UPDATE 2:37 A.M. ET
Police pressed farther down 7th Street, shooting bean bags at the rapidly shrinking crowd and telling people to leave.
UPDATE 2:20 A.M. ET
AzCentral.com reports that Police appears to have detained a man on 7th Street and McKinley Street. Phoenix police spokesman Vince Lewis confirmed at least one protester has been arrested.
A police helicopter announced overhead for those blocking the street to get out of the roadway and go home.
Most of the crowd has diapered by now, but the police are holding its barricade on Roosevelt Street and 7th Street.
A little pepper spray lingered in the air on Garfield Road and 7th Street. A crowd of about 70 people huddled in smaller groups of 10-20 each,seeming to not be sure what to do next.
Police continued to tell people to get out of the road and go home.
UPDATE 2:14 A.M. ET
Police chase a man down amid the protests, according to local news outlet which has video:
UPDATE 2:13 A.M. ET
At least one protester reportedly arrested in Phoenix.
UPDATE 2:09 A.M. ET
Here is more from the Twitter feed of the progressive organizer who reportedly purposefully steered protesters off their planned route, sparking an altercation with Phoenix police.
UPDATE 2:06 A.M. ET
Local reporters say that the progressives who organized the Phoenix rally steered the protesters off of the planned protest route, which created this altercation. So it is the protesters who, at their organizers’ behest, agitated the situation.
UPDATE 2:04 A.M. ET
More on transit shutdowns due to the protesters in Phoenix.
UPDATE 2:01 A.M. ET
Local television captures video of a protester getting sprayed with pepper spray.
UPDATE 1:56 A.M. ET
A CNN Facebook Live video captures much of the action in Phoenix. The 20-minute raw video is worth watching.
Protestors standoff with police in Arizona
Hundreds of protesters standoff with police in Phoenix, Arizona, during demonstrations sparked by recent shootings across the country. (source: KNXV-TV)
Posted by CNN on Friday, July 8, 2016
UPDATE 1:52 A.M. ET
Another local Phoenix report says multiple downtown closures are in effect.
UPDATE 1:50 A.M. ET
Phoenix’s Police Chief says in a local news interview that the protest is no longer safe, and says it is time for people to go home. Police are prepared to use more pepper spray if necessary.
UPDATE 1:48 A.M. ET
According to WHAM, the local television outlet in Rochester, New York, that saw two of its reporters arrested then released, the reason there were so many arrests is because protesters had blocked the streets.
“Dozens of protestors blocked streets in downtown Rochester Friday night and early into Saturday morning as Rochester Police patrol the streets around them,” WHAM wrote. “Most of the crowd was centered around East Avenue and Alexander Street, a popular spot for Rochester nightlife. Witnesses report seeing multiple people being taken away by police officers. Several of the protestors were chanting, ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’ and ‘Black lives matter!’ The crowd started to gather around 9:45 p.m. with about 100 people in attendance.”
In response, officers arrested a number of the protesters–and then the number of protesters quickly dwindled. Novel concept!
“Rochester Police in riot gear started to move people out of the intersection around 10:15 p.m. When protestors continued to block the street and refused to move, several were arrested,” WHAM added. “As the number of arrests began to increase, the number of protestors began to dwindle.”
Read the full report here.
UPDATE 1:38 A.M. ET
Phoenix on the brink:
Protesters plan to keep marching through the pepper spray:
UPDATE 1:32 A.M. ET
CNN reports the “once peaceful” protests in Phoenix have now turned “chaotic.” Police have unleashed pepper spray, not tear gas, CNN says live nationally.
UPDATE 1:30 A.M. ET
More on the Rochester situation, including video of the local news station reporting on their reporter getting arrested live:
The reporters were apparently released after they were identified as reporters after being taken into custody:
UPDATE 1:27 A.M. ET
Here is more on the situation in Rochester:
UPDATE 1:24 A.M. ET
Reports out of Rochester, New York, say a press conference will happen tonight–in the middle of the night–suggesting things may have been much worse in the city than previously thought. Earlier reports, citing law enforcement officials, say as many as 40 people may have been arrested there. A local news outlet says one of their reporters was among those arrested. This local reporter says a second one of her reporter colleagues was also arrested.
