Famed Black Lives Matter activist Deray McKesson was arrested last night in Baton Rouge while protesting the shooting death of Alton Sterling. As details came in, Twitter got in formation to basically protect Deray at all costs with a #FreeDeray hashtag. While commenting on how the protests were peaceful, but that cops were provoking people, Deray filmed his own arrest on Periscope. Reports the New York Times: The arrest occurred about 11:15 p.m. as Mr. McKesson and other protesters were marching in Baton Rouge on Airline Highway, where they were warned by the police not to stray onto the road. Mr. McKesson, 31, repeatedly tells viewers that there is no sidewalk where they are marching. In the background, an officer can be heard shouting, “You with them loud shoes, I see you in the road. If I get close to you, you’re going to jail.” “I think he’s talking to me, y’all,” says Mr. McKesson, who often wears a blue vest and red sneakers to demonstrations. Soon after, Mr. McKesson repeats that there is no sidewalk. “Watch the police, they are just literally provoking people,” he says. Then, about five minutes into the broadcast, the video gets shaky and a police officer can be heard saying: “City police. You’re under arrest. Don’t fight me. Don’t fight me.” Then Mr. McKesson shouts, “I’m under arrest, y’all.” And just like that, the jig was caught on social media for all to see. As of Sunday morning Deray was still being held but thankfully has not been physically harmed. , an activist who was with Mr. McKesson when he was arrested, said he had been in contact with friends early Sunday morning and said he had not been physically harmed. “As of 5:15 this morning he was physically O.K. We are still awaiting his release,” fellow activist Brittany Packnett told the New York Times. “Potentially his charges are for obstructing traffic even though everything proves he was behind the white line and was tackled by police behind the white line.” Considering Deray’s wide social media following and popularity, Baton Rouge police picked the wrong one. Peep the reactions to Deray’s arrest below and on the following pages. https://twitter.com/narryshabang/status/752112757529387008 — Photo: AP Photo/Max Becherer
