US under siege: Why these cities are out of control
As America reaches boiling point and violent clashes between protesters and police rock the country, curfews have been put in place in at least 40 cities to try and stem the unrest. These are the cities under siege in America.
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As America continues to burn amid violent clashes between police and protesters over the death of an unarmed black man, curfews have been ordered in cities across the US to try to stem the growing unrest.
The protests, which began in Minneapolis following Monday’s death of George Floyd after a police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes, have left parts of that city a grid of broken windows, burnt-out buildings and ransacked stores. But the demonstrations have since become a national phenomenon, as protesters decry years of deaths at police hands.
More than 40 cities across 20 states announced curfews for Sunday night (local time), and about 5000 National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated in 15 states and Washington DC.
Curfews were imposed in major cities around the US, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Salt Lake City, Cleveland and Columbus, and Rochester New York
But many Americans have ignored the curfews over the weekend, with shops looted, cars burned and buildings attacked. Riot police have used tear gas and rubber bullets.
This is what you need to know:
What started the protests?
White police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on the neck of unarmed black man George Floyd until he stopped breathing last Monday.
Court papers showed Officer Chauvin knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, with almost the last three minutes of this period after he was unresponsive.
“Police are trained that this type of restraint of a subject in a prone position is inherently dangerous,” the complaint states.
It was the fourth killing by Minneapolis police in five years and drew wide protests in the city. That unrest spread further every day Chauvin wasn’t charged.
Who is protesting?
The initial demonstrations were organised by Black Lives Matter and other civil rights groups, but in recent days authorities say they have been inflamed by organised extremists.
US President Donald Trump blames far-left groups and is seeking to have Antifa declared a terrorist organisation. Other authorities say the blame lies more broadly and the havoc is being caused by extremists from all sides, criminals, cartels and opportunists.
Why were they arresting Floyd?
Chauvin and three other officers, who face potential charges, were responding to a forgery call after a deli-owner called 911 to report Floyd for passing a fake $20 note.
What are the other black deaths Americans are protesting?
Protesters recount three recent high profile cop killings of black Americans that have exposed the racial faultiness at the country’s heart.
Unrest has been building in Georgia following the death in February of Ahmaud Arbery, who was chased down and shot by a white father and son in their pick-up while he was running in a predominantly white neighbourhood.
His sickening killing was also caught on camera and it was only when that film exploded onto social media last month that local authorities, who had connections to the father and son, acted on it.
In Kentucky, ambulance officer Breonna Taylor, was shot by police eight times in her home while trying to serve a warrant on her boyfriend.
What will happen to the police involved?
Chauvin faces a potential 25 year sentence if found guilty of third degree murder, which is defined by recklessly but unintentionally causing death.
He is being prosecuted by the same team and under the same charges that sent the killer of Sydney woman Justine Ruszczyk Damond to jail.
The other three officers are still being investigated.
As of Sunday (local time) these cities, among others, remained under strict curfews.
MINNEAPOLIS
The city of Minneapolis, the city where George Floyd was killed, remains under curfew as the city braced for another night of unrest on Sunday night (local time).
“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 also under curfew on Friday night.
Mr Frey said the governor has “fully mobilised” the Minnesota National Guard to respond to demonstrations in the city on Saturday. Violating curfew is punishable by up to a US$1000 ($A1500) fine and 90 days in jail, the mayor’s emergency regulation said.
INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis’ mayor imposed a curfew on the city on Sunday (local time) after two nights of violent protest over police brutality that caused widespread damage downtown and included several shootings. Two people died in shootings, though it wasn’t clear their deaths were related to the protests.
Mayor Joe Hogsett said the curfew from 8pm Sunday (10am AEST) until 6am on Monday (8pm AEST) comes after peaceful protests gave way later to unrest and destruction.
“It is clear after last night that we can no longer provide the protection of those protesters or our downtown residents and business owners when an unfortunate few are so determined to hijack this movement for their own selfish reasons,” Mr Hogsett said.
The two people killed in downtown Indianapolis were shot amid several shootings reported late Saturday and early Sunday. Police said no officers fired their guns.
NEW YORK
New York City officials are looking for a peaceful way forward after three days of protests against police brutality that left police cars burned and led to the arrest of hundreds of people.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he wasn’t considering a curfew after largely peaceful protests around the city Saturday gave way to scattered clashes between police and protesters later in the evening.
Demonstrators smashed shop windows, threw objects at officers, torched and battered police vehicles and blocked roads.
New York City police said 345 people were arrested, 33 officers were injured and 27 police vehicles were damaged.
Clean-up was under way Sunday morning in New York City, which is still under a lockdown enacted two months ago when it became the U.S. epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.
On the Brooklyn block where two police cruisers lurched into a crowd of demonstrators Saturday, knocking several to the ground, the only sign of the previous night’s disturbance was a small pile of glass shards in the street.
CHICAGO
Chicago Mayor Lori Lighfoot announced the city would be under a curfew from 9pm until 6am daily “until further notice”.
Ms Lightfoot said access to the city’s downtown area would be restricted to only to residents and essential workers and the National Guard will have a presence in the city as officials seek to stem violence arising from demonstrations following the police killing of George Floyd.
On Sunday, Ms Lightfoot praised peaceful protesters, saying she stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with those condemning Floyd’s death after Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck during an arrest earlier this week. But she said that in order to protect the city, the state has agreed to dispatch “a contingent of the National Guard” to take up a “limited presence.”
Chicago officials say there were 240 arrests on Saturday night and early Sunday, and that six people were shot, one fatally, in the Loop during a four-hour span on Saturday night (local time).
WASHINGTON DC
Officials are implementing a curfew in the nation’s capital after a night of violent demonstrations with rioters setting fires, smashing windows and breaking into businesses and left dozens of police officers injured.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said the curfew would begin at 11pm. Sunday night and extend until 6am on Monday. She said members of the National Guard would also be on hand to assist the Metropolitan Police Department.
More than 1,000 protesters had already gathered Sunday evening at Lafayette Park across from the White House to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Officials said they would have an increased police presence and additional federal agents were called in on Sunday.
The protest Saturday night turned violent as darkness set in. Protesters set fires, smashed windows and sprayed graffiti
LOS ANGELES
The city of Los Angeles is expected to remain under curfew as the National Guard patrolled the streets and the city began cleaning up after a night of violence that saw demonstrators clash repeatedly with officers, torch police vehicles and pillage businesses.
The LAPD has not confirmed the number of arrests made as looting and vandalism swept the streets of Los Angeles during the fourth straight day of anti-police brutality protests stemming from the police custody death of George Floyd.
Initially, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Garcetti announced a curfew from 8pm on Saturday (1pm AEST) to 5.30am on Sunday (10.30pm AEST). The cities of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Culver City, Pasadena and Santa Monica soon followed with the same order.
ATLANTA
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has extended a curfew for the city through Sunday night.
On Twitter, the City of Atlanta announced that the mayor has signed an executive order which would extend Saturday night’s previous curfew throughout the jurisdiction of the city.
Mrs Bottoms had previously signed an order establishing a curfew for the city through Saturday night, which ended at sunrise on Sunday. The mayor called the curfew a “very unusual and extreme step.”
The mayor, who made a passionate and personal plea to protesters the night before, also noted that Friday’s demonstration, which began peacefully, took place amid a pandemic.
“If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week,” she said. “There is still a pandemic in America that’s killing black and brown people at higher numbers.”
PORTLAND
Portland’s curfew will also continue, the city’s mayor Mayor Ted Wheeler announced on Sunday (local time).
The curfew will again take effect at 8pm on Sunday (1pm, Monday, AEST).
For a second night, people in Portland roamed city streets.