UPDATE 1:22 A.M. ET
Phoenix police are reportedly pleading with protest organizers to avoid taking their protest onto the freeway. Tear gas has been deployed to prevent protesters from taking over the freeway.
UPDATE 1:20 A.M. ET
A reporter was among those arrested in Rochester, New York, a local outlet reports.
UPDATE 1:17 A.M. ET
A police line has formed in Phoenix to keep protesters off the freeway.
https://twitter.com/Heather_Kozan/status/751644492621500416
https://twitter.com/Heather_Kozan/status/751644753037369344
UPDATE 1:14 A.M. ET
CNN confirms the tear gas reports in Phoenix, as do other media.
UPDATE 1:11 A.M. ET
Reports surface that officers may use tear gas in Phoenix to keep protesters away from freeway.
UPDATE 1:02 A.M. ET
More on the situation in Phoenix:
ABC 15, the local ABC Affiliate, reports:
“Police are investigating a officer-involved shooting in Phoenix Friday night. Crews were called to the Walgreens near 16th Street and Thomas Road around 8:45 p.m. Phoenix Police Sgt. Vince Lewis tells ABC15 the suspect was transported to the hospital. No officers were injured, Lewis said. Authorities did not provide information about the age or gender or condition of the person shot.”
CBS 5, the local CBS affiliate, cites a law enforcement official to report that it does not appear related to the protests:
“Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting at a Phoenix Walgreens Friday night. It happened at about 9 p.m. at 16th Street and Thomas Road. One person was wounded, according to Sgt. Vince Lewis of the Phoenix Police Department. Details were not immediately available, but Lewis said no officers were injured. ‘This does not appear related to this evening’s downtown events,’ Lewis said in an email to media outlets.”
UPDATE: 12:48 A.M. ET
The Phoenix Police Department thanks the public for the outpouring of support for police officers.
UPDATE 12:47 A.M. ET
The situation in Phoenix gets worse as protesters shut down a variety of the city’s light rail stop platforms.
UPDATE 12:44 A.M. ET
Phoenix police pledge to arrest any protesters who try to take over the freeway.
More on the incident where a person was taken to hospital. According to ABC 15 in Phoenix, it is an officer-involved shooting.
UPDATE 12:42 A.M. ET
Apparently, according to a local news report in Phoenix, a person has been taken to the hospital. It’s unclear why, and details are still forthcoming.
UPDATE 12:38 A.M. ET
Low turnout in Cleveland, Ohio, for a protest there tonight.
Despite the low turnout in Cleveland on Friday night, a week from Monday will see the beginning of the Republican National Convention. Reports surfaced throughout the day Friday that officials in Cleveland are beefing up the city’s security apparatus here in the final week before the convention, which will see thousands upon thousands of Republicans, media officials and protesters descend on the city. It remains to be seen if Cleveland will be ready for what’s sure to be a raucous week.
UPDATE 12:36 A.M. ET
Protester in Detroit declares they “shut the streets down.”
Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Mayor Kasim Reed claims the protests were “peaceful” despite a contentious standoff with police and people having thrown bottles at a tow truck.
https://twitter.com/KasirnReed/status/751607151093833728
UPDATE 12:33 A.M. ET
Cher weighs in.
UPDATE 12:28 A.M. ET
People in Phoenix now being warned to avoid certain parts of the highway.
UPDATE 12:26 A.M. ET
Phoenix is getting hotter again. Protesters there are apparently aiming to shut down the highway.
https://twitter.com/daniellerohrig/status/751631107624275968
UPDATE 12:19 A.M. ET
Whoa. Local news reports out of Rochester, New York–citing police sources–suggest as many as 40 people arrested there.
