No less than Three useless after violent protests sweep the nation
Dozens of cities in the United States were abandoned early Sunday to investigate the toll of a gloomy night of violent unrest that left at least three dead, dozens injured, hundreds arrested, and buildings and businesses in charred ruins as protests against the death of a black Minneapolis Man in police custody held for a fifth day.
Mayors of major cities imposed curfews, and governors in nearly a dozen states deployed the National Guard to contain the mayhem, chaos and rubble. Although the incident that sparked the riot took place on Monday in Minnesota and resulted in a police officer being quickly charged with murder, the damage appeared to culminate on Saturday night and stretch from coast to coast.
At least 200 people were arrested and “countless” officers injured in Brooklyn, NY. In Beverly Hills, California, shops along famous Rodeo Drive were ransacked when a crowd estimated at over 2,000 sang, “Eat the Rich!”
The protests were sparked by the death on May 25 of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer saw Derek Chauvin kneel on his neck in a viral video. Chauvin has been released and charged with third degree murder, and the US Department of Justice is investigating the case.
Crowds across the country picked up the racially charged incident to demand justice, but the protests became more violent and culminated in a weekend of slaughter.
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In New York, a woman was charged with attempted murder on Saturday after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail into a Brooklyn police car. Cars were set on fire in the community and in Manhattan’s normally peaceful Union Square, where police would fight protesters late into the night.
Protesters turned violent after a video posted online showed an NYPD SUV ramming into a group of protesters in Brooklyn.
Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incident “worrying” but added: “If these protesters had just got out of the way and made no attempt to surround this vehicle, we would not be talking about this situation.”
- California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County when hundreds of looters gathered in downtown stores and clashed with police officers. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a curfew on Saturday night after 500 people were arrested and five police officers injured when the protests turned violent.
- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. after hundreds of protesters gathered in Federal Plaza for a demonstration organized by Black Lives Matter. Police cars have been set on fire and covered in graffiti targeting police officers, and protesters have reportedly been arrested near Trump Tower.
- About 13 Philadelphia police officers were injured and more than a dozen people were arrested when cars were burned and businesses were destroyed before midnight. Mayor Jim Kenney introduced a mandatory city-wide curfew from 8 p.m., which lasted until 6 a.m. on Sunday.
- In Indianapolis, police chief Randal Taylor said three people were shot dead and at least two others injured when protests turned into mob violence.
- In Denver, a car rammed into a police vehicle, injuring three police officers and a civilian and rioters armed with crowbars, baseball bats, assault rifles and small arms, according to Police Chief Paul Pazen.
- Washington Governor Jay Inslee activated 200 members of the National Guard after the riots in Seattle deepened. After protesters closed Interstate 5 through central Seattle, police used lightning strikes and pepper spray to disperse them.
Violent protests, vandalism and riots have been reported in dozens of other cities.
Damage to police vehicles and attacks on police officers on Saturday night led San Francisco Mayor London Breed to call for an immediate curfew by 5 a.m. local time – and demand that California National Guard personnel be on standby.
“What we see tonight – the violence, vandalism and crimes that are being committed in our city, not against property but against other people – we will not tolerate,” Breed said, according to Bay Area’s FOX 2.
Across the bay in Emeryville, a popular shopping destination, looters seemed to be rampant, breaking windows and stealing items from popular stores like Best Buy, BevMo, and Urban Outfitters, according to the report.
In addition, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County, FOX reported 11.
Police presence increased in many cities and pictures of rioters being hit with pepper spray or rubber bullets were shown on television and on social media.
In Ohio, US Representative Joyce Beatty, 70, was among a group of people affected by pepper spray when police tried to take control in Columbus, the state capital.
“I’m fine. I’ve just tried my best to de-escalate the situation,” wrote Beatty afterwards on Twitter.
Earlier on Saturday, President Trump condemned the unrest that had taken place over the past few days and pledged to stop what he called “mob violence”.
“The memory of Floyd is dishonored by rioters, looters and anarchists,” said Trump, accusing “Antifa and other radical left groups of terrorizing the innocent, destroying jobs, hurting businesses and burning buildings.”
Later on Saturday, alleged Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden called the protests “absolutely American” while calling for an end to the “unnecessary destruction”.
National Guard arrives
In Utah, the National Guard arrived in Salt Lake City after the protests turned violent.
Police vehicles were targeted and set on fire on Saturday, prompting Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall to call for a curfew at 8 p.m., which will last until 6 a.m. Monday.
The police looked excessively harsh when an elderly man watched the protests and threw him to the ground.
Only minor injuries were reported for police and protesters.
In Atlanta, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms set up a curfew after the violent protests on Friday evening from 9 p.m.
The protests continued on Saturday and police arrested demonstrators who were blocking traffic.
Security officers surrounded the home of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp when a crowd of protesters gathered near the mansion. A brick was reportedly thrown at one of the police officers.
Mayor Bottoms condemned the unrest at a press conference on Saturday.
“If you run it down the street with a Gucci bag, it’s not about black people dying in America,” she said. “It’s about killing us if we do that.”
Several police vehicles were reportedly set on fire after protesters and police officers clashed.
The protest began peacefully in front of City Hall as hundreds of people kneeled in silence in George Floyd’s honor.
“We appreciate her voice and her style of expression. However, since then others have gathered in Center City and committed criminal acts, including vandalism. These acts will not be tolerated, ”tweeted the Philadelphia Police Department.
About 3,000 protesters took to the streets in Chicago on Saturday, filling the streets and climbing cars and buses.
Police and protesters clashed outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower after police wearing helmets and batons pushed the protesters out of the way so a police car could get through.
Bottles and fireworks were reportedly thrown at police officers outside the hotel.
Videos posted on Twitter showed what appeared to be Chicago police officers being swarmed, beaten and dragged by protesters.
108 people were reportedly arrested in Chicago, but no serious injuries were reported.
However, the police responded to more than a dozen “police emergencies” when trying to control the crowd.
In Washington, the demonstrators gathered again in front of the White House. Some climbed onto Secret Service cars and pushed security barricades further down Pennsylvania Avenue.
President Trump had praised the intelligence service’s action on Friday night by saying the protesters would have been “… greeted with the most vicious dogs and the most threatening weapons” had they crossed the White House fence.
But Trump criticized DC Mayor Muriel Bowser for not including the DC police force and quoted her as saying “not her job”.
Bowser fired back, calling Trump’s comments “gross” at first and saying his reference to attack dogs sparked the worst memories in America’s struggle against segregation.
“We mourn hundreds of years of institutional racism,” said Bowser. “People are tired, sad, angry and desperate for change.”
Bowser, who also included DC Police Chief Peter Newsham, also said Trump’s claims regarding the DC police force were false.
The DC police were present on Friday night along with the US park police and ready to assist the secret service in Layfette Park, the area where, as in the past, protesters had gathered outside the White House.
Nearly 300 protesters were reportedly arrested in New York City between Thursday and Friday evening, and protesters continued to protest until Saturday.
New Yorkers also mourned Eric Garner, who died in 2014 at a rally hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton.
The crowd sang, “I can’t breathe,” which was the last word Garner reportedly said – but also one of Floyd’s last statements before he was killed by a Minneapolis police officer.
Trump has responded to the nationwide protests by blaming liberal leaders and threatening military involvement.
In a tweet on Saturday, he said, “Liberal governors and mayors have to get MUCH tougher or the federal government will step in and do what it needs to do, which includes harnessing the unlimited power of our military.”
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