Split in BLM protesters shifts focus
Credit: WFFT
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Different groups of protesters in fort wayne are trying to work out their differences.
Many say the split in the fight for racial justice was most obvious on sunday..when rising tensions resulted in police tear gasing the crowd.
Fox 55's chris mullooly joins us live in downtown fort wayne.
Chris... what did they say happened sunday that escalated the situation??a combination of different protest groups and the police response.many say so called 'leaders' of the movement who were here weeks ago haven't been seen...and other groups who are 'upset and agitated' are instigating others.the peace makers fort wayne group says that... plus the police cracking down on 'peaceful civil disobedience' culimated into sunday.
3 ?nats?the speeches from sundays protest outside the allen county courthouse called for change from police...?nats?
But what happened... was similar to its earliest days... as police shot tear gas and pepper spray at protesters.we put a barricade on clinton streetfrancisco navarro was at sundays protest...he says a combination of police aggression and dividing protester groups brought downtown fort wayne to a boiling point.talk to them and calm them down as soon as you point a weapon or antagonize them theyre gonna get more mad he says the group changemakers were speaking sunday afternoon...while another group of protesters was nearby... clearly aggitated.a division seen from differing groups since the unity march with city leaders and police.
That anger and that rage came up on the stage and thats what everyone sawthe division came from the viewpoint the march was a 'p-r' stunt...and how changes were being promised... but not kept.?nats?eventually part of the protest took to the street... blocking south clinton with fencing.people pushing me out the way they never done thatsonny murray is one of the leaders of changemakers... and says the division has hurt the main cause.too many politicans pulling strings too many groups coming in without that initial unity mindmurray and others agree fort wayne police are making matters worse.i dont wanna die i dont want my aughter to come out here and im glad shes out here the cops roll up on people protesters say some of the actions from police was a reason why there were less people out earlier today... many saying they're scared of what the police would do next.
Reporting live ... chris mullooly... fox 55