UPDATE 12:17 A.M. ET
Police in Atlanta move to shut down parts of the protest there.
UPDATE 12:13 A.M. ET
It seems the University of Charleston dean has already deleted his Tweet calling for “martyrs,” just moments later.
But a screenshot of it captured by Breitbart News is included here:
UPDATE 12:05 A.M. ET
A dean at the University of Charleston in South Carolina calls for “martyrs” in the “revolution.”
https://twitter.com/ItsDrMordecai/status/751626870370684930
UPDATE 11:59 P.M. ET
More arrests, this time in Rochester, New York. A woman in an interview with a local reporter on Facebook Live, says police were “just arresting everyone left and right.” She argues that the arrests were done “wrongly.”
Several people arrested in a protest in Rochester
Posted by Justin Carter TV on Friday, July 8, 2016
UPDATE 11:55 P.M. ET
Denver’s Police Officers’ union wants officers there in riot gear as protests in Colorado escalate in the wake of the Dallas police officer murders, but the police chief says not yet.
“The intensity of protests and the protesters continue to grow every day, both here and across the country — like the protests in Dallas last night,” the Denver Police Protective Association wrote in a letter that the Denver Post reported on Friday night. “Every day, Denver’s police officers place themselves in the street to protect those involved and the property around them.”
“The Denver Police Protective Board respectfully request that command officers cease and desist from giving orders to officers forcing them to forgo appropriate safety gear when tending to the ongoing protests in Denver,” the letter continues. “Please do not place appearances above officer safety.”
But for now, city and police officials in Denver are saying no to riot gear. The Denver Post has more. Read the whole post.
UPDATE 11:49 P.M. ET
The team at Breitbart Texas has an enormous scoop, particularly photo confirmation that the Dallas shooter Micah X. Johnson was a member of the Houston New Black Panther Party for a short period of time.
This completely undermines the mainstream narrative that Johnson was a lone gunman, not affiliated with any organization, and that this killing of five Dallas police officers was somehow a matter that more gun control could have prevented. Make sure to read the whole expose from Breitbart Texas’ Bob Price.
UPDATE 11:44 P.M. ET
More arrests tonight, this time in Baton Rouge according to RT:
UPDATE 11:43 P.M. ET
Local ABC affiliate has more on that Trump supporter in Phoenix.
UPDATE 11:39 P.M. ET
CNN reporter has more on the Trump supporter situation in Phoenix.
UPDATE 11:37 P.M. ET
Situation in Phoenix quickly devolves. Man in “Make America Great Again” Donald Trump hat hits the ground as police intervene and another man is yelling about “filing charges.” Video of the scene from a local reporter on Facebook live unclear.
https://www.facebook.com/navidehforghaniTV/videos/912455262200075/
UPDATE 11:20 P.M. ET
Protests in Kansas City, Missouri, heat up.
UPDATE 11:17 P.M. ET
Here’s a photo of that Black Lives Matter activist in Phoenix trampling on the American flag:
https://www.facebook.com/navidehforghaniTV/photos/a.151914204920855.28303.107177412727868/912440218868246/?type=3&theater
UPDATE: 11:16 P.M. ET
Fairly heavy police presence in San Francisco:
https://twitter.com/tripofmice/status/751608102982529024
And even a drone!
https://twitter.com/tripofmice/status/751609987005198337
UPDATE 11:15 P.M. ET
A local reporter in Phoenix, from her Facebook live video, says water was thrown at her by somebody.
https://www.facebook.com/navidehforghaniTV/videos/912450778867190/
UPDATE 11:10 P.M. ET
Phoenix Black Lives Matter activists start chanting “Black Power!” during their protest.
UPDATE 11:05 P.M. ET
Here’s Facebook Live video from the local ABC affiliate in Phoenix showing Black Lives Matter protesters there bashing Donald Trump, and rallying against the police.
