BG On The Scene

Several hundred gathered outside the Oakland County Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, protesting against the county-wide mask mandate issued for all preschool and K-12 students and staff. The protest was organized as parents push for choice in whether to mask their children in schools, as well as calls for transparency in the data being used to make the decisions. Michigan’s two largest counties - Wayne and Oakland - have issued mask-wearing requirements for all public schools in their boundaries, regardless of individual school district policy. Police initially restricted access to the Commissioners Auditorium and Thursday night Board meeting, blocking the crowd from entering due to capacity limitations. Eventually the Board allowed people to be rotated in for public comment while maintaining internal capacity restrictions, giving parents and community members a few minutes each to offer their comments on the issue.

One year since the civil unrest and riots that followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake, signs of last summer’s disorder still linger in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Many buildings remain boarded up, with a few leveled to the ground after being set on fire last August. Some of downtown has reopened and removed their boards, while much of the Uptown neighborhood, where widespread looting and arson had occurred, still is largely boarded up. A walk through the area the morning of August 25th, 2021.

Lawyers for Ty Garbin, the first man to take a plea in the busted 2020 plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer, speak after he was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison at a federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan today. This marks the first sentence among the more than dozen individuals currently accused of taking part in the plot. Lawyers say his cooperation with authorities likely lead to the lesser sentence (prosecutors had been pushing for 9 years), as he sought to “undo what he did” and accept responsibility for his role.

Chaotic scenes in Portland on Sunday, as a coalition of the Proud Boys and various conservative & right-wing groups gathered for an event, dubbed the 'Summer of Love', and were met with Antifa and left-wing counter-protesters. Initially planned to be held in downtown Portland, the event was moved to an abandoned Kmart parking lot several miles away after Antifa announced plans to counter-demonstrate in the same area as their rally. The groups, at first, gathered in their respective spaces - a large contingent in black bloc met at a park in downtown Portland, while Proud Boys held their rally and a couple hours of speeches in the abandoned Kmart lot. Near 4 in the afternoon, a group of about 50 Antifa-aligned activists in black bloc made their way to the former Kmart lot, setting off a series of street battles as opposing sides brought out mace, pepper spray, bats, shields and other objects against each other. The black bloc group threw several explosives and projectiles at the Proud Boys, who themselves fired paintball and airsoft guns against them as the group in bloc retreated to a nearby high school parking lot where they had gathered near the Kmart. Windows were smashed of multiple vehicles suspected of being with Antifa and aiding in transportation of supplies and persons, with one man seen fleeing his vehicle after being hit repeatedly by the Proud Boys. Police were nowhere to be seen as the brawls occurred, following through on a notice they released a few days prior announcing that they would not be separating the opposing groups. Both Mayor Ted Wheeler and the Portland Police Bureau have received criticism for their 'hands-off' approach to the event.

Hundreds gathered for a ‘Free Afghanistan’ protest and march outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Sunday. The march, hosted by Afghans of North America, called for international intervention with the situation in Afghanistan, as the Taliban gained control of the country this week.

Crowd of over 10,000 marching in Paris on Saturday, as part of the 4th consecutive weekend of protests against the new Health Pass (Pass Sanitaire) mandate being implemented across France. The new pass will require people to present proof of either a full vaccination, negative Covid test taken within 48 hours, or recovery from a positive Covid case within 6 months. This pass will be checked in many spaces, including bars, restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, tourist attractions, and inter-city travel on trains and planes. The measures apply to all adults 18+ starting this Monday, August 9th, with the inclusion of children ages 12-17 starting September 30th. Children under 12 will be exempt, since they are not considered eligible for vaccination at this time. Weekly demonstrations against the measures have drawn hundreds of thousands across France, with heavy police responses to some demonstrations as well.

Protesters shut down a rally in support of the jailed January 6th defendants today in DC. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar and others had gathered a press conference outside the Department of Justice, calling for transparency in the treatment of the jailed defendants and their ongoing cases. Protesters soon interrupted the event, blowing whistles to drown out speakers and media, eventually making their way feet from the podium directly behind Greene. Staff then abruptly ended the event, escorting Greene and other speakers away as they were followed to their vehicles.

