Protests In LA Day 6: Floyd's Memory 'Deserves A Better Los Angeles... A Better World'
NOTE: This story is no longer being updated. Check "The Latest" in the morning for updates.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Protests continue for a sixth night around Southern California as people take to the streets to express their anger over the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer -- and over other unjust killings of African Americans and people of color by police.
Protestors are making a strong showing despite a confusing Los Angeles County curfew order that went into effect at 6 p.m. Monday and lasts until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Several cities in L.A. County -- including Glendale, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Long Beach -- instituted curfews that started earlier.
Tonight's events come in the wake of President Trump's first public response to a week of mostly peaceful protests, which in some cases devolved into looting, vandalism and notably aggressive behavior by police toward demonstrators, troublemakers and members of the press alike.
In his speech today, Trump said:
"I am mobilizing all available federal resources -- civilian and military -- to stop the rioting and looting to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans including your Second Amendment rights," referring to the right for civilians to bear arms.
A few hours later, Mayor Eric Garcetti urged Angelenos to adhere to the curfew and not to destroy property.
After Garcetti spoke, LAPD Chief Michael Moore characterized the protests as "criminal acts," without drawing a clear distinction between the protestors and troublemakers, the latter of which were far fewer in numbers, by virtually all accounts.
More than 700 people were arrested last night in L.A., Moore said, adding that 70 were burglarizing or looting businesses.
"We didn't have protests last night. We had criminal acts. We didn't have people mourning the death of this man, George Floyd. We had people capitalizing. His death is on their hands, as much as it is those officers."
"[Floyd's] memory deserves a better Los Angeles, a better United States, and a better world. It is my hope, and every pure intention, to achieve just that," he said.
Floyd, who was black, died last week when a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground by his neck for nearly nine minutes while he begged for mercy and cried for his mother before becoming limp and unresponsive.
As the sun went down over the Pacific and most Angelenos hunkered down for the evening, many still took to the streets.
WESTWOOD
Helicopters have been circling over Westwood all afternoon. Approximately 1,000 people participated in a peaceful protest outside the Federal Building, located at Wilshire and Veteran, holding signs and chanting for justice. At around 4 p.m., some of them walked onto the 405 Freeway and blocked traffic for roughly 20 minutes, reports the Daily News. The protestors were ordered to disperse. It's not clear whether police officers arrested anyone at this protest.
Incredible images pic.twitter.com/IZDX2JhSaX
— David Rosenfeld (@RosenfeldReport) June 1, 2020
HOLLYWOOD
Hundreds of people marched in Hollywood. KTLA reports that just afer 5 p.m., the crowd was moving eastward along Sunset Boulevard and a store in Gower Gulch was looted. At around 6 p.m., KTLA reports, the crowd came to a sudden stop at the intersection of Cahuenga Boulevard and Willoughby Avenue, where officers stood along two crosswalks: "Several dozen people, some carrying signs, kneeled and put their hands in the air as they faced one row of about a dozen officers there."
Some looting, including at a Walgreens, is reportedly taking place.
Residents and business owners in parts of East Hollywood/Thai Town have erected a barricade on their street and are reporting that they're hearing loud booms.
LAist has received unconfirmed reports that another group of protestors had gathered by Paramount Studios, near Melrose and Gower, and the two groups of protestors are either merging together or being herded together by LAPD officers. The convergence could potentially occur in the Fairfax District, which saw a large crowd of demonstrators as well as some violence this past weekend.
Just after 7 p.m., NBC4 reports,approximtely 50 protesters in the Hollywood area had been detained for apparent curfew violations.
There are a lot of of police officers im #Hollywood Hollywood #california
— IT IS HEAVEN ☀️❤️🔥🌊💫🙏🤟🤙🔊👽🛸 (@camerongrey) June 2, 2020
They will be arresting people for violating curfew. Felonies if you are found to be part of a group that was looting. #georgefloyd🖤 #TheGeorgeFloydProtestThread #LosAngelesProtest #curfew pic.twitter.com/iYv0IfdTgU
WEST HOLLYWOOD
Protestors gathered on the Sunset Strip at Sunset Boulevard near La Cienega Boulevard. "Just a block to the east, in the shadow of the Directors Guild of America headquarters, around 60 uniformed police officers with riot gear were on standby. A block in the other direction, at the base of Laurel Canyon, two National Guard officers in fatigues surveyed the perimeter," Variety reports.
Demonstrators reportedly chanted, "Say his name! George Floyd!" as drivers honked in support.
Variety also reports that several blocks south, at the intersection of La Cienega and Santa Monica boulevards, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, which patrols West Hollywood, was blocking westbound traffic into the city.
HAPPENING NOW: a growing but peaceful #BlackLivesMatter protest on Sunset Blvd. just north of West Hollywood. Minor police presence. Drivers are honking their horns in solidarity. pic.twitter.com/B07ACYi7AA
— Scott Stenholm (@ScottStenholm) June 1, 2020
At one point, an officer responded to chants and requets from the crowd to take a knee, and the crowd took a knee with him.
