National

George Floyd demonstrations: Protest turns into parade after sheriff puts down baton, walks with demonstrators

Protests and demonstrations have led to violence in at least 30 cities across the United States in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis.

Floyd, 46, died after he was detained for questioning regarding a possible forgery in progress. Video of his death caught by bystanders showed a Minneapolis police officer, identified as Derek Chauvin, holding his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than five minutes as Floyd pleaded for air, sparking outrage.

As of Sunday, at least 25 cities across 16 states have imposed curfews.

Live updates continue below:

Protest turns into parade after sheriff puts down baton, walks with demonstrators

Update 11:47 p.m. EDT May 31: Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson met with protesters Saturday afternoon before joining them in their march, WXYZ reported.

"We want to be with y'all for real. So I took my helmet off, laid the batons down. I want to make this a parade, not a protest," Swanson said. "These cops love you-- that cop over there hugs people."

This is amazing.. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson has embraced protesters in Flint Twp. and marched with them seeking justice for George Floyd.

This is amazing.. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson has embraced protesters in Flint Twp. and marched with them seeking justice for George Floyd. Read More: https://bit.ly/3eB3jbK

Posted by Mid-Michigan NOW on Saturday, May 30, 2020

He smiled, took selfies with members of the crowd and gave high-fives before joining the crowd on their march.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Swanson said. “Where do you want to walk? We’ll walk all night.”

Fires ignited at protests near White House

Update 11:34 p.m. EDT May 31: Protesters started fires near the White House as peaceful demonstrations grew violent.

Police fired tear gas stun grenades into a crowd near Lafayette Park, which is across from the White House, sending protesters scattering, The Associated Press reported.

Protesters burned a pile of road signs and plastic barriers in the middle of H Street. An American flag from a nearby building was pulled down and thrown into the pyre.

A small building on the north side of the park with bathrooms and a maintenance office was torched.

NYC mayor’s daughter arrested with protesters for ‘unlawful assembly’

Update 10:45 p.m. EDT May 31: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's daughter Chiara de Blasio was arrested Saturday night with protesters, CNN reported.

Chiara de Blasio, 25, was arrested around 10:30 p.m. near Greenwich Village for unlawful assembly for allegedly blocking traffic and refusing to move, the New York Post reported. She was later released.

"If you went out peacefully to make a point about the need for change, you have been heard and change is coming in the city," Mayor de Blasio said at 11:30 p.m. news conference. "I have no doubt about that. It’s time to go home so we can all move forward.”

The mayor’s office has not commented on her arrest.

Ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin to appear in court Monday

Update 10:18 p.m. EDT May 31: Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is scheduled to appear in court Monday, CNN reported.

Chauvin, the officer seen in a video kneeling on George Floyd's neck, has a hearing at 1 p.m. CT.

Chauvin was moved to the Hennepin County Jail from the Ramsey County Jail Sunday, CNN reported. Chauvin was initially booked at the Ramsey County Jail because of threats to the Hennepin facility.

Tennessee governor calls in National Guard as Murfreesboro protests become violent

Update 10:01 p.m. EDT May 31: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called in the National Guard and state highway patrol as protests in Murfreesboro grew increasingly violent Sunday, CNN reported.

"The protests in Murfreesboro are no longer peaceful demonstrations but have escalated to overt threats to public safety and property," Lee said in a statement.

The city had imposed a 7 p.m. curfew.

Lee activated the National Guard and Tennessee Highway Patrol "to provide support on the ground in restoring order for the safety of our citizens."

Minnesota AG taking lead on George Floyd case

Update 9:15 p.m. EDT May 31: The Minnesota Attorney General's Office will take the lead on the George Floyd case prosecuting officer Derek Chauvin, CNN reported.

"It with a large degree of humility and a great seriousness, I accept for my office the responsibility for leadership on this critical case involving the killing of George Floyd," Attorney Gen. Keith Ellison said on social media. "We are going to bring to bear all the resources necessary to achieve justice in this case."

The Hennepin County Attorney had been working on the case.

“We are pursuing justice, we are pursuing it relentlessly,” Ellison said.

Tractor trailer driver speeds through protesters marching on highway

Update 8:05 p.m. EDT May 31: A tractor trailer driver sped through a crowd of protesters marching along a bridge in Minneapolis Sunday.

Thousands of protesters cleared the road as the tanker truck careened down the I-35W bridge, WCCO reported.

It had been a peaceful protest up to that point.

"Very disturbing actions by a truck driver ... inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators," the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said on social media. "It doesn't appear any protesters were hit by the truck."

The driver was arrested. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, KARE reported.

