Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

alp227

(31,962 posts)
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 09:45 PM Jun 2020

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 couldn’t 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/

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Organized agitators infiltrating Iowa demonstrations, police and activists say (Original Post) alp227 Jun 2020 OP
My local news was showing a clip tonight from someone claiming Antifa was behind the violence. Lonestarblue Jun 2020 #1
Trump and Barr are the only ones I've heard.. stillcool Jun 2020 #4
I personally consider any violence to be false-flag until shown otherwise at this point pecosbob Jun 2020 #2
Yeah I hope mayors and local law enforcement are paying attention 47of74 Jun 2020 #3
Were they wearing Hawaiian shirts? nt. BlueIdaho Jun 2020 #5
Organized agitators elleng Jun 2020 #6

Lonestarblue

(9,883 posts)
1. My local news was showing a clip tonight from someone claiming Antifa was behind the violence.
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 10:00 PM
Jun 2020

I didn’t 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 Trump’s and Barr’s lunatic ravings about Antifa, I had not heard this before. Has anyone else seen something like this? Or know if it’s true. I tend not to believe it, because it just doesn’t seem to match their goals.

stillcool

(32,626 posts)
4. Trump and Barr are the only ones I've heard..
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 10:12 PM
Jun 2020

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

(7,511 posts)
2. I personally consider any violence to be false-flag until shown otherwise at this point
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 10:05 PM
Jun 2020

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)
3. Yeah I hope mayors and local law enforcement are paying attention
Tue Jun 2, 2020, 10:07 PM
Jun 2020

I'm particularly concerned the Kluxers might try to come back and finish what they started in the 90s around Dubuque.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Organized agitators infil...