News made the decision to deceptively edit out an important portion of the 911 call, in which the caller says, "These grown girls over here trying to fight us, trying to stab us, get here now!" In its video report, the outlet only played the portion where the caller shouts, "We need a police officer here now!"

In their report on the officer-involved shooting in Columbus, Ohio, NBC Nightly News deceptively edited the 911 cal… https://t.co/LeHNmOQc3B
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@Nicholas Fondacaro)1619050072.0

NBC also failed to stop and show the knife in Bryant's hand moments before she was shot. More complete audio of the 911 call can be heard here.

Though not nearly as egregious as the other reports, CNN's Wolf Blitzer attempted to cover the obvious facts of the case displayed in the bodycam footage with a cloud of uncertainty. In his report on the news, Blitzer alleged there are "growing questions" about the incident as it "appears" that Bryant has a knife and "seems" as if she is lunging at another girl before being shot.

CNN’s @wolfblitzer: “Growing questions” about police shooting in Columbus of a “16-year-old African-American” girl;… https://t.co/wsGlZzUd4Z
— Tom Elliott (@Tom Elliott)1619039314.0

Here's the bodycam footage, for reference.

Columbus Police release body cam footage of officer shooting, killing girl, 16youtu.be

15-year-old Arkansas boy fatally shot at junior high on first day of in-person class



A 15-year-old Arkansas boy was fatally shot at school on Monday, the first day his junior high resumed in-person learning after the building was closed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Officials believe the victim was specifically targeted by the suspect, another 15-year-old boy, who has been taken into custody.

What are the details?

Law enforcement was called to respond to a shooting at Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff at around 10:00 a.m., where they found the victim near the school's office suffering critical injuries from a gunshot wound, KTHV-TV reported. The young man was rushed to a local hospital, where he passed away.

Following the attack, a lockdown was imposed and a SWAT team was reportedly deployed to sweep the building and clear it.

After the news broke, parents rushed to the school to pick up their kids — just hours into the students' first day back in classrooms after being shuttered amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Washington Examiner noted that the school had also experienced "water issues" that impacted the timing of returning to in-person learning.

Parents are lining up to pick up their students at Watson Chapel Jr. High after the school lifted its lockdown. Mul… https://t.co/RkAJKPB2av
— Shelby Rose (@Shelby Rose)1614621112.0

According to ABC News, the Watson Chapel School District said that all other students in the school were unharmed, calling the shooting an "isolated incident." Police said the motive is unclear at this time, but they do not believe the attack was random.

The Pine Bluff Police Department said that the suspect was apprehended behind a house near the school with the assistance of an Arkansas Department of Corrections K-9 unit, and is now at a juvenile justice facility awaiting charges. PBPD Chief Kevlin Sergeant said a decision is expected within the next 48 hours as to whether the alleged perpetrator will be tried as an adult.


'Stop the Steal' rally turns bloody after four stabbed and in critical condition; counterprotests incite chaos in DC



There were several pro-Trump rallies held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, including the "March for Trump" and the "Stop the Steal" rally in support of challenging the 2020 presidential election results. In retaliation, at least three anarchist and Antifa-linked groups planned counterprotests in the nation's capital, including the "F*** MAGA" protest. The clashing groups clashed on the streets of D.C., which resulted in four people being stabbed and nearly two dozen arrests.

The large protests in support of President Donald Trump were mostly peaceful, but violent skirmishes erupted on Saturday night between the adversarial groups.

A coalition of Black Lives Matter and Antifa supporters appear to be prepared for battle as they wield shields.

#antifa and #BlackLivesMatter form a line of shields as MPD holds their position. #MarchForTrump https://t.co/NdnbuptCWb
— eric thomas (@eric thomas)1607809318.0

A horde of black bloc members are seen marching towards police and throwing water bottles and bricks at them.

(Content Warning: Graphic footage):

BREAKING: Antifa black bloc violently confront MPD by throwing water bottles and bricks at them amongst other proje… https://t.co/GEGo5L7AcA
— TheBlaze (@TheBlaze)1607826642.0

An alleged Antifa member was physically removed from the fracas when a police officer picked him up like a child and dropped him on the street.

Antifa black bloc in DC is picked up like a baby and removed https://t.co/mQbcvOxrWq
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ELIJAH SCHAFFER)1607831938.0

Members of BLM and Antifa fought with the Proud Boys, despite police attempting to constantly separate the warring groups, as seen in video from Daily Caller field correspondent Shelby Talcott and Townhall senior writer Julio Rosas.

