GEORGE FLOYD KILLING SEES LARGE SCALE PROTESTS & LOOTING IN AMERICA: CURFEWS IN MANY CITIES & NATIONAL GUARD MOBILIZED
Demonstrations erupted in cities across the U.S. in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in the hands of Minneapolis police.
Derek Chauvin, the police officer filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck, was arrested Friday and charged with murder and manslaughter. The anger in response to Floyd’s killing descended into rioting and looting in several cities.
Protests erupted across the U.S. on Friday as a former Minneapolis police officer was charged with murder in the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man.
Mike Freeman of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced the third-degree murder and manslaughter charges after Derek Chauvin’s arrest was initially announced by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
“We have now been able to put together the evidence that we need,” said Freeman.
Police body camera footage, witness statements and a preliminary medical examination of Floyd were among the evidence prosecutors have gathered, he said.
Chauvin is shown in bystander video kneeling on the neck of Floyd. Floyd, who was accused of trying to pass counterfeit money at a corner store, can be heard moaning: “Please, I can’t breathe.”
Third-degree murder carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison. It is defined in the state’s criminal statute as applicable to “whoever, without intent to effect the death of any person, causes the death of another by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life.”
Protests across U.S.
His death renewed anger over police and race relations, sparking protests across the U.S.
In Atlanta, protesters set a police car on fire, struck officers with bottles, vandalized the headquarters of CNN and broke into a restaurant in downtown Atlanta as a demonstration that started peacefully quickly changed tone Friday evening.
Protesters used barricades to break police vehicle windshields and jumped from car to car. Hundreds of the protesters confronted police outside CNN headquarters. They spray-painted the large, iconic CNN logo outside the building, breaking a windowed entrance. One protester climbed on top of the sign and waved a “Black Lives Matter” flag to cheers from the crowd.
Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Denver, Salt Lake City, Nashville and Minneapolis among others have imposed curfews as they brace for more unrest Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Police in Philadelphia told NBC News that they had arrested 14 people and expected further arrests. Thirteen police officers were injured in Philadelphia, authorities said, including a bicycle officer who was run over by a vehicle.
In Pittsburgh, the Department of Public Safety said that “several dozens” of people were arrested and four police officers were hospitalized. Additionally, police told NBC News, “three local journalists were injured when protesters attacked them, but none were seriously injured.”
Miami police reported 38 arrests. Dallas police reported 74 individuals taken into custody.
In Atlanta, a police officer sustained significant injuries and was hospitalized after being struck by someone riding an ATV. That driver was taken into custody.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti asked for the National Guard to be deployed as protesters clashed with police, vandalizing stores and other properties.
Garcetti requested National Guard assistance from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and up to a 1,000 troops are expected to arrive by midnight, according to NBCLA.
Garcetti also expanded the curfew order to the entire city of Los Angeles. The adjacent cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood are also under curfew. Both Newsom and Sen. Dianne Feinstein have condemned the violence.
“To those who seek to exploit Californians’ pain to sow chaos and destruction, you are not welcome,” Newsom said, according to the Associated Press. “Our state and nation must build from this moment united and more resolved than ever to address racism and its root causes.”
Atlanta police arrested 51 people after a large number of protesters defied a curfew and caused damage to property, police said.
People threw rocks and other items at officers and there were reports of armed protesters in these groups, police said. At least one patrol vehicle has been damaged and windows were broken at a police precinct, a Dunkin Donuts and other businesses in downtown Atlanta, police said.
The New York City Police Department has arrested more than 100 people after renewed violence at protests, a senior law enforcement official told NBC News.
Fifteen police vehicles were burned in Manhattan and Brooklyn, police said.The number of arrests are expected to grow as buses are filled with people taken into custody.
Police have seen a viral video of a NYPD SUV driving through a barricade and pushing protesters out of the way and onto the ground, according to NBC News. Multiple law enforcement officials told NBC News the vehicle was hit with rocks, bottles and someone threw a lit trash bag on the police vehicle.
The officers decided to push through the crowd instead of confronting the protesters outside the car, police officials said. The officers were concerned they would run someone over if they backed up, officials said. There were no injuries, according to multiple city officials.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that she will be signing an emergency order to impose a curfew in the city starting at 5 p.m. PT after protests turned violent in the city. The curfew will be in effect until 5 a.m. PT.
“I will soon be signing an emergency order and the @CityofSeattle will be imposing a 5 pm curfew soon. Crowds need to disburse from downtown immediately,” Durkan said in her tweet. “While many individuals gathered peaceful, some individuals have started fires and are destroying buildings. There are multiple fires downtown and it is an extremely dangerous situation. @Seattelfire does not have access to buildings.”
Images on social media showed cars on fire, broken windows and chaotic scenes in downtown Seattle as protesters faced off with police who used bikes and pepper spray to push them off.
The governors of Minnesota, Georgia, Ohio, Washington and Kentucky have mobilized their state National Guards.
President Donald Trump and the Pentagon have said they stand ready to provide federal forces to Minnesota if requested to quell unrest.