Violent protests over the death of a black man in police custody rocked a Minneapolis neighborhood for a second straight night as angry crowds looted stores, set fires and left a path of damage that stretched for miles. The mayor asked the governor to activate the National Guard.
The protests that began late Wednesday and stretched into Thursday morning were the most destructive yet since the death of George Floyd, who was seen on video gasping for breath during an arrest in which an officer kneeled on his neck for almost eight minutes. In the footage, George pleads that he cannot breathe before he slowly stops talking and moving. Mayor Jacob Frey sought calm. “Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy,” he
Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy.
— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) May 28, 2020
The area along Lake has become unsafe. We are asking for your help in keeping the peace tonight. https://t.co/kRZuWGJY29
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According to the Star Tribune, several people were struck by gunfire. One man was fatally shot when a pawnshop owner opened fire after he thought the man was burglarizing the business. Protests also spread to other U.S. cities. In California, hundreds of people protesting Floyd’s death blocked a Los Angeles freeway and shattered windows of California Highway Patrol cruisers.The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI in Minneapolis said Thursday they were conducting “a robust criminal investigation” into Floyd’s death and making the case a priority. The announcement came a day after President Donald Trump tweeted that he had asked an investigation to be expedited.
Today on AirTalk, we get the latest updates from Minneapolis in the aftermath of the protests. Do you have thoughts? Share them by calling 866-893-5722.
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
Tim Nelson, reporter for Minnesota Public Radio; he tweets