Major curfews have been placed in US cities after the urban unrest related to the death of George Floyd. The killing of Floyd and the video footage of the event has rocked the entire United States. The curfews are the latest attempt by the authorities to clamp down on protest and are being applied on a city by city basis. Major urban uprisings have now been seen in 75 US cities.
From the evidence seen so far, it seems that the curfews are in no way being adhered to and police have attempted to send protestors fleeing using tear-gas and stun grenades. The actions of the police in opposing the protestors has come under huge criticism when images circulated of police pushing protestors and in New York City they even appeared to drive a police car into a crowd.
The current situation city by city is as follows:
Minneapolis
Minneapolis which has been at the centre of the protests has imposed a curfew of 8pm for all citizens to be off the streets. The mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey appeared to claim that underground elements were using the crowd for their own ends.
In a Twitter post he stated:
“By being out tonight & breaking the 8pm curfew, you are helping the people using crowds as cove to prey on Minneapolis & destroy community.”
At present 1,700 Minnesota National Guard members are in place to combat the protestors
Less than an hour after the curfew in Minneapolis went into effect, people were still outside. Then absolute chaos. #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/opNgdIURdP
— Omar Jimenez (@OmarJimenez) May 31, 2020
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles the mayor Eric Garcetti has placed a curfew from 8pm to 5.30am. It is believed that on Saturday as many as 25,000 protestors took to the streets and police cars were set on fire and vandalised while freeways were blocked by a human chain.
Like Minneapolis the National Guard is now in attendance.
A line of police cars are on fire in the Fairfax District of #LosAngeles. Some reports claim that crowds are surrounding the Grove, which is one of LA’s most upscale shopping centers. Crowds had earlier claimed that they would march on Beverly Hills. pic.twitter.com/eOBqWuk74M
— Shahab (@SSMoghadam) May 31, 2020
Atlanta
In Atlanta a curfew will run from 9pm to sunrise. On Friday CNN headquarters in Atlanta was attacked by a large mob throwing bricks and fireworks, with dramatic scenes as a firework erupted inside the building amongst a group of police guarding the TV station.
Chicago. On Friday night 100 protestors were arrested and a curfew has been placed from 9pm to 6am by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
BREAKING: Cops being attacked in lobby of CNN HQ in Atlanta; CNN newsroom employees are locked down floors above riotpic.twitter.com/7nijxhWiSV
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
Chicago
On Friday night 100 protestors were arrested and a curfew has been placed from 9pm to 6am by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.The fire is now out and people are starting to break inside Metro courthouse pic.twitter.com/9sRI0JWK3t
— Natalie Allison (@natalie_allison) May 31, 2020
Salt Lake City
A curfew is in place and like Minneapolis and LA the National Guard are in place. A video has appeared of a man attempting to attack protestors with a crossbow – he has since been arrested.
Here is the video of the crossbow guy in downtown Salt Lake City who attempted to attack protesters. He was quickly overwhelmed & his car overturned. pic.twitter.com/E6sTpA9QBx
— 𝕬𝖓 801 𝕺𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖆𝖑 🥁 (@TheJazzyUte) May 31, 2020
Seattle
The Seattle curfew begins at 5pm. Mayor Jenny Durkan has stated:
“While many individuals gathered peaceful, some individuals have started fires and are destroying buildings … there are multiple fires downtown and it is an extremely dangerous situation.”
I will soon be signing an emergency order and the @CityofSeattle will be imposing a 5 pm curfew soon. Crowds need to disburse from downtown immediately.
— Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) May 30, 2020
Nashville
In the Tennessee capital a state of civil emergency has been declared and a statue of a notorious racist lawmaker and newspaper editor, Edward Carmack, was torn to the ground.
Philadelphia
Curfew will run from 8pm to 6am, during protests that have occurred over the weekend several police cars were torched.
Denver
In Denver the mayor has enacted a curfew which he says is “to help protect people and property” it will run from 8pm to 5am.
Portland
Curfew will run from 8pm to 6am.
Rochester
On Saturday the city of Rochester in New York State imposed a curfew from 9pm to 7am for what Mayor Lovely Warren says is to prevent “potential for widespread breach of the peace.” The city seen police use rubber bullets on protestors and while these are deemed ‘less-lethal’ rounds these have been known to kill in the past.
Miami
The Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has placed a county wide curfew after there was a major stand-off between protestors and police at the police headquarters.
Milwaukee
Curfew will run from 9pm to 7am.
We wait to see what impact the curfews will have on the protests taking place.
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