Minneapolis has once again descended into chaos. The police have retreated. And where is the National Guard? Well, they set up a defensive perimeter, and then they ran away. I’m not kidding. Our own Julio Rosas is on the ground reporting on the chaos and was hit with a rubber bullet in the chest in the process.
A curfew was imposed, but of course, no one is following it. Did people think that would be adhered to in this situation? It’s anarchy. It’s chaos. And I guess we cannot be shocked, given that the political leadership gave a stand-down order last night and allowed rioters to overrun and burn down a police headquarters.
First reports show that around 500 National Guardsmen have been deployed. That is not enough. Today, the Guard and police showed up just in time to protect the smoldering ruins of Minneapolis only to be pushed back by an unruly mob. Is this worse than the Freddie Gray riots in Baltimore or the Michael Brown chaos in Ferguson?
BREAKING: Minneapolis Mayor imposing a mandatory nighttime curfew for Minneapolis this weekend, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. - WCCO
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 29, 2020
NEW: Sevearl cities surrounding Minneapolis have enacted a mandatory curfew, which starts in approximately 30 minutes
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
This is the crowd celebrating after police and the National Guard abandoned the perimeter that had been set up during the day. pic.twitter.com/8LmeEgYYTp
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 30, 2020
As I was recording the National Guard and riot police falling back from their positions as the crowd began to throw projectiles at them, I got shot with a non-lethal weapon by riot police. I wasn't close to them and I was kneeling down with my phone in my hand. pic.twitter.com/2OmsgNcdNm
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 30, 2020
??????:The riot police and National Guard have completely abandoned the perimeter they had set up earlier. Rioters have chased them away. pic.twitter.com/4dld6P0Nve
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) May 30, 2020
Townhall's @Julio_Rosas11 is back reporting live from Minneapolis, Minnesota, on @IngrahamAngle. pic.twitter.com/ggnYpatKwU
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 30, 2020
We’ll keep you updated, but tonight and this weekend look very grim for many parts of the country, especially Minneapolis. As long as law enforcement is feeble in responding to the mass looting, it will continue.
Right now, in Atlanta, CNN’s headquarters in totally under siege by rioters, with reports of the lobby devolving into a warzone. These protests, some you know have devolved into riots, are over the horrific death of George Floyd, who died in the custody of Minneapolis police. Floyd was arrested for a forgery charge, but after his apprehension, he died when an officer pressed his knee on the back of his neck for nearly ten minutes. Police say he was intoxicated when approached, but that’s irrelevant. He was placed under arrest. He was handcuffed, lying on the ground with now-former Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee on his neck. Floyd is heard yelling that he couldn’t breathe before he died. All four officers involved were fired. Chauvin was arrested on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges. The Department of Justice and the FBI are also investigating this incident.
The anger is warranted. Protests are warranted, but not rioting. Not the chaos we’re seeing right now.
This is a breaking news story. We’ll keep you updated.
***
UPDATE: I, for one, am shocked by this development.
Curfews are NOT being enforced in #Minneapolis, looting continues again tonight
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
UPDATE II: U.S. Army activates military police units for deployment, but many reporters noted that last night was very much like the chaos that broke out on Thursday.
Staffer for Keith Ellison pleading for help in Minneapolis. https://t.co/KTUkQskkSB
— Alec MacGillis (@AlecMacGillis) May 30, 2020
No National Guard. No Local Police. No State Police. No police at all. In Minneapolis The streets belong to the protestors despite the 8pm curfew order. #GeorgeFloyd This is a shot of lake street. pic.twitter.com/7zE7R9zHwa
— Sara Sidner (@sarasidnerCNN) May 30, 2020
#BREAKING: The Pentagon orders the Army to put several active-duty U.S. military police units on the ready to deploy to Minneapolis.
— Jennifer Franco (@jennfranconews) May 30, 2020
Soldiers from Fort Bragg in NC & Fort Drum in NY have been ordered to be ready to deploy within four hours if called. (Per AP)
Driving around Minneapolis tonight, it is shocking how few law enforcement you see. Seen cops on bikes patrolling downtown, but no sign of National Guard troops or other police. Strategy seems unchanged from the last few nights. Chaos erupts, with little attempt to stop it
— Holly Bailey (@hollybdc) May 30, 2020
Asked @MnDPS_DPS what the National Guard and State Patrol are doing in Minneapolis right now. They were supposed to lead tonight.
— Theo Keith (@TheoKeith) May 30, 2020
Answer I got: "The State Patrol and the National Guard are in Minneapolis and are currently working to carry out several missions."
That's it.
Every reporter we have in 4 protest areas in Minneapolis right now all saying there are no police nor National Guard anywhere. Buildings on fire, businesses actively being looted, 4-lane I-35 South blocked with people and fire. Govorner? Mayor? Chief?
— Chris Hrapsky (@ChrisHrapsky) May 30, 2020
Building has been set on fire near the 3rd Precinct building in Minneapolis. https://t.co/kSBYat6Pmb
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 30, 2020
UPDATE III: Firefighters arrive to fight some blazes with National Guard escort, with reports that law enforcement units would move in an enforce curfew mandate.
The Minneapolis Fire Department just showed up at the fifth precinct with a National Guard escort. pic.twitter.com/iIhTpGfCTp
— Nick Woltman (@nickwoltman) May 30, 2020
A Minneapolis standoff ends in teargas pic.twitter.com/epXhxOL6e9
— John Hendren (@johnhendren) May 30, 2020
The post office is burning at 31st Street and 1st Avenue in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/6dRmJvrSm7
— Nick Woltman (@nickwoltman) May 30, 2020
The Minneapolis Department of Public Safety says that 350 troopers are near the city’s 5th precinct to clear the area and enforce curfew https://t.co/I4v7vnysjl pic.twitter.com/A2wVtKIJPQ
— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) May 30, 2020
Firefighters finally arrived with National Guard troops pic.twitter.com/1bER1LnRMu
— Max Nesterak (@maxnesterak) May 30, 2020
UPDATE IV: Gov. Tim Walz gives his reason for lack of security, which may be legitimate, but I'm super suspicious about the whole white supremacist angle
Minnesota Governor is basically telling everyone if Trump doesn't intervene... the whole state is going up in flames https://t.co/Edy7gm5jT7
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) May 30, 2020
BREAKING: Democrat Minnesota Governor says he believes “white supremacists” & “cartels” are part of chaos in Minneapolis
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
“These folks will blend in.”
MN Dept. Of Public Safety spokesperson: “We’ve got intel reports that have been confirmed but I cannot say we have confirmed we have cells of white supremacists.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
MINNESOTA GOVERNOR: “These folks have made credible threats of targeting a national guard soldier & wanting to find glory..”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
MINNESOTA GOVERNOR: “We cannot arrest people while we’re trying to hold ground.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 30, 2020
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