A protest over in Minneapolis over the killing of unarmed black man in police custody erupted into an ugly, chaotic scene on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile theychanted for justice in Memphis, and stopped freeway traffic in Los Angeles.
People looted a store, a fire burned in an auto parts store, and Minneapolis police used rubber bullets, flash bombs and tear gas against the protesters.Additionally, there were unconfirmed reports that a pawn shop owner shot a suspected looter.
A woman in a wheelchair was attacked as she sat outside a door at Target. According to tweets, she was attempting to block the door to stop the looting.
George Floyd died Monday after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a police officer’s knee.Footage of the arrest, which went viral on social media early Tuesday, has sparked outraged calls for accountability from the community.
Looting was seen at a nearby Target during Wednesday evening’s protest, while video posted on Twitter also showed theinterior of an AutoZone on fire.Some people threw rocks and bottles at officers.
Early this morning, multiple structures were engulfed in flames. Looting was widespread in Minneapolis,with reports of looting miles away from the original protest location.
The circumstances of Floyd’s death are under investigation by several agencies at the local, state, and federal level, including the FBI. On Wednesday, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for the arrest of the police officer who took Floyd into custody.
President Trump says he’s ordered the FBI and the Justice Department to investigate the death of George Floyd.
He wrote, "At my request, the FBI and the Department of Justice are already well into an investigation as to the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd...."
He followed up in a second tweet, including a shoutout to local police, questionable given the circumstances.
“I have asked for this investigation to be expedited and greatly appreciate all of the work done by local law enforcement. My heart goes out to George’s family and friends. Justice will be served!”
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