The rioting we saw yesterday in Minneapolis over the George Floyd murder is continuing today.
CBS:
Tear gas and smoke filled the streets surrounding the Minneapolis Police 3rd Precinct Wednesday, as officers tried to get people to leave the area in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.
Late Wednesday night, protesters set fire inside of an AutoZone store by the precinct building, located near the intersection of Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue.
Just before 7 p.m., dozens of people began looting the Target store near the 3rd Precinct. Other neighboring businesses were also looted and sustained damage.
A Target spokesperson issued a statement to WCCO Wednesday night, saying they closed the Lake Street store earlier in day indefinitely to ensure its employees are safe. The company says its focus is now on helping our community heal.
About two miles south, other protesters gathered peacefully at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, where Floyd had his deadly encounter with police.
This is the second night of protests since Floyd’s death. Tuesday night, a group gathered at the 3rd Precinct, bashing in cars and breaking windows. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo says he ordered officers not to respond until a few people got past a fence and into a parking area where there were weapons inside squad cars. Arradondo says officers arrested five people for breaking into a business across the street. Still, he says the vast majority of protesters have been peaceful.
Mid-afternoon, protesters surrounded the precinct building, as officers stood guard from above. Starting at about 6 p.m., police began firing chemical irritant and firing rubber bullets at the precinct, located near the intersection of Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue, as video on social media shows some protesters once again began breaking the precinct’s windows.
The city is in chaos.
Blacks have looted major department stores, set an AutoZone store on fire, smashed up a Wendy’s and have just been going on a general rampage.
This is awful out here. No police. Looting continues pic.twitter.com/087TpNWhPV
— Karen Scullin FOX9 (@kscullinfox9) May 27, 2020
It’s a wreck pic.twitter.com/N68PoDcGtO
— Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) May 28, 2020
Meanwhile, Target still being looted. It’s been over 3 hours. Many are wearing masks. pic.twitter.com/LZ4dAGHgMT
— Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) May 28, 2020
Protesters are looting Target, AutoZone, and Dollar Tree across the street from this police precinct.
They are now also attacking the Precinct itself.pic.twitter.com/aKLiM7mibi
— Michael James Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) May 28, 2020
I’m arriving to the Lake Street Target and surrounding stores. alarms are blaring. Tear gas deployed near 3rd precinct. It’s mayhem here pic.twitter.com/5xhReWp4Ga
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
The inside of the Target is smoky; people are trying to break into the cash registers. Alarm is blaring pic.twitter.com/qfd97sfNTr
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
Now looters have broken into Cub Foods pic.twitter.com/bOhy0EHrEV
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
Chants of “George Floyd” in front of the 3rd Precinct pic.twitter.com/0e9OgJzdf8
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
Officers on the roof of the precinct have been firing flash grenades and other projectiles into crowd. pic.twitter.com/riE0dPbuWB
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
The Auto Zone is on Fire pic.twitter.com/2IJHx4AKdt
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
They are now working on the Wendy’s next door. I’ve retreated to stay safe. pic.twitter.com/exXTcBl0d8
— Ricardo Lopez (@rljourno) May 28, 2020
The looting is ridiculous, but it is what it is. I’m not sure what else to say about it. This is just what happens when a large number of blacks get angry.
These two armed White dudes were protecting a tobacco shop due to the general lawlessness and inability of police to enforce law. What was interesting is how they said that they agree with the protests.
WATCH: Armed citizens are attempting to stop looters in Minneapolis
“Before there were cops, there were just Americans. So, here we are.”
“Justice for Floyd but we don’t support looting…”@maxnesterak
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 28, 2020
Jews, black racial agitators and other media pundits are trying to frame this as a racial issue but I don’t believe that this narrative is going to be successful. It’s more of an issue of us versus the police. People in general are tired of all the bullshit the police are doing. Blacks might be more mad at the police for the Floyd murder but Whites have had it with all the lockdown bullshit they’ve been enforcing.
It’s a perfect storm that’s formed and we can fully expect to see many more scenes like these over the next several months.