The Governor of Minnesota has activated the National Guard in Minneapolis and St. Paul in response to protests and looting over the police custody death of George Floyd.
Floyd died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department on Monday and in the days following rallies took place in the city as well as Los Angeles. But the protests turned to looting, with some people being tear gassed and seriously injured.
Tim Walz said Thursday that the National Guard was being activated to help protect those who wished to live and demonstrate in a peaceful manner.
Walz said that communities must continue to seek justice for Floyd and other African Americans who have been a victim of police brutality, and try to change the system so that it cannot happen again.
However the state has exhausted its resources and needs additional help from the National Guard after stores were set on fire amid the unrest.
Minneapolis and St. Paul activated their emergency operations plan, and the Mayors of both cities requested the assistance of the Minnesota National Guard. Pictured, protests erupted in violence and armed vigilantes patroled Minneapolis streets in second night of violence
In this Wednesday photo, a looter uses a claw hammer as he tries to break in to a cash register at a Target store in Minneapolis. Rioters ignited fires and looted stores all over the city, as peaceful protests turned increasingly violent in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd
Protests came after George Floyd (left and right) was filmed Monday begging a Minneapolis cop to stop kneeling on him and telling him he could not breathe (left) before he lost consciousness and died
City officials on Wednesday formally identified the four fired police officers involved in Monday’s incident as Derek Chauvin, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao, and J Alexander Kueng.
The cops, who were initially placed on paid administrative leave, were terminated from the Minneapolis Police Department on Tuesday after footage of Floyd’s arrest was widely shared on social media.
But demonstrators want the cops arrested and charged with murder after Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and other officers held the victim down.
‘Our state watched Mr. Floyd’s humanity be erased. Our feelings of anguish, anger, and disillusionment are justified, and we must continue to seek justice and fairness,’ Walz said in a statement. ‘We must continue to examine and address the systemic inequities and discrimination that led to this incident and many others in the past.’
Walz continued: ‘Since Mr. Floyd’s death, thousands of Minnesotans have expressed their frustration in a peaceful and constructive manner. Demonstrators have gathered in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding communities to protest Mr. Floyd’s death.
State cops wielded batons and wore body armor and helmets as they lined up against the rioters. But on Thursday the Governor of Minnesota said they had exhausted their resources
A man poses for photos in front of a fire at an AutoZone store while protesters held a rally for George Floyd in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Protests broke out for a second straight night
Tim Walz said Thursday that the National Guard will help maintain safety in the wake of George Floyd’s death. He signed the order for a peacetime emergency, mentioning the people of Minneapolis and surrounding communities. Right, he is pictured at a news conference on Wednesday
Walz said that looters and violence seen at protests threaten the safety of lawful demonstrators, other Minnesotans and first responders. Pictured, protesters gathered outside the home of police officer Derek Chauvin Wednesday, calling him a ‘Murderer’
A fatal shooting and lawsuit for excessive force: What we know about the four officers fired for George Floyd’s arrest
Derek Chauvin
In 2006 Derek Chauvin (pictured), 44, was one of six officers connected to the death of Wayne Reyes
The white police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck has already been investigated over three police shootings and a fatal car chase.
In 2006 Derek Chauvin, 44, was one of six officers connected to the death of Wayne Reyes.
Reyes, 42 was killed by officers after allegedly pulling a shotgun on the six cops, which included Chauvin.
Also that year he was named in a lawsuit filed by an inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility. The case was dismissed in 2007.
Two years later Chauvin was investigated for his role in the 2008 shooting of Ira Latrell Toles during a domestic assault call.
Toles was wounded after police said he went for an officer’s gun and Chauvin shot him.
That same year Chauvin was handed a medal of valor for ‘his response in an incident involving a man armed with a gun.’
But in 2011 23-year-old Leroy Martinez was shot and injured during a chase given by officers including Chauvin.
Tou Thao
Tou Thao (pictured), was part of a $25,000 out of court settlement after being sued for using excessive force in 2017
Tou Thao, was part of a $25,000 out of court settlement after being sued for using excessive force in 2017.
A lawsuit obtained by the DailyMail.com shows Thao was sued for using excessive force in arrest where he was accused of punching and kicking a handcuffed suspect ‘until his teeth broke’.
The remaining two officers have been identified as Thomas Lane and J Alexander Kueng.
Both were reportedly rookie cops who were still in their probationary periods, according to the StarTribune.
‘Peaceful demonstrations are a keystone of our democratic system. We must also allow those who wish to protest peacefully to do so safely.’
‘Unfortunately, some individuals have engaged in unlawful and dangerous activity, including arson, rioting, looting, and damaging public and private property.
‘These activities threaten the safety of lawful demonstrators and other Minnesotans, and both first responders and demonstrators have already been injured. ‘
Footage and video showed stores such as Target and Walmart destroyed and robbed.
But smaller businesses were also targeted.
‘Many businesses, including businesses owned by people of color, have suffered damage as a result of this unlawful activity,’ Walz continued.
‘The City of Minneapolis has exhausted its resources and called for assistance from mutual aid partners to ensure immediate response to protect life, safety, and property.
‘These mutual aid partners have fully committed their available resources.
‘The Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have activated their emergency operations plan, and the Mayors of both cities have requested the assistance of the Minnesota National Guard to help provide security and restore safety.’
Walz explained that the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is currently activated for the COVID-19 response and has implemented the Minnesota Emergency Operations Plan.
But now it will concurrently support both the 2 COVID-19 response, plus the City of Minneapolis, the City of St. Paul, and surrounding communities amid the unrest.
‘For these reasons, I declare a peacetime emergency in the City of Minneapolis, the City of St. Paul, and surrounding communities,’ Walz continued.
He ordered as follows:
- The Adjutant General will order to state active duty on May 28, 2020 the personnel, equipment, and facilities needed to support emergency operations and response.
- The Adjutant General is authorized to procure the goods and services needed to accomplish the mission.
- The Department of Public Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will continue to coordinate the provision of on-site support and assistance to affected local government and assess the need for supplementary emergency assistance.
- State agencies, in cooperation with appropriate federal agencies, will provide assistance to local units of government as they respond to and recover from this emergency.
- The costs of this assistance shall be paid from the general fund as allowed by Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 192.52. This Executive Order and declaration of peacetime emergency is effective immediately under Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 4.035, subdivision 2, and its duration is governed by Minnesota Statutes 2019, section 12.31, subdivision 2.