June 2 George Floyd protest news

By Jessie Yeung, Steve George, Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes and Daniella Diaz, CNN

Updated 1:15 AM ET, Wed June 3, 2020
6 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
9:18 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Military helicopter flying over Washington, DC, as protesters violate curfew

From CNN's Austen Bundy

Even as it approached midnight in Washington, DC, earlier tonight, protesters were still out in large numbers in the national capital.

At least one military helicopter was seen flying overhead and hovering in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

The helicopter was seen making slow low-level passes, using its propellers to kick up strong wind and debris. The tactic, known as a show of force, is commonly used by the US military in combat zones overseas to drive targets away from a specific area.

Protesters responded by raising their fists aloft in defiance.

The city curfew went into effect at 7 p.m. local time.

Watch the video:

9:17 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

The looting and destruction in Manhattan tonight was "anarchy on the streets," CNN reporter says

People run out of stores on Broadway with merchandise during a night of protests and vandalism over the death of George Floyd on June 1, in New York City.
People run out of stores on Broadway with merchandise during a night of protests and vandalism over the death of George Floyd on June 1, in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The looting and destruction in New York City's Manhattan was "anarchy on the streets," said CNN Senior Media Correspondent Brian Stelter earlier tonight.

In Midtown Manhattan, there was widespread looting along the eastern portion of the neighborhood -- along the high-end shopping district Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, close to Trump Tower.

"I witnessed an eyeglass shop being looted. In some cases, just windows being smashed. And other cases stores are being broken into. This has been going on for at least two hours," he said. "Between 9 and 11 p.m., it was a real sense of anarchy on the streets in Midtown Manhattan."

The looting also extended further south into Herald Square and the iconic Macy's building, which was broken into, he said. There were also fires set and buildings vandalized.

"Property damage is nowhere near as important as physical loss of life ... (but) I want you to know the property damage is widespread," he said.

Aerial videos of Midtown close to midnight showed looters running down streets in groups, playing a "cat and mouse game" with police, Stelter said.

Across the East River, there were up to a thousand protesters peacefully marching in Brooklyn, despite the citywide curfew in place.

When asked whether they will go home, protesters told CNN reporters they need to get their message across against police brutality.

9:17 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Atlanta police have arrested 350 people in relation to the protests since Friday

A protester is arrested in Atlanta, on May 31, after throwing tear gas back at police.
A protester is arrested in Atlanta, on May 31, after throwing tear gas back at police. Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP

Atlanta police have made 350 arrests related to the George Floyd protests since Friday, the department said on Monday.

They made 77 arrests on Friday, 157 on Saturday, 64 on Sunday and 52 so far on Monday.

Skirmishes after curfew: On Monday night, police and protesters clashed after the curfew came into effect at 9 p.m. ET, with protesters hurling projectiles and police responding by firing tear gas.

After the skirmish, the National Guard and Atlanta police got into formation and swept through the city's downtown, clearing out protesters quickly.

9:17 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

In Dallas, police and protesters faced off with tear gas on a bridge

In Dallas, Texas, protesters who shut down a city bridge are being detained by police, hours after a curfew went into effect.

Protesters had begun demonstrating peacefully at the steps of the county courthouse earlier in the day, before marching through downtown Dallas.

The curfew, effective as of 7 p.m. local time, is only being enacted in some parts of Dallas, creating "curfew zones" -- so protesters marched around the edge of those zones, said CNN Correspondent Ed Lavandera on the scene.

When they reached the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, just west of downtown, they were met with hundreds of law enforcement officers.

A confrontation erupted, with the protesters and police facing off in the middle of the bridge. Police fired tear gas, and detained many protesters with zip ties. Protesters can now be seen sitting on the ground, as police continue processing those on the bridge.

"We don't know the exact reason ... for why they're being detained, but I presume it's going to be related to marching on the public streets here and essentially blocking traffic on to the Margaret Hunt-Hill bridge," said Lavandera.

9:19 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

New York's curfew is extended through Tuesday evening

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio extended the city’s curfew through Tuesday evening, after instances of violence and property destruction in Manhattan tonight.

The Tuesday night curfew will begin at 8 p.m. ET, de Blasio said on Twitter. The curfew tonight went into effect at 11 p.m. ET.

“These protests have power and meaning. But as the night wears on we are seeing groups use them to incite violence and destroy property. Our first priority is keeping people safe, so I’m extending the curfew to Tuesday. It will begin at 8pm,” de Blasio said. 

9:16 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Minnesota Attorney General investigating Floyd's death: "We plan to hold everyone accountable" 

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is taking over the prosecution in George Floyd’s death, says they are taking another look at the actions of the other police officers present during it.

“I can assure you we are taking a fresh look,” he told CNN’s Chris Cuomo. “We plan to hold everyone accountable who is legally culpable."

He explained that while he has spent the last 24 hours reviewing evidence, he cannot ethically comment as a prosecutor.  

This comes amid calls for justice in Floyd’s killing, including the legal fate of those three other officers at the scene who were fired for not saying or doing anything to stop ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin as he kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. 

“We are looking very carefully at holding everybody accountable who failed to do their duty and fell below the legal requirements of their position, or did something affirmatively that would be in violation of the law,” Ellison said.

“When we are ready, and that won't be long from now, we plan on taking the proper and deliberate action."