Police in the Northwest city arrested 48 people Saturday and early Sunday on charges like disorderly conduct and violating Saturday’s curfew. Authorities say demonstrators vandalised buildings downtown, looted stores and set blazes in the city’s downtown precinct.
Police reported being hit with projectiles while, according to a statement, fireworks and “aerial mortars” were thrown at the Multnomah County Courthouse late on Saturday.
In a tweet on Sunday morning (local time), Mr Wheeler wrote: “Agitators are not led by a conviction to change systemic racism. They are opportunists, using the cover of legitimate protests to sow fear in our communities. Don’t let them.”
DENVER
Denver will remain under curfew after city crews spent Sunday morning (local time) scrubbing graffiti off buildings and cleaning streets in a scene playing out across the country after nationwide protests turned turbulent and destructive.
More than 80 people were arrested in the city on Saturday night for violating the 8pm emergency curfew imposed by Mayor Michael Hancock, a police spokesman said.
Eighty-three people were arrested on charges of violating curfew, Denver police spokesman Kurt Barnes said, and one protester was arrested before the curfew went into effect. Mr Barnes was not sure what prompted that earlier arrest.
Of the 83 people arrested on suspicion of violating curfew, a few also face charges of throwing missiles, damaging property and handling weapons, Mr Barnes said.
The curfew will be in effect again from 8pm on Sunday to 5am on Monday. Violations are punishable by a US$999 ($A1500) fine and up to 300 days in jail, city officials said.
SALT LAKE CITY
Salt Lake City’s curfew remains in effect until at least 6am on Monday, the city’s mayor Erin Mendenhall said.
City crews were out assessing damage from the violent protests that rocked downtown.
“The streets of Salt Lake City are quiet and calm this morning,” the mayor said at a Sunday morning press conference.
She urged residents to continue to comply with the curfew, including resisting efforts to clean up the damage and vandalism.
The curfew prohibits gatherings in public spaces, but allows businesses to remain open. People can still go out for food, visit businesses (which can remain open), but they cannot congregate. The curfew is citywide.
SEATTLE
Seattle will again have a 5pm (10am AEST) citywide curfew on Sunday and police say they arrested at least 27 people during Saturday protests over the killing of George Floyd.
Looters smashed downtown storefronts and at one point Interstate 5, a major thoroughfare through the city, was briefly closed through downtown when demonstrators got onto the roadway. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is dispatching up to 200 National Guard troops to help maintain order.
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco enacted a strict curfew of 8pm to 5am. Sunday and will have about 200 officers from outside police agencies to help protect people and property, city officials said at an online press conference.
Mayor London Breed said that the curfew would remain in place “until we see the situation is under control” and said the vandalism, looting and violence that followed a largely orderly protest Saturday would not be tolerated.
“Stay home,” was the advice of Police Chief William Scott, who said people other than exempt workers such as medical and transportation personnel would be subject to questioning and possible detention.
ARIZONA
Arizona was also placed under curfew, which the city announced would extend for a week.
Governor Doug Ducey issued the statewide curfew that will take effect on Sunday night (local time).
Gov. Ducey made the announcement via Twitter page, saying he has issued a statewide Declaration of Emergency as well, and has also authorised an expanded National Guard mobilisation.
In Phoenix, protesters have taken to the streets of downtown Phoenix for three nights in a row, with another protest planned for Sunday night. Also on Saturday night, unrest and looting took place in the area of the Scottsdale Fashion Square, resulting in property damage.
Unrests have also taken place in Tucson, according to Gov. Ducey’s executive order.
PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia’s curfew has been extended after the city was struck by rioters and looters over the weekend.
“Any business owners or community members helping to secure businesses or clean up vandalised properties must finish those activities and return home by 5pm” the city said in a tweet.
“The citywide curfew in Philadelphia will now begin at 6pm and will continue until 6am. During this time, people may leave their homes only to go to work at essential businesses or to seek medical attention or police assistance,” the city tweeted.
Originally published as US under siege: Why these cities are out of control
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