Political Melee in Hemming Park results in several arrests.

[JBTripper]

This Gary Snow dude seems like a Class A jackwagon, but that Instagram photo with the Chicago PD is very obviously fake. Don't give up the moral high ground by using outright falsehoods to smear someones character when the video speaks for itself.

[Cheshire Cat]

This Gary Snow dude seems like a Class A jackwagon, but that Instagram photo with the Chicago PD is very obviously fake. Don't give up the moral high ground by using outright falsehoods to smear someones character when the video speaks for itself.

Actually the photo has been around for three years now and this joker has it posted to one of his many FB pages without a disclaimer saying it is false which is curious in and of itself.  He was asked about it by Folio and claimed it is fake and that he has been trying to it get down for three years.  It may well be and if I find out it is I will follow up with a clarification. Honestly, I only posted the pic as a visual intro because I can't figure out how to post the video itself as an instant visual.  Maybe one of the moderators will do so.  In Snows case many of his own postings and statements that are incriminating and being exposed  from his many FB pages are being quickly removed by him.    He is man whose own words and actions will in the end exposed and discredit him. 

Update:  Replaced the pic we have been discussing above with another verified image of Snow in a verbal confrontation in Chicago. 

[Tacachale]

This Gary Snow dude seems like a Class A jackwagon, but that Instagram photo with the Chicago PD is very obviously fake. Don't give up the moral high ground by using outright falsehoods to smear someones character when the video speaks for itself.

Actually the photo has been around for three years now and this joker has it posted to one of his many FB pages without a disclaimer saying it is false which is curious in and of itself.  He was asked about it by Folio and claimed it is fake and that he has been trying to get down for three years.  It may well be and if I find out it is I will follow up with a clarification.  Many of his own postings and statements that are incriminating and being exposed  from his many FB pages are being quickly removed by him.  He is man whose own words and actions will in the end exposed and discredit him.

The Instagram is fake at a glance. The background behind the letters is different than the white surrounding background, it's a very poor photoshop. JBTripper is right, the video (of burning and shooting the Pan-African Flag speaks for itself, no need to spread falsehoods.

[Cheshire Cat]

This Gary Snow dude seems like a Class A jackwagon, but that Instagram photo with the Chicago PD is very obviously fake. Don't give up the moral high ground by using outright falsehoods to smear someones character when the video speaks for itself.

Actually the photo has been around for three years now and this joker has it posted to one of his many FB pages without a disclaimer saying it is false which is curious in and of itself.  He was asked about it by Folio and claimed it is fake and that he has been trying to get down for three years.  It may well be and if I find out it is I will follow up with a clarification.  Many of his own postings and statements that are incriminating and being exposed  from his many FB pages are being quickly removed by him.  He is man whose own words and actions will in the end exposed and discredit him.

The Instagram is fake at a glance. The background behind the letters is different than the white surrounding background, it's a very poor photoshop. JBTripper is right, the video (of burning and shooting the Pan-African Flag speaks for itself, no need to spread falsehoods.

Check above.  I have changed the image for one that is verified as being Snow.  I don't do Instagram so things like you noted would not be recognized by me.  Do you know how to post video so that a visual is in the post?  That is actually what I would like to do here.

[Tacachale]

IMO this is the most astute writing about the events so far, from A.G. Gancarski at Florida Politics:

"'Snow job' for Jacksonville protesters was only a matter of time"

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/235746-snow-job-jacksonville-protesters-matter-time

...

Snow, who came to Jacksonville fairly recently from Chicago, has a unique shtick.

Under the aegis of supporting President Donald Trump, Snow makes a habit of attending protest events of the "Indivisible" sort, waving a large Trump flag and bellowing into his megaphone.

The effect is that of a cartoonish heel wrestling character from the 20th Century. Performance art: an attempt to lampoon and discredit the energy of left-liberal protests.

However, Snow is also a big guy — big enough to seem physically imposing to smaller people, for sure.

Snow has been able to make it work throughout his time in Jacksonville, with successful provocation outside the Bill Clinton event in Jacksonville in October of last year, effective disruption of a protest of Rep. John Rutherford, and other such events.

Ironically, one of his earliest provocations was a protest put forth by the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition in August.

Ironic, as it was a JPC protest that went sideways on Friday night, with protesters physically subjugated then arrested — as is now being reported by the London Daily Mail.

A notable thing about that particular protest in Hemming Park: the approach of the police officers seemed more akin to the laissez-faire handling of squabbles between the regulars who convene in the plaza than managing a protest.

Snow was permitted to romp in and through the protest, standing shoulder to shoulder with speakers while waving his Trump flag and provoking them.

Then, at the 1:47 mark of the video on the Daily Mail page, it appeared that Snow nudged a protester into a police officer, which proved to be the catalyst for the chaos that followed.

...

[Tacachale]

This Gary Snow dude seems like a Class A jackwagon, but that Instagram photo with the Chicago PD is very obviously fake. Don't give up the moral high ground by using outright falsehoods to smear someones character when the video speaks for itself.

Actually the photo has been around for three years now and this joker has it posted to one of his many FB pages without a disclaimer saying it is false which is curious in and of itself.  He was asked about it by Folio and claimed it is fake and that he has been trying to get down for three years.  It may well be and if I find out it is I will follow up with a clarification.  Many of his own postings and statements that are incriminating and being exposed  from his many FB pages are being quickly removed by him.  He is man whose own words and actions will in the end exposed and discredit him.

