Protesters took the streets across dozens of cities in the U.S. demanding justice for George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.
Violent protests erupted over the weekend in a number of cities including Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. More than 40 U.S. cities enacted curfews this weekend, as protests that began late Friday in some cities quickly turned into riots and looting.
Many of the protests drew condemnation from governors and mayors. Some referred to the rioters and looters as agitators, and not peaceful protesters who were grieving, calling for change and demanding justice
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, whose state has seen some of the most violent protests so far, was angered by the destruction that unfolded in Minneapolis last week, before it spread to other cities in the U.S.
Walz activated 500 troops from the Minnesota National Guard last week to help quell the violence, and 1,000 more over the past weekend.
"The absolute chaos—this is not grieving, and this is not making a statement [about an injustice] that we fully acknowledge needs to be fixed—this is dangerous," he said, according to UPI. "You need to go home."
Police in Miami arrested at least 57 people over the weekend for looting and other crimes, and according to Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina. Only 13 of those arrested lived in the Miami area.
"Some of those who have been arrested are from Michigan, Georgia, New York and at least three are from Minnesota," he said. "Others won't say where they're from."
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said many of those taking part in violent protests in her city this weekend had come from outside locations, and that these agitators had monitored police radio traffic to know where to stage their protests.
"There clearly was coordination, they were clearly listening to our radio traffic," Lightfoot said. "The number of U-Haul trucks that magically showed up in front of stores, car caravans that dropped people off and broke windows and then were hustling the goods out into the backs of the cars—absolutely, it was organized."
Violent protesters took their frustrations out on the CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, by smashing windows and spraying graffiti on the facade and setting fire to the Centennial Olympic Park's welcome center.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms condemned the rioters. "This is not a protest," she said. "This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. This is chaos. A protest has purpose. When Dr. King was assassinated, we didn't do this to our city. You are disgracing our city. You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country."
Here are some photos from the George Floyd protests:
A Black Lives Matter protester raises his fist during a march to honor George Floyd in Manhattan on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Protesters demonstrated for the fourth straight night after video emerged of a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinning George Floyd's neck to the ground. Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. The four officers involved have been fired and Chauvin has been arrested and charged with 3rd degree murder. John Moore/Getty
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 31: Protesters attend a demonstration demanding justice for the death of George Floyd on May 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Demonstrations are being held across the country after Floyd died in police custody on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Denise Truscello//Getty
A police officer (TOP C) keeps watch as protestors raise their hands during demonstrations in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death on May 31, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. Looting occurred in the area amid the demonstrations. California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles County. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody for Floyd's death. Chauvin has been accused of kneeling on Floyd's neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and 3 other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated. Mario Tama/Getty
People march along Colfax Avenue during the fourth consecutive day of protests in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd on May 31, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. The city of Denver enacted a curfew for Saturday night and Sunday night in hopes of curbing destruction that has wreaked havoc across the city.Michael Ciaglo/Getty
Protesters face off against New York City Police during a march to honor George Floyd near Union Square on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Protesters demonstrated for the fourth straight night after video emerged of a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinning George Floyd's neck to the ground. Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. The four officers involved have been fired and Chauvin has been arrested and charged with 3rd degree murder. John Moore/Getty
A U.S. flag burns during a protest near the White House in response to the killing of George Floyd May 31, 2020 in Washington, DC. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was fired then arrested for Floyd's death and is accused of killing Floyd by kneeling on his neck. Chauvin and three other officers, Tou Thao, J Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane, were involved in Floyd's arrest on an accusation of "forgery-in-progress". Alex Wong/Getty
Police address protesters at Foley Square during during a march to honor George Floyd in Manhattan on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Protesters demonstrated for the fourth straight night after video emerged of a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinning George Floyd's neck to the ground. Floyd was later pronounced dead while in police custody after being transported to Hennepin County Medical Center. The four officers involved have been fired and Chauvin has been arrested and charged with 3rd degree murder. John Moore/Getty
Law enforcement officers are seen during a protest at the Ferguson Police Department on May 31, 2020 in Ferguson, Missouri. Major cities nationwide saw demonstrations over the death of George Floyd, some of which turned violent. Michael B. Thomas/Getty
Demonstrators walk in front of a police car that has been lit on fire during a protest in response to the recent death of George Floyd on May 31, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Protests spread across cities in the U.S., and in other parts of the world in response to the death of African American George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Maddie Meyer/Getty
Two women become emotional during a demonstration on May 31, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Across the country, protests have erupted following the recent death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty
