US cities burn as anti-police demonstrations turn violent over George Floyd's death

Tense protests over death of George Floyd and or police killings of black men grew Saturday from New York to Tulsa to Los Angeles, with police cars set ablaze and reports of injuries mounting on all sides as country lurched toward ar night of unrest after months of coronavirus lockdowns.

protests, which began in Minneapolis following Floyd's death Monday after a police officer pressed a knee on his neck for more than eight minutes, have left parts of city a grid of broken windows, burned-out buildings and ransacked stores. unrest has since become a national phemen as protesters decry years of deaths at police hands.

large crowds involved, with many people t wearing masks or social distancing, raised concerns among health experts about potential for helping spread coronavirus pandemic at a time when overall deaths are on decline nationwide and much of country is in process of reopening society and ecomy.

After a tumultuous Friday night, racially diverse crowds took to streets again for mostly peaceful demonstrations in dozens of cities from coast to coast. previous day's protests also started calmly, but many descended into violence later in day.

In Washington, growing crowds outside White House chanted, taunted Secret Service nts and at times pushed against security barriers. President Donald Trump, who spent much of Saturday in Florida for X rocket launch, landed on residence's lawn in presidential helicopter at dusk and went inside without speaking to journalists.

In Philadelphia, at least 13 officers were injured when peaceful protests turned violent and at least four police vehicles were set on fire. Or fires were set throughout downtown.

In Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, site of a 1921 massacre of black people that left as many as 300 dead and city's thriving black district in ruins, protesters blocked intersections and chanted name of Terence Crutcher, a black man killed by a police officer in 2016.

In Tallahassee, Florida, a pickup truck drove through a crowd of protesters, sending some running and screaming as vehicle stopped and started and at one point had a person on its hood, police said, but serious injuries were reported. Police handcuffed driver but did t release his name or say wher he would face charges.

In Los Angeles, protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter,” some within inches of face shields of officers. Police used batons to move crowd back and fired rubber bullets. One man used a skateboard to try to break a police SUV's windshield. A spray-painted police car burned in street.

And in New York City, video posted to social media showed officers using batons and shoving protesters down as y made arrests and cleared streets. Ar video showed two NYPD cruisers driving into protesters who were pushing a barricade against a police car and pelting it with objects, kcking several to ground.

"Our country has a sickness. We have to be out here," said Brianna Petrisko, among those at lower Manhattan's Foley Square, where most were wearing masks amid coronavirus pandemic. "This is only way we're going to be heard."

Back in Minneapolis, city where protests began, 29-year-old Sam Allkija said dam seen in recent days reflects longstanding frustration and r in black community.

"I don't condone m," he said. "But you have to look deeper into why se riots are happening." Minnesota Goverr Tim Walz fully mobilized state's National Guard and promised a massive show of force.

" situation in Minneapolis is longer in any way about murder of George Floyd," Walz said. "It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities."

Soon after city's 8 pm curfew went into force, lines of police cars and officers in riot gear moved in to confront protesters, firing tear gas to push away throngs of people milling around city's 5th police precinct station.

tougher tactics came after city and state leaders were criticized for t forcefully eugh confronting days of violent and damaging protests that included protesters burning down a police station shortly after officers abandoned it.

Trump tweeted Saturday night that Guard "should have been used 2 days ago & re would t have been dam & Police Headquarters would t have been taken over & ruined. Great job by National Guard. games!"

Overnight curfews were imposed in more than a dozen major cities nationwide, ranging from 6 pm in parts of South Carolina to 10 pm around Ohio. People were also told to be off streets of Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle and Minneapolis — where thousands had igred same order Friday night. More than 1,400 people have been arrested in 16 cities since Thursday, with more than 500 of those happening in Los Angeles on Friday.

unrest comes at a time when most Americans have spent months inside over concerns surrounding coronavirus, which president has called an "invisible enemy."

events of last 72 hours, seen live on national television, have shown opposite: a sudden pivot to crowds, screaming protesters and burning buildings, a stark contrast to empty streets of recent months.