Protesters Reportedly Take Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct Building During 3rd Night Of George Floyd Protests
From MINNESOTA.CBSLOCAL.COM
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Minneapolis is in the midst of a third night of unrest in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, with protesters reportedly taking over the police department’s 3rd Precinct building late Thursday night.
Reports of the break-in came in at about 10 p.m., with helicopter footage also appearing to show a fire raging in the precinct’s parking lot.
Forty-six-year-old Floyd, an African American, died Sunday night outside of Cup Foods, near the intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, after former officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on his neck for more than seven minutes.
The store’s owner told WCCO he called 911 on Floyd because he had attempted to buy a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. The owner says he has offered to pay for Floyd’s funeral services.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Thursday afternoon to activate the National Guard to “to help protect Minnesotans’ safety and maintain peace in the wake of George Floyd’s death.”
Thousands gathered in downtown Minneapolis early Thursday evening at the Hennepin County Government Center to demand justice for Floyd, before marching down Marquette Avenue.
The crowd at the Government Center is now marching through downtown Minneapolis. They are moving along Nicollet Mall. Just marching and chanting. No violence. #GeorgeFloyd #WCCO pic.twitter.com/nDurKqyR6o
Peaceful protesters made their way down Nicollet Mall, where several businesses boarded up their first floor windows, including Target, JB Hudson Jewelers and Haskell’s Wine and Spirits. Jack Farrell, the Haskell’s president, says they respect the protest, but if their business gets looted or damaged, he’s not sure if they’d be able to recover — especially in light of their revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This could be the death knell for downtown Minneapolis,” Farrell said.
By about 9 p.m., tensions began to flare up between protesters and law enforcement near the light rail station off 5th Street and Hennepin Avenue.
Things are escalating in downtown Minneapolis. MPD in riot gear and using tear gas. Some protestors shooting off fireworks extremely close to the ground.#GeorgeFloyd #WCCO pic.twitter.com/NxJhxElqAl
Some of those protesters took to Interstate 35W just before 10 p.m., leading to the closure the Washington Avenue exit.
Protesters have made their way onto 35W near 3rd St. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/mcxc8IPC1T
In south Minneapolis, police say there was a shooting at about 8:30 p.m. at the Walgreens pharmacy on the 3100 block of Lake Street, just a few blocks down from the 3rd Precinct protest site.
Within the hour of the shooting, MaX It PAWN shop near the 3rd Precinct erupted in flames.
Earlier, the Target store near the 3rd Precinct, which was looted Wednesday night, became another chaotic focal point, with dozens of people gathered in the parking lot. A car was set on fire just after 7 p.m.
In the Target parking lot next to the 3rd precinct. People throwing glass bottles, one guy even jumping up and down on the hood pic.twitter.com/3H5F60jwIY
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Tweets mentioned:
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Submitted 1440 days ago
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