All out brawls in downtown DC between black bloc protesters and Proud Boys right now: https://t.co/ObPlnScI0W
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1607818254.0


D.C. police are trying to keep the Proud Boys and Antifa separate to prevent fighting. https://t.co/V7d3qnwiIb
— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1607819577.0


At times, it’s just an all out brawl between the Proud Boys, Antifa, and D.C. police. Lots of pepper spray is being… https://t.co/8z1ugdDeyh
— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1607820576.0

Fireworks were reportedly launched towards the hotel that the Proud Boys were staying at, according to Matthew Miller from the Post Millennial.

Firework explodes in police line. Antifa seemingly used it to create a hole in the line so some of them could charg… https://t.co/Zvb1tDYcRa
— Matthew Miller (@Matthew Miller)1607815728.0


A man dressed in all black is surrounded by a group of Proud Boys, some of them are heard yelling, "He's got a knife!" One person walks behind the man with the knife and hits him in the head with an object. The group then jump on the man, and apparently, that is when the stabbings happened.


Chaotic scenes in DC as person carries knife into violent political street brawl. At least one person ends up stabb… https://t.co/ILMSZSbchS
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1607854302.0


The exact moment that the man drew his knife was captured by SWNS chief photographer Adam Gray.

A member of the #ProudBoys is stabbed during violent running street fights in #WashingtonDC tonight #DC #DCProtests… https://t.co/VoW3fwwpEj
— Adam Gray (@Adam Gray)1607827386.0

The four people who were stabbed were said to be in critical condition, some suffered "life-threatening injuries," according to D.C. fire spokesman Doug Buchanan.

Reports of at least 2 stabbed here on 11th Street in DC. Victims being transported from the scene now… https://t.co/SzpR60ePwQ
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1607826229.0

Proud Boys pray for the members who were stabbed, asking for a "moment of silence" for two "brothers" who are "fighting for their f***ing life" and "might not f***ing pull through."

Proud Boys pray just outside BLM Plaza for PB who was stabbed earlier in the night. https://t.co/AHnpAAI1HH
— Matthew Miller (@Matthew Miller)1607831525.0

Two police officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and two people with minor injuries, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office said.

@DCPoliceDept assisted an injured female officer as she limped her way outside of the counter-protest zone as civi… https://t.co/4jd2vRvSQv
— ABC 7 News - WJLA (@ABC 7 News - WJLA)1607827147.0

The Metropolitan Police Department reported making 23 arrests on Saturday: 10 for simple assaults, six for assaults on police officers, four committed "riotous acts," two charged with "crossing a police line," and one person had a taser and was charged with "possession of a prohibited weapon."

Video from reporter Brendan Gutenschwager appears to show the man with the knife being arrested.

DC Police arrest one of the counter-protesters near BLM Plaza #DC #MarchForTrump #ProudBoys #Antifa… https://t.co/HLCyA2dwhy
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1607834460.0


BLM and anti-fascist supporters attack multiracial family at Million MAGA March



An ugly scene developed at the Million MAGA March on Saturday when a Black Lives Matter supporter and a man who was marching with an anti-fascist group harassed a multiracial family that was out showing their support for President Donald Trump.

Thousands of Trump supporters converged on Washington, D.C., on Saturday to rally around Trump. However, tensions flared in the afternoon after hordes of counterprotesters assembled.

MAGA moving to SCOTUS >> The crowd of several thousand is now heading east on Pennsylvania Ave, marching past Trump… https://t.co/tIgd2XKU8K
— Mike Valerio (@Mike Valerio)1605378189.0

One of the counterprotest groups at the Trump rally was Refuse Fascism, a self-described "national movement organizing to drive out the Trump/Pence regime." The anti-fascist group had announced days earlier that they were holding a counterprotest to "overwhelm" Trump supporters.

"We are gathering non-violently," Lucha Bright of Refuse Fascism told WUSA-TV. "We are not intending to engage them. We want to overwhelm them with our numbers. If they attack us, that is not out of the realm of possibilities of what they do. But we are hoping, especially if we gather in large numbers, that we will overwhelm them with our strength."