There were no other injuries, KARE reported.

The highways into Minneapolis have been closed since 5 p.m. It’s unclear how the tanker got onto the road.

George Floyd’s body to be taken to Houston for funeral

Update 7:05 p.m. EDT May 31: George Floyd's body will be taken to Houston for memorial services in his hometown, NBC News reported.

Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to deliver the eulogy, NBC News reported.

Residents in Floyd's old neighborhood are asking for peace as protested nationwide have grown violent.

"Today I want to remember George Floyd who grew up in Houston, Third Ward, The Tre, and graduated from Jack Yates High School," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said on social media Saturday. "To his family and friends we stand with you."

2 police officers fired for using excessive force at Atlanta protest

Update 6:44 p.m. EDT May 31: Two police officers were fired after body camera footage showed them using excessive force during an incident at an Atlanta protest, The Associated Press reported.

Atlanta police said Sunday they had arrested more than 150 people overnight as protesters threw rocks at officers and broke windows in the downtown area. That brought the total number of arrests over two nights of protests to nearly 230.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Volunteers help with cleanup after night of riots in Seattle

Update 6:18 p.m. EDT May 31: Hundreds of volunteers helped city crews cleanup Sunday morning after a night of riots left broken windows and graffiti throughout downtown Seattle, KIRO-TV reported.

Hundreds of volunteers from all over spent their Sunday morning helping with cleanup from the protests last night.

Posted by KIRO 7 News on Sunday, May 31, 2020

After several hours of peaceful gatherings and marches earlier Saturday, Seattle police said the crowd turned violent, throwing bottles and Molotov cocktails, setting fires, breaking windows and looting businesses downtown.

Graffiti was also scrawled across numerous store fronts and a street was lined with burned-out cars.

Protesters hold 8-minute moment of silence at Boston demonstration

Update 5:45 p.m. EDT May 31: Protesters held an eight-minute moment of silence to honor George Floyd at a Boston demonstration.

The protest was led by a group of black pastors called the Clergy United in Prayer, WFXT-TV reported.

Floyd, 46, died after being pinned beneath an officer’s knee for eight minutes.

400 people arrested at demonstrations in Los Angeles

Update 5:05 p.m. EDT May 31: Los Angeles police made 400 arrests Saturday night, the majority were for looting, CNN reported.

Police Chief Michel Moore plans to double the number of officers Sunday night and activate 500 National Guard members. A curfew from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5:30 a.m. Monday is also in place.

National Guard will be set up at specific businesses to protect them from looters.

"My hope and prayer is that their tenure is short here," Moore said.

The National Guard is on standby in San Francisco and San Diego as well, CNN reported.

11 arrested at London demonstration

Update 4:45 p.m. EDT May 31: Police arrested 11 protesters in London during a demonstration Sunday.

Protesters met at 8 a.m. at Trafalgar Square despite rules prohibiting large groups from gathering, CNN reported.

Protesters were arrested for defying coronavirus social distancing orders, weapon possession and obstructing a public carriageway.

More demonstrations are planned in London this week.

Detroit announces curfew

Update 3:45 p.m. EDT May 31: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said at a news conference that a curfew will go into effect from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday and will remain that way until the city's chief of police decides to rescind it.

Duggan said he made the decision after the number of people arrested from outside the Detroit area went up last night. A total of 84 people were arrested Saturday night, Duggan said.

Protests go global with demonstrations in London, Berlin

Update 3:28 p.m. EDT May 31: Demonstrators gathered nationwide to protest the death of George Floyd, but there were gatherings overseas in support of the Minneapolis man who died Monday. In London, hundreds of protesters held a rally at Trafalgar Square and gathered outside the U.S Embassy, The Washington Post reported.

In Berlin and Toronto, protesters waved "I can't breathe" signs, the newspaper reported.

Washington governor activates 200 more National Guardsmen for Seattle

Update 3:19 p.m. EDT May 31: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee activated 200 more members of the state's National Guard after a second request from the city of Seattle, a statement from the governor's office said.

The National Guard members, who will be unarmed, will help clean up, protect against property damage and manage crowds and traffic during downtown protests, the statement said.

“Saturday’s disheartening events in Seattle -- carried out by a smattering of the thousands of protesters on hand – will not deter the cause of justice," Inslee said. “Hundreds of public servants and volunteers are already helping clean up the property damage done."

San Francisco under curfew indefinitely

Update 3:01 p.m. EDT May 31: San Francisco Mayor London Breed confirmed the city's 8 p.m. curfew will be in effect indefinitely, The Associated Press reported.

