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A26 U.S. NEWS
Friday 29 May 2020
Violent protests rock Minneapolis for 2nd straight night

Tuesday night's confronta-
tion.
The U.S. Attorney's Of-
fice and the FBI in Minne-
apolis said Thursday they
were conducting "a robust
criminal investigation" into
Floyd's death and mak-
ing the case a priority. The
announcement came a
day after President Donald
Trump tweeted that he had
asked an investigation to
be expedited.
The FBI had already an-
nounced that it would in-
vestigate whether Floyd's
civil rights were violated.
The officer who kneeled
on Floyd and three oth-
ers were fired Tuesday. On
Wednesday, the mayor
called for him to be crimi-
nally charged.
Frey appealed to Gov.
Tim Walz to activate the
National Guard, a spokes-
man confirmed Thursday.
The governor's office did
not immediately respond
to a request for comment.
Walz tweeted for calm
A man poses for a photo in the parking lot of an AutoZone store in flames, while protesters hold a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis Wednesday night, calling
on Wednesday, May 27, 2020. the violence "an extremely
Associated Press dangerous situation" and
urging people to leave the
By DOUG GLASS protesting Floyd's death was found fatally shot ing racks. Obscenities were scene.
Associated Press blocked a Los Angeles Wednesday night near a spray-painted on the out- The last time the Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Vio- freeway and shattered pawn shop, possibly by the side of the store. Streets National Guard was called
lent protests over the death windows of California High- owner, authorities said. and parking lots were also out to deal with civil unrest
of a black man in police way Patrol cruisers. Mem- Fire crews responded to covered in debris, and was in a backup role dur-
custody rocked a Minne- phis police blocked a main about 30 intentionally set many businesses had been ing the 2008 Republican
apolis neighborhood for thoroughfare after a racial- blazes during the protests, spray-painted. National Convention in St.
a second straight night as ly mixed group of protesters including at least 16 struc- There was no sign of a Paul. The most compara-
angry crowds looted stores, gathered outside a police ture fires, and multiple fire police presence, except ble situation to the current
set fires and left a path of precinct. The situation in- trucks were damaged by around the precinct build- disturbances happened
damage that stretched for tensified later in the night, rocks and other projectiles, ing, where officers were in when the Guard was
miles. The mayor asked the with police donning riot the fire department said. riot gear. One man stand- called up to deal with the
governor to activate the gear and protesters stand- No one was hurt by the ing outside the building was riots in Minneapolis in 1967,
National Guard. ing shoulder-to-shoulder in blazes. using a bullhorn to shout. a summer when anger over
The protests that began late front of officers stationed Firefighters were still spray- "I can't breathe, I can't racial inequalities came to
Wednesday and stretched behind a barricade. ing water onto hot build- breathe. Mama, I can't a boil in many cities across
into Thursday morning were Minneapolis police said the ings Thursday morning, and breathe," repeating some the country.
the most destructive yet violence contrasted sharp- some buildings still smol- of Floyd's pleas for relief. The Minnesota National
since the death of George ly with a mostly peaceful dered, sending a bitter Across from the precinct, Guard was also called out
Floyd, who was seen on demonstration Tuesday af- smell into the smoke-filled someone had spray-paint- during protests against the
video gasping for breath ternoon at the street corner air. ed the sidewalk in red: Vietnam War in the 1960s
during an arrest in which an where Floyd died. Windows were smashed "Where's humanity?" and early 1970s and dur-
officer kneeled on his neck "They were chanting for out of several businesses in Protesters began gather- ing a 1986 strike by Hormel
for almost eight minutes. In things to remain peaceful," a strip mall, including a de- ing Wednesday afternoon meatpackers in Austin.q
the footage, Floyd pleads police spokesman John partment store, a charter near the city's 3rd Precinct
that he cannot breathe Elder said. "Tonight didn't school and other business- station, in the southern
and slowly stops talking have the same feel. And es, and the destruction was part of the city, where the
and moving. that's sad." visible for blocks. A Wendy's 46-year-old Floyd died on
Mayor Jacob Frey sought Pockets of looting contin- restaurant was damaged Memorial Day as police ar-
calm. "Please, Minneapolis, ued Thursday. A liquor store beyond recognition. rested him outside a con-
we cannot let tragedy be- employee displayed a gun Inside some of the stores, venience store on a report
get more tragedy," he said as he stood among the de- shelves were toppled and of a counterfeit bill being
on Twitter. bris of broken bottles and debris strewn about. Video passed. Demonstrators also
Protests also spread to beer cans inside the busi- taken inside a damaged skirmished with officers,
other U.S. cities. In Califor- ness. Target that had been loot- who fired rubber bullets
nia, hundreds of people Amid the violence, a man ed showed empty cloth- and tear gas in a repeat of