Video from Saturday shows a group dressed in all black holding bright orange "Refuse Fascism" signs pursue a multiracial family, which included three young children. Several people in the mob get in the face of the black mother who is wearing a Trump jacket and pushing a stroller with an infant at Black Lives Matter Plaza.

A woman wearing a "Black Lives Matter" shirt gets in the face of the mother, but is separated by a man, presumably the father. Then the BLM supporter gets in the face of the father, and it sounds as if she screams at him, "You're an ugly b****!" The mother yells, "Get away!" One of the daughters is seen crying.

The father prods the woman with his flag pole to keep the woman at a distance. The woman then charges at the father to try to take away his Gadsden flag, he waves her off with his hand. Then a man dressed in all black that was walking with the anti-fascist group advances at the father and attacks him.

The father retaliates by hitting the man with the flagpole. The woman runs at the father and is also struck with the flagpole. The father gets shoved to the pavement, and he falls on top of the small child, who screams in pain. Police immediately separate the two sides.

Video taken by photojournalist Jorge Ventura shows the woman and the man had bruises on their heads.

(Content Warning: Graphic video)

Fight breaks out on BLM Plaza between a family supporting Trump and pro-BLM supporters moments ago. DC police tryin… https://t.co/FEJD1sbjCM
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1605385578.0

In another video, couple holding a "Refuse Fascism" sign harass a reported Trump supporter who's son appears to be wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat.

Trump supporter who has a small child with him are arguing with BLM supporters on BLM Plaza https://t.co/P21sm6yToN
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1605387424.0

Earlier in the day, there were black bloc protesters with signs that read: "Punch MAGA in the face," who antagonized Trump supporters gathered near the Supreme Court, where a scuffle broke out.

At Supreme Court, antifa activists, some of its riot shields, are here with a banner reading “Punch MAGA in the fac… https://t.co/bMUMyNkGQt
— Ford Fischer (@Ford Fischer)1605376663.0


Both sides are doing a bit of antagonizing .... gesturing at each other to fight, but they’re separated by both a b… https://t.co/twTRZGUW5S
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1605383397.0


Scuffle breaks out by the Supreme Court, tensions are very high at the moment #MillionMAGAMarch https://t.co/cisf7y2DJ4
— Jorge Ventura Media (@Jorge Ventura Media)1605382183.0

Before the counterprotesters arrived on the scene, thousands of Trump supporters sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" in unison.

Thousands of Trump supporters sing the “Star Spangled Banner” in unison. https://t.co/Dm30sGGPv0
— Savanah Hernandez (@Savanah Hernandez)1605375278.0

Before the Million MAGA March kicked off, Trump drove by in his motorcade and gleefully waved to his supporters.

President Trump just drove by the #MillionMAGAMarch in DC and the crowd went crazy. I ran along side the motorcade.… https://t.co/7LOxNksHtW
— Sara Sidner (@Sara Sidner)1605366871.0


BREAKING - President Trump has motorcade take him to the Million MAGA March in Washington DC.https://t.co/U54Bwsvx9k
— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@Disclose.tv 🚨)1605368588.0


Trump supporters rush toward Trump’s motorcade during the march https://t.co/zD3NQxDgeH
— philip lewis (@philip lewis)1605372342.0

BlazeTV reporter beaten while filming the looting inside Philadelphia store



BlazeTV reporter Elijah Schaffer was attacked Tuesday night inside a Philadelphia store while filming ongoing looting in the wake of the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., who was killed after allegedly charging at officers while holding a knife on Monday.

What are the details?

The Daily Caller reporter Shelby Talcott, also reporting from Philadelphia, tweeted Tuesday night, "Mass looting across the river and @ElijahSchaffer just got beaten up for filming. This is inside the Five Below store. Police are in the same parking lot near the Walmart, but there seem to be too many looters."

Talcott posted footage showing her walking inside the store and seeing Schaffer, who was wearing a white patterned bandana, being approached by alleged looters amid calls for him to "Stop recording!" Schaffer was seen on the video being surrounded by several people who threw punches.

Mass looting across the river and @ElijahSchaffer just got beaten up for filming. This is inside the Five Below sto… https://t.co/FcrlZGudIK
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1603849538.0

Talcott then posted images of Schaffer with a busted lip, reporting, ".@ElijahSchaffer got beaten up inside one of the stores for filming."

