UPDATE: Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson has been freed from jail on bond after being arrested Saturday night during a protest in Louisiana.
See original story below.
Politician and prominent Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson, who ran for the mayor of Baltimore this year, was arrested Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La. during protests of the high profile police shooting of Alton Sterling.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Baton Rouge Saturday night to voice the need for justice over the death of Alton Sterling at the hands of two white police officers. Police arrested Mckesson while he was marching with other protesters along the Airline Highway, and Mckesson, one of more than 30 demonstrators arrested, live-streamed his arrest on Periscope, NBC reports. It was unclear if police charged Mckesson after taking him into custody.
Again, the police provoke protestors for no reason. #BatonRouge https://t.co/wCLQZKeRUI
In the video, a police officer tells Mckesson, who can be seen marching down the shoulder lane, that he had been "flagged" for walking on the highway. Minutes before his arrest in the Periscope, Mckesson says, "The police in Baton Rouge have been truly awful tonight. They've provoked people. They've chased people just for kicks."
Mckesson was filming officers when he was arrested, much to his surprise. "City police, you're under arrest," you can hear police say in the video. After Mckesson expresses outrage at his arrest, police tell him not to fight back. Then he exclaims, "I'm under arrest, y'all!"
“I’m under arrest y’all”: Periscope video shows @deray’s arrest in #BatonRouge pic.twitter.com/pkIprGg1mf
As the demonstrations continued on throughout the night, police officers in riot gear warned demonstrators to stay on the grass and off the road. Later on, protestors made their way to a different part of the street, which is when officers reemerged and made arrests.
Arrest for no reason. #BatonRogue https://t.co/MdKLDzCXef
Another video taken by Jamira Burley shows that Mckesson was behind the white line separating the shoulder from the highway when he was arrested.
Another video of @deray's arrest taken by @JamiraBurley. He was well behind the white line. #FreeDeray pic.twitter.com/QZURUhHsMH
Baton Rouge residents have since launched a boycott of the local mall and other stores, forcing shop owners to close early. According to an Instagram post, not one dollar has been spent since the boycott began.
The Baton Rouge Police Department did not immediately respond to Complex's request for comment.
This article has been updated to reflect additional information.
