Protesters set a vehicle on fire during a protest following the death of George Floyd outside of the CNN Center next to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, United States on May 29, 2020.
Anadolu Agency
Demonstrations erupted in cities across the U.S. in response to the death of George Floyd in the hands of Minneapolis police. Derek Chauvin, the police officer who was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck, was arrested Friday and charged with murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death.
Protests continued Friday night and into early Saturday morning in cities from Portland, Oregon to Atlanta, Georgia. The demonstrations descended into rioting in several instances, with the National Guard mobilized in some cities.
This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the demonstrations gripping the U.S. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks.
Minneapolis mayor says people engaging in violence are not from city, warns pandemic still a crisis
11:06 am — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said protesters who are escalating violence in Minneapolis are not city residents but are coming in from out of town.
Frey said the protests over the death of George Floyd and the coronavirus pandemic are “two crises sandwiched on top of one another” and urged people to stay home and stop damaging businesses that are especially critical during the pandemic.
“This is no longer about protesting, this is no longer about verbal expression, this is about violence, and we need to make sure that it stops,” he said at a press conference.
Minnesota governor fully mobilizes national guard, spoke with Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs
10:56 a.m. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he has fully mobilized the National Guard for the first time in the state’s history in response to continued social unrest over the death of George Floyd.
Walz said he “spoke extensively” with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper as well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and received their situation report about social unrest across the U.S.
Walz acknowledged the “legitimate rage and anger that came after what the world witnessed in the murder of George Floyd,” but condemned riots that he described as an “organized attempt to destabilize civil society.”
A man confronts a National Guard member guarding the area in the aftermath of a protest against the death in Minneapolis police custody of African-American man George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., May 29, 2020.
Lucas Jackson | Reuters
“Last night is a mockery of pretending this is about George Floyd’s death or inequities or historical traumas to our communities of color,” Walz said, “because our communities of color and our indigenous communities were out front fighting hand in hand to save businesses that took generations to build.”
Walz said National Guard soldiers had taken fire and some people had made improvised explosive devices.
“The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd,” he said. “It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities.”
Walz said a peaceful protests will take place later Saturday, and authorities will use all resources at their disposal to make sure those demonstrations can take place safely.
“Today will be an expression of that grief of the loss of George Floyd,” Walz said. “There will be legitimate exercising of First Amendment rights. Every single person in this room will put all of these resources we are talking about to protect their right to do that to protect their right to gather as community.”
He also spoke about how the state is continuing to grapple with the coronavirus as resources are diverted to responding to the current unrest. “We are still in the middle of a pandemic and passed 1,000 deaths yesterday,” he said.
Minnesota national guard deploying more troops to Twin Cities
Protesters face off with police outside the White House in Washington, DC, early on May 30, 2020 during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white policeman knelt on his neck for several minutes.
ERIC BARADAT
8:30 am ET — The Minnesota National Guard has increased its strength by 1,000 soldiers to support civilian authorities in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, bringing the total 1,700, according to a statement from the guard.
Soldiers have been escorting Minneapolis Fire Department teams and providing security at traffic control points in support of state patrol officers. The guard said it is “prepared to protect life, protect property and restore order.”
In an overnight press conference, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he understands the rage over the killing of George Floyd, but condemned rioting as “life threatening” and called for people to go home.
Atlanta area under state of emergency as governor calls national guard
Police officers clash with protesters during a demonstration over the Minneapolis death of George Floyd while in police custody on May 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Elijah Nouvelage
8 a.m. ET — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency for Fulton County after businesses were looted and vandalized in downtown Atlanta, including the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kemp said he declared the state of emergency and activated as many as 500 Georgia National Guard troops at the request of Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms. The troops will deploy to assist local law enforcement to “subdue unlawful activity and restore peace.”
The College Football Hall of Fame released a statement in support of George Floyd’s family and peaceful protests, but said “we are heartbroken to see the damage to our city and Hall of Fame,” according to a statement posted by NBC affiliate WXIA.
CNN’s global headquarters, which is based in Atlanta, was targeted by crowds who defaced the news network’s logo and broke into the building.
Portland mayor declares states of emergency
Protesters explore the Justice Center after windows were smashed in Portland, Ore., on May 29, 2020, after a vigil for George Floyd.
Alex Milan Tracy/Sipa via AP Images
7:00 am ET — Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has declared a state of emergency after a demonstration turned violent late Friday night and into Saturday morning.
Wheeler imposed a curfew wich remains in effect until 6 a.m. PT Saturday and resume at 8 p.m. PT.
Demonstrators broke into and set fire inside the Multnomah County Justice Center in the city’s downtown, according to local NBC affiliate KGW8. Police used tear gas and flash bangs to disperse people.
Wheeler condemned the rioting and called for peaceful protests.
Hundreds of people arrested in Houston
Protesters march during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white policeman kneeled on his neck for several minutes in Houston, Texas on May 29, 2020.
Mark Felix | Getty Images
4:15 am ET — Nearly 200 people in Houston have been arrested for participating in what the police called “unlawful assemblies.”
Most of those arrested will be charged with obstructing a roadway, police said. Four police offices suffered minor injuries and 8 department vehicles were damaged.
Pentagon reportedly puts military police on alert for Minneapolis deployment
1:50 am ET — The Defense Department has reportedly ordered several active duty military police units to prepare for deployment to Minneapolis, which has been gripped by protests and rioting in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of police.
Three people with direct knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that soldiers in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Drum, New York have orders to deploy within four hours if called. Soldiers in Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Riley, Kansas have been ordered to be ready for deployment within 24 hours, according to the AP’s sources.
President Donald Trump, in a phone call from the Oval Office Thursday, asked Defense Secretary Mark Esper to develop military options for quelling the unrest in Minneapolis if the protests continued to spiral out of control, a senior Pentagon official who was on the call told the AP. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien was also on the Thursday call.
