A Black Lives Matter Protester Relates The ‘Humiliating’ Experience Of Her Mid-Interview Arrest

A black lives matter gathering in Rochester, New York became tumultuous when an attendee was arrested mid-interview. Sapphire Williams had no intent upon participating in the demonstration, but when she saw the ratio of protesters compared to police, she told CNN she was taken aback. Williams began to then passionately address the crowd of protesters, police officers and news cameras that were on hand:

“I’m not going to hit anybody, I’m not going to shoot anybody. I’m going to speak to you, I’m going to use my words, I’m going to articulate myself. Because the message needs to be heard. We don’t need this exact format, we need us to come out in numbers.”

The video was captured by local journalist Tara Grimes, who was on the scene. As she was talking, Williams said she was caught off guard when five police officers approached her and arrested her:

“I was completely taken aback by the onrush of officers and this very SWAT-like gear coming towards me out of nowhere. I was extremely alarmed. I had no idea what they were going to do to me, if they were about to tackle me to the ground.”

She was held in police custody for the night and called it a “sobering experience.” It may seem that after a situation such as this it would deter someone from participating again, but Williams said she has no regrets:

“We were coming to grips with the severity of issues at hand, understanding we’re all affected — it’s not just the black community. Instances like mine caught on camera make people become aware and more empathetic to issues black Americans face, and generally people of color and with a socioeconomic status who don’t have a voice.”

Williams was eventually charged with disorderly conduct.

(Via CNN & Tara Grimes on Facebook)

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