'Go Home Now': Protests Rock America

From Los Angeles to New York, buildings are burned and people clash with police
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted May 30, 2020 2:15 PM CDT
Hundreds Arrested, 2 Dead as Protests Rock America
A protester vents at a line of Tucson Police Officers in riot gear at Cushing Street and Church Avenue early on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Tucson. The protest in Tucson was similar to those in numerous cities across the United States following George Floyd's death while in custody of the Minneapolis...   (Josh Galemore/Arizona Daily Star via AP)

Protesters have hit cities from Los Angeles to Minneapolis to New York over the killing of George Floyd and other local deaths at the hands of police—leading to hundreds of arrests and at least two people killed. One death occurred in Detroit, where a suspect in a gray Dodge Durango opened fire on protesters and killed a 19-year-old who was taking part or standing nearby, CNN reports. At least 60 were arrested there overnight after protesters threw glass bottles and rocks at police, and officers responded by punching them and firing tear gas, per the Detroit Free Press. "The more they do this, the more they're antagonizing people," said a 28-year-old protester. From around the nation:

  • Oakland: A federal contract security officer was gunned down and another was hurt in Oakland after a vehicle opened fire outside the city's US courthouse, the Guardian reports. The killing occurred about a half-mile from where protesters had gathered outside Oakland police headquarters to protest Floyd's death.

  • Twin Cities: Nearly 250 businesses were looted or burned in protests across Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Star-Tribune reports. A group of community, faith, and political leaders pleaded Saturday for demonstrations to end in the area, and much blame was directed at alleged outsiders. "Go home now," said a local black leader who claimed "white people from other communities" are causing destruction, per the Star-Tribune. "The fascists on the plane right now, turn around."
  • Los Angeles: Cops arrested over 500 people amid protests against police brutality in Los Angeles, the LA Times reports. Demonstrators clashed with officers, looted stores, broke windows, and set at least two cop cars on fire. NBC Los Angeles reports that an LAPD officer was put in a chokehold and kicked by protesters.
  • Atlanta: A civilian was shot and four Atlanta police officers injured amid protests Friday night, in which fires broke out, stores were looted, and police responded to several calls about protesters firing weapons, per CNN.
  • Portland: Police arrested 13 people and Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency Saturday that put a curfew in place from 8pm to 6am, Oregon Live reports. Demonstrators set vehicles ablaze and looted several businesses. Wheeler tweeted, "ENOUGH."
  • Houston: Police arrested nearly 200 people amid protests that saw eight cruisers destroyed or damaged and four officers suffer minor injuries, the Houston Chronicle reports. A tweeted video shows a mounted officer there trampling a protester.
  • Austin: A peaceful rally outside police headquarters in Austin, Texas, follows a tense standoff there Friday night—when protesters chanted "I can't breathe" and threw water bottles at police, who reacted by firing bean bag shots, per the Austin American-Statesman. Several people were detained.
  • Denver: Police in Denver used tear gas and flash grenades to keep protesters at bay Friday night, the Denver Post reports. Some 10,000 were expected at Floyd protests there Saturday.
  • Indianapolis: Police unleashed tear gas and rubber bullets in confrontations with demonstrators Friday night. Overnight protests led to 27 arrested and 30 businesses damaged, per the Indianapolis Star.
  • And more: USA Today runs down other protests in Memphis, Louisville, New York City, Phoenix, Washington, and other cities.
(More George Floyd stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X