US: Clashes erupt in multiple cities across eastern US

Event

Clashes between police and protesters have been reported in multiple cities across the central US between Sunday, May 31, and Monday, June 1, as demonstrations over the death in police custody of George Floyd continued for a sixth consecutive night. Demonstrations were held in:

• Connecticut: Largely peaceful demonstrations were held in New Haven, Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Waterbury throughout Sunday. Over 1000 people peacefully blocked Interstates 95 and 84 in New Haven, as well as state Route 34, but scuffles between protestors and police later broke out in the city center. Roads were also blocked in Bridgeport, Waterbury, and Norwalk.
• Delaware: Peaceful protests were held in Wilmington during Sunday, where former vice president Joe Biden addressed participants. There were some reports of unrest in the city during the night, but the 21:00 - 06:00 (local time) curfew declared following looting on Saturday, May 30, was largely respected.
• Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis activated the National Guard on Sunday. Curfews have also been imposed in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa Jacksonville following continued violent protests. However, most protests during Sunday remained more peaceful than on Saturday.
• Georgia: The deployment of around 3000 National Guard personnel to support police in Georgia on Sunday helped reduce unrest which had erupted across the state in recent days. Demonstrations were held during the day in Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, and Columbus but these remained relatively peaceful.
• Maine: A large but peaceful protest was held in Portland, with hundreds of people blocking roads around City Hall and Monument Square. Smaller protests were also held in Bar Harbor, Belfast, Brunswick, Kennebunk, Lewiston and Auburn, Mt. Vernon, and Orono, with further demonstrations planned in Bangor, Newcastle, Rockland, and Farmington on Monday, June 1.
• Maryland: Thousands gathered for protests in multiple locations across Baltimore and near MD/DC border. In late evening, Baltimore Police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters around City Hall and throughout the downtown area.
• Massachusetts: In Boston, clashes broke out between protestors and police on Sunday night following several large peaceful demonstrations during the day, with members of the National Guard being deployed in response. Tear gas was fired at around 22:00 (local time) to disperse crowds in the vicinity of Tremont Street and State House. Hundreds of protestors are also reported to have gathered in Nubian Square. Several shops were looted and vehicles set alight during the unrest. At least 40 people were arrested and seven police officers injured.
• New Hampshire: Around 1000 people staged a demonstration in downtown Manchester that remained largely peaceful. A smaller protest was also held in Conway.
• New Jersey: Police deployed as thousands joined demonstrations in Newark and Atlantic City. However, the protests remained largely peaceful.
• New York: Simultaneous demonstrations were held in multiple locations across New York City. Protest activity and a heavy presence of emergency personnel were reported in Union Square and Fort Tryon Parks in Manhattan, the Barclays Center and McCarren Park in Brooklyn, and Flushing Meadow Park in Queens. Clashes erupted between police and protestors in multiple areas, with tear gas and pepper pellets being fired, and the Manhattan Bridge was briefly closed.
• North Carolina: Violent protests erupted in Raleigh on Sunday evening, with vandalism and looting in the city center spreading to the suburban North Hills and Triangle Town Center areas. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds near the Governor's Mansion. North Carolina's Supreme Court building was also damaged when protesters shattered windows, and the National Guard were deployed around midnight (local time) to support police. At least 15 people were also arrested during overnight disturbances in Charlotte, where a number of buildings were damaged, and fireworks were thrown at police officers.
• Pennsylvania: Governor Tom Wolf signed a major disaster declaration for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and activated the National Guard following violent protests, during which police vehicles were set alight. There were also reports of looting and arson of businesses in the cities.
• Rhode Island: Hundreds gathered at Providence State House during Sunday. Graffiti and vandalism of the building and nearby structures was reported.
• South Carolina: Further demonstrations were held in Colombia and Charleston on Sunday. However, a heavy police presence and an 18:00 - 06:00 (local time) curfew in Colombia meant that unrest remained lower than on Saturday.
• Vermont: Several hundred people staged a peaceful demonstration outside the police headquarters in Burlington.
• Virginia: Governor Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency and a 20:00 - 06:00 (local time) curfew in Richmond on Sunday following several days of unrest. National Guard personnel were subsequently deployed in Richmond to enforce the curfew. Tear gas and pepper spray were reportedly used to disperse crowds in Richmond and Virginia Beach.
• West Virginia: Large demonstrations were held in Charleston and Parkersburg during Sunday. However, these remained peaceful and had largely dispersed by nightfall.
  

Context

George Floyd died while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. The four arresting police officers were subsequently fired, and one has since been charged with murder. Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters gathered on May 26 to denounce the death and actions of the police officers. Clashes ensued between protesters and riot police, with demonstrators throwing bricks and projectiles at police and police property, and police responding with tear gas and rubber bullets as they attempted to disperse the crowds. Protests have since spread to a number of cities across the US.

Advice

Individuals in the US are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.