George Floyd protesters set Minneapolis police station afire

Cheering protesters torched a Minneapolis police station Thursday that department was forced to abandon as three days of violent protests spre to nearby St. Paul and angry demonstrations flared across U.S over death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who pleed for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck.

A police spokesman confirmed late Thursday that staff h evacuated 3rd Precinct station, focus of many of protests, “in interest of safety of our personnel" shortly after 10 p.m. Livestream video showed protesters entering building, where fire alarms blared and sprinklers ran as blazes were set.

Protesters could be seen setting fire to a Minneapolis Police Department jacket and cheering.

Late Thursday, President Donald Trump blasted “total lack of leership” in Minneapolis. “Just spoke to Goverr Tim Walz and told him that Military is with him all way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when looting starts, shooting starts,” he said on Twitter.

Protests first erupted Tuesday, a day after Floyd's death in a confrontation with police captured on widely seen citizen video. On video, Floyd can be seen pleing as

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz earlier Thursday activated National Guard at Minneapolis mayor’s request, but it wasn’t immediately clear when and where Guard was being deployed, and ne could be seen during protests in Minneapolis or St. Paul. Guard tweeted minutes after precinct burned that it h activated more than 500 soldiers across metro area.

Guard said a “key objective” was to make sure fire departments could respond to calls, and said in a follow-up tweet it was “here with Minneapolis Fire Department” to assist. But move was me to put out 3rd Precinct fire. Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Tyner said fire crews could t safely respond to fires at precinct station and some surrounding buildings.

Earlier Thursday, dozens of businesses across Twin Cities boarded up ir windows and doors in an effort to prevent looting, with Minneapolis-based Target anuncing it was temporarily closing two dozen area stores. Minneapolis shut down nearly its entire light-rail system and all bus service through Sunday out of safety concerns.

In St. Paul, clouds of smoke hung in air as police armed with batons and wearing gas masks and body armor kept a watchful eye on protesters along one of city’s main commercial corridors, where firefighters also sprayed water onto a series of small fires. At one point, officers stood in line in front of a Target, trying to keep out looters, who were also smashing windows of or businesses.

Hundreds of demonstrators returned Thursday to Minneapolis neighborhood at center of violence, where nighttime scene veered between an angry protest and a street party. At one point, a band playing in a parking lot across from 3rd Precinct broke into a punk version of Bob Marley's “Redemption Song." Nearby, demonstrators carried clothing mannequins from a looted Target and threw m onto a burning car. Later, a building fire erupted nearby.

But elsewhere in Minneapolis, thousands of peaceful demonstrators marched through streets calling for justice.

Floyd's death has deeply shaken Minneapolis and sparked protests in cities across U.S. Local leers have repeatedly urged demonstrators to avoid violence.

“Please stay home. Please do t come here to protest. Please keep focus on George Floyd, on vancing our movement and on preventing this from ever happening again,” tweeted St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, who is black.

Erika Atson, 20, was among thousands of people who gared outside government offices in downtown Minneapolis, where organizers h called a peaceful protest. Many protesters wore masks because of coronavirus pandemic, but re were few attempts at social distancing.

Atson, who is black, described seeing her 14- and 11-year-old brors tackled by Minneapolis police years ago because officers mistakenly presumed boys h guns. She said she h been at “every single protest” since Floyd’s death and worried about raising children who could be vulnerable in police encounters.

“We don’t want to be here fighting against anyone. We don’t want anyone to be hurt. We don’t want to cause any dams,” she said. “We just want police officer to be held accountable.”

group marched peacefully for three hours before ar confrontation with police broke out, though details were scarce.

After calling in Guard, Walz urged widespre changes in wake of Floyd's death.

"It is time to rebuild. Rebuild city, rebuild our justice system and rebuild relationship between law enforcement and those y’re charged to protect,” Walz said.

Much of Minneapolis violence occurred in Longfellow neighborhood, where protesters converged on precinct station of police who arrested Floyd. In a strip mall across street from 3rd Precinct station, windows in nearly every business h been smashed, from large Target department store at one end to Planet Fitness gym at or. Only 24-hour laundromat appeared to have escaped unscad.

“WHY US?” demanded a large expanse of red graffiti scrawled on wall of Target. A Wendy’s restaurant across street was charred almost beyond recognition.

Among casualties of overnight fires: a six-story building under construction that was to provide nearly 200 apartments of affordable housing.

“We’re burning our own neighborhood,” said a distraught Deona Brown, a 24-year-old woman standing with a friend outside precinct station, where a small group of protesters were shouting at a dozen or so stone-faced police officers in riot gear. “This is where we live, where we shop, and y destroyed it.” officers could be seen beyond station.

“What that cop did was wrong, but I’m scared w,” Brown said.

Ors in crowd saw something different in wreck.

Protesters destroyed property "because system is broken,” said a young man who identified himself only by his nickname, Cash, and who said he h been in streets during violence. He dismissed idea that destruction would hurt residents of largely black neighborhood.

“y’re making money off of us,” he said angrily of owners of destroyed stores. He laughed when asked if he h joined in looting or violence. “I didn’t break anything.”

protests that began Wednesday night and extended into Thursday were more violent than Tuesday's, which included skirmishes between offices and protesters but widespre property dam.

Mayor Jacob Frey appealed for calm but city’s response to protests was quickly questioned as things started spiraling into violence. “If strategy was to keep residents safe — it failed,” City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, who is black, tweeted. “Prevent property dam — it failed." On Thursday, he urged police to leave scene of overnight violence, saying ir presence brings people into streets.

Protests have also spre to or U.S. cities. In New York City, protesters defied New York’s coronavirus prohibition on public garings Thursday, clashing with police, while demonstrators blocked traffic in downtown Denver. A day earlier, demonstrators h taken to streets in Los Angeles and Memphis.

In Louisville, Kentucky, police confirmed that at least seven people h been shot Thursday night as protesters demanded justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was

Amid violence in Minneapolis, a man was found fatally shot Wednesday night near a pawn shop, possibly by owner, authorities said.

Fire crews responded to about 30 intentionally set blazes, and multiple fire trucks were damd by rocks and or projectiles, fire department said. one was hurt by blazes.

city on Thursday released a transcript of 911 call that brought police to grocery store where Floyd was arrested. caller described someone paying with a counterfeit bill, with workers rushing outside to find man sitting on a van. caller described man as “awfully drunk and he’s t in control of himself.” Asked by 911 operator wher man was “under influence of something,” caller said: “Something like that, yes. He is t acting right.” Police said Floyd matched caller’s description of suspect.

U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI in Minneapolis said Thursday y were conducting “a robust criminal investigation” into death.

FBI is also investigating wher Floyd’s civil rights were violated.

Chauvin, officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck, was fired Tuesday with three or officers involved in arrest. next day, mayor called for Chauvin to be criminally charged. He also appealed for activation of National Guard.