A Police vehicle burns after protesters rallied at Barclays Center in Brooklyn over the death of George Floyd. Photo / AP
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Police cars have been set on fire, rioters tear gassed and violent struggles erupted on the streets as protests rage into the night across America over the death of George Floyd.
About 50 people have been arrested in Minneapolis as the state plans to send in 1,700 National Guard soldiers. Nearly 200 people have been arrested in Houston, CNN reports.
In Brooklyn, New York, an NYPD van was set upon by protesters who rocked the vehicle and then set it alight.
Numerous people were arrested and police brought in buses to take away prisoners.
"We have a long night ahead of us in Brooklyn," Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted.
"Our sole focus is deescalating this situation and getting people home safe. There will be a full review of what happened tonight. We don't ever want to see another night like this."
The police department said numerous officers were injured, including one who had a tooth knocked out.
One video shows a man with a bandana around his neck spray-painting "F*** Trump" onto Freedman's Bank Building, which is adjacent to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
A lockdown of the White House was earlier lifted.
Protests continue to multiply after the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while in police custody in Minneapolis.
Police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed pressing his knee into Floyd's throat. He has since been arrested and charged with murder.
READ MORE:
• George Floyd killing: Accused police officer opened fire on 2 people
• George Floyd killing: Minneapolis cop charged with murder after kneeling on neck
• George Floyd killing: Transcript of 911 call that sparked his arrest released
• George Floyd death: Second night of protests, mayor calls for National Guard
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock called for calm and unity Friday after the first of several planned city protests over George Floyd's death turned violent, declaring: "Let not the story be about the riots and protests. Let's keep the focus on the life that was lost."
"I can tell you not to go out and demonstrate but the reality is it's going to happen," Hancock said at a news briefing, stressing he shared outrage over what he's called the "senseless and tragic murder" of Floyd in Minneapolis.
Hancock and Police Chief Paul Pazen blamed what they called a minority of agitators among peaceful protesters for inciting violence throughout downtown on Thursday. That violence included throwing rocks at police officers, setting small fires, and breaking windows and damaging cars at the state Capitol and at businesses. More protests were planned for Friday and Saturday. Pazen said three officers were injured and that 13 people were arrested for burglary, criminal mischief and assault.
Protests also spread to Phoenix, Denver, Memphis, Columbus and New York.
Protesters in Atlanta appeared to shove officers and throw water bottles at authorities while protesting the death of George Floyd.
Hundreds of protesters confronted police outside CNN headquarters in downtown Atlanta late in the day. Protesters threw plastic water bottles and glass bottles at police.
The bottles exploded behind the police line, but no officers appeared to get hit. Protesters chanted, "Quit your jobs."
The officers backed up in a line away from the group of protesters who were throwing objects at them.
Police ordered demonstrators to leave the street and threatened to arrest them if they did not leave quickly.
Earlier, as the protest appeared more calm, Kaity Brackett, 27, said she came out to the protest because she thinks the entire criminal justice system needs to be overhauled, starting with policing. She said the Ahmaud Arbery killing was a catalyst for her and referred to his death as a lynching.
Arbery was killed on February 23 by a former district attorney investigator and his son, who were not arrested until after video emerged months later. Brackett wore a blue mask and sat with her partner and a friend. She was less concerned about the threat from the coronavirus.
"We risk our lives going to the grocery store, going to get gas," she said. "This is more important than all of that."
Protesters pelted officers who came over with bottles, striking some of them. Other bottles thrown at authorities exploded behind the police line, but no officers appeared to get hit. Protesters chanted: "Quit your jobs."
The officers backed their line away from the group of protesters who were throwing objects at them.
Police ordered demonstrators to leave the street and threatened to arrest them if they did not leave quickly.
Protesters used accelerant to burn an American flag. People were watching the scene from rooftops, some laughing at skirmishes that broke out and vandalism by the protesters.
Protesters were also walking on the interstate in downtown Atlanta and appeared to be trying to block traffic.
The Georgia State Patrol has responded.
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms passionately addressed the protesters at a news conference: "This is not a protest. This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr."
"You are disgracing our city," she told protesters. "You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country. We are better than this. We are better than this as a city. We are better than this as a country. Go home, go home."
- with AP
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