George Floyd Riots Filling Up The Internet. I See Some Bad Actors. Lets have a look.
20May 30 was a night of protest and riots.
The George Floyd protests[5][6] and riots[6] are an ongoing series of protests and demonstrations that initially started in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota before spreading throughout the United States and internationally. The protests began in Minneapolis on May 26, 2020, after George Floyd died shortly after Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds during an arrest the prior night.[7]
Protests at the MPD's Third Precinct[8] saw some demonstrators skirmishing with law enforcement officers, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets.[9][10] On May 27, a man was fatally shot by a pawn shop owner who thought the man was looting, and the Third Precinct's windows were smashed. Multiple stores were looted, and other buildings were attacked and set ablaze.[11]
For several days following Floyd's death, hundreds of protesters gathered at the driveway of Chauvin's house, which prompted police response.[12] On May 28, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared a state of emergency, and 500 Minnesota National Guard troops were called in by Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz.[13] By the morning more businesses across the Twin Cities were damaged and looted. MPD in the Third Precinct building attempted to hold off the protesters with tear gas, but at around 11:00 p.m., protesters overran the building and set it ablaze after it was evacuated.[14] The protests continued into May 30. Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter imposed curfews.[15] President Donald Trump assured Walz of military support if needed.[16][17]
As of May 31, there were simultaneous protests in over 100 other cities in the United States and internationally supporting those seeking justice for Floyd as well as speaking out against excessive police brutality. Major cities with protests included Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Charlotte; Chicago; Columbus; Dallas; Denver; Fort Lauderdale; Indianapolis; Jacksonville; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; Philadelphia, Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; Richmond, Virginia; San Francisco; Seattle; Salt Lake City; and Washington, D.C.. At least 12 major cities declared a curfew on Saturday evening,[18] and as of May 31, governors in 15 states and DC (including Minnesota) had called in the National Guard, with over 5,000 troops activated.[19] [20]
History of police brutality in the United States
Further information: Police brutality in the United States
The numerous cases of fatal use of force by law enforcement officers have been a flashpoint for debates about police brutality in the United States. Various movements have protested against the lack of police accountability in incidents involving the use of excessive force. The Watts riots in 1965, resulting in the death of 34, was a response to excessive use of police brutality during the Civil rights movement.[21] In recent times these have included - among many others - the 1967 Newark riots, the 1967 Detroit riot, the 1990 Wynwood riot, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the 2014 Ferguson unrest, the 2016 shooting of Philando Castile in Minnesota[22] and the death of Eric Garner in New York City, who, similarly to George Floyd, said, "I can't breathe."[23] In early 2020, well publicized examples included the shooting of Breonna Taylor of Kentucky in March[24] and the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia in February, though nobody was charged in Arbery's case until video of his death was released in May.[25]