Schaffer explained in a video posted on his own Twitter feed that he "was jumped by BLM rioters while they were looting more than a dozen stores, including Wal-Matt, T-Mobile, & 5-below."

He continued, "Though in pain, I didn't stop reporting because Americans need to see what the corporate media refuses to show."

BREAKING: I was jumped by BLM rioters while they were looting more than a dozen stores, including Wal-Matt, T-Mob… https://t.co/um7HuYXtza
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ELIJAH SCHAFFER)1603851147.0

Schaffer then shared the footage he took leading up to when he was attacked. In the tweet accompanying the video, he wrote, "PHILADELPHIA: This is the footage I was recording when BLM assaulted me. Other journalists were filming but I was the only white person in the store I do believe I was targeted for being white as they accused me of being a white supremacist & did not attack people of color."

PHILADELPHIA: This is the footage I was recording when BLM assaulted me. Other journalists were filming but I was… https://t.co/Jz69QaFImN
— ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ELIJAH SCHAFFER)1603853272.0


What's the background?

After the police shooting of 27-year-old Wallace went viral, Philadelphia erupted in violent protests and looting caught on social media that evening. More than 90 people were arrested and 30 officers were hurt in the rioting on Monday. The rioting started up again Tuesday with more protests and looting across the city.

Daily Caller reporters say authorities forcibly detained, kicked, repeatedly hit them with clubs during Wisconsin riots



Two reporters for the Daily Caller say authorities detained them and hit them repeatedly as they covered demonstrations Thursday in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Demonstrations and riots erupted Thursday night in Wauwatosa after authorities announced that the police officer who fatally shot 17-year-old Alvin Cole would not face charges.

Investigators have said that Cole was running from police after reportedly firing a stolen handgun when police fired on the teen.

What are the details?

According to a Friday morning report from the outlet, reporters Shelby Talcott and Richie McGinniss said officers detained them even after they identified themselves as members of the press.

On Twitter, Talcott wrote, "@RichieMcGinniss and I just got detained/almost arrested. Officers kicked me and hit me with a billy club and repeatedly hit Richie with a club (we were not resisting). Luckily, an officer came while we were waiting in the police van and recognized that we were press."

Following the alleged detainment, Talcott said that officers let her and McGinniss go.

"Richie had his press credentials visible before he was taken down," Talcott said. "I was sitting in the car (outside of the area where protesters were being arrested) waiting for Richie (who was filming)."

The two were covering the demonstrations along with Campus Reform senior campus correspondent Blair Nelson and independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager.

Talcott alleged that authorities demanded McGinniss and Nelson leave the area and said that the two reporters complied with the order.

"Several officers then chased the boys down right as they reached our car & forced the rest of us out of the vehicle before making arrests," Talcott wrote in a now-viral Twitter thread. "Richie captured audio of the incident."

Talcott also shared photos of herself and McGinniss with what she said were injuries sustained in the detainment.

She captioned the snap, "We'll have some nice cuts and bruises in the coming days[.]"

We’ll have some nice cuts and bruises in the coming days... https://t.co/wSsnumUeCA
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1602209684.0

McGinniss also shared video of the incident on Twitter, saying, "Video of @ShelbyTalcott and my detainment. As I was recording arrests, one officer told me to (quickly) clear the area. Upon arriving to the car, I was forcibly detained (with press cred in hand) and as you can hear in the video, I tried my best to comply with police orders."

Video of @ShelbyTalcott and my detainment. As I was recording arrests, one officer told me to (quickly) clear the… https://t.co/cBWFE0cUgJ
— Richie🎥McG🍿 (@Richie🎥McG🍿)1602215470.0

Late Thursday evening, Talcott concluded, "Last thing I'll note for some comments I've seen from Louisville and this: freedom of the press is important and allows reporters to be out past curfew, etc to report the news and get the truth out there. It's a dangerous thing if that right goes away."

Last thing I’ll note for some comments I’ve seen from Louisville and this: freedom of the press is important and al… https://t.co/8AejymP5nW
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1602210549.0

In the early hours of Friday morning, Talcott shared a video taken by Caroline Reinwald of WISN-TV.

Talcott captioned the video, ".@WISN_Caroline captured part of our detainment (picks up sort of after @RichieMcGinniss's video, it seems). The person being tossed from the passenger side is [Brendan Gutenschwager], who is still — to my knowledge — in jail."

