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George Floyd protests

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Not to be confused with 2016 Minneapolis protests.

Twin Cities riots
Part of the reactions to the death of George Floyd
Clockwise, from top: A protester standing on a damaged police vehicle, protesters with raised fists outside the Minneapolis Police's 3rd Precinct, protesters overtaking and burning the precinct, demonstrators on a torched street with firefighters working in the background.
DateMay 26, 2020 – present
Location
Twin Cities, Minnesota, U.S.
Caused byReaction to the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department
MethodsWidespread rioting, looting, assault, arson, protests, property damage
Casualties
Death(s)1 confirmed,[1] 1 unconfirmed[2]

The Twin Cities riots or Minneapolis riots are an ongoing series of civil disturbances in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, Minnesota, United States. Unrest began in Minneapolis on May 26, 2020, after the death of George Floyd while being restrained by officers of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). Demonstrations and protests were initially peaceful, but windows were smashed at a police precinct, two stores were set on fire, and other stores were looted and damaged in the metropolitan area.[3] The police responded by shooting tear gas and firing rubber bullets into the crowds.[4][5] One man was fatally shot at a pawn shop during the riots.[1] On May 28, at around 11:00 pm, protesters overran the MPD's Third Precinct building in Minneapolis and set it ablaze after it was evacuated.[6]

On May 28, Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz called in the National Guard to respond to the riots.[7] U.S. President Donald Trump assured Walz of U.S. military support.[8]

Background

Main article: Death of George Floyd
"Black Lives Fucking Matter" and "Fuck 12" graffiti on a looted Target store in Lake Street, Minneapolis, the morning of May 28.

On May 25, 2020, after 8:00 pm,[clarification needed] MPD officers responded to a 911 call regarding a "forgery in progress" on Chicago Avenue South in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis. According to police, George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, was in a nearby car and "appeared to be under the influence." A spokesman for the police department said the officers ordered him to exit the vehicle, at which point he "physically resisted." Another video taken by a second bystander showed Floyd being removed from his vehicle without any resistance.[9]

According to the MPD, officers "were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance." However, a Facebook Live livestream recorded by a bystander showed that Derek Chauvin, a 48-year-old white police officer, had pinned Floyd on the ground and was kneeling on his neck.[10][11] Floyd repeatedly tells Chauvin "Please" and "I can't breathe" while a bystander is heard telling the police officer "You got him down. Let him breathe."[12] Floyd then says "I'm about to die" to which Chauvin tells him to relax. After some time a bystander points out that Floyd was bleeding from his nose while another bystander tells the police that Floyd is "not even resisting arrest right now", to which the police tell the bystanders that Floyd was "talking, he's fine", a bystander replies saying Floyd "ain't fine". A bystander then protests that the police were preventing Floyd from breathing, urging them to "get him off the ground ... You could have put him in the car by now. He's not resisting arrest or nothing. You're enjoying it. Look at you. Your body language."[11]

Floyd then goes silent and motionless, however Chauvin does not lift his knee from Floyd's neck. An ambulance arrives and Chauvin does not remove his knee until emergency medical services put Floyd on a stretcher. Chauvin had knelt on Floyd's neck for about seven minutes, four minutes of which were after Floyd stopped moving.[13] Medics were unable to find a pulse, and Floyd was pronounced dead at the hospital.[14]

Timeline of events

May 26

Protests of Floyd's death emerged during midday on May 26, the day after his initial passing.[15] A crowd consisting of hundreds of people marched to the MPD 3rd Precinct police station to voice their frustration with the Minneapolis police.[16][17] The protest, originally peaceful, turned violent as the 3rd Precinct became vandalized with spray paint,[18] and police squad cars had rocks thrown at them.[19] Police in riot gear subsequently fired chemical agents into the crowd around 8:00 p.m. CDT that night.[20]

May 27

The protests continued into May 27, including at Chicago Avenue South. Police fired rubber bullets into the crowd, which hit multiple protesters, and deployed chemical irritant.[21] In the early evening, a white man wearing black protective gear, face mask respirator, and holding an umbrella, walked casually up to the Autozone next to the police department and smashed the windows of the building with a hammer.[22] Social media users accused the man holding an umbrella of being an undercover Saint Paul Police officer.[23] The St. Paul Police Department denied the claims.[23]

Later in the evening, videos circulated on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms showcasing the Autozone on East Lake Street burning. A nearby Target store was extensively looted by a crowd of at least 100 people.[24] That night, one man was fatally shot by a pawnshop owner who believed he was burglarizing his business.[25] The owner, a 59-year-old man, was arrested in connection to the death.[25]

May 28

Firefighters observing the damage in Minneapolis the afternoon of May 28.