Tens of thousands were out in the streets of Milwaukee on Thursday, celebrating the Bucks winning their first NBA Championship in 50 years on Tuesday. A parade was held throughout downtown, concluding at the Deer District outside the Fiserv Forum, where players were announced on-stage in front of fans packed in for one last time this season.

An unlawful assembly was declared in Los Angeles on Saturday, as two opposing groups descended on the Wi Spa in Koreatown. The area has experienced multiple protests in response to an incident where a woman reported being exposed to male genitalia on the female side of the spa. The spa countered that the person in question is transgender, and the entire episode has sparked heated protests on both sides - some supporting the woman and her claim, others siding with the spa. Opposing groups were out for the second time in three weeks on Saturday - on one side conservatives, religious & right-wingers, on the other Antifa and other left-wingers, quickly separated by police as the right-wing group marched to the spa. Police deployed batons and less-lethal munitions against the Antifa counter-protest side, after multiple smoke bombs and water bottle projectiles were thrown at the opposing group across the street. They soon began to push both groups blocks away from each other, leading the right-wing group to some brief face-offs before dispersing. The Antifa counter-protest side stayed, and shortly after an unlawful assembly emergency alert was issued. The group was pushed back and eventually kettled by Los Angeles Police, who made 38 arrests, confiscating some stun-guns and pepper-spray in the process. Overall both groups were kept from major direct confrontations, with police taking aggressive intervention on the crowds as they pushed them back and away from each other. Lines of officers moved throughout the morning and early afternoon, cutting off alleyways and intersections and refusing to let people pass between them.

Supporters of Britney Spears gathered outside the Lincoln Memorial in DC on Wednesday, calling for an end to the singer’s 13-year-long conservatorship, as well as greater federal oversight of the legal arrangement across the country. Advocates for those currently under court-ordered conservatorships and guardianships spoke at the rally, aiming to call attention to the practice used in probate courts nationwide. Protesters also called for a formal investigation and criminal charges against those controlling the Britney Spears estate, as the singer recently spoke out about abuse and restrictions she has faced from her father and lawyers involved in managing her assets and day-to-day life. The rally coincided with an appearance by Spears in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday afternoon, where she was granted the ability to hire her own lawyer for the first time since the conservatorship’s imposition in 2008.

The last barriers of the security fence that has surrounded the U.S. Capitol since January have been taken down this past week in D.C. Areas closed to the public for over six months around the building have reopened, with people biking and hanging out on the grounds here in mid-July in the nation’s capital.

A George Floyd mural in Toledo, Ohio collapsed yesterday, with witness reports of lightning striking the building. This is the scene at Summit and Lagrange this morning, with bricks from the destroyed mural piled next to what remains of the wall.

Former Chief of Detroit Police James Craig took the stage today at the Republican Party’s 167th Anniversary event, held in Jackson Michigan at the site of the party’s first convention in 1854. Craig, widely seen as a potential Republican challenger to Governor Gretchen Whitmer in next year’s gubernatorial race, discussed his experiences in law enforcement and laid out his vision for the future of Michigan, while withholding from an official announcement as to whether he will run for Governor in 2022. The event drew a crowd of about 150 to the residential Jackson neighborhood with “Under the Oaks Park”, the site of the GOP’s founding.

In his first public rally since January 6th, Trump campaigned in Ohio this weekend for House candidate and former aide Max Miller. The rally featured speeches from local Republican politicians, Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan before the former President’s remarks. Miller is a primary challenger to sitting Republican House Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, who was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach then-President Trump on a count of incitement of insurrection in January. The primary election takes place next spring as part of the 2022 Midterms, where Republicans are seeking to retake control of the House of Representatives.

Abandoned vehicles flooded out along I-94 in Detroit today, as the freeway remains shut down for a third consecutive day after heavy rainfall hit the region. The weekend’s downpour lead to several road closures, power outages and flooding of basements in the area, as well as the ongoing shuttering of this major interstate. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a State of Emergency in Wayne County over the situation on Saturday, and was seen today visiting the flooded freeway for a brief press conference. High water levels on nearby waterways have prevented efficient pumping of the floodwater off the freeway, leading to this scene along several miles of I-94 still this Monday.

