Read DeRay Mckesson's First Tweets After Being Released From Jail in Baton Rouge

As I was in the cell over the past 17 hours, I thought of the quote that simply says if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

5 days ago, we saw the character of a few #BatonRouge officers as they used their power to act as the judge/jury then kill #AltonSterling.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

4 days ago, we saw the character of a police officer in MN, like those in #BatonRouge, as he used his power to executive #PhilandoCastillo.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

3 days ago, we saw activists & organizers continue to challenge the abuse of power of police officers in the name of the newly fallen.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

2 days ago, the protests continued to grow in #BatonRouge & shifted from Foster to Airline, as folks steadfastly challenged police power.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

1 day ago, just last night, we saw the police abuse their power & intentionally provoke protestors in order to create & exploit conflict.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

There is no group of citizens that should be able to exercise their power w/o accountability or transparency, like the police currently can.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

In the Parrish prison cells, we continued to talk about the work of social justice & to build community. We all continue to grow.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

At times, all 50 of us were in one cell, unable to all sit, sleeping on the floor or under the benches. But our spirits remained strong.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

I learned much about #BatonRouge from Chris, Miguel, & countless others while in custody & was also able to share info re: social justice.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

We talked about a lot in those cells -- about #BlackGirlMagic in protest, the Metro Council, new ways of organizing, and voting.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

I'll write something soon about the past 17 hours. But I want to thank @nettaaaaaaaa, @MsPackyetti, & @BossierS for holding me down.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

And we are working w/ so many incredible folks to ensure that the rest of the people arrested get released quickly, too.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

I think of protest as truth-telling in public. And I will never be afraid to tell the truth.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

And shout-out to @Twitter and @periscopeco for helping us tell our story last night & over the past few years. Y'all are invaluable.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

And thank you to the young woman who allowed me to text from her phone when I first got arrested so I could contact friends & the media.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

I love my blackness. And yours.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

And thank you to everyone who called, emailed, tweeted, texted, or donated on behalf of those of us who were arrested last night.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

Sidenote: jail breakfast is awful & they'd be much better off buying apples to replace the "oatmeal" & the OJ is grainy.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

The judge called in and set all of our bails early this afternoon, folks have been getting released for the past few hours.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016

I'm going to get a quick nap now. Sleeping on the floor under the fluorescent light of a jail leaves a lot to be desired. Be well, y'all.

— deray (@deray) July 10, 2016