A state of emergency was declared in Minneapolis on May 28 by the mayor Jacob Frey, and 500 Minnesota National Guard troops were deployed to the Twin Cities area.[26]

By the morning, more than 30 businesses in Minneapolis had been damaged by rioters.[1] In Saint Paul, a Dollar Tree store and another Target store were looted, and a Wendy's restaurant was set ablaze.[3] The Saint Paul Police Department reported that 170 businesses were damaged or looted on Thursday, and dozens of fires were set.[27] On the evening of May 28, protesters near the 3rd District Police Station set nearby buildings on two sides on fire. Fencing surrounding the facility was torn down, so police on the scene used tear gas against protesters while the tensions and flames raged on. The Third Precinct building was overrun by protesters later in the night, and the building itself set on fire.[28][29]

May 29

There were no police, fire, or EMS presence in the area where the riots occurred from around 10:00 pm CDT on May 28, and continued to have no presence until the early hours of May 29.[30] At 1:30 am CDT on May 29, Mayor Jacob Frey held a press conference regarding the riots, and condemned the actions of the protesters as "unacceptable." Frey stated individuals engaged in rioting be "held accountable" for damage caused to the community, and that Minneapolis is "strong as hell."[31][32]

Later that morning at 5:11 am CDT, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and camera crew were arrested by Minnesota State Patrol officers as Jimenez reported live on television.[33][34] Jimenez identified himself and the crew as journalists.[35] Authorities stated that the team did not follow orders and detained them.[33] CNN released a statement saying that the arrest violated the First Amendment rights of the reporters, and calling for their immediate release.[34] The crew were released later that day, after an intervention from the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz.[36][37]

Protests in other cities

Protests in Columbus, Ohio

In Los Angeles, on May 27, protesters occupied the 101 Freeway for about an hour before heading towards downtown Los Angeles, where the protesters surrounded a California Highway Patrol vehicle.[38]

There were simultaneous protests in other American cities against police brutality. In Louisville, Kentucky on May 28, protesters demanded justice for the death of Breonna Taylor. Some 500 to 600 demonstrators marched through the city that evening.[39] Later during the protest, seven people were shot by an unknown shooter or shooters, with one victim critically injured.[40]

Silent demonstrations of around 40 people in Memphis, Tennessee protesting the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery led to "verbal confrontations" with Memphis police and two counter-protesters from the Facebook group "Confederate 901".[41]

In Denver, protesters marched for four hours, blocking traffic on Interstate 25 and demonstrating at the Colorado State Capitol.[42] Multiple gunshots were fired at a protest near the state capitol.[43] In one instance, protesters confronted a vehicle and one individual was reportedly struck intentionally by the driver of the vehicle after jumping on the vehicle's hood.[44]

In Columbus, Ohio, protesters broke into the state capitol building and vandalized several businesses.[45][46][47][48] In New York City, at least 40 protesters were arrested and several police officers were lightly injured.[49][50] In Phoenix, Arizona, hundreds protested, with the police using pepper spray.[51]

Reactions

 Donald J. Trump Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird
@realDonaldTrump

....These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!

May 29, 2020[52]

Political

On May 27, 2020, President Donald Trump tweeted "At my request, the FBI and the Department of Justice are already well into an investigation as to the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd...."[53]

On May 29, Trump responded to the riots by threatening that either "the very weak Radical Left Mayor Jacob Frey get his act together and bring the City under control" or he will send in the National Guard, adding that "Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts."[54][55][56] It was seen by Twitter as an incitement of violence; the tweet was subsequently placed behind a public interest notice by the website for breaching its terms of service in regards to incitement of violence.[57]

The tweet was interpreted as quoting former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley, who said "when the looting starts, the shooting starts" in December 1967—Miami saw escalating tensions in 1968 with racial protests during the Republican National Convention.[58][59] Trump's tweet and Twitter's moderation came on the same day that Trump had signed his "Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship", intending to limit the protection that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act gave to social media companies like Twitter for their alleged anti-conservative bias, two days after Twitter had marked two of Trump's tweets with "potentially misleading" warnings.[60] Following Twitter's marking of his May 28 tweet, Trump said in another tweet, "Section 230 should be revoked by Congress. Until then, it will be regulated!"[61]

Businesses and news reporting

Reason magazine wrote that police failed to protect local businesses from looters.[62]

On the morning of May 29, Target temporarily closed 24 of its locations in the Twin Cities area, and reopened all but 6 the same day.[63][64]

