Author: fwjp_admin

On afternoon of May 30th myself and 4 or 5 others (who i don’t know) were on the corner by the courthouse waiting to cross the street. While we were standing there waiting for the signal, a FWPD SUV came around the corner very quickly and the officer on the back passenger side rolled down… Continue reading Drive-by FWPD macing

While attending the peaceful protest, we arrived somewhat late and went to walk up to the crowd of protesters with signs and immediately were dispersed because the police began firing off tear gas. One gas can flew over my head and landed in front of me while I was running away, all the way down… Continue reading They pepper sprayed protesters standing on the side walk pleading with the police

I was arrested 2 blocks from the courthouse on May 30th trying to leave the area. I did not resist, yet my face was slammed Into concrete and I received a concussion and a broken nose. While bleeding and handcuffed, the officer screamed “Can you fucking breathe now” into my ear. Of course that did… Continue reading My face was slammed into concrete and I received a concussion and a broken nose

On the first Saturday of protest, my 17 year old son & I went with simple signs & I flew a turquoise Co-exist flag for drivers to see while driving along Clinton. I positioned myself across from the Courthouse in front of the Old Gazette Building next to another mom & adorable 4 or 5… Continue reading THE RELENTLESS assault was completely uncalled for

On the afternoon of May 30, 2020 I attended the BLM protest in downtown Fort Wayne (my resident city). I participated in a peaceful March from the courthouse down Spy Run and back again where we were halted by riot police. A short standoff with police occurred and quickly our march was being teargassed. We… Continue reading I approached the line with a flower in my hand only to be targeted directly and fired at

I’m walking away and I see my boyfriend’s dad just randomly get grabbed up, wasnt doing a THING but walking away from the situation. A police officer grabbed me up and threw me on the ground. They stripped me out my original attire. I was in what I had on underneath, which luckily was shorts… Continue reading I’m traumatized more than i ever thought i would be

Myself and a group of 3 friends decided to go downtown on Saturday evening to see what was happening at the protests. We weren’t aware that the police had been telling people to leave, because we weren’t really keeping up with live-streams or anything. We crossed the MLK bridge around 10 pm. The first group… Continue reading Charged with disorderly conduct, when I wasn’t violent

I went to use the bathroom and meet up with my girlfriend who was joining me for the protest. We were walking back up to the protest, and without warning I was shot in the stomach with a canister of tear gas. As we backed away, police continued to fire tear gas and less lethal… Continue reading We watched as one canister, fired by police, broke a courthouse window

I went to downtown Fort Wayne to peacefully protest in front of the Allen County Courthouse. I am a Fort Wayne native and I believe it was my civil responsibility to voice my concern with our national and local criminal justice system after the horrific killing of George Floyd. I arrived downtown between 2-3 pm.… Continue reading I witnessed many protesters be arrested and maced as they tried to run away from the gas

I witnessed and recorded two officers confronting a man with a sign in both hands. They tackled him, choked him, then shoved his face into the ground with all the weight of a grown man. A gun was aimed at me while they were apprehending him, so I started to walk away and couldn’t get… Continue reading Officers tackled a man, choked him, then shoved his face into the ground

I witnessed an upset mother carrying her crying child. She put her down right outside a parking garage where several protestors, about 4 or so, gathered around to try to help. They all offered water to rinse her eyes when the mother confirmed the child, who was crying profusely, had been exposed to tear gas.… Continue reading A police officer continuously sprayed him in the face

Attended the protest with two others on Saturday. Large group of peaceful protesters were in attendance. Around 4:45 PM, a large majority of the group has made its way to standing along the sidewalk on Clinton (on both sides of the street). As the mass of people crowded the sidewalk, some peaceful protesters went out… Continue reading At no point in your life do you EVER think the police would fire upon a crowd of people.

On May 30, protestors including myself began peacefully standing in the street at Main and Clinton around 5 pm, letting cars pass slowly in one lane (most of them indicating their support for the protestors). A line of riot police and armoured cars soon arrived from the north on Clinton, an unnecessary, disproportionate, and provocative… Continue reading An unnecessary, disproportionate, and provocative response

My friends and I were participating in protests on the second day (May 30th). The event started around 2pm and was going fantastic, good energy, good community, and absolutely no violence. Not a single person had a weapon, and everyone was wearing face masks to still adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines. Police were already set… Continue reading FWPD began releasing tear gas canisters at face level and over the head

I was protesting for my cousin, and I was arrested. The 7 officers beat the shit outta me, broke my glasses and my phone and called me a bitch and a slut while telling me to shut the fuck up.

