Curfew Declared in Several American Cities

A curfew has been declared in several cities across the United States following the death of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis due to police misconduct. This has led to mass protests in various cities nationwide, which have escalated into clashes with law enforcement. BBC reports on the situation.

One of the cities most affected by the unrest is Los Angeles. California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a curfew in the city and mobilized the National Guard for emergency intervention. During the riots, stores have been looted, including many well-known locations on Melrose and Fairfax, and arson has occurred.

The police have fired rubber bullets and struck protesters with batons, resulting in hundreds of arrests. In New York, a police vehicle was driven into a crowd of protesters in an attempt to disperse them. Mayor Bill de Blasio stated that the protesters were responsible for the situation, while Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized the mayor's comments as unacceptable, arguing that he should not justify police actions.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has also declared a curfew in her city. In Atlanta, after the curfew was announced, protesters remained in the streets, damaging vehicles and private property, with dozens of arrests made. Similar unrest has been reported in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, and other cities.

It is worth noting that on May 25, a 10-minute video circulated on social media showing an officer pinning George Floyd, a man suspected of a crime, to the ground and pressing his knee on Floyd's neck. Ignoring the man's pleas and inability to breathe, the officer refused to let him go, resulting in Floyd's death. Protests have continued in Minneapolis since the incident.