Detailed description of a peaceful protest in a small Maryland town that deteriorated into tear gas.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Prince Frederick is a small town in Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay about 45 minutes from Washington, DC. The main highway through the town--Maryland Route 4--actually becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at the DC border. All of this went down around the exact same time that Trump ordered Lafayette Square cleared using tear gas so he could have his unauthorized bible photo op at St. John's church.

From what it sounds like, in Prince Frederick, everything was fine when the demonstrators circled the block on the first go-round. But the local sheriff's office grew upset when the protesters wanted to make a second circle, and broke out the tear gas and let loose upon the crowd. Even though there was no community curfew.

From big cities to small towns, the story seems to be all the same.

Link to tweet

Fireif we burn, you burn with usFire @doseofrose91·3h


I attended a peaceful protest in Prince Frederick, MD last night. A lot happened that I think speaks to how a lot of these protests are developing into violent arrests. So all of us gathered and marched around a single block that the police had cordoned off

The organizers led us around this block once. The entire time it was peaceful, communal, and even friendly. The police were taking selfies, shaking hands, and saying hello to all of us. Then as we started to walk that same block again, the police suddenly stopped us.

No reason was given, no explanation, just blocked us and told us to turn around. The organizers said they want us to turn around and walk the other way. The protesters started asking why. None of the protesters were being violent no one was throwing things.

The organizer then said we can do this all night we just have to walk the other way, then it quickly changed to we have to go home. We got to practice our first amendment right for what? 35 min around a small block? So all of us were confused and asking why.

Then a white van pulled up and the riot gear, guns, and dogs were brought out. What warranted that? How is that de escalating anything? Then the cops said “2 min to disperse and we tear gas” WHAT? Tear gas a otherwise peaceful demonstration? For why? So of course tensions rose

They flash banged the crowd and tear gassed us. I headed straight for my car and saw a pregnant girl throwing up from the gas, others were trying to help her. I gave her water & waited with her till her ride came. Then I gathered up the rest of the group of girls who had parked

further away in my car and got them out of there because the police were pushing the gas into the parking lot where we had started the peaceful protest.

It felt like they stopped us on that road and used their authority to test the tension. How far can we push people. All they had to do was not being out the riot gear & just talk to us and explain the situation

But they didn’t. They escalated it.

We have a president who is encouraging this and even deploying the military. Against peaceful protesters. Where was this energy for the white protesters showing up to government buildings with guns? Where was those violent protesters were pushing and punching the police?

Now 45 is signaling to his far right militia supporters to take to the streets.

All I have to say is be careful out there y’all. Bring supplies, water, baking soda, vinegar, first aid kit. Cover your selves head to toe. Stay in groups, don’t get separated by yourself. Stay safe

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. Edited to add full description. nt

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. Kick. nt