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100+ arrests in protests across South Carolina over the weekend

Peaceful and violent protests were held across the Palmetto State

100+ arrests in protests across South Carolina over the weekend

Peaceful and violent protests were held across the Palmetto State

YOU. PROTESTERS IN GREENVILLE, TELL US THEY WANT TO BE HEARD. IT SEEMS LAW ENFORCEMENT GOT THEIR MESSAGE COUNTY AND CITY LEADERS JOINED THEM THIS AFTERNOON, AND I HAD OUR TAGGART HOUCK HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS ALL DAY LONG TAGGART. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? GOOD EVENING, JOE. YEAH, I JUST JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU WE’RE ACTUALLY HERE IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. THIS IS NOT FAR FROM ONE CITY PLAZA. WANT TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT. YOU CAN KIND OF GET AN IDEA FOR WHAT WE ARE SEEING OUT HERE. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF POLICE PRESENCE OUT HERE. YOU CAN SEE THE DOGS RIGHT THERE AND BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF THE PEOPLE CLEARING EARLIER TODAY THOUGH THE MESSAGE HERE VERY MUCH MESSAGE OF EQUALITY. I LOVE YOU LORD. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT MOVE OF GOD HAPPENS AFTER A SILENT PROTEST STARTING WITH PRAYER NEAR LIBERTY BRIDGE AT FALLS PARK ORGANIZERS MAKING CLEAR THEIR INTENT. WELL BREATHE, AND WE WILL LIVE THOUSANDS MARCHING ALONGSIDE POLICE INTERIM GREENVILLE POLICE CHIEF HOWARD THOMPSON AND GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF HOBART LOUIS JOINING IN THANKFUL. IT WAS PEACEFUL REALLY WANT TO BE EFFECTIVE. IT DOES NEED TO BE PEACEFUL. YOU DO NEED TO GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS AND I THINK WE DO NEED TO SHOW A RELATIONSHIP. NO WHAT WE CAN ALL YOU KNOW GET ALONG PROTESTERS STOPPING AT ONE CITY PLAZA CHANTING FOR GEORGE FLOYD. LET M HEAR YOU SAY FRUSTRATED NOW. THE NEXT ONE WILL NOT BE THE NEXT ONE THE NEXT ONE. POLICE BRUTALITY ACROSS THE NATION THERE WERE TWO SMALL INSTANCES. WE NOTICE BOTH INVOLVED HECKLERS NOT RELATED TO THE PROTEST WITH INSENSITIVE COMMENTS ONE WAS THAT MAN BEING TAKEN AWAY BY POLICE WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION SOME MARKS FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS LONGER THAN EXPECTED SKY4 WITH A LOOK AT THAT AT ONE POINT PROTESTERS KNEELED ORGANIZERS ASKED EVERYONE TO REGISTER TO VOTE ONLY WAY. WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE SOCIAL CHANGE IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A THE REGISTRATION BILL FILLED OUT A BALLOT FILLED OUT DEW THAT HAD SOME VERY GOOD DIALOGUE. I THINK IT’S BEEN VERY VERY BENEFICIAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS AREA BOTH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND US AND THE COMMUNITY. ORGANIZERS HERE AGAIN. THEY EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PROTESTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT BY LARGE PART. WE SAW A LOT OF THAT HERE TONIGHT FOR NOW
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100+ arrests in protests across South Carolina over the weekend

