Armed militia leads protest march after Louisiana police kill Black man

An armed militia led a protest march in Lafayette, La., Saturday after police shot and killed a Black man.

The group, dubbed the Not F—— Around Coalition (NFAC), has made appearances at several protests in recent months, including after the death of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.

Saturday’s demonstration was held in honor of 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin who was shot by Lafayette police on Aug. 21 after police responded to a call concerning a disturbed individual with a knife at a gas station.

The march also occurred after Congressman Clay Higgins reportedly threatened members of the group in a Facebook post.

“Me? I wouldn’t even spill my beer,” Higgins, a former sheriff’s deputy, wrote on Facebook under a photo of the group. “I’d drop any 10 of you where you stand. We don’t care what color you are. We don’t care if you’re left or right.”

John Fitzgerald Johnson, also known as Grandmaster Jay, leads NFAC members on a march to Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette, La., Saturday, Oct. 3. NFAC, a Black militia group based in Atlanta, marched in Lafayette in response to threats made by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook regarding protests in Lafayette following the death of Trayford Pellerin, a 31-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by Lafayette police responding to a reported disturbance involving a man with a knife at a north Lafayette gas station on Aug. 21.
John Fitzgerald Johnson, also known as Grandmaster Jay, leads NFAC members on a march to Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette, La., Saturday, Oct. 3. NFAC, a Black militia group based in Atlanta, marched in Lafayette in response to threats made by U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins on Facebook regarding protests in Lafayette following the death of Trayford Pellerin, a 31-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by Lafayette police responding to a reported disturbance involving a man with a knife at a north Lafayette gas station on Aug. 21. (Scott Clause/AP)

Higgins later denied he had apologized to John Fitzgerald Johnson, the leader of NFAC who also goes by “Grandmaster Jay.”

The group, clad in black and carrying different types of guns pointed at the ground, obtained a permit from the city prior to the march. The group stopped several times to kneel during the march.

“Your job wouldn’t be that hard if you treated us like U.S. citizens and not enemy combatants. Your jobs wouldn’t be that hard if you let us police ourselves,” Johnson said while addressing law enforcement officers.

NFAC members march in Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette, La., Saturday, Oct. 3.
NFAC members march in Parc San Souci in downtown Lafayette, La., Saturday, Oct. 3. (Scott Clause/AP)

The NFAC’s goal is to help the Black community stay safe and teach more Black Americans about their rights and responsible gun ownership.

One man, who is reportedly not a member of NFAC, was arrested during the protest after “accidentally” firing his gun, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

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