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News Story
Live Coverage: The latest on George Floyd protest in Harrisburg
Good evening, everyone. Capital-Star Staff Reporters Stephen Caruso and Elizabeth Hardison are on the streets of Harrisburg this Monday night to bring you up to the minute coverage of this evening’s protest in support of the late George Floyd and against the excessive use of force by law enforcement that led to his death.
We’ll be updating this live coverage post as often as events warrant, so we hope you’ll keep checking back for updates.
4 years ago
The protest starts to disperse
That might be a wrap, folks.
Protest begins to disperse. pic.twitter.com/fdSVjWqkSb
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
And:
People are filing out of the area near Third and State. Police have hung back, stationed a block away at different intersections on the way out of the protest area. People are passing peacefully. pic.twitter.com/JzbKLQ2CX7
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 8:08 pm
4 years ago
Protest returns to the Capitol
Stephen Caruso reports:
It's now open mic night. This speaker is reading an essay she wrote. pic.twitter.com/m8O1HyjXTQ
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
Protest is back at the Capitol steps after a figure eight around Capitol building and Harrisburg police HQ pic.twitter.com/3QH3YI6oX4
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
More from Philadelphia:
A protestor just sent me this video, depicting the chaos and panic as people were trapped behind fences yet police continued to throw tear gas at them. I was in the middle of this crowd. I can confirm it was genuinely terrifying. It felt like there was no way out. pic.twitter.com/ZVjnPpOwS9
— Ellie Rushing (@EllieRushing) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
Report: Trump could invoke Insurrection Act
NBC News reports that President Donald Trump could invoke the 213-year-old Insurrection Act, which would deploy the military to keep order. The last time it was invoked was 1992 during the L.A. Riots.
Via NBC News:
“I am mobilizing all federal and local resources, civilian and military, to protect the rights of law abiding Americans,” Trump said in the extraordinary address, which was delivered as police fired tear gas outside to push protesters back from the White House.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,” Trump said, referring to himself as “your president of law and order and an ally of all peaceful protesters.”
To activate the military to operate in the U.S., Trump would have to invoke the 213-year-old Insurrection Act, which four people familiar with the decision had told NBC News he planned to do.
The military police forces would come from Fort Bragg in North Carolina and possibly Fort Belvoir in Virginia and could arrive in Washington within hours, these people said.
4 years ago
Video of the march in Harrisburg
Via PennLive:
And Elizabeth Hardison:
Winding back through the Capitol complex pic.twitter.com/Ts75j5AmIb
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 7:12 pm
4 years ago
The national picture – Trump vows to call in U.S. military to quell violence
The National Guard has been deployed in several cities across the country, as protests over the fatal arrest of George Floyd continue to gather. pic.twitter.com/XrIsTl7Wo7
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 1, 2020
More:
President Trump: "I have strongly recommended to every governor to deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers that we dominate the streets…if a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary…then I will deploy the United States military" pic.twitter.com/m3sZmJ8XzW
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 7:07 pm
4 years ago
More on marchers on the move in Harrisburg
More, from Elizabeth Hardison:
Crowd is marching down Third St chanting “I can’t breathe” and “no justice no peace.” They’ll do a loop to front and back to the Cap. pic.twitter.com/wjbKpv7T6A
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
And:
We’ve got a giant police SUV bringing up the rear and a helicopter overhead.
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
Marchers on the move in Harrisburg
Stephen Caruso reports:
March takes off from Capitol down State Street. Protest organizers said take 3rd. Like a messy google maps reroute, crowd rearranges self. pic.twitter.com/dD5FPEL4bb
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
And:
Protest heading down Third Street. pic.twitter.com/ctEae52NWA
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
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4 years ago
Gov. Tom Wolf speaks in Philly
“In Harrisburg, we need to dedicate ourselves to addressing racism and oppression in Pennsylvania,” Wolf said. “We have to rededicate ourselves to addressing these issues.”
4 years ago
Harrisburg Chief takes a knee – the crowd takes him to task
Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter, a Harrisburg native, has taken a knee to apologize. As Stephen Caruso reports, not all in the crowd are taking it well.
"I thank you for your time," says Chief Carter.
"Go fuck yourself," says a crowd member.— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
Harrisburg Chief Tom Carter took a knee and apologized. A protester in the crowd, as news photographers swarm "the media loves you on your knees."
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 6:16 pm
4 years ago
More from the scene at the Pa. Capitol
From Elizabeth Hardison:
There are barricades midway up the Capitol steps but some people have spilled on to the grass to the side. pic.twitter.com/DaoJmfwXwe
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
There are calls for Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who is not present:
“The mayor is hiding!” Carter says Papenfuse’s daughter is graduating today. Crowd doesn’t buy it, to put it lightly.