The Instagram is fake at a glance. The background behind the letters is different than the white surrounding background, it's a very poor photoshop. JBTripper is right, the video (of burning and shooting the Pan-African Flag speaks for itself, no need to spread falsehoods.

Check above.  I have changed the image for one that is verified as being Snow.  I don't do Instagram so things like you noted would not be recognized by me.  Do you know how to post video so that a visual is in the post?  That is actually what I would like to do here.

Excellent. And unfortunately I've never figured out how to embed a video here. Unlike pictures it's not at all user friendly.

[Cheshire Cat]

This formal statement just released from JSO Sheriff Mike Williams.

[Cheshire Cat]

 From WJCT

Jacksonville attorney John Phillips said he's conducting a review of what happened during a Hemming Park protest Friday as he prepares to represent at least one of those arrested.

Several protesters were arrested during a demonstration against last week's U.S. airstrikes in Syria. Philips said he's reviewing all available evidence of what led to the arrests.

"We start today and we're going to investigate," he said on "First Coast Connect" Monday. "We don't do just an over the weekend investigation and say this crime was violated or not and investigate all the parties."

As widely circulated videos show, chaos broke out between protesters, one counter-protester and police. Five protesters were arrested on felony charges, including inciting a riot, resisting arrest and battery on an officer.

One shaky video showed what looks like the start of the scuffle with police when a counter-protester, who said his name is Gary Snow, gives a middle finger to protester Connell Crooms. When Crooms appears to lunge toward Snow, police took Crooms down. Snow said protesters were taking his belongings.


Click link for full story.
http://news.wjct.org/post/jacksonville-attorney-investigating-downtown-protest-jso-reviewing-protocol

[Cheshire Cat]

In regard to what was assumed to be JSO protocol in Jacksonville regarding separating protesters, there is no firm policy doing that in our city. That may change.

Quote of Sheriff Williams via WJCT. "Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said in an emailed statement officers don't tell groups where to stand during protests.

"As per protest planning protocol, we don't tell groups where to go, but we do tell them what they can and cannot lawfully do — and specifically what actions may result in arrest," he said.

He said protesters are encouraged to respond to agitators in a calm demeanor and must refrain from physical violence. However, he said the incident has prompted him to look into how JSO manages protests.

"I am working with my leadership team to determine what new protocols may be put into place to successfully manage these events moving forward," Williams said."

[Cheshire Cat]

                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Quote:   Action News Jax asked Snow whether he interrupted or disturbed the protest, as described in this statute.

RELATED: Organizations call for independent investigation into arrests at Hemming Park protest

"Oh no, I don't feel like I did," Snow said. "They have the right to be out there as much as I have the right to be out there."

Action News Jax law and safety expert Dale Carson disagrees, saying the statute should apply to this case.

"It applies. But it's discretionary for officers to make arrests," said Carson.

Drinking from a mug that says "liberal tears" and waving a Pres. Donald Trump flag, you've probably seen Snow on our news, or on social media before.

You may have also seen a video of Snow burning and shooting at a Pan-African flag.

"I regret making the video. Yeah. But, you know, this was me in my way of standing up to a symbol of racism," said Snow. "They're black nationalists, they're black supremacists, you know? They're racists."

For full story, click this link:    http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/florida-law-banning-interruption-of-lawful-assembly-never-applied-to-gary-snow/511255336

[Cheshire Cat]

Multiple organizations are calling for an independent investigation into the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's use of force at a protest at Hemming Park on Friday night.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/organizations-call-for-independent-investigation-into-arrests-at-hemming-park-protest/511236958

[NotNow]

Gary Snow seems to me to be the agitator and main cause of this melee.  I've watched many videos and I am amazed that only the people who were not Trump fans were arrested.  If someone starts a protest and someone of another position starts to harass, takeover, heckle, and disrupt, what should police do?  In Jacksonville the police arrest the people who's beliefs are different than their own.  Shameful.

How do you know what the police "believe"?

[remc86007]

The single most pernicious sentiment poisoning our country: black people who stand up for themselves and decry racism are in fact the racists, and that minorities can somehow discriminate and take away the power of the majority race whose power is firmly entrenched.

I completely agree.

[Tacachale]

Seems there are two things here: Snow's actions provoking the demonstrators, and then how the police responded once the altercation started. People are going to have different opinions as to whether the police acted reasonably or unreasonably after it started, but judging by what can be seen in the videos, I don't see how else they could've acted. Regardless of "who started it", at least 4 of the arrests are of people who can be seen in the videos not complying with officers or openly fighting them.

Before the altercation is another story. Moving forward, the best solution seems to be for JSO to have some new protocols on policing demonstrations to (attempt to) keep them from escalating to the point we saw Friday. Keeping protesters separate, as is done in some places and contexts, would seem to be worth looking into. That way they can de-escalate situations instead of having to go in to deal with a fight that's already started. Fortunately, it sounds like the Sheriff's Office is looking into that.

The protest organizers also would benefit from tightening down their ship. When their members reacted to Snow, and especially when they started fighting with the police, they gave him exactly what he wanted.

[finehoe]

You expect U.S. citizens to protest something the U.S. wasn't involved in?

Bashar al-Assad cares deeply what the citizens of Jacksonville have to say.