Denver George Floyd Protests Day 4: Hundreds Face Off With Police

DENVER, CO — Hundreds of protesters remained in downtown Denver Sunday after the city's curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. The National Guard and Denver police officers worked with law enforcement from other jurisdictions to disperse the protesters, and ended up in a face off around 9:30 p.m. near Colfax and Pearl Street.

Officers deployed tear gas and flash grenades as protesters shot fireworks, threw rocks and bottles, and attempted to kick gas canisters back at police. Officers also attempted to disperse the crowds with pepper balls, which reportedly hit some members of the media. One protester was reportedly hit in the head with a tear gas canister and taken to a hospital in an ambulance.

Many protesters ended up splitting into groups and heading down side streets and alleys to avoid being arrested. Several hundred people appeared to congregate again around 10 p.m. and continued to march along main arteries in downtown Denver near the District 6 police headquarters, where police set up barricades.

Business owners were seen trying to protect their stores after windows were broken Sunday night.

Officers appeared to successfully disperse protesters by 11:30 p.m.; however, smaller groups ended up congregating in nearby neighborhoods.

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At least 84 people were arrested Saturday night in Denver after the city's curfew went into effect at 8 p.m., police said. Officers were able to clear out most protesters from the downtown area by 10 p.m.

In addition to curfew violation charges, many protesters face assault, felony weapons violations and criminal mischief charges. Between Thursday night and Sunday morning, at least 118 protesters were arrested, according to the Denver Police Department.

Dozens of officers have been injured in the protests, and several were hospitalized, police said.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced the curfew would be in effect between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Those who defied the curfew faced fines of up to $999 or jail time. Exemptions for the curfew included emergency personnel, people who need to travel to and from work or the airport, the media, those who are homeless and people who are seeking medical care, city officials said.

The Colorado National Guard and police officers were able to create a blockade and keep most protesters away from the Capitol Saturday night, but hundreds of people continued to march on Denver's downtown streets. Video footage and photos posted on social media show dumpster fires, fireworks and broken windows.

Several hours after the curfew was announced, hundreds of protesters were seen marching in downtown Denver and chanting "F*** the curfew, we want justice!"

Three Denver officers and a civilian were severely injured in a hit-and-run Saturday in the city's Uptown neighborhood, but it's unclear whether the crash is connected with the protests.

Some protesters threw Molotov cocktails at city and private buildings Friday night, Hancock said. Many city buildings are covered in graffiti and some windows were broken. Later Friday night, witnesses reported seeing protesters trying to break windows at Colorado Supreme Court, and early Saturday morning, some protesters reportedly set a car on fire.

"What happened in our city last night – a city we love, a city we are still working to keep safe from a pandemic – was reckless, inexcusable and unacceptable," Hancock said during a news conference Saturday. "We cannot and we will not continue to put the lives of residents, peaceful protesters and law enforcement at risk. We are taking additional steps to help keep people safe and protect public and private property in Denver.

"What does this mindless destruction achieve? Whose life are you honoring when you loot businesses in our city — businesses struggling to survive?"

Aerial footage and reports Thursday night in Denver showed several protesters smashing the windows out of at least two vehicles parked outside the Capitol, and others spray-painted graffiti on the Capitol steps. Other photos show bullet holes in several Capitol building windows.

The people who brought crowbars, assault rifles, baseball bats and homemade explosives "were not thinking about George Floyd," Hancock said. He applauded the peaceful protesters and said he understands that many who attended the demonstrations were not violent and destructive.

More than 1,000 protesters lay on their stomachs for 9 minutes outside the Capitol Saturday afternoon and chanted, "I can't breathe."

Minneapolis Protests: Tear Gas Used To Disperse Crowds

Floyd was identified in a video that showed him gasping for breath while a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. In footage recorded by a bystander, Floyd pleads that he cannot breathe until he slowly stops talking and moving.

The video quickly went viral, sparking nationwide protests calling for police reform and demanding justice for Floyd.

Chauvin and three other officers involved in the fatal incident were fired Tuesday, and Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Hennepin County Friday.

"This is by far the fastest we've ever charged a police officer," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced at a news conference on Friday.