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
Erie mayor ‘outraged by officer, outside agitators’
The Times-News of Erie has more on the incident involving a city police officer. The newspaper reports that “Erie Mayor Joe Schember said he is committed to a “full investigation” into the riot that occurred Saturday in downtown Erie, including the conduct of a city police officer who was recorded kicking a protester.”
Erie mayor outraged by conduct of officer, 'hostile agitators' https://t.co/7IWgyRJ8Zq
— GoErie (@GoErie) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 6:11 pm
4 years ago
Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter addresses the crowd
Harrisburg Police Chief Thomas Carter is among the speakers at the Harrisburg rally. He is apparently having some issues getting his message across:
As Chief Carter starts talking, he's getting an earful from the crowd pic.twitter.com/9toVE6rd0P
— Andrew Bahl (@AndrewBahl) June 1, 2020
More:
Harrisburg's police chief is not recieving a warm welcome. "You have every right to be angry," he says. pic.twitter.com/PKoHnW4sCa
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 6:06 pm
4 years ago
In Philadelphia, Gov. Tom Wolf addresses protests, more
Associate Editor Cassie Miller is keeping tabs:
Watching Wolf in Philly live now.
VOTING UPDATE: He says votes by mail will be accepted until next Tuesday, June 9 at 8 p.m.
— Cassie Miller (@Wordsby_CassieM) June 1, 2020
And:
As far as Primary Day goes tomorrow, Wolf said he "doesn't know" what impacts the protests will have on elections.
— Cassie Miller (@Wordsby_CassieM) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 6:01 pm
4 years ago
In Philadelphia, a confrontation between protesters and police
The Inquirer reports:
Armored truck rolled away. Philly poice pushed protesters back, police and protesters clash. Police spray chemical agent at protesters pic.twitter.com/zGX0dZPhH6
— Oona Goodin-Smith (@oonagoodinsmith) June 1, 2020
The Inquirer notes that this happened “minutes after hundreds of protesters gathered a distance away from an armored SWAT vehicle that had parked on the Parkway. Kneeling or putting their hands up in the air, they chanted ‘Hands up, don’t shoot!’”
Last updated: 5:57 pm
4 years ago
A look at the planning for Monday’s rally
Elizabeth Hardison reports:
HPD community policing coordinator Blake Lynch says they’re prepping for 400 people tonight and had a meeting with organizers, mayor and police brass to plan traffic routes and other logistics today.
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 5:54 pm
4 years ago
Live video of Harrisburg rally
Our friends at PennLive have live video of the Harrisburg event:
4 years ago
In Erie, a video of a police officer kicking a protester rages on
During a mid-afternoon briefing, Erie Police Chief Daniel P. Spizarny Sr. addressed the still-simmering national controversy over a viral video that appears to show a city police officer kicking a defenseless protester during a riot on Saturday night.
Capital-Star Erie Correspondent Hannah McDonald has the full story on the incident involving 21-year-old Hannah Silbaugh, of Erie, and city officials’ attempts to deal with the controversy.
Spizarny told reporters that the officer shown in the video kicking Silbaugh identified himself to the chief of police on Sunday morning after learning about the video. The department is not releasing any identifying details about the officer at this time. An internal investigation is being done to determine how to handle the situation
Erie Mayor Joseph Schember told reporters there are currently no plans to lift the state of emergency declared in the city as a result of the unrest Saturday.
Protests started in Erie.. a girl here was peacefully protesting, after 15 minutes she was maced and kicked.. #PoliceBrutality pic.twitter.com/nC6HhXMpCe
— Nick / nak5132 (@the7goonies) May 31, 2020
4 years ago
And the scene in Pittsburgh
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh. https://t.co/zhHVXarWId
— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia: Cops disperse protesters as curfew approaches
Police officers have moved protesters back, as curfew approaches. pic.twitter.com/ckjip7F9rI
— Kristen Graham (@newskag) June 1, 2020
Last updated: 5:38 pm
4 years ago
State Rep. Patty Kim speaks at Harrisburg protest
State Rep. Patty Kim is here. “George Floyd will be in our history books just like this pandemic,” she says, hopefully because his name started a movement “that makes real change.”
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
Live from Harrisburg
Hey all. @StephenJ_Caruso and I are at the state Capitol now to cover the demo that’s slated to start at 5. Sizable crowd so far but quiet, save for some chatter and a helicopter overhead. pic.twitter.com/UZpp6nCuba
— Elizabeth Hardison (@elizhardison) June 1, 2020
4 years ago
A map of protests across Pennsylvania
The Capital-Star’s Elizabeth Hardison has been mapping demonstrations across Pennsylvania. You can find them in this interactive map.
Last updated: 5:15 pm
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