May 31 George Floyd protest news

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6:56 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

New York City mayor calls for an investigation into the NYPD's actions Saturday during protests

From CNN's Sheena Jones

New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio appointed two people to investigate the New York Police Department after a police cruiser was seen hitting a group of protesters Saturday.

De Blasio appointed Jim Johnson, of the Corporation Counsel, and Department of Investigations Commissioner Margaret Garnett to the task force.

Both were asked to give the mayor's office the initial findings in the next few weeks, de Blasio said.

6:56 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Curfew announced in Detroit after 84 people were arrested at protests Saturday night

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced that a curfew will go into effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday for as long as the police chief deems necessary.

All public streets and areas will be closed except to those who are going to and from work, he announced at a news conference Sunday. 

Duggan said he made the decision after the number of people arrested from outside the Detroit area went up last night. 

Duggan said they do not want to arrest people for violating the curfew and will give them "a great opportunity" to go home. 

Arrests: Detroit Police Chief James Craig said police arrested 84 people last night, which was double the arrests from the night before.

Craig said that the majority of arrests were from the metro Detroit area, but not from the city area. Two people were arrested from out of state, one from Ohio and another from Tennessee. 

At least 75% of the arrests last night were from out of the area – an increase from 65% the night before, Duggan said.

A small portion of the protesters are "intent on destruction," he said, and most arrests occurred after 12 a.m. Duggan also said that, according to police investigations, this group appears to be organized. These people have walkie-talkies and supply trucks, he said, and

The city hasn't seen the same amount of destruction and fires as other cities across the US, Duggan said.

3:47 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Washington governor activates 200 more National Guard members to help with protests in Seattle

From CNN's Artemis Moshtaghian

People walk past a looted store in Seattle on May 30.
People walk past a looted store in Seattle on May 30. Karen Ducey/Getty Images

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee activated an additional 200 members of Washington's National Guard on Sunday in response to a second request from the city of Seattle, a statement from the governor's office said.

The National Guard members will help clean up, protect against property damage and manage crowds and traffic during downtown protests, according to the statement.

Guard personnel will be unarmed and work under the direction of Seattle's leadership.

“Saturday’s disheartening events in Seattle – carried out by a smattering of the thousands of protesters on hand – will not deter the cause of justice. Hundreds of public servants and volunteers are already helping clean up the property damage done," Inslee said.

"I have complete faith that downtown Seattle will recover from this quickly, and the state will help, however we may be of assistance,” he added.

3:29 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Pennsylvania governor calls for protesters to "honor democracy" by being peaceful

From CNN’s Anna Sturla

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaks with the media in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 29.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaks with the media in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 29. Joe Hermitt/The Patriot-News/AP

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked protesters Sunday to “honor democracy” and be peaceful, saying there is a real problem with injustice in the state and across the country. 

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director David Padfield said staff worked overnight with the National Guard and state agency partners in neighboring states – although many were dealing with similar issues.

The National Guard will be on proactive standby near Pittsburgh and Allegheny county and state police are sending assistance to Philadelphia, he said.

Padfield said, anecdotally, that Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had the most damage after last night.

2:43 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

San Francisco mayor declares curfew after "significant damage to the city"

From CNN's Dan Simon

Damage is seen at a Swarovski store in San Francisco on May 31.
Damage is seen at a Swarovski store in San Francisco on May 31. Jeff Chiu/AP

San Francisco Mayor London Breed confirmed during a news conference this morning that a city wide curfew will be in effect from 8 p.m. today to 5 a.m. Monday.

California has committed 200 law enforcement personnel to assist the San Francisco Police Department, Breed said.

It’s not clear if those personnel will include National Guard members or other law enforcement agencies.

City officials also confirmed that there was “significant damage to the city” last night. There were 10 felony arrests made for looting, Breed said.

3:48 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

White House staff told to avoid coming into work today due to "ongoing demonstrations"

From CNN’s Kaitlan Collins

Demonstrators gather at Lafayette Park across from the White House on May 30.
Demonstrators gather at Lafayette Park across from the White House on May 30. Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The White House executive office staff has just received an email urging them to stay away from the White House complex, if possible, Sunday due to “ongoing demonstrations.”

“Due to ongoing demonstrations, please avoid coming to the White House Complex today if it all possible,” the email read, in part. “The White House currently maintains an elevated security posture.”
2:32 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Orange County, Florida, enacts curfew until further notice

From CNN’s Hira Humayun

Florida's Orange County, including the city of Orlando, is under curfew starting Sunday at 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, according to the city’s Twitter account.

“Following the vandalism that occurred last night and in order to protect our businesses and ensure the safety of our residents, a curfew is in effect for the City of Orlando from 10pET to 5aET,” the city tweeted.

At a news conference Sunday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Deming said, “Because of some things that happened within the last 24 hours where we saw some destruction of properties, I am compelled to announce that we will be enacting a curfew, unincorporated Orange County, until further notice."

Read the city's tweet:

3:49 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Here's what Washington, DC, looks like after a night of protests

From CNN's Gregory Clary

Several memorials in Washington, DC – including the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial on the National Mall – are covered in graffiti as the city cleans up after protests Saturday night.

Clean up crews were sweeping and shoveling broken window glass from storefronts and office buildings and wiping off graffiti in the area north of the White House, according to observations by CNN photojournalist David Brooks. The graffiti included profanity directed at President Trump.

After peaceful protests Saturday afternoon, the situation changed in the evening as people were “bent on destruction” in a seemingly organized group that had tools and a strategy for damage, according to DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Here's what the scene looks like today:

Graffiti at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on May 31.
Graffiti at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington on May 31. Jim Acosta/CNN

Graffiti on the World War II Memorial in Washington on May 31.
Graffiti on the World War II Memorial in Washington on May 31. Jim Acosta/CNN

3:39 p.m. ET, May 31, 2020

Roughly 5,000 National Guard members have been activated in 15 states and Washington, DC

From CNN's Liz Turrell

Members of the Minnesota National Guard surround the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 31.
Members of the Minnesota National Guard surround the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 31. Scott Olson/Getty Images

As of Sunday morning, approximately 5,000 National Guard members have been activated in response to civil disturbances in 15 states and Washington, DC, with another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed.

However, the situation remains fluid and those numbers can change rapidly, the National Guard said in a statement along with the figures. 

National Guard spokesman Army Master Sgt. W. Michael Houk stressed that while state and local law enforcement agencies remain responsible for security, National Guard personnel activated in these area are trained, equipped and prepared to assist law enforcement with protecting lives and the property of citizens. 

“Guardsmen live in the communities they serve and are there to protect their neighbor's right to protest peacefully," the statement said.

States with activated National Guard are Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington State, Wisconsin.