Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

LAPD Declares 'Unlawful Assembly' In DTLA On Third Day Of George Floyd Protests

A sign at a protest organized by black lives matter on Wednesday reads "#justiceforgeorge." Chava Sanchez/ LAist
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

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

Anyone who does not immediately leave the area will be subject to immediate arrest under the order.
Support for LAist comes from

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:

Support for LAist comes from

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.

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.

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.

Support for LAist comes from

We will be covering the protests Saturday, which are scheduled for 12 p.m.

FOLLOW OUR COVERAGE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS:

Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist