Last night I was a part of a historical event in my city. We made our voices heard in opposition of police brutality, justice for George Floyd, and justice for all black lives.
We walked for hours, roughly 15 miles. All over the city. We shut down streets and made the police literally back down.
The group forced them to drive backwards from 23rd and Penn. Drove backwards all the way down Penn to get out of our way.
We walked and made our voices heard, all the way to the downtown police station. This. This is where it gets insane. Immediately, a handful of people begin destroying police cars...as they stand in a line..in full tactical gear, and watched. They made announcements that they would not hurt anyone unless you touched an officer. Which was a lie, because they unleashed teargas and rubber bullets last night.
I was in the first round of teargas; It was hell. 10/10 do not recommend.
Preferred over the rubber bullets 100%, no question. We made it away from that area before it escalated to that.
We left and walked towards our car and saw the frustration in everyone's red, blotchy faces. Everyone was recovering from being hit with teargas. Your skin is on fire, you can't see, it hurts to breathe and every open hole on your face is leaking snot or tears. It's an awful experience. It's surreal, and anger inducing to hear the cries of hundreds, being affected by it. Even reporters were hit with it.
Yes. People were angry and could not hold it in anymore. Vandalism occurred. Looting happened. We did not take part. Spectator's in such a thing I have never seen before. Such passion and anger to be heard, and for a change.
I inadvertently was taking a Snapchat when we caught the first store looting on film. It was a Family Dollar on Park Place and Classen in OKC. We then watched a Walgreens get broken into, looted, and then taken over by police/state troopers/National Guard swarm the parking lot and take stance.
It was uneventful and peaceful until 2am when we left. We saw the *old Vinyl record store get damaged, a lot of graffiti (and street racing for some super entertaining reason). Met many passionate individuals and felt pride for taking a stand. It was a night, I will never forget.
I will keep making my voice heard and be an ally for this movement. This isn't over.
*this location was actually the first big vandalism act. Windows were busted out. People in the group were mad and a fight almost broke out because a man accused a female of breaking the window and he tried to swing on her. It was intense.
