Minneapolis was rocked by a third night of protests over the death of George Floyd, as thousands of demonstrators took to the street and fires erupted around the city, including at a police precinct.
Demonstrations against police brutality swept cities across the US, including Denver, New York and Oakland following the killing of the 46-year-old black man, who died in police custody after a white officer handcuffed him and kneeled on his neck for several minutes as Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.
Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, called in the national guard as the city of Minneapolis faced escalating unrest.
Police abandoned the 3rd precinct police station, a major protest site, and crowds set the entrance on fire. Elsewhere, businesses were looted and blazes set. There were unconfirmed reports that gas lines to the 3rd precinct building had been cut. In neighbouring St Paul the police department reported 170 businesses had been damaged.
Donald Trump threatened to use the military and tweeted: “Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
Hundreds marched near Minneapolis city centre chanting demands for justice, carrying signs that read “I can’t breathe!!” and “Fuck Donald Trump” as the city continued to reel from the killing.
As darkness fell the mood soured further and protesters again began burning buildings. They hit a liquor store, where exploding bottles sent people scurrying in fear, and a pawn shop.
But the primary target was the 3rd precinct police station, where a group of young men broke through the wire fence hastily erected before the police withdrew earlier in the day. As the fire grew they led chants of George Floyd’s name and “No justice, no peace” until flames engulfed the building. Protesters cheered and celebrated with fireworks.
Police officers watched from two blocks away but did not intervene. Fire crews attempted to put out other fires but did not go near the police station. As the fire spread, thousands more protesters poured into the area. Rumors were shouted among the crowds that the national guard were on their way, and people began to run, but so far there is no evidence of any outside intervention by force.
Elsewhere in the US, dozens were arrested at a large demonstration in New York City, while at a protest that broke out in Denver, Colorado, shots were fired near the state capitol, though no injuries were reported.
Thousands had protested in Minneapolis on Wednesday night. Though most demonstrators were peaceful, rioting in the Longfellow neighborhood saw buildings burned, stores looted and angry graffiti scrawled on walls demanding justice. Amid the violence, a man was found fatally shot near a pawn shop, possibly by the owner, authorities investigating said.
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Hundreds of protesters halted traffic on the 101 Freeway near Union Station and shattered the windows of California Highway Patrol cruisers in downtown Los Angeles while protesting the use of force over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Black Lives Matter protesters took to the freeway near the Alameda exit after the videotaped in-custody death of George Floyd, who died after an officer kneeled on his neck over a forged check claim. Floyd was heard on the video saying, “Please, I can’t breathe.”
When a CHP patrol car arrived, demonstrators surrounded it. The car’s back window was smashed by a skateboard and it jerked forward and moved away with several protesters who had jumped onto the hood. News footage showed one man finally hopping or jumping from the side of the moving car and then flopping onto the ground.
A second CHP car arrived and was attacked, with one demonstrator hurling what appeared to be a board through the back window before it moved off.
It wasn’t immediately clear whether the man on the ground was seriously injured but protesters surrounded him and others formed a line across the lanes to prevent traffic from moving forward.
Firefighters then arrived and took the man away on a gurney. He was upright and raised one hand in a salute or protest. He was expected to be evaluated at a hospital.