An LAPD officer just took a knee with protesters in West Hollywood. The entire crowd took a knee with him. @LAPDHQ @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/gRawsK0g6Y
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) June 1, 2020
DOWNTOWN L.A.
In downtown Los Angeles, National Guard vehicles rolled through the streets as peaceful demonstrators walked and chanted and were occasionally corralled by police. The protestors were mostly in the Historic Core, around 5th at Main and Spring streets. This evening, police began arresting protestors who wouldn't disperse and brought in buses from the Sheriff's Department to haul away the detainees
arrests on Main st #DTLA pic.twitter.com/alB1cRUU9w
— Andrey 🔬🧠🐠💤 (@aandr314) June 2, 2020
VAN NUYS
Around 3 p.m., the LAPD declared an unlawful assembly and began dispersing a crowd of several hundred protestors in Van Nuys, reports ABC7. "Most people were standing on the sidewalks, but some spilled over into the street and were walking between cars... As police began breaking up the crowd, there were scattered reports of looting nearby on Van Nuys Boulevard," according to ABC7.
Let it be known that the protest in Van Nuys in front of the courthouse today was peaceful as fuck. pic.twitter.com/6O3L9id390
— LordSturg🦕 (@STURGGG) June 2, 2020
ANAHEIM
Hundreds of people gathered in La Palma Park and in front of Anaheim City Hall to protest the death of George Floyd. The Orange County Register reports, "The protests remained peaceful for several hours, though after an unlawful assembly was declared around 7 p.m., some people began throwing fireworks near police officers and one person said they believed they had been hit with a less-than-lethal round."
Got separated for a bit. Crowd is back at the park near La Palma Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. Sticking to sidewalks, really calm--except for some drivers doing donuts. pic.twitter.com/yXCCLDnBlm
— Caitlin Hernández (they/them) (@caitlinherdez) June 2, 2020
WEST COVINA
A demonstration that last for approximately four hours was peaceful from beginning to end, reports the Pasadena Star-News.
The paper says "Demonstrators laid down on an overpass in West Covina before getting up to wave signs at the trucks and cars passing below on the 10 Freeway. Traffic below slowed as the demonstrators, about 170 by the mid-afternoon, shouted and hollered. Some drivers laid on their horns in support, getting celebratory cheers in return."
Reporting here in Glendora on Route 66 where over 60 people are protesting in the memory of George Floyd. Many honks and cheers from those passing by so far. pic.twitter.com/DZABbmAeOt
— Javier Rojas (@TheeJavierRojas) June 1, 2020
LONG BEACH
After a major protest on Sunday afternoon near near 3rd and Pine streets, during which a Long Beach police officer shot LAist/KPCC reporter Adolfo Guzman Lopez with a rubber bullet -- Long Beach has not seen any protests Monday. The Long Beach Press Telegram reports that, "Much of Sunday's demonstration was was peaceful -- and had the backing of city leadership. But after dark, clashes with police erupted, businesses were damaged and stores looted."
As of now, there are no reports of protest activity in our city.#LBPD will remain in stage 3 tactical alert until further notice.
— Long Beach PD (CA) (@LBPD) June 1, 2020
Please remember to abide by our city-wide curfew order which goes into effect at 4PM.
❗️Stay tuned for updates on city activity every couple hrs.
MORE ON LA PROTESTS
- KPCC/LAist Reporters Tear-Gassed, Shot With Rubber Bullet
- Black Lives Matter-LA Leader Explains 'Very Deliberate' Choice To Demonstrate In Upscale Neighborhoods
- 'Righteous Anger.' LA Weighs In On Another Day Of Protests
- LA Councilman Mike Bonin: 'We Need To Pay Attention To The Violence Of Systemic Racism'
- These Recent Events Are A LOT -- Tell Us Your Story Or Ask A Question
- How LA Is Reckoning With The George Floyd Protests
- Mis Ángeles: George Floyd Should Be Home With His Family Right Now
- George Floyd's Death Is One Of Many Reasons Activists Are Pushing For A 'People's Budget' In LA
-
The project will rename most of the terminals and all of the gates with the goal of world-class signage that leans into psychology.
-
After San Gabriel's city council rejected the proposal as "too narrow", one city councilmember argued the entire DEI commission, created in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, had "run its course."
-
A medical industry challenge to a $25 minimum wage ordinance in one Southern California city suggests health workers statewide could face layoffs and reductions in hours and benefits under a state law set to begin phasing in in June. Some experts are skeptical, however, that it will have such effects.
-
Sandhill cranes are returning to the Lake Tahoe basin after a century long hiatus in what many say is a conservation success story.
-
The Dodgers fired Mizuhara in March after Ohtani's lawyers accused him of stealing millions of dollars from the baseball player to place bets with an Orange County-based bookie.
-
Jackie’s partner, Shadow, refuses to abandon their unviable eggs, despite her attempts to nudge him along.