June 2 George Floyd protest news

The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday night that about 1,600 active duty troops had been moved from Fort Bragg and Fort Drum to the Washington, DC area to assist civil authorities if needed.  

No active duty forces have been deployed in DC as of now, but the “active duty elements are postured on military bases in the National Capitol Region,” said Pentagon Chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman in a statement, describing the movement as a "prudent planning measure."

CNN previously reported that troops from Fort Bragg were being moved in the DC area on Monday night.

President Donald Trump’s announcement Monday that he is ready to deploy the military to enforce order inside the United States has led to discomfort among some in the Pentagon, defense officials have told CNN.

Some Pentagon officials have tried to make a strong case that the situation does not yet call for deploying active duty troops unless state governors make a clear argument that such forces are needed. 

"There is an intense desire for local law enforcement to be in charge," a defense official said, alluding to the laws that forbid the military from performing law enforcement roles inside the US.

On Monday night, a retired police captain in St. Louis, Missouri, was killed in a looting incident, said the St. Louis Police Department.

David Dorn had been killed while responding to an alarm at a pawnshop, said the department in a press conference on Tuesday.

"Throughout the night, we made 25 arrests for various charges. And then there were 55 businesses and counting that were burglarized and had property damage," said an official at the press conference. 

"One of those businesses had one of our retired captains, retired captain David Dorn, who retired after 38 years. During the looting process, David Dorn was exercising law enforcement that he learned here."

President Donald Trump tweeted about the incident, paying his respects to Dorn.

"Our highest respect to the family of David Dorn, a Great Police Captain from St. Louis, who was viciously shot and killed by despicable looters last night. We honor our police officers, perhaps more than ever before. Thank you!" he tweeted.

The Seattle Office of Police Accountability received about 14,000 complaints concerning the conduct of Seattle police officers during this past weekend’s demonstrations, said spokesperson Anne Bettesworth.

Here are just a few of the allegations in the complaints:

The subsequent investigations will be led by civilians and will be “as transparent as possible given the law and police collective bargaining agreements," said a press release from the city.

In Washington, DC, crowds are still out on the streets even after the city's 7 p.m. curfew went into effect.

"We are in the third hour of this curfew and this is still a strong crowd, showing no sign of going home and chanting against the curfew," said CNN Correspondent Alex Marquadt from the scene.

The crowd has thinned out since the daytime, but there are still hundreds near Lafayette Park, which is only blocks away from the White House.

After the past two days of violent clashes in this area, there is now a new fence around the park and its protest hotspots. Every now and then, protesters try to rock the fences or throw water bottles through -- and are met with pushback from other protesters who try to stop them.

It's a much more quiet, peaceful night in the nation's capital than the past few days -- but as we get later in the night, it remains to be seen whether law enforcement will arrive to enforce the curfew, Marquadt said.

Watch:

On Monday night, New York City Police Department Chief Terence Monahan knelt with protesters in Manhattan, holding the hands of those kneeling besides him.

Speaking to CNN on Tuesday night, Monahan decried George Floyd's death. "What happened to George Floyd was wrong," he said, adding that police around the country were now "paying the price" for what happened.

The protest on Monday had been tense and "contentious," with about 5,000 protesters gathered in Washington Square Park and around 50 officers, said Monahan.

He said as the crowd got more agitated, organizers asked the police to help — at which point Monahan asked for a microphone, and spoke directly to the protesters, asking them to help take back control of the city from "outside agitators."

Watch:

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced new reform measures for police accountability and a $10 million fund for businesses harmed in recent days.

"Regarding police reform and accountability, yes, we are under a consent decree, but the process of reform has been too slow and too narrowly focused," she said in a live video address tonight.

She laid out new directives, describing them as "immediate necessary next steps." These include:

Lightfoot said she would work with the department leadership and the superintendent to implement these measures within the next 90 days.

Business fund: She also discussed a $10 million dollar fund for businesses affected by the recent violence. 

"The city will dedicate at least $10 million of funds to help support businesses that have been most harmed in recent days. The funds will be provided city wide, with an equity weighting that focuses on South and West sides," she said. 

The mayor also voiced her support for the protests, saying, "I stand with those who are sick and tired of the lack of fundamental change. Change that results in the respect, dignity, and freedom that Black people deserve in this country."

Protesters in Los Angeles and New York City continued to march through city streets after their respective curfews went into effect.

In New York City, the curfew started at 8 p.m. ET. A citywide curfew went into effect at 6 p.m. local time (9 p.m. ET) in Los Angeles.

Tear gas has been deployed on protesters in Atlanta as the city's 9 p.m. ET curfew went into effect.

Protesters had been marching peacefully on the streets of Atlanta and gathered near the CNN Center.

A CNN crew on the scene reported that the protest was peaceful, then when 9 p.m. came police and members of the National Guard started to sweep the streets to clear them.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper wrote a memo Tuesday defending the military’s role in helping to quell violent protests despite opposition from some lawmakers and senior retired military officers. 

“I, like you, am steadfast in my belief that Americans who are frustrated, angry, and seeking to be heard must be ensured that opportunity. And like you, I am committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting life and liberty, so that the violent actions of a few do not undermine the rights and freedoms of law-abiding citizens,” Esper added.

Esper wrote, “Our National Guard are now also being called upon across the country to help protect our communities, businesses, monuments, and places of worship.”

Earlier on Tuesday a former top Pentagon policy official resigned from the Defense Science Advisory board over what he said was Esper’s failure to adhere to that oath by appearing to visibly support the Trump administration’s clearing of protesters from Lafayette Square Monday night. 

“I appreciate your professionalism and dedication to defending the Constitution for all Americans,” Esper said while later adding, “As I reminded you in February, I ask that you remember at all times our commitment as a Department and as public servants to stay apolitical in these turbulent days.”