Not even CNN was safe from the George Floyd protests, some of which have devolved into rioting. Minneapolis is instituting a curfew over the weekend, as the mob took over the streets last night. It was mayhem. Looting and vandalism were pervasive. A police headquarters in the Mill City’s third precinct was torched.
In Washington D.C., protesters descended upon the White House, forcing the Secret Service to lock it down for nearly an hour. Luckily, it’s a protest in the capital. It has not become a riot, at least not yet.
In Atlanta, state police had to be dispatched to the CNN headquarters there, as crowds became aggressive. Not even the staunchest anti-Trump network in the country could escape being put in the crosshairs of the rioters.
Scene right now outside CNN's Atlanta headquarters while protesters chant "no more police" pic.twitter.com/kbb1X3kzyU
— Fernando Alfonso III (@fernalfonso) May 29, 2020
Georgia State Troopers have showed up.
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) May 30, 2020
The police are practicing restraint and giving the shrinking crowd some latitude. Only a few arrests so far. pic.twitter.com/WnOOla6ABj
Something tells me the tone of the coverage is going to change once news headquarters getting smashed instead of small businesses in Minneapolis...this is wrong no matter who it’s directed at. https://t.co/cd3yp5U1cp
— James Hasson (@JamesHasson20) May 29, 2020
The building is quite literally under siege right now. It's prompted the mayor to pretty much tell the rioters to spare CNN because they're on their side.
BREAKING: Cops being attacked in lobby of CNN HQ in Atlanta; CNN newsroom employees are locked down floors above riotpic.twitter.com/7nijxhWiSV
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
NOW: Violent rioters in standoff with police at CNN headquarters in Atlanta
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
pic.twitter.com/yqW983thQl
#BREAKING video: CNN correspondent Nick Valencia reporting from a lobby at Atlanta's CNN Center (most hosts nowadays are in D.C. and NYC, so they're unaffected) that's under attack from protesters, throwing rocks, smoke grenades, firing BB rounds pic.twitter.com/a0GObuF1Nf
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) May 30, 2020
Rioters just threw fireworks into the police line inside the lobby at CNN in Atlanta. Things are getting worse.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) May 30, 2020
Atlanta Mayor is literally going “CNN is on our side please stop attacking their building”
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) May 30, 2020
"Leave CNN alone. They're our friends!" Shorter version of what Atlanta Mayor Bottoms is telling rioters. https://t.co/61h6VMAaU6
— Sister Toldjah ?? (@sistertoldjah) May 30, 2020
The rioting is inexcusable, but the protests are warranted. Minneapolis resident George Floyd was killed in police custody. Arrested on a nonviolent forgery charge, Floyd was handcuffed, laid face down on the ground, and had an officer put his knee on his neck for nearly ten minutes. Floyd died as a result. All four officers involved in the arrest have been rightfully fired. Former Officer Derek Chauvin was arrested on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges today.
The National Guard has finally been deployed in Minneapolis, though let’s hope tonight is less frenetic. And that goes for every Floyd protest across the country. Our own Julio Rosas is there reporting on the ground. He’s been to several protests, some of which were Antifa-heavy and intense, but even he admitted that he never saw anything like what he’s experienced in Minneapolis over the past 36 hours.
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UPDATE: Things are escalating:
The scene at CNN in Atlanta, Georgia is escalating. pic.twitter.com/b5UO8ZcEsT
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 30, 2020
Rioters just threw fireworks into the police line inside the lobby at CNN in Atlanta. Things are getting worse.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) May 30, 2020
The CNN reporter and his crew have now retreated from the lobby after rioters threw a firework at police inside.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) May 30, 2020
The scene on CNN right now is very tense. Riot police are in a standoff with rioters in the lobby of CNN and one of their reporters is reporting live from right behind the police line. I really hope this doesn't escalate further.
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) May 30, 2020
UPDATE II: National Guard has been activated.
#BREAKING: Gov. @BrianKempGA activated as many as 500 Georgia National Guard troops early Saturday to immediately reinforce law enforcement officials struggling to contain violent protests that swept through downtown #Atlanta and #Buckhead #AtlantaRiots https://t.co/9qV8DQAroM
— AJC (@ajc) May 30, 2020
UPDATE: III: Gov. Kemp issues a State of Emergency declaration for Fulton County:
They will deploy immediately to assist @ga_dps, @GaDNRLE, @GA_Corrections & local law enforcement who are working tirelessly to subdue unlawful activity & restore peace. We will continue to make all state resources available to local leaders during this emergency situation. (2/2)
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) May 30, 2020
UPDATE IV: Sorry, I missed this bit from activist Killer Mike, who pleaded with rioters not to burn down their communities. He also took a shot at CNN for spreading fear and anger every day.
"Karma is a mother."
In Atlanta, activist Killer Mike has a message for CNN. pic.twitter.com/iPsPcdDgKC
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 30, 2020