Organizations

The Minnesota Department of Health raised concerns that the protests may further the spread of COVID-19.[65]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Ryan Faircloth; Liz Navratil; Liz Sawyer; Matt McKinney (May 28, 2020). "Looting and flames erupt in Minneapolis amid growing protests over George Floyd's death". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. ^ #LIVE: Minneapolis Responds To Police Murder of George Floyd (Livestream). Unicorn Riot. May 28, 2020. See statement at 3:41:21.
  3. ^ a b AP (May 28, 2020). "Violent protests rock Minneapolis for 2nd straight night over in-custody death". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Jimenez, Omar; Chavez, Nicole; Hanna, Jason (May 28, 2020). "As heated protests over George Floyd's death continue, Minnesota governor warns of 'extremely dangerous situation'". CNN.
  5. ^ DeMarche, Edmund (May 28, 2020). "Deadly shooting near George Floyd protest as looting, arson grip Minneapolis". Fox News.
  6. ^ Wilkinson, Joseph (May 29, 2020). "Angry crowds set fire to Minneapolis police station as George Floyd protest turns violent". New York Daily News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ Sullivan, Tim; Forliti, Amy (May 28, 2020). "George Floyd death: Protesters enter Minneapolis police station, set fires". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Romm, Tony; Chiu, Allyson (May 29, 2020). "Twitter flags Trump for 'glorifying violence' after he says Minneapolis looting will lead to 'shooting'". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Owen, Tess (May 28, 2020). "New Videos Appear to Undermine Police Account That George Floyd 'Resisted' Officers". Vice. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  10. ^ Hauser, Christine (May 26, 2020). "F.B.I. to Investigate Arrest of Black Man Who Died After Being Pinned by Officer". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Dakss, Brian (May 26, 2020). "Video shows Minneapolis cop with knee on neck of motionless, moaning man who later died". CBS News. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  12. ^ Nawaz, Amna (May 26, 2020). "What we know about George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody". PBS Newshour. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  13. ^ Montgomery, Blake (May 27, 2020). "Black Lives Matter Protests Over George Floyd's Death Spread Across the Country". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 28, 2020. Floyd, 46, died after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for at least seven minutes while handcuffing him.
  14. ^ Steinbuch, Yaron (May 28, 2020). "First responders tried to save George Floyd's life for almost an hour". New York Post. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "In pictures: Protesting the death of George Floyd". CNN. May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "Demonstrators gather around Minneapolis to protest death of George Floyd". KSTP. May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  17. ^ "Family and Friends Mourn Minneapolis Police Killing Victim George Floyd". Time.
  18. ^ "Minneapolis Protestors Trash Police Precinct During Clash over George Floyd's Death". nypost.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "'It's Real Ugly': Protesters Clash With Minneapolis Police After George Floyd's Death". May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  20. ^ "Shortly before 8 p.m. outside the 3rd Precinct headquarters, Minneapolis police in riot gear were firing chemical agents and sandbags at the protesters, who were throwing water bottles at them in what appeared to be a standoff". Twitter. Star Tribune. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "Protestors Gather Where George Floyd Was Killed, As well as MPD 3rd Precinct". minnesota.cbslocal.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  22. ^ "Minneapolis Riots Real Instigator Arrest This Man!". www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Did an undercover cop really vandalize a Minnesota AutoZone?". The Daily Dot. May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "Looting and fires break out after protests in Minneapolis". fox9.com. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "As Mayor Frey calls for officer's arrest, violence intensifies in Minneapolis". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  26. ^ "Minnesota Calls National Guard to Quell Violent Protests in Minneapolis". VOA. May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  27. ^ "George Floyd Riots: Violence Spans Twin Cities: 3rd Precinct Overtaken & Burned, Looting Continues, Businesses Torched". Minnesota CBS Local. May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  28. ^ "Tensions reignite near Minneapolis' 3rd Precinct". Fox 9 KMSP. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  29. ^ Sullivan, Tim; Forliti, Amy (May 28, 2020). "Minneapolis police precinct on fire as protests grow". KCRA 3. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  30. ^ Sidner, Sarah; Campbell, Josh (May 28, 2020). "CNN's Sara Sidner: 'Zero' police presence as precinct burns". CNN. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  31. ^ "Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Addresses City In The Middle Of Night Of Violence". CBS Minnesota. May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ Bailey, Holly; Shammas, Brittany; Bellware, Kim. "Chaotic scene in Minneapolis after second night of protests over death of George Floyd". Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  33. ^ a b Hanna, Jason (May 29, 2020). "A CNN crew has been arrested while covering Minneapolis protests". CNN. Retrieved May 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ a b "CNN reporting crew arrested on camera by police in Minneapolis". NBC News. