California Fiery Representative Maxine Waters joined hundreds of angry protesters who took to Brooklyn Center, Minnesota in the early hours of Sunday, breaking the curfew at 11 p.m. during a seventh night of protests against the police murder of Daunte Wright.
“We have to stay on the street and we have to demand justice,” the crowd urged, according to one tweet clip.
“We are looking for a guilty verdict” in the trial of Derek Chauvin for the police murder of George Floyd, where deliberations will begin next week, he said.
“And if we don’t, we can’t leave,” he added. “We need to be more confrontational.”
Asked about the curfew, she said, “I don’t know what the curfew means.” according to another tweet clip.
“A curfew means I want you to stop talking,” he said, adding, “I don’t agree.”
Waters said he would not stay out of the protest personally much longer, but urged the rest to continue.
“I came here for a reason, just to be here, to make sure I let my thoughts be heard among all those who have spent so much time on the street. And so I hope the protests continue, ”he said.
Protesters began the night singing and playing music outside the Brooklyn Center police department, apparently showing a live video posted on YouTube.
“There are no good cops in a racist system!” “F – K your curfew!” and “No justice, no peace!” they shouted, among more colorful slogans.
A day earlier, nearly 100 people were arrested after the crowd tried to tear down a fence around the police station.
Among those detained by police, who photographed press credentials before allowing reporters to leave, were reporters who were assaulted and sprayed with pepper.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday criticized the actions against the press as “unacceptable under any circumstances” and promised the incidents “would be studied,” The Star Tribune reported.
Wright was fatally shot during a traffic stop on April 11 by former Brooklyn Center official Kim Potter, who claims he intended to use a stun gun. Potter resigned and has been charged with murder.
Wright’s assassination came just days before Chicago authorities released a video of the March 29 police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, sparking demonstrations and protests in the city as well.
On Saturday night, protests had spread through the streets of Washington, DC, where a traveling crowd of about 150 walked the streets singing the names of the dead at the hands of police, according to journalist Chuck Modi, who published a video on Twitter. .
“George Floyd means we have to fight. Sandra Bland means We Got to Fight Back. Adam Toledo means We Got to Fight Back. Breonna Taylor means we have to fight ” they shouted.
In Portland, which has been haunted by fierce protests for several months, people spent the first part of Saturday trying to clean up after protesters caught at least one fire the night before.
Police had declared the protest, which included broken glass, graffiti and fire, a riot. Protesters destroyed a park and damaged a church serving homeless people, The Oregonian reported.
“All the destruction is pretty rude,” a man covering a shattered window in a restaurant told the newspaper. “In November we removed the boards. But I guess it was too early. “
Area resident David Dickson said he understands the protesters’ anger, but told The Oregonian, “We need to find a better way.”