.@WISN_Caroline captured part of our detainment (picks up sort of after @RichieMcGinniss’s video, it seems). The pe… https://t.co/BXGlIwZNlQ
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1602221360.0

Early Friday morning, McGinnis took to Twitter, writing, "@ShelbyTalcott called multiple times and I sent emails to any applicable PD's [sic]. Still no status updates regrading [Brenden Gutenschwager] and [Blair Nelson]."

@ShelbyTalcott called multiple times and I sent emails to any applicable PD’s. Still no status updates regarding… https://t.co/z2iNE4G8qY
— Richie🎥McG🍿 (@Richie🎥McG🍿)1602225139.0

Talcott added that Gutenschwager and Nelson were reportedly jailed on "some sort of violating curfew charge" and were expected to "be released somewhat soon (1,2 hours) after being fingerprinted, etc."

Thanks @shanermurph ... We’ve confirmed @BGOnTheScene and @realblairnelson are at the county jail in Waukesha on so… https://t.co/2rFQcsIOli
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1602225804.0

Gutenschwager on Friday morning tweeted, "Tonight I was brutalized by police in Wisconsin. This is me being dragged out of a vehicle and slammed to the pavement. Pleaded with officers that I am here as press, never even given a chance to cooperate before they escalated to this. I am in shock."

Nelson also tweeted, "Hey everybody, I'm out of jail, only in there for three hours. I was arrested for filming with @BGOnTheScene@ShelbyTalcott@RichieMcGinniss. Still don't have my phone, hopefully, will get it soon."

Hey everybody, I'm out of jail, only in there for three hours. I was arrested for filming with @BGOnTheScene… https://t.co/pJAwpAP0Or
— Blair Nelson (@Blair Nelson)1602233572.0

The Blaze reached out to the Wauwautosa Police Department for comment on the story, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

VIDEO: Parked U-Haul truck distributes riot shields, signs, other supplies to BLM protesters in Louisville



Black Lives Matter protesters in Louisville, Kentucky, demonstrating against the outcome of the grand jury investigation into Breonna Taylor's death were caught on video grabbing riot shields, anti-police banners, and other supplies from a parked U-Haul truck Wednesday.

Videos of the unusual incident posted on Twitter show protesters, many dressed in black bloc, charging toward the vehicle and grabbing ready-made banners saying, "Abolish the Police," "Abolition Now," and "Defend Black Lives."

"We got shields over here!" someone can be heard shouting in a video posted by Daily Caller reporter Shelby Talcott.

"I need a long one," another protester says as shields are being passed out in the video posted by independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager,

A parked U-Haul was waiting for the crowd up the street. It contains supplies such as signs, shields, water etc. I’… https://t.co/kJ4ktRmTSo
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1600884213.0
More of the Uhaul riot shield transport. May be more efficient than the Black Lives Matter Snack Van, higher capaci… https://t.co/tNIqu3aMLc
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1600885725.0

In Gutenschwager's video, a woman inside the U-Haul truck can be seen tossing black masks into the crowd.

What's the background?

Violent riots erupted in downtown Louisville Wednesday following the decision in the Breonna Taylor case, in which one officer was charged with wanton endangerment and two other officers were not charged. Taylor was shot and killed during a drug raid on her home in March.

After the decision, protesters immediately took to the streets, starting small fires and setting off firecrackers. Twitter users reported the crowd continued to grow as the day went on and also noted the presence of armed and unidentified individuals that some referred to as a "militia."

Then later Wednesday night, the Louisville Metro Police Department announced that two officers had been shot and wounded during the protests.

What else?

The suspicious U-Haul "riot shield transport" raises further speculation that the protests in Louisville were planned and perhaps organized and funded by an outside source.

It is not the first time that similarly suspicious activity has been connected to Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

Earlier this year, mysterious stashes of bricks were being reported by social media users in several cities around the country as nationwide protests erupted in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Then in some places ravaged by riots, it has been reported that large numbers of individuals arrested for rioting have been from out of state. Specifically, police in Kenosha reported that a whopping 102 of the 175 individuals arrested during riots there had out-of-town addresses.

Two fatally shot in Kenosha overnight as rioters and 'militia' square off in streets



Two people were fatally shot and another was injured by gunfire in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as rioters and "militia" squared off in the streets on the heels of the police-involved shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, on Sunday.

Kenosha police early Wednesday morning said authorities were looking for a man armed with a long gun, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

What are the details?

