Police left and "Security detail" just strolled thru #ferguson #unitedwefight #whichemergency https://t.co/aodol8oLwt— Ryan Herring (@infiniteideal) August 11, 2015 Courtesy of NBC News: Oath Keepers Defend Right to Bear Arms Ferguson's Streets 0:52 Heavily-armed members of a controversial patriot group added an extra dose of unease to protests in Ferguson, Missouri, early Tuesday.
The Oath Keepers organization says its members — all former military, police and first responders — pledge to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
However, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar described their presence as "both unnecessary and inflammatory."
Protesters and police confirmed that a handful of Oath Keepers with assault rifles, bulletproof vest and camouflage gear were seen early Tuesday on the streets of Ferguson, which was under a state of emergency following demonstrations pegged to the anniversary of Michael Brown's death.
Several protesters confronted members of the group, asking why they were allowed to openly carry weapons.
"I'm happy that we're able to defend ourselves," one Oath Keeper replied in footage from NBC station KSDK. "It's been our right for a long time."
Apparently after being confronted some of the so-called Oath Keepers suggested they were there to protect the protesters from the police, but nobody was buying it. Especially the police who would have undoubtedly disarmed the men and sent them packing.
Oh I forgot these are white men.
Which is a difference that did not go unnoticed by the locals, one of whom tweeted:
"Black people are killed for carrying toy guns in an open carry state. White men come armed with assault rifles to a protest and nothing."
It really seemed that the Oath Keepers came to rub protester's noses in the fact that THEY could walk around heavily armed, while black folks were getting killed simply for jaywalking.
I guess there wasn't already enough racial tension for their liking.
0 Response to "Oath Keepers show up in Ferguson after protests cause the authorities to declare a "state of emergency." "
Post a Comment