A young activist “reporter” was arrested in Kalamazoo Michigan, Saturday, for impeding traffic during what looked like a riot, just months after graduating from Western Michigan University.
Samuel Robinson posted on Twitter that he had been reporting for MLive, spreading rumors about a gathering that ended up in a violent attack and went viral on social media.
The news organization that Robinson works for, MLive, appeared to stir up a riot with inflammatory rhetoric, meant to anger activists and it is, therefore, questionable if Robinson should get the freedom of Press, for MLive, that will be his defense.
Robinson was reporting from the confusing scene of a physical confrontation between two groups. Footage shows that he was on the front lines between participants, protestors, and the Police. It is unclear who the organizers of the original event are, or if they had a permit. No media so far have identified the group who were marching with flags.
As of yet, no one has offered any proof that the march was for the purpose of spreading White Nationalism, yet the headlines insist that is the case.
The march did turn violent.
WATCH:
Kalamazoo, Michigan pic.twitter.com/q2es6wUDqJ
— Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020
Robinson calls his own reporting “rumours”. Who was spreading the rumors? Robinson is clearly not just reporting on the facts, he is in fact spreading the rumors.
Downtown Kalamazoo: First Congregational Church is hosting a vigil at Arcadia Creek Festival Place after rumours spread that the Proud Boys, a white nationalist group, were holding a rally. Right now, members of an anti-fascist group are the only ones here. Stay tuned. @MLive pic.twitter.com/yKvFoTa4ph
— Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020
From the MLive article, ”
First Congregational Church hosted a vigil of anti-racism counter-protesters within the Arcadia Creek Festival Place. The group formed a perimeter around the area, according to MLive reporter Samuel J. Robinson who was on the scene.
Proud Boys, a white nationalist group, is protesting in Kalamazoo. Fights have broken out between opposing groups:
Posted by MLive.com on Saturday, August 15, 2020
“The Proud Boys, they not only have hatred for Jewish people and Muslim people, but they’re also very hateful of anybody who doesn’t look like them or act like them,” said The Rev. Nathan Dannison, the church’s pastor,” the article read.
Media helps spread the message:
The Proud Boys, an alt-right hate group known for violence, is hosting a rally today in downtown Kalamazoo. A West Michigan church is protesting against them. After the counter-protesters and police arrived, the Proud Boys began to move through the city. https://t.co/lUY9NAHAAd
— WSBT (@WSBT) August 15, 2020
Rally turns violent as Proud Boys met by counter-protesters in downtown Kalamazoo https://t.co/YkROBFcDBI
— MLive (@MLive) August 15, 2020
MLive appears to be Robinson’s first professional job out of college according to his Twitter timeline. And now a few months into his first job he is arrested.
Apologize for the delay. Police arrived as Proud Boys retreated to a parking garage nearby the Raddison HotelI. I was arrested and charged with impeding traffic while reporting live on Facebook for @MLive. pic.twitter.com/KcGL7v2crg
— Samuel J. Robinson (@samueljrob) August 15, 2020
Drone footage:
I was provided this drone video apparently showing reporter @samueljrob being arrested while covering a Proud Boys rally in Kalamazoo. You can see him in front of the police line before being apprehended. pic.twitter.com/TwIYoKiFut
— Malachi Barrett (@PolarBarrett) August 15, 2020
More footage that looks like Robinson was a part of the conflict:
Police are arresting an @MLive reporter in Kalamazoo right now who was broadcasting from protests against the Proud Boys in Kalamazoo. Totally rational. https://t.co/3x3dplrjyB
— sara cederberg (@scederbe) August 15, 2020
Another MLive reporter:
I was able to edit down the video of @samueljrob being arrested pic.twitter.com/K7OKmppCUU
— Photojournalist Cody Sharpe (@codyasharpe) August 15, 2020
Posters on Twitter called the second group “Antifa”:
Police have set up a perimeter and have pushed the remaining antifa back a fair bit. May have to dip out of here shortly
— Zach Brown (@ZachtheBrown) August 15, 2020
Twitter promoted the story, calling the group “Proud Boys” referred to the event as:
White nationalists and counter-protesters clash violently in Kalamazoo
Counter-protesters showed up to the site of an organized white nationalist rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday. When the white nationalist group arrived, violence broke out. Police responded to the violence, made arrests and cleared the crowd.”
They failed to mention the radical church pastor who started what Robinson even called “rumors” or that the police arrested the activist/ journalist and set up a perimeter to push back the other group.
The group referred to as “Proud Boys” cleared the space with the Police Order and one group remained to defy police:
Police in riot gear have given a five-minute warning to clear the area until they start arresting people near East Water and Edwards streets. The Proud Boys have largely cleared out, overwhelmed by counter-protesters. @WOODTV pic.twitter.com/EVN8K0diHY
— John Domol (@JohnnyDomol) August 15, 2020
Thi story is developing..
Kari is an ex-Community Organizer who writes about Voter Engagement, Cultural Marxism and Campaigns. She has been a grassroots volunteer with the GOP, on and off for 18 years. She is a Homeschool Mom in North Carolina and loves Photojournalism and Citizen Journalism. @Saorsa1776
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