23 states (and the District of Columbia) have activated the National Guard, at least 6 mayors have issued curfews for their U.S. cities, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered all state government offices to close in the downtown Sacramento area to close. That last after more than 600 properties in the downtown area were damaged during protests, over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. George Floyd’s brother, and the mother of Breonna Taylor (who was killed in March when officers mistakenly “raided” her Louisville Kentucky apartment) have both called for protestors to abstain from violence.
The Minneapolis police officer videotaped pinning Floyd down (with a knee on his neck for nearly 9 minutes) is now scheduled to appear in court on June 8th. Derek Chauvin faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of 3rd degree murder, and another 10 years if he is also convicted on the manslaughter charge.
Federal law enforcement officials said they are aware of extremist groups (on both the right and left) that are seeking to carry out destruction and violence, using the cover of the legitimate protests in Minneapolis and other places. In the past members of such groups have been known to organize and travel specifically to destroy property and confront law enforcement officers.