Hundreds marched in Minneapolis Monday night, hours after closing arguments were made in the Derek Chauvin trial. With the jury now deliberating before a verdict, protesters marched downtown, chanting in support of conviction for the former Minneapolis Police officer. Reverend Jesse Jackson and community members spoke at the gathering, and marchers at the front line held a banner reading "The World is Watching" as they made their way past the Hennepin County Courthouse. The world's eyes are indeed on Minneapolis as the trial nears conclusion. We will see what happens next.

Celebrations in Minneapolis on Tuesday afternoon as a verdict was read in the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin. A crowd of hundreds had gathered outside the Hennepin County Courthouse amidst word of an imminent verdict after a day of jury deliberations in the trial. Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts - second-degree unintentional murder, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder. Crowds celebrated the verdict, crying and hugging outside the courthouse amidst a flurry of cameras in town covering the trial. The girlfriend of George Floyd, Courtney Ross, was seen in tears before leading protesters in prayer after the announcement. Chants, speeches and dancing ensued before a march through downtown Minneapolis, where protesters both celebrated what they viewed as a victory in this case, and also called for further prosecutions against other officers in police-involved killings. Demonstrations continued until around 8 pm downtown, before some went over to the George Floyd Memorial at 38th and Chicago (the site of Floyd's initial encounter with officer Derek Chauvin back on May 25th, 2020) to continue celebrating in the no-police zone that has been set up. Crowds began to fan out around 10 pm, with some still lingering around the memorial paying their respects to Floyd and others killed in police interactions in the U.S.

Over a thousand marched in Chicago last night in protest against the police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo. Bodycam footage of the deadly confrontation was released on Thursday, and demonstrations have taken place in several cities across the U.S. in response. Chicago’s march included members of the Toledo family, and a variety of groups and activists joining together to organize one of the largest protests in the city this year to date. Though peaceful for the duration of the march (which took place mostly through Lori Lightfoot’s neighborhood), clashes did ensue as things wrapped up in Logan Square Park. A melee broke out between Chicago Police and the crowd after they made an arrest at the scene, leading to reinforcement lines of officers called in amidst some tense face-offs between police and those remaining. Officers eventually retreated, and the crowd dispersed without additional incident Friday night.

In the fourthconsecutive night of protests for Daunte Wright, hundreds showed up once again at the Brooklyn Center Police Department, giving speeches and occupying the streets as evening fell and another curfew (10 pm for this Wednesday night) neared. Clashes ensued as police sprayed those getting too close to the fence, and responded to water bottles and other objects thrown at officers standing outside the station. A few unknown flaming projectiles were launched over the fence, prompting police in riot gear to fire off flash bangs at the crowd. An unlawful assembly was declared just after 9 pm, and police fired off many rounds of non-lethal crowd control munitions at walls of umbrellas, who advanced and retreated several times before a larger line of Minnesota State troopers moved into the area. Police cleared the street in front of the station shortly after 10 pm, and an additional National Guard contingent flanking the group forced the crowd to disperse into the neighborhood. Some arrests were made by officers as they cleared the area.

3rd consecutive day of protests outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department, after the police shooting death of Daunte Wright. With another curfew order in place, an unlawful assembly was declared by the end of the night as hundreds stayed out in the streets for several hours. The afternoon began with a march in Brooklyn Center and speeches outside the police station, where protesters laid flowers on a Justice for Daunte banner and created a vigil. As night fell, some went home while others in the crowd began shaking the fence and throwing bottles and other projectiles at the police, who fired off flash bangs, smoke bombs and other crowd control munitions in response. A massive line of Minnesota State troopers eventually pushed through to clear the crowd, who launched fireworks as they dispersed into residential areas near the police station.

President Trump delivered remarks this morning at a farewell speech and ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The brief event was held as a send-off for the First Family departing Washington via Air Force One, three hours before the Inauguration of Joe Biden in nearby DC. In his final public appearance as 45th President of the United States, Trump spoke of the administration’s work over the last 4 years, wished the incoming administration “great luck and great success” and thanked his supporters, a few hundred of which had come to the base for the event. Melania also gave brief remarks during the speech in her final public appearance as First Lady.