Protests against the death of George Floyd morphed into scenes of chaos and violence Saturday night as activists confronted police officers, reporters and citizens alike.
They briefly set fire to City Hall in Nashville, Tennessee, while two police vans were filmed plowing through protesters in New York City, reported The New York Times. Protesters across the country have been mobilizing since Floyd died while in police custody after an officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, video showed.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz activated thousands of additional National Guard troops to deploy to Minneapolis as days of protests over the death of Floyd boiled over and cascaded across the country. (RELATED: ‘F*** Fox News!’: Protesters Chase Fox News Reporter Outside White House)
WATCH:
Dumpster fire, tear gas and a pretty big crowd of protesters out here so far @mattmiller757 @krioli14 @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/GdXP2jCZDh
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) May 31, 2020
The protests began Thursday as news of Floyd’s death made waves across the media landscape. Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis after Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes, according to video of the incident. Chauvin was fired shortly thereafter and is facing 3rd degree murder and manslaughter chargers.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., started dumpster fires and pushed back against barriers separating police officers from activists.
WATCH:
Protesters have just broken off a large chunk of the barrier and are no longer separated from police in this section pic.twitter.com/ReUwVABClh
— Shelby Talcott (@ShelbyTalcott) May 31, 2020
Officers with the New York Police Department appeared to flee from some of the mayhem Saturday during one attack.
WATCH:
NYPD appear to flee in cars while rioters rush in to attack. Similar scenes were repeated last night in Portland. #antifa #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/hoGSuqRb2k
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) May 31, 2020
WATCH:
The woman yelling “Yea I got some stuff” as she runs out of the Nike store smiling in Chicago really undercuts the idea that looting stores is about inducing change and justice. pic.twitter.com/PtzvyH363L
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) May 31, 2020
WATCH:
A child was hit by pepper spray in Seattle. Hey dumbfucks, stop bringing your kids to riots. pic.twitter.com/zH8fQEWhPS
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 31, 2020
Activists have targeted civilians and reporters alike.
They chased Fox News reporter Leland Vittert early outside the White House early Saturday morning, as protest turned violent. Things turned violent Friday night in cities across the country, including Dallas, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. Some demonstrators in Atlanta, Georgia, vandalized CNN’s headquarters.
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