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  35. ^ Smith, Ryan W. Miller, Jordan Culver, Joel Shannon and Erick. "Minneapolis protests escalate as police precinct set on fire, CNN reporter arrested; Trump lashes out at looters on Twitter: What we know". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ Rowland, Geoffrey (May 29, 2020). "Minnesota governor 'deeply apologizes' to CNN president after network crew arrested". TheHill. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  37. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (May 29, 2020). "CNN reporter Omar Jimenez arrested live on the air in Minneapolis". Vox. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  38. ^ Ormseth, Matthew (May 28, 2020). "Protestors return to downtown Los Angeles". Los Angeles Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ "7 shot at Louisville protest over fatal police shooting". Associated Press. May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  40. ^ Baker, Mike (May 29, 2020). "7 People Shot at Louisville Protest Over the Death of Breonna Taylor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  41. ^ Culver, Steve Kiggins and Jordan. "'Stop killing black people': George Floyd's death sparks protests in Minneapolis, Memphis, LA". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  42. ^ "Police Accountability Protest At State Capitol Turns Violent With Shots Fired, Property Damage". 4 CBS Denver. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ^ Press, The Associated (May 28, 2020). "Shots Fired During Denver Protest of Minneapolis Man's Death". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  44. ^ "Video: Driver appears to intentionally hit man protesting death of George Floyd". KUSA.com. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  45. ^ "Protest in downtown Columbus broken up after demonstrators breach Ohio Statehouse". NBC4 WCMH-TV. May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  46. ^ "Violence again rocks Minneapolis after man's death; 1 killed". nbc4i.com. May 28, 2020.
  47. ^ Clay, Jarrod (May 28, 2020). "Downtown Columbus protests turn destructive". abc6onyourside.com.
  48. ^ Clay, Jarrod (May 28, 2020). "'Windows can be replaced, lives can't': protestors defend damage, destruction in downtown Columbus". abc6onyourside.com.
  49. ^ "At Least 40 Arrests Made At Union Square Protest Over George Floyd's Death". May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  50. ^ "Minnesota protest live updates: Trump warns military could 'assume control' of protest response". May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020. Several police officers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, one with a possible concussion.
  51. ^ Vandell, Perry; Minkler, Alana. "Hundreds protest in downtown Phoenix over George Floyd's death; pepper spray used on protesters". azcentral. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  52. ^ Donald J. Trump [@realDonaldTrump] (May 29, 2020). "....These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won't let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Thank you!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  53. ^ @realdonaldtrump (May 28, 2020). "At my request, the FBI and the Department of Justice are already well into an investigation as to the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  54. ^ Precel, Nicole (May 29, 2020). "'When the looting starts, the shooting starts': Trump weighs in on Minneapolis protests". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  55. ^ Torres, Ella; Mansell, William (May 29, 2020). "Minnesota protest updates: Trump warns military could 'assume control' of protest response". ABC News.
  56. ^ Madani, Doha (May 29, 2020). "Trump warns 'when looting starts, shooting starts' as fires burn in Minneapolis". NBC News.
  57. ^ Zhong, Raymond; Goldman, Russell (May 29, 2020). "Twitter Places Warning on a Trump Tweet, Saying It Glorified Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  58. ^ Romm, Tony; Chiu, Allyson (May 29, 2020). "Twitter flags Trump for 'glorifying violence' after he says Minneapolis looting will lead to 'shooting'". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  59. ^ Stelter, Brian (May 29, 2020). "Trump tweets on protests: 'When the looting starts, the shooting starts'". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  60. ^ Baker, Peter; Wakabayashi, Daisuke (May 28, 2020). "Trump's Order on Social Media Could Harm One Person in Particular: Donald Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  61. ^ Chalfant, Morgan (May 29, 2020). "Trump accuses Twitter of unfair targeting after company labels tweet 'glorifying violence'". The Hill. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  62. ^ "Minneapolis Police Killed George Floyd, Then Failed To Protect Property Owners From Riots". Reason.com. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  63. ^ "Target Closes 24 Stores Around Twin Cities As Protests Continue". CBS Minnesota. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  64. ^ "Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin arrested". MinnPost. May 29, 2020. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |accesdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  65. ^ Olson, Jeremy (May 28, 2020). "Protests could trigger virus surge in Minnesota as deaths hit new high". Star Tribune.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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