California has committed 200 law enforcement personnel to assist the San Francisco Police Department, Breed said at a news conference.

City officials also confirmed that there was “significant

Denver police make 83 arrests

Update 2:18 p.m. EDT May 31: According to a tweet from the Denver Police Department, 83 people were arrested during protests overnight.

Charges included curfew violations, damaging property and having prohibited weapons. Two weapons were recovered by police.

More than 60 Secret Service agents injured near White House

Update 1:58 p.m. EDT May 31: More than 60 Secret Service officers and agents have been injured since Friday night near the White House as protests were held in Washington, D.C., according to a statement from the agency.

The officers and agents were hurt when protesters threw “projectiles such as bricks, rocks, bottles, fireworks and other items,” according to the statement. “Personnel were also directly physically assaulted as they were kicked, punched and exposed to bodily fluids.”

DC police chief says 17 were arrested during protests

Update 1:48 p.m. EDT May 31: Peter Newsham, the police chief in Washington, D.C., said at a news conference that 17 people were arrested during protests in the nation's capital Saturday night.

Eleven officers were injured during the protests, but none had life-threatening injuries, Newsham said. One officer had surgery Sunday after suffering multiple compound fractures to his leg after a protester threw a rock at him, Newsham added.

Chicago mayor restricts vehicle, transit access downtown

Update 1:17 p.m. EDT May 31: Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the restriction of vehicle and transit action downtown, and called for help from the National Guard after demonstrations turned violent in the city, The Associated Press reported.

Lightfoot’s moves come after six people were shot and one person was killed in the Loop area Saturday night.

Trump: US will designate Antifa as terrorist organization

Update 1:03 p.m. EDT May 31: President Donald Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon that he would designate Antifa as a terrorist organization.

Antifa, or anti-fascists to the far left politically but do not align themselves with the Democratic Party's platform, CNN reported.

Atlanta mayor extends curfew until Monday

Update 12:50 p.m. EDT May 31: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms signed an executive order "extending curfew in the entire territorial jurisdiction of the City of Atlanta," according to a tweet from the city.

The curfew will begin at 9 p.m. EDT and will end at sunrise Monday, WSB-TV reported.

Cuomo: Attorney general will review protests

Update 12:42 p.m. EDT May 31: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will ask the state's attorney general to review the demonstrations that occurred across the state Saturday night.

“Last night was a long and ugly night all across this nation as we know,” Cuomo said at a news conference. “We’ve seen a lot of disturbing video about the protests."

Cuomo said he expected similar protests Sunday.

“We’re preparing for such,” Cuomo said.

Computers in Minnesota attacked, governor says

Update 12:23 p.m. EDT May 31: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said state computers were attacked Saturday.

“Before our operation kicked off last night, a very sophisticated denial of service attack on all state computers was executed,” Walz said during a news conference..

“That’s not somebody sitting in their basement,” Walz said..

41 arrested after protests in Tampa

Update 12:16 p.m. EDT May 31: Jane Castor, the mayor of Tampa, Florida, and police Chief Brian Dugan went on Facebook Live on Sunday morning to tell peaceful protestors to stay home after 41 people were arrested Saturday night.

“It’s a different tone right now,” Dugan said. “As the day went on, you could see the tensions start to rise. You can see the peaceful protesters go home and then start to see people who didn’t have the best intentions.”

Castor called the violence "shameful" and "heartbreaking for our community," the Tampa Bay Times reported.

“It did not reflect our community and the values we share,” Castor said. “What I saw last night happens in other cities, it does not happen in Tampa.”

“Make no mistake, there are systematic issues that need to be addressed. We share your anger over the death of George Floyd and the hopes and expectations of tomorrow,” Castor said. “But this behavior solves nothing. Solutions take time.”

St. Paul mayor seeks 'peace, not patience’

Update 11:46 a.m. EDT May 31: Melvin Carter, the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, said his city did not need military assistance to restore order in his city, but rather to receive assurances that someone would be held accountable in the death of George Floyd on Monday, The New York Times reported.

On CNN’s “State of the Union” program, Carter called for “peace, not patience," adding that the video of Floyd’s death was “disgusting” and “unacceptable.”

“When all of humanity can look at this video and say ‘That’s disgusting, that’s unacceptable,’ and yet somehow we have four officers in the video, three of whom sat there and either helped hold Mr. Floyd down or stood guard over the scene while it happened, that is an incredible insult to humanity,” Flouyd said.

Carter, whose father is a retired St. Paul police officer, rejected the theory that Floyd’s death was an isolated incident.

