Tremaine Lee of MSNBC is reporting live that police in Charlotte have just fired rubber bullets and what he’s describing as pepper spray (most likely pepper ball less than lethal rounds) into fleeing protestors that were marching peacefully towards I277 over an hour before the midnight curfew. Lee is reporting that the police are moving into the area, they then set up a phalanx, move towards the protestors, and as the protestors begin to move out, the police then fire the rubber bullets and pepper rounds towards them.
Police in riot gear pounding their shields, someone said it sounded like they were firing paintballs #charlotteprotests pic.twitter.com/npsA3r9Qd7
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 23, 2016
Here’s the link to WBTV 3 Charlotte’s live feed.
The next major conflict point will be at 12:00 AM EDT when the Mayor of Charlotte has called a curfew to clear the streets from midnight to 6:00 AM EDT. It is unclear how law enforcement in Charlotte plan to enforce that curfew given the several hundred peaceful protestors and demonstrators in the streets of Charlotte. Earlier this evening Reverend Barber in an interview on MSNBC indicated that the Mayor of Charlotte had agreed during a meeting with faith leaders earlier today not to impose and enforce a curfew.
For everyone in the Charlotte area please stay safe.
I’ll update as new information becomes available.
Update at 11:15 PM EDT
Mayor Jennifer Roberts just told Brian Williams on MSNBC that:
Mayor Roberts to MSNBC: "We want to be flexible… We're saying midnight. We want to have them cleared as soon after as possible."
— Théoden Janes (@theodenjanes) September 23, 2016
We are 45 minutes away from finding out what this means in practice.
Update at 12:00 AM EDT
The Charlotte municipal curfew is now in effect. Significant number of demonstrators/protestors are still out on the street. Hopefully things stay peaceful.
Police say no injuries tonight. Knock on wood #CharlotteProtests
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 23, 2016
Update 12:07 PM EDT
2 @CMPD officers being treated by @MecklenburgEMS after they were sprayed w a chemical agent by demonstrators.
— CMPD News (@CMPD) September 23, 2016
There are still people milling about uptown. Police say decision abt arresting them needs to come from chief #CLTProtest
— Katie Peralta (@katieperalta) September 23, 2016
Update at 12:12 PM EDT
Protesters in Charlotte stop to hug National Guard members and thank for service.
— Jeff Siner (@jsiner) September 23, 2016
Update at 12:35 AM EDT
More than 5 hours after gathering, crowd still covers about 3 blocks. pic.twitter.com/i5XQkjFfGo
— Ann Doss Helms (@anndosshelms) September 23, 2016
Update at 12:52 AM EDT:
12:42am. Protests continue, but all peaceful. Police say they can continue. #CMPD #Charlotte https://t.co/bkbdWq3glw
— Molly Grantham WBTV (@MollyGrantham) September 23, 2016
Citywide curfew for #Clt; #CMPD says as long as protesters remain peaceful they can continue #KeithLamontScott @WBTV_News pic.twitter.com/8sHhkp7GEt
— Coleen Harry WBTV (@ColeenHarryWBTV) September 23, 2016