The death of George Floyd has ignited protests and violence across the United States of America. George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died after pleading for help as a police officer used his knee on Floyd’s neck to pin him. The officer kneeled on his neck for more than 8 minutes.
Several people have been killed as part of the ongoing violence. Two people are dead in Davenport, Iowa, and a man in Louisville, Kentucky was killed. More than 40 cities imposed curfews in response to the ongoing protests, but many of those curfews were broken overnight.
The hope was that the measures will mitigate the worst of what has been seen in the past few days following the death of Floyd. The protests have resulted in dozens of journalists being injured as well, as they have become chronically violent.
Cities across the nation are surveying damage and preparing for even more. The unrest comes in a nation very much in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic and its resulting economic crisis. Mayors, governors and President Donald Trump have been calling for calm and turning to curfews and National Guard deployments to attempt to minimize the unrest.
The historic St. John's Church across Lafayette Square from the #WhiteHouse has been set ablaze by rioters tonight#DCProtests #COVID19 #GeorgeFloydProtests #Protests2020 #Riots2020#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
https://t.co/nYm0WUxzwc— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) June 1, 2020
Over 1,000 people were arrested Saturday night alone, per CNN, after peaceful demonstrations turned into violent. In several cases the demonstrations became deadly. Multiple outbreaks of significant violence have been recorded. Hundreds more were arrested on Sunday night.
The sight of protesters without masks over the past few days is raising fears of potential new coronavirus outbreaks. The concerns are especially high in New York, which has seen more virus-related deaths than any other city in the nation, according to CBS News.
Voices of peaceful and legitimate protests have been hijacked by violent radical elements, Attorney General William Barr said
Barr said the above as part of a statement on Sunday. He elaborated further, saying that they are working to “pursue their own separate, violent, and extremist agenda.” Boston’s former Police Chief Daniel Linskey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also have indicated that they believe peaceful protests have been “hijacked” by what they described as outside forces.
Overnight the #WhiteHouse turned off the lights on the exterior as demonstrations continued#COVID19 #GeorgeFloydProtests #Protests2020 #Riots2020#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
https://t.co/98PpG8diS9— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) June 1, 2020
“It is time to stop watching the violence and to confront and stop it. The continued violence and destruction of property endangers the lives and livelihoods of others, and interferes with the rights of peaceful protesters, as well as all other citizens,” Barr said.
White House executive office staff have officially been urged to stay away from the complex. Several memorials in Washington, DC- including the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial- are covered in graffiti. The graffiti included profanity directed at President Trump.
Floyd’s family spoke to Minneapolis police directly for the first time live on CNN. Floyd’s brother asked whether the other officers involved would be arrested. Police Chief Medaria Arradondo replied, “Being silent or not intervening to me, you’re being complicit.. Mr. Floyd died in our hands.”
Crazy clip. A private security guard for Q13 Fox Seattle disarmed two rioters and returned firearms to police#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #USARevolts #Riots2020 #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
https://t.co/MmD4k2rD5f— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) May 31, 2020
The Associated Press has reported that nearly 10,000 National Guard members have been activated in a bid to stem ongoing chaos and civil disturbances in many states and Washington, DC. The report also indicated another thousands more were prepared to activate if needed.
Guardsmen live in the communities they serve and are there to protect their neighbor’s right to protest peacefully, the statement said
The National Guard stressed in a statement that while state and local law enforcement agencies remain responsible for security, National Guard personnel activated in these area are trained, equipped and prepared to assist law enforcement with protecting lives and the property of citizens.
Via @LWarmTakes: "Tonight is a heartbreaking night for the United States of America" 🇺🇸#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #USARevolts #Riots2020 #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #DCProtests pic.twitter.com/R3qGTCLQvG
— The Grand Old Tribune 🇺🇸 (@GrandOldTribune) May 31, 2020
States with activated National Guard are Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington State, and Wisconsin. There are several others not listed here.
The Denver Police Department has levied chargers for curfew violations, damaging property and having prohibited weapons one tweet said. A shocking moment came when a man appeared to try and run through a crowd of protestors in Minneapolis. He has since been arrested and charged. He was also taken to the hospital.
A better look at the protesters on the interstate in #Minneapolis and the truck that came through the crowd at a high rate of speed#COVID19 #GeorgeFloydProtests #Protests2020 #Riots2020#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorgeFloydpic.twitter.com/OBFn4khrLY
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) June 1, 2020
More than 60 Secret Service officers and special agents were injured over the weekend near the White House, as protests rocked Washington, DC. CNN reported that the officers and agents were injured when protesters threw “projectiles such as bricks, rocks, bottles, fireworks and other items.”
Protesters threw objects at officers and pulled temporary fencing away from them. Eleven Secret Service employees were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Things do not appear to be slowing. "Multiple SUVs set on fire near the White House," per CBS News#DCProtests #BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #USARevolts #Riots2020 #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
pic.twitter.com/n9x7azSQTb— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) May 31, 2020
Chicago looters were organized and targeting specific stores, according to Brendan Reilly, alderman of Chicago’s 42nd Ward. “You don’t go to a peaceful protest having rented a U-Haul truck,” he said. “You can also see there was a pattern in the types of stores that were looted. Nearly every branch of bank in downtown Chicago was vandalized and broken into,” Reilly said.
Reilly said ATM machines were removed and cracked open and pharmacies were specifically targeted for prescription drugs; many were also set on fire. As the weekend ended, vandalism and looting seemed to have reduced significantly in downtown Chicago, per WBBM.
This is on 52nd Street in West #Philadelphia. The situation continues to unfold there#COVID19 #GeorgeFloydProtests #Protests2020 #Riots2020#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd
pic.twitter.com/T5LZ0megmW— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) May 31, 2020
This article was written citing information and media from the AP, CNN, NBC and Fox News. For more sports, news and entertainment follow the Midwest Sports Network on Twitter @MWSNsports or like MWSN on Facebook.