Peaceful and violent protests were held across the Palmetto State

More than 110 people were arrested over the weekend in South Carolina and several businesses and other property damaged in Columbia and Charleston as a small group of people broke away from peaceful protests in several cities across the state.(Video above: Recap of Sunday protest in Greenville) As people cleaned up for the damage, officials warily planned in case the problems would extend for a third night. More protests and rallies over racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, a black man who pleaded for air while in handcuffs as a white officer in Minnesota pressed a knee into his neck last week. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott asked organizers of daily peaceful protests at the Statehouse to reconsider their frequency, at least for a little while.“It is getting sabotaged and hijacked. You’re not helping anybody’s cause whatsoever. Maybe we need to cool it a little bit and see if we can come up with something else,” Lott said Monday.Law enforcement also started culling through hundreds if not thousands of videos made by reporters, posted on social media and sent to them of the protests, looking to find people who attacked police officers or other people, shattered windows or stole from stores. “Everybody who threw a rock everybody who burned a car, stole something — vandalism — everybody is going to be held accountable. Nobody is getting a free ride,” Lott said.Lott sent Richland County deputies to Columbia to help with violent protests both Saturday and Sunday that followed peaceful gatherings at the Statehouse. More than 50 people were arrested. Several rounds of tear gas and rubber bullet were fired both days and a curfew was issued. Two shooting were reported with no injuries. Twelve police officers were hurt with most of the injuries minor, authorities said. Several businesses and restaurants in downtown Columbia were damaged. It was a similar scene in downtown Charleston with property damage and shattered glass after Saturday and Sunday disturbances.Like Columbia, officials in Charleston cracked down on protests more Sunday. Charleston reported seven arrests Saturday and 35 Sunday while taking a harder line.“We started out with the intention of arresting people who violated the law. That didn’t happen last night and I think that sent the wrong message,” Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said Sunday. Police in Columbia closed one of the city’s malls over the weekend and used police cars to block entrances. Thirty people tried to break into a Target store in the suburbs but were scattered before getting inside, authorities said. Windows were also broken in a mall in Orangeburg.In Myrtle Beach, police officers including Chief Amy Prock joined marchers. But when they returned to the police station, several people blocked a driveway and were arrested. More were charged with breaking curfew. A total of 23 people faced charges.Greenville’s large protests Saturday and Sunday stayed mostly peaceful, although Sunday’s demonstration ended around 10 p.m. some six hours after it started with tear gas and arrests. Authorities have not said how many people were arrested.Peaceful protests also happened in Aiken, Beaufort, Bluffton, Greenwood, Lancaster, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Sumter.Demonstrations and rallies are heading to smaller places too. Chester planned a unity rally Monday night, held jointly by the black mayor of the city and the white sheriff of surrounding Chester County.South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Sunday he has no plans for a statewide curfew or to send the National Guard to any cities, but that could change if events escalate.

More than 110 people were arrested over the weekend in South Carolina and several businesses and other property damaged in Columbia and Charleston as a small group of people broke away from peaceful protests in several cities across the state.

(Video above: Recap of Sunday protest in Greenville)

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As people cleaned up for the damage, officials warily planned in case the problems would extend for a third night. More protests and rallies over racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, a black man who pleaded for air while in handcuffs as a white officer in Minnesota pressed a knee into his neck last week.

Floyd protest

Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott asked organizers of daily peaceful protests at the Statehouse to reconsider their frequency, at least for a little while.

“It is getting sabotaged and hijacked. You’re not helping anybody’s cause whatsoever. Maybe we need to cool it a little bit and see if we can come up with something else,” Lott said Monday.

Columbia protest
Columbia Fire Department

Law enforcement also started culling through hundreds if not thousands of videos made by reporters, posted on social media and sent to them of the protests, looking to find people who attacked police officers or other people, shattered windows or stole from stores.

“Everybody who threw a rock everybody who burned a car, stole something — vandalism — everybody is going to be held accountable. Nobody is getting a free ride,” Lott said.

Lott sent Richland County deputies to Columbia to help with violent protests both Saturday and Sunday that followed peaceful gatherings at the Statehouse. More than 50 people were arrested. Several rounds of tear gas and rubber bullet were fired both days and a curfew was issued. Two shooting were reported with no injuries. Twelve police officers were hurt with most of the injuries minor, authorities said.

Several businesses and restaurants in downtown Columbia were damaged. It was a similar scene in downtown Charleston with property damage and shattered glass after Saturday and Sunday disturbances.

Like Columbia, officials in Charleston cracked down on protests more Sunday. Charleston reported seven arrests Saturday and 35 Sunday while taking a harder line.

WYFF-TV

“We started out with the intention of arresting people who violated the law. That didn’t happen last night and I think that sent the wrong message,” Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said Sunday.

Police in Columbia closed one of the city’s malls over the weekend and used police cars to block entrances. Thirty people tried to break into a Target store in the suburbs but were scattered before getting inside, authorities said. Windows were also broken in a mall in Orangeburg.

In Myrtle Beach, police officers including Chief Amy Prock joined marchers. But when they returned to the police station, several people blocked a driveway and were arrested. More were charged with breaking curfew. A total of 23 people faced charges.

Greenville’s large protests Saturday and Sunday stayed mostly peaceful, although Sunday’s demonstration ended around 10 p.m. some six hours after it started with tear gas and arrests. Authorities have not said how many people were arrested.

Greenville protest

Peaceful protests also happened in Aiken, Beaufort, Bluffton, Greenwood, Lancaster, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Sumter.

Demonstrations and rallies are heading to smaller places too. Chester planned a unity rally Monday night, held jointly by the black mayor of the city and the white sheriff of surrounding Chester County.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Sunday he has no plans for a statewide curfew or to send the National Guard to any cities, but that could change if events escalate.