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Protest against the death of George Floyd at the Minneapolis police station in the United States.
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Washington, DC, mayor says Trump's comments are an attack "on black America"
Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that President Trump’s comments on Twitter last night about protesters are “an attack on humanity, an attack on black America.”
Bowser also called Trump’s remarks “gross” and called out his reference to “shooting and looting” and releasing “vicious dogs," she said in a news conference to address the protests in the capitol Friday night.
"To make a reference to vicious dogs is no subtle reminder to African Americans of segregationists who let dogs out on women, children, and innocent people in the south," Bowser said.
Trump’s comments over the last two days have been the “glorification of violence against American citizens,” Bowser said, and that “what used to be heard in dog whistles we now hear from a bull horn.”
When discussing the protests Friday night, Bowser said “at no time was the chief of police concerned about losing control of protest activity in Washington, DC.”
DC Police Chief Peter Newsham said that protestors in DC last night exceeded 1,000 people. He detailed the trajectory of the main protest, and acknowledged that there were likely splinter groups off the main route. The Metro Police Department (MPD) made no arrests, had no reports of injuries and no reports of use of force.
Newsham said that the MPD worked with US Secret Service and the Park Police under “unified command” last night during protests in Lafayette Park, where there were a few skirmishes with protesters. He also told reporters that MPD provided the Secret Service with some additional equipment that they did not have, including helmets.
The leaders of the three law enforcement groups involved spoke last night, Newsham said, and that they were all “absolutely comfortable” with decisions that were made.
Bowser said that the District is aware of a protest planned for today outside the Department of Justice and is prepared for any other protests in the city. The Park Police has requested assistance from the National Guard if crowd control is needed, Bowser noted.
Some context: In a bizarre four-tweet thread, Trump thanked the Secret Service for their handling of protests in Lafayette Park Friday night.
The President tweeted that the protesters “would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen,” had they breached the fence at the White House.
Trump also attacked Bowser, claiming she “wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved.”
Protesters block highway in Austin, Texas
Protesters were seen blocking Interstate Highway 35 (IH-35) in Austin, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, according to a tweet from ATX, the city's transportation department.
IH-35 "is completely blocked in both directions between 6th & 8th" as protests continue, the tweet said. "We need the community to avoid the area because the IH-35 is blocked," Austin Police said in a tweet.
Community leaders hold vigil for George Floyd at the site of Eric Garner's death in NYC
Rev. Al Sharpton, Gwen Carr – the mother of Eric Garner – and other community activists held a vigil for George Floyd at the Staten Island site of Garner’s death on Saturday afternoon.
Garner was killed after being put in a chokehold by police in New York City in 2014.
Sharpton, who is the founder and president of National Action Network, called for all four cops seen on video with Floyd to be charged and for Derek Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder.
The group held a moment of silence for Eric Garner and George Floyd and later began marching down to the NYPD’s 121st precinct in north Staten Island.
"When something like this happens you just combust, everything just comes out. But you know, we must stand vigilant, we must stand strong, and we must channel and harness our anger so we can get to where we're going," Carr said during the vigil.
Funeral details for George Floyd were not mentioned.
Community and religious leaders in Minnesota ask protesters to stay home
Religious and community leaders in Minnesota asked protesters to honor tonight's curfew during a news conference Saturday.
Young people please, please stay at home tonight," said Clarence Castile, who's nephew, Philando, was killed by police in 2016."
Alfred Babington-Johnson, the president of Stairstep Foundation, a local nonprofit said, "Don't let your good be evil spoken of, don't let it be distorted. Honor this curfew; that this may come to a conclusion."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz invoked a curfew from 8 p.m. through 6 a.m. CT.
Six Oakland Police Department officers and seven civilians were injured in protests in downtown Oakland, California, on Friday, according to a statement from the Oakland Police Department (OPD).
OPD says 18 people were arrested by their agency while four others were arrested by outside agencies.
Additionally, 60 looters were detained for further questioning and one citation was issued in Friday’s protests, the statement said.
Wisconsin National Guard members activated to respond to Milwaukee protests
Gov. Tony Evers has activated the Wisconsin National Guard to support law enforcement in Milwaukee in their response to "agitators that have disrupted peaceful protests following the murder of George Floyd," a news release from his office said.
At least 125 members of the Wisconsin National Guard have been activated immediately to respond to Milwaukee, according to the release.
4 Atlanta police officers injured and 1 civilian shot during protests Friday night
Four Atlanta Police Department officers were injured, one civilian was shot and authorities responded to several fires and looting across the city as protests broke out on Friday night, Sgt. John Chafee told CNN in a statement Saturday morning.
Protesters damaged property at a popular Atlanta mall north of the city, looting several stores and clashing with police, Chafee said. The College Football Hall of Fame also sustained damage and the gift shop was looted, he said.
The Atlanta Police Department received multiple calls about shots being fired by people participating in protests both in downtown Atlanta and in northern Atlanta near Lenox Mall.
At around 12 a.m. Saturday, officers got a call about a male who was shot in the area of Peachtree Street and Wall Street, Chafee said. This person was transported to Grady Hospital in stable condition and investigators are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Atlanta Fire Department spokesperson Cortez Stafford also said firefighters responded to several major incidents or fires throughout the night starting at 8 pm.
The Columbus Ohio Police Department has declared an emergency in the downtown area “to manage protests near the statehouse,” the mayor of the city tweeted.
“We are asking residents to avoid the area,” Mayor Andrew Ginther said.
“Safety of everyone — protesters and police — is paramount. We’re calling for everyone to remain calm,” he added.
Roughly 108 people were arrested in Chicago after protests broke out in the city Friday night, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said at a news conference Saturday morning.
One person was arrested after allegedly breaking an officer’s wrist and is facing aggravated battery charges, Brown said.
He said demonstrations “began peaceful and ended a little bit more aggressive and intense."
“Some in the crowd began confronting the police, so we had to take swift action so that the violence and property damage wouldn’t escalate,” Brown said, adding that property damage was minimal.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II are calling on communities to provide a designated area for people to peacefully protest, according to a statement from Whitmer’s office.
"The First Amendment right to protest has never been more important, and in this moment when we are still battling a killer virus, it is crucial that those who choose to demonstrate do so peacefully, and in a way that follows social distancing guidelines to protect public health," the statement said.
Whitmer's administration is working with various agencies and community leaders to "designate areas for peaceful demonstrations where people can make their voices heard."
"There will no doubt be more tough days ahead, but we must pull together and treat our fellow Michiganders with dignity, compassion, and humanity," the statement said.
