29 May 2020 | 10:19 PM UTC
US: Minnesota state government imposes weekend curfew in Minneapolis and St. Paul as protests erupt for fourth consecutive day /update 3
Minnesota state government imposes overnight weekend curfew in Minneapolis and St. Paul as protests erupt for a fourth consecutive day; a heightened security presence and further clashes are possible in the near term
Event
On Friday, May 29, Minnesota state government officials announced that a weekend overnight curfew will be imposed in Minneapolis and St. Paul amid a fourth consecutive day of protests. Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced that the curfew will be in effect from 20:00 to 06:00 (local time) on Friday and Saturday nights. During the curfew, all persons will be prohibited from traveling in public with certain exemptions which can be found in the Minnesota state executive order here.
The announcement of the weekend overnight curfew followed a 72-hour local emergency in Minneapolis which included the deployment of the National Guard to assist police officers in restoring order. One individual was fatally shot amid the unrest; police are investigating the shooting and reports suggest it occurred during the looting of a store. Riot police have responded and fired tear gas at demonstrators in attempts to disperse them. Localized transportation and business disruptions in Minneapolis and St. Paul are expected around all protest sites.
Additional protests and subsequent unrest and disruptions are likely nationwide over the near term. A heightened security presence is also to be expected.
Context
George Floyd died while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. The four arresting police officers involved were subsequently fired for their actions. Black Lives Matter (BLM) supporters gathered on May 26 to denounce the fatal-arrest and actions of the police. Clashes ensued between protesters and riot police; demonstrators threw bricks and projectiles at police and police property, while the police responded by firing tear gas and rubber bullets in attempts to disperse them.
Advice
Individuals in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the wider US, are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.
