New Delhi (NVI): Thousands of protesters have taken to streets across the United States, despite curfews and deployment of National Guard troops, against the killing of African-American George Floyd by a white police officer.
On Sunday night, people defied curfew and gathered in large numbers in Washington DC to protest over Floyd’s death. In view of the massive and violent protests, US President Donald Trump had to take shelter in a White House Bunker, foreign media reports said.
At least 4,000 people have been arrested so far as riots ravage US cities and tensions with cops flare up. According to reports in foreign media, as many as 1,700 soldiers were called in at Washington to control the demonstrators after they collected road signs and plastic barriers to set them on fire.
Floyd’s death has sparked outrage and violent protests across the United States. The 43-year-old man died on Memorial Day (May 25) after he was pinned down by a white police officer in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The video footage of the incident, that was also boradcast by the US media, showed the police officer kneeling down on Floyd’s as he gasped for breath. He died later out of the police brutality as the video went viral and demonstrations, which began in Minneapolis, spread like wild fire in across the country in cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Miami, New York City and Chicago.
The cities extended curfews into Sunday night and beyond in an attempt to tackle the violence and vandalism. Reports in foreign media also reported clash between demonstrators and law enforcement officers at some places.
The curfew has been imposed in as many as 40 cities, along with Washington DC, in wake of the protests that have continued for almost a week now.
Around 5,000 National Guard members have been activated in 15 states and Washington, DC with another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed, according to reports.
