150 protesters arrested for violating curfew in Minneapolis

Dozens of protesters were arrested in Minneapolis on Sunday night for violating the governor’s curfew as demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd carried on into their sixth day.

State officials reported that they had arrested 150 people after Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety had stated earlier on Twitter that they would be enforcing Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) order on all protesters, peaceful or otherwise.

About 150 people are being arrested for curfew violations at I-35W and Washington Avenue after ignoring dispersal orders. #MACCMN

— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) June 1, 2020

“Even peaceful protesters who are breaking curfew are subject to arrest. Please go home and stay there. Curfew is in effect in Minneapolis and St. Paul until 6 a.m.,” the DPS tweeted around 9:20 p.m. local time.

Even peaceful protesters who are breaking curfew are subject to arrest. Please go home and stay there. Curfew is in effect in Minneapolis and St. Paul until 6 a.m. #MACCMN

— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) June 1, 2020

Protests have continued across the state and around the country following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who was killed in Minneapolis last week while in police custody. Video of the encounter shows a now-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, placing his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes despite Floyd being handcuffed and saying he could not breathe.

Chauvin, who was fired along with three other officers, has since been charged with third-degree murder. He has been moved to a state prison due to ongoing concerns sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, state officials said at a news conference Sunday evening according to the Star Tribune.

Minnesota instituted a statewide curfew and authorized the “full mobilization” of the National Guard last week as tensions boiled over in Minneapolis. On Thursday, protesters breached and burned a Minneapolis police precinct station, one of several instances of destruction of property in the city. 

Minnesota National Guard Gen. Jon Jensen said Saturday that law enforcement were in a position of “strength” when compared to earlier in the week, The Star Tribune noted. 

The National Guard presence in the city earned praise from President Trump on Sunday, who claimed that other cities should follow Minnesota’s lead. Trump also targeted Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D), claiming that the city failed to respond soon enough. 

The protests in Minneapolis on Sunday were largely peaceful. Though a disaster nearly took place in the afternoon after a semitrailer drove through a crowd of protesters demonstrating on the highway. Video showed droves of demonstrators scattering as the truck sped down the road for several seconds before abruptly stopping. 

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said in a tweet that the actions were “very disturbing,” adding that it didn’t appear any protesters were hit by the semitrailer. 

“The truck driver was injured & taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is under arrest,” the department said. 

–Justin Wise contributed to this report, which was updated at 8:28 a.m.