Me and my group were present for the brutality that took place downtown on May 30th. We were first gassed in the park where the gassing began. We hung around to help those who were affected the worst. Of all those we helped, the overwhelming majority were underage teens. An older man, who was not… Continue reading An older man, who was not part of the protest was shot in the chest with a rubber bullet

I have a photograph taken on the lawn of the Allen County Courthouse at 3:51 p.m. This photograph pictures a baby crawling on the grass, and a boy of 4-5 years old, kneeling and playing with her. I believe this demonstrates the nature of the protest I witnessed that day, (my first), calm and peaceful,… Continue reading I call into question the extreme level of aggression the police chose as a means to de-escalate any so called conflict

I was walking by myself downtown Fort Wayne approximately 10 p.m. and was approached by 4 or 5 Fort Wayne officers. One of the officers stated we looking for a guy in a grey hoodie, another officer stated “You almost got your ass f-ing shot! I said “Shot for what?” (as my heart racing and… Continue reading Guns drawn as I’m begging for my life, “I have 3 kids to live for please just take me to jail and don’t kill me!”

I attended a peaceful protest at the Fort Wayne Courthouse at 2pm. I stood with my sign (which was not inappropriate or threatening) chanted along and listened to people’s stories. Everything was going well until the police blocked off both sides of the road that led by the court house so no cars could see… Continue reading Canister hit me in the back, the air immediately left my lungs and i was surrounded by gas

I was in the parking lot nearest to Wendy’s downtown. I was holding a Black Lives Matters sign. I was not bothering anyone, cursing at anyone, or breaking anything. I came for a PEACEFUL protest. Then a black SUV of some kind pulled around in the parking lot and about 8 officers jumped out of… Continue reading They dragged us out of my car and arrested us for PEACEFULLY protesting, away from other protestors

I witnessed a group of seven police officers standing near the Hoppy Gnome discussing which people should be pepper sprayed next. I then watched 3 of them move west on Berry Street about 100 yards and sneak up behind a man who was also walking west. Two of the officers sprayed him with large canisters… Continue reading Two officers maced a man at approximately 1 foot distance and then laughed and high fived about it

I got tear gassed around 6 times, each time was not caused by good reason. My first interaction I ever had with Fort Wayne Police was getting tear gassed and then running through the park which was clouded entirely of tear gas they shot at us even though we were retreating. I also witnessed someone… Continue reading On our knees with hands up asking please don’t shoot and they tear gassed us again

I came down to the protest at 8:30pm, Saturday night with a backpack full of water bottles and granola bars. I was also carrying two gallons of water to help wash off anyone who had been exposed to tear gas. As I approached the corner of Clinton and Superior, a SWAT vehicle mounted the curb… Continue reading Officer asked if I would like a drink then poured it on the ground

We get tear gassed when we all started chanting together. They then came from around and it’s called kettling I believe and surrounded us with tear gas with no warning they were going to release any at us, and gave no disperse order. It got some of us bad so we started to go back… Continue reading Police surrounded us with tear gas with no warning and no disperse order

The police broke my leg brace, I had to go to the hospital. They hurt my leg which is still in pain. I had some cuts and bruises. They would not allow me to call my lawyer. One of the officer at the allen county jail kept kicking me while my hands was cuff. One… Continue reading Officer at Allen County Jail kicked me while my hands were cuffed

I was standing at a street corner (west and berry) and saw a police car pull up as they were pulling up on the loud speaker I heard a cop say disperse so turned to run got tackled, while on the ground I yelled I’m not resisting multiple times but yet 4 officers still held… Continue reading I was in zip ties and they maced me 3 times

Showed up to peaceful protest on Friday 5/29. I was meeting up with friends in front of the courthouse. Around 8pm and without warning, Clinton street started filling up with smoke from teargas canisters. I went to my car to get a case of water to aid in hydrating and rinsing protesters eyes as we… Continue reading Without warning, Clinton street started filling up with smoke

I arrived at the first protest around 4:55. Everyone was trickling in and it had a great energy. People were sharing cardboard, markers, sunscreen, etc. We began marching north on Clinton maybe around 6:15/6:30. This was the only time I saw officers. They were in the street on Clinton. Between Main and Superior: they didn’t… Continue reading No warning. Tear gas was shot. No warning. People ran.