One victim was shot in the head and another in the chest late Tuesday, just before midnight, Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth told the paper, adding that Beth didn't know where the third person was shot — although video posted to social media showed someone had been shot in the arm.

Police said injuries to the third shooting victim weren't life threatening, the Journal Sentinel reported, adding that the victims' names, ages, and places of residence were still being determined.

The paper said no one has been apprehended, but noted that Beth said he believed at least one person would be taken into custody soon based on video being reviewed.

"I feel very confident we'll have him in a very short time," Beth said, adding that the FBI is assisting police, the Journal-Sentinel reported.

Video posted to Twitter shows at least three people shot.

The paper said a video clip shows a man sprinting into a car lot at 63th Street and Sheridan Road carrying a long gun — and someone pursuing him appears to throw something toward him, and then multiple gunshots are heard.

Another clip posted by BlazeTV's Elijah Schaffer shows a male, who apparently was shot in the head in the aforementioned incident, with a group around him and applying pressure to the wound.

"Call the police!" someone hollers.

BREAKING they shot someone in the head at the #KENOSHA riot RIGHT NOWI repeat someone has been shot in what appea… https://t.co/cgyiSKkxEz
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1598417712.0

A video posted by Shelby Talcott of the Daily Caller shows bystanders carrying the person shot in the head to a hospital:

The victim is at the hospital. @RichieMcGinniss is there (he’s okay). Said he believes a second gunshot victim just… https://t.co/0LBcYgcRUy
— Shelby Talcott (@Shelby Talcott)1598418324.0

More from the Journal-Sentinel:

Other videos show a man who seems to be the same man wielding a long gun while running north on Sheridan Road, being pursued by people screaming that he shot someone. He falls to the ground and fires the gun at people who seem to be trying to disarm him. While on the ground, he appears to shoot two of them, one in the torso and another in the arm.

The victim who was shot in the arm ran away from the shooter, bleeding heavily and screaming repeatedly that he needed a medic. More gunshots followed. A bystander who was live-streaming helped the victim with tying a tourniquet around his arm.

The gunman is then seen heading north toward several police tactical vehicles, his arms raised, according to video footage. The tactical vehicles drive by him.
(Warning, Graphic/Violent) A crowd chases a suspected shooter down in Kenosha. He trips and falls, then turns with… https://t.co/vxBAmOy0TK
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@Brendan Gutenschwager)1598422068.0

Beth told the paper it was unclear if there was more than one shooter — but Schaffer posted the following:

CONTEXT: I spoke with the alleged shooter earlier in the night who stated he was there to protect property He did… https://t.co/bQBG7ALvPJ
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1598436810.0

Beth also told the Journal-Sentinel that self-described militia members have been patrolling Kenosha's streets in recent nights, but that he didn't know if the shooter was with one.

"They're a militia," Beth added to the paper. "They're like a vigilante group."

On Tuesday, a group called the Kenosha Guard asked members and Facebook followers to come downtown to defend the city, the Journal-Sentinel said, adding that one post read: "Any patriots willing to take up arms and defend out [sic] City tonight from the evil thugs? Nondoubt [sic] they are currently planning on the next part of the City to burn tonight!"

The paper said a later post to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis read, in part: "I ask that you do NOT have your officers tell us to go home under threat of arrest as you have done in the past. We are willing to talk to KPD and open a discussion. It is evident, that no matter how many Officers, deputies, and other law enforcement officers that are here, you will still be outnumbered."

White protester uses N-word while antagonizing group that showed up with rifles

A video recorded earlier in the evening shows a white protester antagonizing the group that showed up with rifles to ward off rioters. Toward the end of the clip, this individual uses the N-word as he dares the group with guns to "shoot me!" — which runs counter to the mainstream media narrative that white supremacists are behind the deadly violence, as someone from the protesting side openly used racist language in the presence of black people.

The clip in question is the second in the below tweet. (Content warning: Language, racial slurs):

Rioters are getting into confrontations with armed citizens who are out here to prevent looting and destruction to… https://t.co/waOikRHEn7
— Julio Rosas (@Julio Rosas)1598415475.0

More from Schaffer:

This video was take a few yards away from the shooting where you can see the rioters destroying the vehicles https://t.co/LXHMQoIMh4
— ELIJAH RIOT (@ELIJAH RIOT)1598424752.0