Curfews go into effect in cities around the country as George Floyd protests continue


Curfews go into effect in cities around the country as George Floyd protests continue

Curfews have been instituted around the country on Saturday as mass demonstrations broke out nationwide and cities braced for another night of protests.

Minneapolis

A curfew will go back in effect in Minneapolis on Saturday at 8 p.m. after the city braces for another night of unrest.

“By being out tonight & breaking the 8pm curfew, you are helping the people using crowds as cover to prey on Minneapolis & destroy community,” Mayor Jacob Frey wrote on twitter. The city was under curfew on Friday night.

Frey said the governor has “fully mobilized” the Minnesota National Guard to respond to demonstrations in the city on Saturday. Violating curfew is punishable by up to a $1000 fine and 90 days in jail, the mayor’s emergency regulation said.

Los Angeles

Demonstrators protest the death of George Floyd in Los Angeles on May 30, 2020.Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP

Mayor Eric Garcetti said a curfew will begin in Downtown LA starting at 8 p.m. and will last until 5:30 a.m.

“We will always protect free speech and Angelenos’ right to live without fear of violence or vandalism,” Garcetti wrote on Twitter, saying the curfew is meant to “increase safety for demonstrators, law enforcement and all citizens of Los Angeles.”

Protests in LA were already underway on Saturday as buses were overtaken and multiple police cars were set on fire in the city’s 4th day of protests.

Atlanta

Atlanta will be under a curfew Saturday evening, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced in an executive order.

The decree will apply to the entire city beginning at 9 p.m. and lasting until sunrise. The city said the curfew is a result of the “recent acts of violence” during protests.

On Friday, Atlanta saw mass demonstrations where protesters set a police car on fire, struck officers with bottles, and vandalized the headquarters of CNN.

Denver

After Denver was rocked by two days of protests, Mayor Michael Hancock announced he is enacting a curfew on Saturday “to help protect people and property.”

Hancock said the curfew will begin at 8 p.m. on Saturday and last until 5 a.m. Sunday, he said in a press release. There will also be a curfew in place on Sunday evening.

The mayor said 34 people have been arrested in the past two nights of protest, and called the “destruction” in the city “reckless, inexcusable, and unacceptable.”

Philadelphia

Smoke rises from a police cruiser in Philadelphia’s City Center on Saturday, May 30.Yong Kim / The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP

Mayor Jim Kenney announced he was placing Philadelphia under a curfew on Saturday.

The city will be under curfew starting at 8 p.m. and lasting until 6 a.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday, thousands of people marched in Philadelphia in a protest that led to many fires. One Starbucks became engulfed in flames, in addition to some police cars.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh announced it will enact a curfew at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The news comes after the city declared the protest an “unlawful assembly” and police reported “rioting and looting” throughout downtown, telling residents to avoid the area.

Seattle

Seattle joined the growing list of city’s under curfew Saturday, saying it will begin at 5 p.m.

Mayor Jenny Durkan said “crowds need to disburse from downtown immediately.”

“While many individuals gathered peaceful, some individuals have started fires and are destroying buildings,” the mayor wrote on Twitter. “There are multiple fires downtown and it is an extremely dangerous situation.”

Cleveland and Columbus

Both Ohio cities announced curfews as the governor has ordered the Ohio National Guard to respond to the growing unrest.

In Cleveland, the curfew will begin at 8 p.m. and last until 8 a.m. Sunday morning. The curfew will also be in place Sunday evening into Monday morning.

The Columbus curfew begins at 10 p.m. Saturday until goes until 6 a.m. Sunday.

“In this time of deep anger, sadness, and frustration, we stand with those who are expressing their First Amendment rights, but we will not stand for those who wish to inflict pain and cause destruction,” Gov. Mike DeWine wrote on Twitter Saturday.

Portland

Portland will go back under curfew on Saturday night. Mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency early Saturday morning, immediately putting the city into a curfew until 6 a.m. The curfew will resume on Saturday at 8:00 pm and will lift on Sunday at 6:00 a.m.




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