Me and my girlfriend were driving through downtown when we came into contact with smoke so we pulled over and got out of the car 3 blocks away from where the protest was. As soon as we exited our vehicle the cops were already there shooting more gas canisters and other projectiles. There was only… Continue reading An officer charged me and tackled me from behind

I went up to the protest because a friend said they needed some more milk. As soon as i walked up I saw multiple officers spraying pepper spray cans directly into people’s faces that was peaceful. Then I saw gas canisters deployed. The protesters stood their ground against the brutal police. They offered no warning… Continue reading I saw multiple officers spraying pepper spray cans directly into people’s faces

I arrived downtown around 10:30 pm at the Wendy’s parking lot, where I met my friend, B. and her friend. I had a gallon of milk with me just so I could use it to help people that got teargassed. After sitting there just observing for about 30 minutes we decided to drive around downtown… Continue reading I was detained by 5 officers, despite being peaceful the whole time

We went on the first night of the protests (Friday night). We were there for several hours. For the most part we kept it peaceful, the only thing we did was jumping in the streets and obstructing traffic. They are trying to blame people for getting on cars, but we didn’t even do that. The… Continue reading They gave us no warning before they shot tear gas at us

While peacefully protesting on the sidewalk, the FWPD decked out in SWAT gear formed a line and blocked me and my friends’ path to leave and threw 3 cans of tear gas. After the initial burn, we were able to leave. We had to abandon our signs and try to get to our car. Officers… Continue reading FWPD formed a line and blocked our path to leave and threw tear gas

I was teargassed Friday while I was standing directly in front of SWAT. There was no warning and zero communication on their end before they threw teargas cannisters into the crowd (multiple times). This continued well into that night. Late Friday night SWAT was standing on sidewalks and streets surrounding the courthouse, again no warning… Continue reading It’s clear there are no reprecussions for SWAT and FWPD’s actions

The protest was peaceful, and there was a great turnout, even kids attending with their parents. They sent out lots of coalition people to supposedly tell protestors to disperse, but the entire time I walked past many groups of coalition people just standing in a group watching the protest and not once did they give… Continue reading They should be extremely ashamed of these violent acts they caused, especially the loss of an eye of an innocent citizen

My husband and I arrived around 8pm at the Allen County Courthouse for the first day of the BLM protests. We took Clinton Street to get to the courthouse which was blocked off to vehicles by police cars. We met up with friends that told us the police had already fired tear gas rounds. We… Continue reading What I saw was peaceful protesting thrown into chaos by use of excessive police force

Exercising our right to demand change in what we are seeing in our country’s law enforcement system, my family arrived at the protest about 6pm. Many of us walked to the MLK bridge and back, some in the streets and blocking traffic and then going back to the sidewalk, while others stayed at the courthouse.… Continue reading As a Fort Wayne resident, I am disgusted by the behavior and deceit of the FWPD in this situation

I decided to attend a Black Lives Matter protest at the Allen County courthouse lawn. I was hesitant because I have been trying to practice social distancing according to CDC/health professional guidelines, but I knew that I could not sit back and do nothing. As a white person, I knew that I would be safer,… Continue reading The police introduced violence into the mix with their riot gear and chemical weapons.

I had taken my 5 year old son with me on that Friday for a teachable moment on speaking up when those in authority abuse their powers. I had explained to him about the situation with a black man in Minnesota who was murdered by a police officer. I also explained to him that not… Continue reading Heartbreaking for my son who saw the police as attackers coming to kill us

On Friday the 29th, I walked up Clinton Street to find a beautiful, massive protest being held at the courthouse. So much culture and passion being shown by the people of Fort Wayne, most were youth ages 18 to 30. So proud of my city as I walked up Clinton from MLK bridge. I saw… Continue reading In my life I have never experienced something so terrifying

I arrived at the protest shortly after 5pm and ran when tear gas was without warning dropped from the roof top onto the crowd that I was part of. My eyes burned for 3 days despite the use of milk and a shower which helped some. I felt sick the whole next day. I am… Continue reading I am not violent, the police are violent. At that time the police where showing themselves as the enemy.

I was at the protest with my 3 children. It was around 6:30 pm. The crowd was peacefully protesting, and I took this as an opportunity to educate my young children. About 45 minutes in and prior to the end of the protest which was scheduled to end at 8. Thankfully we were headed home… Continue reading A protest should make people uncomfortable, but that is no excuse for law enforcement to cause harm to others

I passed 5+ police officers who acknowledged I was there and said nothing to me as I walked further down the street. I made it probably 75-100 yards past them before I walked up to a group of maybe 20-30 riot officers who started shouting at me that I couldn’t be there. I asked why… Continue reading Arrested without a chance to comply, thrown to the ground and hit multiple times

I saw a group of officers in riot gear. They let me approach to the corner of the intersection. They then told me to leave. I started backpedaling, asking why, and stating that I was a journalist practicing constitutionally protected activities. I was peace full and non threatening. An officer pointed his weapon at me.… Continue reading Police beat me while I was on the ground, screaming at me to “STOP RESISTING”