The LAPD declared an unlawful assembly in downtown L.A. shortly before 9:30 p.m. tonight.
According to an emailed statement from the LAPD the boundaries are the 10 Freeway to the 101 Freeway, and the 110 freeway to Alameda.
The LAPD said:
This declaration is being made following repeated acts of violence and property damage. Residents should stay inside. Business should close. Persons on street are to leave area
The unusual declaration came on the third day of protests around the country, in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Floyd, a black man, died Monday after a white officer, Derek Chauvin, pinned him to the pavement by pressing his knee against his neck for nearly nine minutes. Chauvin was arrested today and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He had been fired, along with three other officers involved in the incident, earlier in the week.
The first L.A. protest was held Wednesday, with protesters shutting down the 101 Freeway.
Then yesterday, protesters swarmed the LAPD's downtown headquarters.
Ahead of today's protest, LAPD Chief Michel Moore appealed for peaceful action:
My statement regarding planned protest activities in Los Angeles: pic.twitter.com/rSslocJPJX
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) May 29, 2020
Today, the protest started to pick-up downtown near Pershing Square, around 5 p.m. Live video streamed from news choppers, showed some protesters walking onto the 101 and 110 freeways. Some businesses in the area closed down in response.
By 7 p.m. KPCC's Director of Product Development, Andy Cheatwood, who lives in the area, said he saw at least 30 patrol cars race by on 5th street. Others posted videos of the strong LAPD presence in the area on social media.
Just rolled by in DTLA. This is not how you respond to protesters. Especially not in a pandemic. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/OCWh9nz1Yg
— Rebecca Eisenberg (@ryeisenberg) May 30, 2020
A scuffle between police and protesters was captured on camera shortly before 7 p.m. at Fifth and Olive streets. Demonstrators could be seen smashing police car windows and dragging a police officer into the crowd after he tried to detain someone, appearing to beat him before he managed to get away.
The L.A. Times is reporting that an LAPD spokesman confirmed one officer had been injured near Pershing Square and was receiving medical treatment.
CNN just showed video from Los Angeles of an make officer getting beat by a crowd after attempting to detain someone. What is happening around the country tonight is HISTORIC. pic.twitter.com/SSDOf97hSt
— Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) May 30, 2020
At 8:30 p.m. KPCC's Andy Cheatwood said protestors had started to form a barricade at 5th street near the exit of the 110 freeway. Shortly after, he saw protestors smashing an LAPD car on 7th Street and Grand.
We will be covering the protests Saturday, which are scheduled for 12 p.m.
FOLLOW OUR COVERAGE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS:
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