On Tuesday, a man was killed by Police; four Minneapolis Police Officers were fired for their actions, and the FBI opened an investigation. However, on Tuesday night, protests broke out, and by Wednesday, the protests turned into riots, and as a result, several buildings have been destroyed, people are injured, and a man has been shot.
Unrest has broken out in several places across the country; Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Memphis. In Minneapolis, the heart of the unrest, the National Guard has been called in to try and restore peace. Over the course of the riots, firefighters attempting to put out the fires were attacked. Following such, authorities allowed businesses to burn.
Dollar Tree, Food Cub, Aldi, Target, and Autozone are just a few of the businesses that were destroyed. Outside of a pawnshop, a man was shot by the owner of the pawnshop; the owner was trying to protect his business. Twitter erupted late last night with reports all over South Minneapolis regarding the riots.
Another video of #minneapolis burning. #fires #minneapolisriots #riots #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/3TmHrsF9wl
— Cam Grey Astronaut from Ohio🛸👽 (@camerongrey) May 28, 2020
I came back out. This is my neighborhood. You can see flames for a mile and feel the heat from a block away pic.twitter.com/0kmkBqcFZJ
— Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) May 28, 2020
The half-built building across from Target is ablaze. "Be careful in that building," someone yells after a group of people that just went inside, "that's more than just wood burning in there." pic.twitter.com/XxJspzBoFD
— Libor Jany (@StribJany) May 28, 2020
The smoke billowing from the Auto Zone pic.twitter.com/Bqnypu8nr9
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
Whole neighborhood reeks of smoke. Cub on fire. Dominos door shattered. Complete and utter chaos here. pic.twitter.com/NQT2SdIq8w
— Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) May 28, 2020
Absolute chaos outside the Third precinct. Police are firing tear gas and stun grenades as protesters erect a barricade. Across the street, Target, Cub and other businesses are being picked apart by looters. @StarTribune pic.twitter.com/T7TV30v1lQ
— Aaron Lavinsky (@ADLavinsky) May 28, 2020
BREAKING: Suspected looter reportedly shot dead by pawn shop owner during riots in Minneapolis.
This comes after hours of ongoing mass-rioting and looting in the city.
#minneapolisriotspic.twitter.com/K17UhIJPI1— Michael James Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) May 28, 2020
WOW: Rioters have now set an entire building on fire in South Minneapolis.
Firefighters were attacked when responding to the autozone fire earlier, so it does not appear they are responding here.#minneapolisriots
pic.twitter.com/YrEfZxSeOS— Michael James Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) May 28, 2020
13 year old drives car into a building #looting #minneapolisriots #georgefloyd
— Cam Grey Astronaut from Ohio🛸👽 (@camerongrey) May 28, 2020
In response to the chaos that came about, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, “Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy. The area along Lake has become unsafe. We are asking for your help in keeping the peace tonight.”
Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy.
The area along Lake has become unsafe. We are asking for your help in keeping the peace tonight. https://t.co/kRZuWGJY29
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 28, 2020
The Mayor continued; “We appreciate those that protested peacefully but now is the time to go home. Obviously, we have both instances of violence and fires. There are institutions, grocery stores and markets around Lake, that our community relies on…especially in times of a pandemic.”
Further, Frey said he has been in touch with the governor’s office and has requested assistance from the state. “We’ve spoken several times. We’re receiving assistance in the form of state patrol. I have requested the National Guard as well.”
Protests over the death of #GeorgeFloyd on the 101 Freeway in LA@NBCLX @NBCLA #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/M2g5R8IGCM
— Chase Cain (@ChaseCainNBC) May 28, 2020
Across the country in Los Angeles, protestors blocked both sides of the 101 Freeway in Downton Los Angeles. The protestors destroyed two CHP cruisers, one of which drove off with a protestor hanging on to the vehicle. The protestor was later taken to the hospital.
Video: During Black Lives Matter protest on the 101 Freeway, a CHP cruiser tries to pull through the crowd before accelerating with people on the hood. https://t.co/LChcoUzGJ3 pic.twitter.com/Sfgpl6QKrR
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) May 28, 2020
The protestors marched to the Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, tagged the building with graffiti, and in response, hundreds of police officers arrived on scene to enact crowd control and restore order.
BREAKING: Protesters have now arrived at LAPD headquarters where they have tagged the building with graffiti. Hundreds of officers here now in crowd control gear trying to restore order. @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/EaMbeH59jm
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) May 28, 2020
Across the US, in Memphis, Tennessee protestors demonstrated in front of the Midtown Memphis police precinct, which caused several streets to close. Further, Police and protestors stood off several times at Union Avenue and South McLean Boulevard.
Also, the protestors gathered in a Walgreens parking lot and were met by Police in riot gear.
VIDEO: The protesters and this police line are in the parking lot of Walgreens right now. @FOX13Memphis pic.twitter.com/Inv1pWiMjB
— Kirstin Garriss (@ReporterGarriss) May 28, 2020