Anti-Police Brutality rally in Phoenix, AZ
HAPPENING NOW: Anti-police brutality rally in Phoenix sparked by the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
Posted by ABC15 Arizona on Friday, July 8, 2016
UPDATE 11:02 P.M. ET
In Phoenix, protests get ugly as a Black Lives Matter activist stands on the American flag according to a local news report.
“Filipinos For Black Power” emerge in San Francisco:
https://twitter.com/tripofmice/status/751595384657498112
And Breitbart’s Lee Stranahan has the latest out of Baton Rouge:
UPDATE 10:54 P.M. ET
It’s not just Atlanta where the situation is devolving. Over in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Breitbart News’ Lee Stranahan reports that somebody threw an object at police officers–who were wearing riot gear–and then all the protesters ran away.
UPDATE 10:52 P.M. ET
Authorities in Atlanta roll out the heavy hardware for the developing situation.
UPDATE 10:50 P.M. ET
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed acknowledges the devolving situation on Twitter, warning that authorities have “intelligence that some are encouraging violence.”
Reed also seems to acknowledge what previously surfaced in video regarding potential damage to a truck.
UPDATE 10:46 P.M. ET
Reports are surfacing that local organizers in Atlanta have lost control. Apparently the local NAACP chapter has asked the protesters to disperse, as the official protest ended two hours ago, but they are not going home.
The situation seems to be escalating in Atlanta:
UPDATE 10:41 P.M. ET
Protesters in Atlanta are carrying on, and starting to get rowdy.
Local television reports that they are launching water bottles at a tow truck in Atlanta:
UPDATE 10:27 P.M. ET
San Francisco protests underway, with more than a thousand there according to local news reports.
UPDATE 10:19 P.M. ET
Detroit, Michigan, sees protests heating up as video shows protesting marching downtown there.
Meanwhile, San Francisco protesters on the move:
Also happening now: At least five protesters arrested in Baltimore:
UPDATE 10:17 P.M. ET
Protests spread now to Nashville, Tennessee:
UPDATE 10:13 P.M. ET
Video emerges of woman in Baton Rouge saying on Sean Hannity’s program “F*** the Police!”
https://twitter.com/amschultz71/status/751598623922659328
UPDATE 10:10 P.M. ET
Progressive filmmaker Michael Moore fans the flames, thanking #BlackLivesMatter for all they do.
UPDATE 10:07 P.M. ET
On the Fox News Channel, a protester from the Baton Rouge protests dropped the F-bomb saying “F*** the Police!” on live television. The protester was wearing a “Black Lives Matter” tee-shirt.
https://twitter.com/jelindafaye/status/751597998971375618
UPDATE 10:05 P.M. ET
Police in Atlanta hold their human barricade keeping protesters from swarming the interstate. CNN reports about a couple hundred protesters remaining out int he street behind the police lines. Protesters Tweeting that they plan to stay out there.
UPDATE 9:50 P.M. ET
More happening on the ground in Baton Rouge:
UPDATE 9:46 P.M. ET
Confrontations between police in riot gear and agitated protesters are heating up, Breitbart’s Lee Stranahan reports from Baton Rouge. Watch this video of the standoff:
Another video shows protestors calming each other as the police standoff looms, with one shouting to his fellow protesters: “Don’t give them a reason.”
UPDATE 9:43 P.M. ET
Local Baton Rouge television station WBRZ reports that the FBI has issued a “Gold Code” warning of coming violence against police officers and law enforcement officials on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“In the memo – known as a ‘Gold Code’ – federal authorities warned Baton Rouge-area and Shreveport-area law enforcement agencies to ‘threats to law enforcement and potential threats to the safety of the general public,'” WBRZ wrote. “It goes on to report, the FBI New Orleans office has found multiple groups “calling for or planning riots and/or violence against law enforcement in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Shreveport, Louisiana beginning Friday, 8 July 2016 and continuing through at least 10 July 2016.”
