May 31 George Floyd protest news

As of Sunday morning, approximately 5,000 National Guard members have been activated in response to civil disturbances in 15 states and Washington, DC, with another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed.

However, the situation remains fluid and those numbers can change rapidly, the National Guard said in a statement along with the figures. 

National Guard spokesman Army Master Sgt. W. Michael Houk stressed that while state and local law enforcement agencies remain responsible for security, National Guard personnel activated in these area are trained, equipped and prepared to assist law enforcement with protecting lives and the property of citizens. 

States with activated National Guard are Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington State, Wisconsin.

At least 83 people were arrested by the Denver Police Department during protests overnight in the state capital, according to a tweet from the department.

Charges for those arrested included curfew violations, damaging property and having prohibited weapons, among others, the tweet said. One person was arrested before the 8 p.m. curfew.

Two weapons were recovered by police, the tweet said, with images attached of a bat and a gun with bullets.

See DPD's tweet:

More than 60 US Secret Service Uniformed Division officers and special agents were injured starting Friday night through Sunday morning near the White House as protests rocked Washington, DC, following the death of George Floyd last week, according to a statement from the Secret Service.

CNN teams were on hand for much of the protests and witnessed protesters throwing objects at officers and pulling temporary fencing away from them. 

Eleven Secret Service employees were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

The Secret Service said no one crossed the White House fence and no one being protected was ever in danger. 

Officers made one arrest near the White House on Saturday night.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster today for all Texas counties after violent protests gripped the state Saturday.

Under Abbott’s declaration, federal agents are able to serve as Texas Peace Officers.

Abbott continued: "As protests have turned violent in various areas across the state, it is crucial that we maintain order, uphold public safety, and protect against property damage or loss. By authorizing additional federal agents to serve as Texas Peace Officers we will help protect people’s safety while ensuring that peaceful protesters can continue to make their voices heard."

Chicago looters were organized and targeting specific stores, according to Brendan Reilly, alderman of Chicago's 42nd Ward.

Reilly said there were several trucks seen pulling up to retailers on Saturday.

"You can also see there was a pattern in the types of stores that were looted. Nearly every branch of bank in downtown Chicago was vandalized and broken into," Reilly said. 

Reilly said ATM machines were removed and cracked open and pharmacies were specifically targeted for prescription drugs; many were also set on fire.

"We also had the newest cannabis dispensary targeted for pretty obvious reasons," Reilly said.

Washington, DC, Police Chief Peter Newsham announced that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested 17 people Saturday night during protests in the city.

Eleven MPD officers were injured during the protests – none sustained life threatening injuries, but one is undergoing surgery today after suffering multiple compound fractures to his leg after a protester threw a rock at him, Newsham told reporters at a news conference Sunday.

Newsham said that of the 17 people arrested, eight of those lived or had some ties to DC. They were able to identify five others who were Virginia residents.

He said police expect they will be making more arrests. The department is asking private businesses to review their security footage and will ask the DC community to help identify those who were damaging property or hurting people. 

Arrests are rarely made at demonstrations in DC, Newsham said.

Here's what happened last night: Newsham said that around 9 p.m., “rioters” threw incendiary devices at MPD, which he called “particularly disturbing,” and said not usually seen in demonstrations in DC. He said rioters were also looting. 

There were “multiple instances of destruction of private and public property” roughly between 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. last night, including three vehicles, and a structure attached to a building under constriction, were set on fire, Newsham said.

MPD worked with other local law enforcement and federal partners last night to “manage the chaos,” Newsham said. 

He called the behavior of police, “incredibly responsible, heroic, in many instances,” and added that he could “not be more proud” of the officers on the scene. 

At about 3 a.m., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Newsham went downtown to look at the damage that had been done and speak to business owners.

Chicago Police officers will work 12 hour shifts and all days off have been canceled following unrest in the city Saturday, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said today. 

Brown said police were assaulted, both verbally and physically, saying he saw officers get "pelted with bottles and debris."

"Officers spent the evening, protecting those who came to peacefully protest the death of Mr. George Floyd, and to protect as many buildings and businesses as they could," Brown said.

Brown also said police vehicles were defaced with graffiti and had the windows broken. Some vehicles were also flipped over, he said.

In total, 240 arrests were made Saturday and six people were shot, one of which died, Brown said. 

"Lawlessness has no place in Chicago," Brown said. "We will not sacrifice our local democracy to lawlessness."

WATCH:

The city's curfew will remain in effect and the National Guard will continue to assist police responding to protests, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said today.

Lightfoot is reducing access to the loop, the main section of downtown Chicago, and to the central business district.

"This area will only be accessible to residents and essential employees, whose businesses are located within the boundaries we have set to enable the cleanup and repair and restoration of their places of livelihood," Lightfoot said. "We've also suspended all CTA train and bus service coming in and out of the loop."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is sending several cities additional support and resources to assist with protests that are expected to happen Sunday night.

Cuomo said resources will be sent to "any place that needs additional help where the local police can't handle it."

The governor said Rochester asked for 200 additional state police to support their local law enforcement.

Melissa DeRosa, the secretary to the governor, said 150 troopers will also be sent to Buffalo.

DeRosa said the state has been talking with county executives and the mayors of Syracuse and Albany to determine what kind of support they'll need to protect their infrastructure.

"[W]hatever they need, they'll get," DeRosa said.

Cuomo said the National Guard is on standby if cities need more than the state police. He also said he is working to make sure "we have enough resources to address every situation and we take our clues from the local officials and previous behavior."