A woman hit by a truck driver while protesting a speech given by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in New Orleans Monday said the man driving was shouting about the demonstrators — and that he wasn't stopped after colliding with her.
Photo: Woman struck by truck as protestors block street during family separation protest outside Jeff Sessions spee… https://t.co/biDflgIdGF— Michael DeMocker (@Michael DeMocker)1529332088.0
John R. Stanton, a national correspondent for BuzzFeed News, tweeted that Sarah Morrison, the woman struck by the truck, told him the driver "was cursing at protesters before he hit her."
"[New Orleans Police Department] didn't stop him," Stanton continued, adding that they took a report from the woman who is shaken but alright after the ordeal.
spoke with Susan Morrison, the protester who was hit by a truck at AG Sessions’ speech to the National Sheriffs Ass… https://t.co/IF6MuZiwvC— john r stanton (@john r stanton)1529333647.0
The woman, identified by the New Orleans Times-Picayune as "Sarah Morris," said she was protesting Sessions' speech in light of the Trump Justice Department's recent policy changes that separate children from their parents when detained by immigration officials.
"This isn't what our country is about, taking children and caging them and they are doing this in our land," the woman said. "Where does it go from here? Where does it end?"
The woman also told the Times-Picayune she doesn't believe she was hit intentionally, and that she suffered a hit on the head and had cuts on her knee that drew blood.
Demonstrators didn't find out about the attorney general's speech at the National Sheriffs' Association or the planned counter-protest until hours before it was slated to begin. He appeared alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA).
Subsequent reports from the protest revealed that police from multiple Louisiana parishes had begun arresting demonstrators.
St. Charles, St. John deputies are physically restraining protesters— Matt Sledge (@Matt Sledge)1529334986.0
Sgt. Jody Fahrig of St. Charles me other local agencies have been deputized. Just saw a St John deputy cuffing a woman— Matt Sledge (@Matt Sledge)1529335721.0
One woman is arrested outside Morial Convention Center protesting US Justice Department immigration police. AG Jeff… https://t.co/gwBQdl0iL5— Paul Murphy (@Paul Murphy)1529335820.0
UPDATE: In a statement to Raw Story, NOPD said it is investigating the driver hitting the protester outside the Sessions speech. Although NOPD interviewed the driver, "no charges have been filed nor have any arrests been made at this time."
Statement from the New Orleans Police Department re: truck driver that struck a protester outside Sessions’ speech.… https://t.co/mUNOnvPqfx— BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER (@BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER)1529338483.0