The FBI memo warns of potentially violent protests brewing in the area.
“The Louisiana Fusion Center confirmed additional protests are also planned in multiple locations throughout Louisiana, but cannot confirm additional threats of violence at this time,” the memo reads.
UPDATE 9:39 P.M. ET
Down in Baton Rouge, Breitbart’s Lee Stranahan reports escalating tensions as police bargain with protesters–urging them to stay out of the street.
They only appear to have had limited success.
UPDATE 9:36 P.M. ET
In San Francisco, police are reportedly preparing for the worst as protests loom on the west coast.
UPDATE: 9:28 P.M. ET
The mayor announces that there have been arrests in Atlanta tonight, but “less than ten” arrests in his city so far.
UPDATE 9:27 P.M. ET
Atlanta’s mayor joins the protesters, and says he will allow them to continue tonight.
UPDATE 9:25 P.M. ET
Earlier tonight in Washington, D.C., protesters flipped off the new Trump hotel in the Old Post Office building.
UPDATE 9:23 P.M. ET
Things are heating up in New York City as well, with CNN reporting that aggressive protesters have breached their way into Grand Central Station’s terminal–something a CNN reporter noted is “surreal” for New York City protest standards.
Apparently, Nick Cannon is in New York involved in the protest there as well.
UPDATE 9:19 P.M. ET
Breitbart News’ Lee Stranahan is live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where police officers stand prepared in riot gear for potential clashes with protesters. Stranahan has videos here:
UPDATE 9:13 P.M. ET
Donald Trump releases Facebook video saying he will “Make America Safe Again,” a twist on his campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.”
MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!
Posted by Donald J. Trump on Friday, July 8, 2016
UPDATE 9:10 P.M. ET
Philadelphia protests grow threefold at least, as CNN reports San Francisco protests about to begin.
UPDATE 9:05 P.M. ET
In Atlanta, State Troopers are blocking protesters from marching to the Downtown Connector.
The demonstrators are attempting to block highway traffic.
UPDATE 9:00 P.M. ET
Things heating up in Atlanta as police block protesters from advancing further on a street.
Meanwhile, more cities across America are seeing protests spring up.
All the while, CNN reports President Obama is cutting his overseas trip short to return home to the United States and visit Dallas soon.
*********** LIVE UPDATES ABOVE *************
Protesters across the country and around the world have begun the “weekend of rage” and aren’t giving law enforcement agencies or officers time to mourn or adjust to the new security threat that manifested in the police massacre in Dallas yesterday.
Instead of taking a moment to let tensions deescalate, anti-cop Black Lives Matter protests similar to the one used to ambush Dallas police officers are springing up around the country and around the world. Video of protesters chanting “What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!” is only likely to add fuel to the conflict.
With protests breaking out in a number of cities across the country–and even in London in the United Kingdom–things could get out of hand quickly on Friday night.
https://twitter.com/Nick_m35/status/751561485562761216
Democrat leaders have done little to discourage professional anti-cop leftist protesters from continuing to cause havoc around the country. The nation’s top law enforcement official Loretta Lynch actually told Black Lives Matter “not to be discouraged,” and they haven’t been.
BATON ROUGE:
NYC:
http://abc7ny.com/news/turnout-at-nyc-black-lives-matters-protests-smaller-on-friday/1418933/
SNOOP DOGG in LA:
BALTIMORE:
LONDON:
PORTLAND:
http://katu.com/news/local/dozens-gather-for-blacklivesmatter-protest-in-portland
ATLANTA:
https://twitter.com/fvmoustexas/status/751542291190263808
DC:
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
ST. LOUIS:
SACRAMENTO:
Dustin Stockton is a political reporter for Breitbart News, a community liaison for Gun Owners of America, and a political strategist. Follow him on Twitter @DustinStockton or Facebook.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.