“When you have four officers all involved in taking George Floyd’s life, it points to a normalized culture that’s accepted," Carter said.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Racism is 'like dust in the air’

Update 11:17 a.m. EDT May 31: Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar writing an op-ed piece in Sunday's Los Angeles Times, said racism in America was "like dust in the air."

“It seems invisible -- even if you’re choking on it -- until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere,” Abdul-Jabbar wrote.

Abdul-Jabbar said he did not want to see looting and buildings being burned, but added that “African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer.”

“What I want to see is not a rush to judgment, but a rush to justice,” he wrote.

Minnesota governor apologizes to journalists

Update 11:04 a.m. EDT May 31: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized to journalistsafter they were detained Saturday night.

“I want to once again extend my deepest apologies, to the journalists who were once again in the middle of this situation were inadvertently, but nevertheless, detained, to them personally and in to the news organizations and to journalists everywhere,” Walz said at a news conference Sunday.

“It is unacceptable. I said when it happened the other day when I failed you," Walz said. “I have to do better, I continue to need to do and send that message. I take full responsibility for that.”

United Daughters of Confederacy headquarters set on fire

Update 9:33 a.m. EDT May 31: The headquarters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was set on fire in Richmond, Virginia, early Sunday, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Nine fire trucks and a police line three blocks long worked to put out the fire.

Graffiti covered much of the building’s facade, with some obscenities sprayed on the walls. the newspaper. The word “abolition” was sprayed on the front steps.

NYC protests net more than 340 arrests

Update 9:17 a.m. EDT May 31: More than 340 people were arrested in protests held across New York City over the past 24 hours, CNN reported.

At least 33 officers were injured during the protest, some of them seriously, a New York Police Department official told the cable network. Nearly 48 police vehicles were damaged or destroyed.

Fox News urges Trump to give national address

Update 8:39 a.m. EDT May 31: Fox News host Griff Jenkins urged President Donald Trump to address the nation as chaotic protests continued into Sunday morning following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“I really believe it is time for President Trump to do an Oval Office address,” Jenkins said on “Fox and Friends Sunday.”

“Remember George H.W. Bush’s address after the (Los Angeles) riots was one, by many political analysts’ reckoning, one of the most effective of his presidency,” Jenkins said.

Bush addressed the nation on May 1, 1992, after Los Angeles Police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, The Washington Post reported. The acquittal sparked riots in Los Angeles.

Target closes down 175 stores nationwide

Update 7:18 a.m. EDT May 31: Target has temporarily closed 175 stores across the United States because of the nationwide protests.

"Our focus will remain on our team members' safety and helping our community heal," the retailer said in a statement.

Target, based in Minneapolis, closed 71 stores In Minnesota, 49 in California, 12 in New York, while others were closed in various locations nationwide.

Cars burned, stores looted in Seattle

Update 6:36 a.m. EDT May 31: After several hours of peaceful gatherings and marches by thousands of people in Seattle protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Seattle police said the crowd turned violent, throwing bottles and Molotov cocktails, setting fires, breaking windows and looting businesses in the downtown core.

The damage stretched several city blocks, KIRO-TV reported

Seattle police said multiple officers and citizens were injured when the violence broke out late Saturday afternoon. Seattle police Chief Carmen Best said so far, 27 people were arrested for a variety of offenses including assault, arson, destruction and looting.

Ferguson Police Department building damaged

Update 1:53 a.m. EDT May 31: The police department in Ferguson, Missouri was damaged and all non-essestial personnel were evacuated, according to a tweet by the St. Louis County Police Department.

Multiple shootings in Indianapolis; 1 person killed

Update 1:26 a.m. EDT May 31: At least three people were reported shot and one person was killed during protests in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday night, Indianapolis Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a news conference.

A police officer also sustained minor injuries tonight, Taylor said.

Taylor told residents to go home.

“If you’re still down here tonight you are more than likely into something that you shouldn’t be and we want you to go home,” Taylor said.

Stores looted, gas station set on fire in Florida

Update 12:23 a.m. EDT May 31: Protesters looted stores, blocked roads and set a gas station on fire in Tampa.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said at least three protesters were arrested near University Mall where looters broke into nearby businesses and stole merchandise, WFTS reported. Deputies used tear gas to keep demonstrators from entering the mall.

“While we support everyone’s right to assemble, rioting, looting and vandalizing is unacceptable. We will be on the streets as long as needed in order to keep the protesters and those around them safe, however, we are asking that everyone respect their fellow citizens and the property of others. Anything less is unacceptable.”

A gas station was also set on fire but firefighters were able to get the blaze under control before it reached the pumps.

mobile apps

Everything you love about wokv.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!