A man films himself in front of a fire in the middle of Melrose Avenue, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Los Angeles. – Copyright AP Photo/Chris Pizzello
Violence has flared again overnight on Saturday in many cities across the United States, as protesters took to the streets for a fifth night running amid the wave of anger sparked by the killing of black American George Floyd at the hands of the police.
Demonstrators have ignored curfews including in Minneapolis, the city where Floyd died, while unrest and chaos spread to major cities from New York to Los Angeles — but also to smaller cities such as Eugene, Oregon and Richmond, Virginia.
Several state governors have called in the National Guard. As violence continued into the evening and early hours of Sunday, mass arrests have been reported.
As on the previous day, Saturday saw largely peaceful demonstrations but as night came, many descended into violence. Police and protesters have clashed in city centres, police vehicles have been set on fire and property damaged, and there has been rioting and looting. Commentators have said the unrest is on a scale not seen in the US for decades.
President Trump acknowledged the “horror, anger and grief” felt by many Americans at George Floyd’s death, denouncing “looters and anarchists” for the violence. He blamed the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis for failing to control the protests.
The violence comes amid the coronavirus pandemic and resulting widespread economic damage, raising concerns of further infections.
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Minneapolis said to be calm as protests quelled, but violence continues overnight elsewhere
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“Multiple shootings” and one reported death investigated in Indianapolis
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Police report 1,400 arrests in at least 17 US cities since the protests began last week
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Curfews imposed in over a dozen cities: National Guard called in to help local law enforcement
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Joe Biden condemns violence while supporting “just cause” of protest against Floyd death
In Minnesota the deployment of the National Guard failed to quell the trouble, although officials in Minneapolis said later that calm had been restored.
The violence and anger has been sparked by the highly publicised killing of another black American in an encounter with police, which comes in the wake of many others.
George Floyd died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes while taking him into custody. One police officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, but others who were at the scene remain free. All have been fired from their jobs.
This is a developing story. Please refresh the page and see the blog below for latest updates.
‘Few corners of America untouched’
Here’s a summary of some of the reports from the Associated Press, on the unrest it says has “become a national phenomenon as protesters decry years of deaths at police hands”:
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In Indianapolis, police were investigating “multiple shootings” downtown, including one that left a person dead, amid the protests. Police gave few details but said no officers were involved.
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In Washington, the National Guard was deployed outside the White House, where chanting crowds taunted law enforcement officers.
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In Philadelphia, at least 13 officers were injured when peaceful protests turned violent and at least four police vehicles were set on fire. Other fires were set throughout downtown.
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In Salt Lake City, where National Guard troops were deployed by Utah’s governor, demonstrators flipped a police car and lit it on fire, and another vehicle was later set ablaze. Police said six people were arrested and a police officer was injured after being struck in the head with a baseball bat.
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In Los Angeles, protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter,” some within inches of the face shields of officers. Police used batons to move the crowd back and fired rubber bullets. A graffiti-covered police car burned in the street.
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In New York City, dangerous confrontations flared repeatedly as officers made arrests and cleared streets. A video showed two NYPD cruisers lurching into a crowd of demonstrators who were pushing a barricade against one of them and pelting it with objects. Several people were knocked to the ground, and it was unclear if anyone was hurt.
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The Richmond, Virginia, police headquarters was the target of protesters for the second night in a row as officers formed a barricade around the building late Saturday night.
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City officials in Reno, Nevada instituted an immediate mandatory curfew Saturday night after protesters broke windows at City Hall and set fires.
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More than 1,000 people marched in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday night, breaking windows as police in riot gear released tear gas and pepper spray to disburse the crowds.
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A Florida International University student said a protest in Miami was largely peaceful with the crowd of about 500 singing and calling for calm. But when they arrived at the police station, another group of protesters also converged there and things escalated within minutes.
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The mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, has declared a state of civil emergency after protesters set a fire inside the Metro Courthouse in the state’s capital city.
Biden condemns violence, expresses common cause with protest
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden condemned the violence as he continued to express common cause with those demonstrating after Floyd’s death.
“The act of protesting should never be allowed to overshadow the reason we protest,” Biden said in a statement Saturday night.
On Twitter he accused President Trump of giving oxygen to bigotry.
Trump blames left-wing agitators and Democratic mayor
Donald Trump has acknowledged the strength of feeling over George Floyd’s death. The US president also hit out at “looters and anarchists” and left-wing radicals for the worst violence since he took office.
Speaking from the NASA/Spacex launch he was attending in Florida, he said:
“What we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with justice or with peace. The memory of George Floyd is being dishonoured by rioters, looters and anarchists. The violence and vandalism is being led by Antifa and other radical left-wing groups who are terrorising the innocent, destroying jobs, hurting businesses and burning down buildings.”
He offered no evidence for his claims of left-wing agitation. Later he turned on the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis via Twitter:
Donald J. Trump
✔@realDonaldTrump
The National Guard has been released in Minneapolis to do the job that the Democrat Mayor couldn’t do. Should have been used 2 days ago & there would not have been damage & Police Headquarters would not have been taken over & ruined. Great job by the National Guard. No games!
