Violent protests overnight in downtown LA Saturday, May 30, led to 398 arrests and left two police officers hospitalized.
Days of protests have taken place across the country after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
Floyd, 46, was an unarmed black man who died on May 25 in police custody after a Minneapolis officer kneeled on his neck. The officer was arrested Friday and charged with murder in a case that sparked protests across the United States.
Those taken into custody were booked on suspicion of burglary, looting, vandalism, failure to disperse, being a felon in possession of a firearm and numerous curfew violations, Los Angeles Police Department officials said Sunday in a news release. Authorities were working to asses the full extent of the damage Sunday.
What began as peaceful protests involving thousands outraged by the death of Floyd and other people of color who have died in police custody soured as tensions rose on the fourth consecutive day of demonstrations in Los Angeles. One of the largest took place at Pan Pacific Park in the Fairfax district.
As many as five LAPD officers were injured in the chaos, police said, and two had to be taken to a hospital. Their injuries ranged from contusions and broken bones to a fractured skull.
Businesses throughout the city were vandalized and looted.
The destruction wrought across the city prompted Mayor Eric Garcetti to request the aid of the national guard, and the implementation of a curfew in some places. Gov. Gavin Newsom also declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County.
Elsewhere, demonstrators in Santa Ana tossed M-80 fireworks and glass bottles at police and Orange County Sheriff’s deputies there after they called for the protest to disperse. One deputy was injured, several businesses were looted and the Santa Ana College Digital Media Center was vandalized. The unlawful assembly had been preceded by peaceful protests in Fullerton and Orange on Saturday.
Curfews are in place for cities across Southern California including in LA and Santa Ana. Some starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 31.
Source: Orange County Register
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