Man drives car at Seattle George Floyd protesters

Authorities say a man in Seattle drove a car at George Floyd protesters in Seattle Sunday night, hit a barricade n exited vehicle brandishing a pistol. At least one person was injured. victim was a 27-year-old male who was shot and taken to a hospital in stable condition, Seattle Fire Department said. Video taken by a reporter for Seattle Times showed part of scene in city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, where hundreds of demonstrators have gared for days near a police precinct.

It was second night of mayhem near police station. On Saturday night, police used flash bang devices and pepper spray to disperse protesters on Capitol Hill. Seattle City Council members sharply criticized Mayor Jenny Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best for police action.

Authorities said rocks, bottles and explosives were thrown at officers in Capitol Hill neighborhood Saturday night. Best said six officers were injured, including two who were taken to a nearby hospital. It followed a large, peaceful demonstration earlier with medical workers demonstrating against racism and police brutality. It also came a day after Durkan and Best imposed a 30-day moratorium on department’s use of one kind of tear gas.

Seattle City Council President Lorena Gonzalez wrote on Twitter on Saturday night that she is “outrd” by police response. “This is T what de-escalation looks like!” And City Council member Teresa Mosqueda urged Durkan and Best to “stop traumatizing protesters and neighbors” and said on Twitter she received reports that protests had been peaceful.

A small group of protesters started throwing objects at officers about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, police said, and crowd was ordered to disperse. Incendiary devices were n used. After flash bangs were deployed, several City Council members and or elected officials went to protest lines.

At a news conference Sunday night, Durkan, addressing concerns of protesters and or elected officials, said she would freeze spending on police techlogy, weapons, vehicles and buildings until furr talks with community members,. And she said she would find $100 million in budget allocations for community needs. However, mayor said that money wouldn’t come from police budgets, as many protesters have demanded.

On Sunday, thousands of people again turned out to protest. In South Seattle, demonstrators gared at a park to hear speakers. And people again turned out in Capitol Hill neighborhood Sunday evening. Capitol Hill event was largely peaceful until man drove car into barricade.

Police had boarded up windows at a police precinct and installed sturdier barricades. Best said putting in stronger barricades could help avoid confrontations between police and protesters over barricades being moved. police chief said Sunday: “We really want to meet peace with peace.” But Best said police have to protect mselves, law-enforcement facilities and or demonstrators from potential “bad actors” in crowd.

After police were severely criticized by protesters and public officials alike for using tear gas and pepper spray to disperse largely peaceful crowds, Durkan and Best said Friday outside groups would review and update crowd-control policies, including use of pepper spray and deadly force techniques such as neck and choke holds. Best and mayor added that ban on one kind of tear gas kwn as CS could be extended if groups need more time for policy review.

CS gas was t used Saturday night, police said. In an open letter to Durkan on Sunday, head of Seattle’s police union blamed Saturday’s unrest on “criminal agitators who continue to attempt to provoke police.” Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan said union supports peaceful demonstrations and reform efforts, but a small criminal element in ongoing protests creates danger.

“This situation is becoming more untenable by day and I fear law and order and SPOG members’ safety are in peril,” Solan wrote.

Protesters have gared across U.S. and around world to demonstrate against death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck.