Organized agitators infiltrating Iowa demonstrations, police and activists say
Source: Des Moines Register
Organized agitators have infiltrated multiple Iowa protests in the past week, inciting violence in connection with what were intended to be peaceful demonstrations, protest organizers, police and city officials say.
There have been clashes with police in Des Moines, Waterloo, Coralville and Sioux City. Two people were shot and killed Sunday during a protest in Davenport, and two other people were wounded, including a police officer ambushed while driving in an alley early Monday morning.
Police have not identified the groups they believe to be inciting the violence in Iowa. But they say they have seen similar tactics at multiple events that have occurred in the state since the May 25 death of George Floyd, an African-American man who pleaded that he couldnt breathe while a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck. The officer was fired and has been charged with third-degree murder.
Some of the disorder appears to be connected to anonymous posts on social media. Last week, for example, the Des Moines Register identified posts urging people to hit the Target at Des Moines Merle Hay Mall, claiming it was somehow complicit in the death of a black teenager who was last seen alive leaving his job there in January, and whose body was later found in the Des Moines River. A demonstration that started in the parking lot of the store Sunday night gave way to vandalism, looting and clashes with police.
Read more: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/2020/06/02/outside-agitators-behind-violence-iowa-rallies-protests-police/5316671002/
Lonestarblue
(9,986 posts)I didnt catch the beginning of the segment, but he said that authorities had identified many members of the group and they were definitely the ones looting and destroying property. Other than Trumps and Barrs lunatic ravings about Antifa, I had not heard this before. Has anyone else seen something like this? Or know if its true. I tend not to believe it, because it just doesnt seem to match their goals.
stillcool
(32,626 posts)as well. I think, they don't want to mention their posse...the White Supremacists, who have been arrested in several states. It should be interesting.
pecosbob
(7,538 posts)I've been seeing way too many videos of suburban white kids looting the stores and read of too many cases of good ol' boys loading up the truck with long guns and heading for the city.
47of74
(18,470 posts)I'm particularly concerned the Kluxers might try to come back and finish what they started in the 90s around Dubuque.