Moments before Joseph Kent vanished on live television

Moments before Joseph Kent vanished on live television

Joseph Kent is a well-known activist who has been a leader in organizing nonviolent protests–first in Ferguson, Missouri and now in Baltimore, Maryland. A student at Morgan State University, he's known for coordinating peaceful protests. Well-known organizer Rev. Heber Brown III recently described Kent as “Martin Luther King with tattoos and gold fronts.”

Last night on live television, police appear to have arrested Kent in a very unusual way. He was out past the curfew and was walking past a line of police when a police Humvee rolled up and appeared to snatch him right off the street. Watch the remarkable video:





@BeattyLaw 1/2 Re: #JosephKent As a service to the community I can confirm that Mr. Kent is at CBIF awaiting processing. Report is he is ok and safe.



@BeattyLaw 1/2 Re: #JosephKent Due to continuing community concern, I am going Personally to CBIF to attempt to make contact with Mr. Kent right now.

"I need everybody quiet. Everybody. We went all day doing nonviolent protest. We went all day making a statement. Morgan folks been out since the morning. Some of us been waiting for this, we've been waiting for justice," he said. "And we ain't about to mess it up. If you can't march in peace and nonviolence, then you gots to go. I'm gonna say that real clear. You gots to go. And if anybody, anybody starts any violence, we just going to single you out and you got to go."

The live TV footage of him disappearing sparked immediate outrage with people asking on Twitter, what happened to Joseph Kent? In the middle of the night, a Baltimore attorney tweeted the answer:This morning, Kent's name did not appear on any court dockets for bail or release. As of early this afternoon, lawyers are trying to get into see him and check on his well-being:We'll update as more information about Joseph Kent becomes available. For what it's worth, Kent strictly preaches nonviolent protesting and is looked up to by many in the community: While many others arrested last night have been released, the world is watching—and waiting—for Joseph Kent to be released.