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  4. Protests over the death of George Floyd continued for an eighth night, remaining largely peaceful after previous days of violence

Protests over the death of George Floyd continued for an eighth night, remaining largely peaceful after previous days of violence

Rosie Perper   

Protests over the death of George Floyd continued for an eighth night, remaining largely peaceful after previous days of violence
A New Yorker holds a banner during a protest over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being pinned down by a white police officer in Minneapolis, United States on June 2, 2020 in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States.Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
  • Protests for George Floyd continued on into their eighth night on Tuesday.
  • Large-scale protests took place in Los Angeles and New York, though they remained largely peaceful into the night.
  • The night was not without clashes, however. Police in multiple cities fired tear gas and used other tactics to disperse protesters.
  • Here's how protests played in several cities across the US on June 2.

Protests for George Floyd continued on into their second week on Tuesday, prompting thousands of people to take to the streets in cities across the US.

Floyd, a black man, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. The incident was captured on video and has prompted escalating protests against police brutality.

Demonstrations on Tuesday night were largely peaceful, in contrast to the violent clashes that took place between police and protesters last week and on Monday.

Thousands of National Guard troops have been activated across at least 23 US states. Curfews have been imposed in over 200 cities, according to The Washington Post.

Large demonstrations were held on Tuesday in several cities, including Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta. Some of the protests continued on beyond the set curfew, leading to dozens of arrests and police reportedly firing tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds.

Here's how protests played out around the US on June 2.

Roxie Washington, the mother of George Floyd's six-year-old daughter Gianna, spoke out about Floyd's death and said he was a good man.

Roxie Washington, the mother of George Floyd
George Floyd's 6-year-old daughter Gianna, embraces her mother Roxie Washington before speaking about her father, following the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, at Minneapolis City Hall, in Minneapolis, U.S., June 2, 2020.      REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Washington said that she was seeking justice for his death.

"I'm here for my baby and I'm here for George because I want justice for him," she said.

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Trump called protesters 'looters and thugs' and said New York City was 'totally out of control' in a series of late-night tweets.

Trump called protesters
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Trump makes announcement about China at the White House in Washington      Reuters

Trump tweeted into the evening hours on Tuesday, accusing the media of playing down protester action and accusing New York of being "totally out of control."

The city experienced a night of looting and violence on Monday, but Tuesday's protests were largely peaceful.

In New York City, hundreds of protesters tried to cross the Manhattan Bridge and faced a standoff with police. After roughly two hours, protesters headed back towards Brooklyn without incident.

In New York City, hundreds of protesters tried to cross the Manhattan Bridge and faced a standoff with police. After roughly two hours, protesters headed back towards Brooklyn without incident.
Hundreds of protesters walk across the Manhattan Bridge after an 8 p.m. curfew in New York City on June 2, 2020.      Screenshot/NBC4 New York

An 8 p.m. curfew has been extended in New York City through at least Sunday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday. The only vehicles allowed to drive south of 96th street in Manhattan were essential workers, buses, and delivery trucks.

Still, many continued to march through New York's streets past 8 p.m. in largely peaceful demonstrations. According to CBS New York, there were a few reports of looting in Manhattan but not to a large scale as seen in previous days.

Large numbers of protesters were gathered at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. A Black Lives Matter flag was hoisted to a flag pole.

De Blasio tweeted that he was at the Barclays Center at around 11 p.m. local time.

"Very calm situation," he said.

Hundreds of protesters attempted to cross the Manhattan Bridge from Brooklyn but were met with a wall of police preventing them from entering the city.

After a tense but non-violent standoff, protesters eventually turned around and made their way towards Brooklyn largely without incident.

Several arrests were made earlier in the evening, according to The New York Times.

In Los Angeles, thousands of people rallied outside Mayor Eric Garcetti's home.

In Los Angeles, thousands of people rallied outside Mayor Eric Garcetti
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti addresses protesters in downtown Los Angeles outside of LA City Hall and LAPD Headquarters on Tuesday, June 2, 2020.      Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A 6 p.m. curfew is being enforced in Los Angeles. LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a press conference that a curfew would remain in place until protests die down.

Garcetti took a knee during protests in Downtown Los Angeles earlier on Tuesday.

Actress Keke Palmer also participated in protests and made an impassioned plea to members of the National Guard to march alongside protesters.

The Los Angeles Police Commission hosted a virtual town hall, which led to many angry messages from the city's residents towards law enforcement.

Thousands of people rallied outside Mayor Eric Garcetti's home in Hancock Park before dispersing.

Dozens of people were attested in Holywood and Downtown Los Angeles for violating curfew.

In Washington, DC, protests took place in Lafayette Square, just across from the White House.

During earlier protests, Air National Guard members lined the entrance to the Lincoln Memorial, blocking people from entering. 

According to The Washington Post, protests were largely peaceful.

As the evening wore on, some protesters defied the city's 7 p.m. curfew.

However, crowds began to swell later in the evening around the perimeter of Lafayette Square. Protesters launched water bottles and fireworks and authorities fired pepper spray at crowds.

According to The Post, one protester was arrested near the Trump hotel in downtown Washington in the early hours on Wednesday.

 

In Milwaukee, police launched tear gas at a crowd that chanted 'we are peaceful.'

According to NBC affiliate TMJ4, Milwaukee police declared a gathering of protesters in the downtown area "unlawful" and used tear gas to disperse crowds. Police told TMJ that protests threw "rocks and glass at our officers."

According to TMJ, the protesters had chanted "we are peaceful."

Milwaukee police said that a Molotov cocktail was thrown at an officer at around 8 p.m., though it did not ignite.

 

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a state of emergency.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a state of emergency.
Asa Hutchinson      Joshua Roberts/Reuters

"Our citizens have the right to peacefully assemble and protest, and the State of Arkansas is committed to protecting those rights," he said. No major protests took place on Tuesday.

The state of Minnesota launched a civil rights investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department over Floyd's death.

The state of Minnesota launched a civil rights investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department over Floyd
A chain portrait of George Floyd is part of the memorial for him, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, near the site where Floyd was arrested.      Jim Mone/AP

Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced the filing on Tuesday.

And in Atlanta, tear gas was fired to disperse protesters.

According to WSB Radio, armored vehicles formed a "tight cordon" around the Georgia Capitol.

Police were reported to have fired tear gas at several points in the night.

 

In Portland, Oregon, the police chief said there were two groups of protesters — one peacefully and one "violent and aggressive." Tear gas and flash bangs were used by police after 9:00 p.m. local time.

 

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