Hey y’all, it’s Emile Ennis Jr. with Clevver News, and many are recalling their horrific
experiences with police officers while peacefully protesting, including Dove Cameron.
Dove revealed she and her boyfriend Thomas Dougherty were completely trapped by cops
while supporting the Black community.
All throughout the week, thousands of people took to the streets of their cities around
the world, to stand in solidarity of the Black community and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Thanks to social media, tons of photo and video footage have shown some peaceful and…
not so peaceful protests, as police officers use aggressive and unnecessary tactics to
contain the massive groups of people… many, of which, were simply WALKING PEACEFULLY.
Dove Cameron was one of many participants in this week’s Los Angeles protests who
had an unpleasant run-in with law enforcement officers.
She took to Instagram to document her experience, with a caption about how they ended up being
trapped in a parking lot just before police fired off tear gas and rubber bullets at their
group.
In a lengthy description about her day, Dove began by writing QUOTE, “had the most incredible
day peacefully protesting, people overflowing with passion and camaraderie, love and energy,
passing out snacks, water, checking in on each other, not even so much as a hint of
anything negative.”
She then shared her experience of footage that wasn’t documented at the very end of
the day when police blocked off both ends of a street, adding, “They drove us into
a walled-up parking lot, the only way out being a fence with barbed wire at the top.
They had helicopters with spotlights all around, tear gas and rubber bullets on either end
of the street.
The escalation came nowhere, entirely uncalled for, entirely F***ED UP.”
Dove recalled people running around in terror and panic, especially black protestors.
She said that their only choice was to break a gate down and run through the alleys from
the police who then began shooting at people a few streets away (not in the parking lot.)
In a tweet she also shared, Dove wrote, “everyone scattered & ran cause they trapped us.
not sure what happened to everyone, cause there were still a good amount of us at that
point.
we ran to the gate to get away from the gas, though.
they might be ok. i hope everyone is ok. my heart is heavy.
no one did anything wrong.”
Dove did update fans on her safety, saying QUOTE, “We are thankfully home and safe,
but I don’t know about the other protestors.
I heard a lot got arrested.
For doing something entirely legal.”
Dove also pointed out something very important in that the media is painting a very different
image of these protests, which it’s so important we all continue to use our voices and speak
up against police brutality.
As Dove also shared in a series of tweets, “the right to protest peacefully is a human
right recognized by our legal system.
it’s in our first amendment.
do we only care about certain amendments now ??? trapping, rubber bullets and tear gas
for PEACEFUL PROTEST?”
But despite the unjust treatment of protestors, let it be known that none of what’s been
going on is keeping Dove from still going out, using her voice and standing up for social
justice and the equality of Black people.
When asked if she would be protesting, she replied with, “yes.
every day that i can.
it’s the least we can do right now, if we are able and not immune-compromised and willing.
as well as amplify black voices, help inform with first hand-accounts to spread truth/information,
generally give our time and all of our energy and focus.”
Many fans began praising Dove for using her platform and her voice to raise awareness
for the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as the unfair treatment set upon peaceful
protesters by police officers.
One user wrote, “How can you see the last video and believe that these people would
do anything to provoke the police??
THEY are the ones stirring things up just so they can have an excuse to dismantle a
peaceful protest!!!!
I’m SICK.”
Another applauded Dove for being so real with her fans about what is actually going on,
saying, “And thanks @dovecameron for sharing all of this information and keeping it 100
with people on the reality of the situation and thanks for your #Bravery.”
Y’all, it is SO vital that we continue to speak, have those uncomfortable conversations,
and educate one another about the severity of this issue.
The real-life stories, photos and videos posted from real-life people don’t lie, and we
need to keep fighting for justice in every way we can, big or small.
Speaking of conversations, click right over here to hear why we here at CLEVVER stand
up against injustice!
And feel free to share all your thoughts on Dove’s experience, and what your personal
protest experience has been like down here in the comments.
I’m your host Emile Ennis Jr., bye guys.