The death of George Floyd, a black man who was seen pinned down in a video by a white police officer and later died, has caused outrage in the city of Minneapolis and all over the country. Residents of the city have protested his death since Tuesday. Though they have been mostly peaceful, on Wednesday, officials said "a core group of people" not from Minneapolis caused destruction.City leaders have called for the community to voice their outrage in a lawful manner.5:03 p.m.: Families of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/alerts/ahmaud-arberyshooting" id="_ap_link_Ahmaud Arbery_AhmaudArberyshooting_" target="_blank">Ahmaud Arbery</a> issue joint statement
The families of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery -- all of whom died after incidents with current and former law enforcement -- are demanding change and calling for government action to address this "national crisis.""We're devastated about the senseless violence that has broken the hearts of our families," the families said in a joint statement. "While we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support, it's important that now – more than ever – we use our voices to enact change, demand accountability within our justice system and keep the legacies of Breonna, Ahmaud and George alive. This is a national crisis and our government needs to take immediate and widespread action to protect our black and brown communities."The families have called for a congressional hearing and a national task force to create new bipartisan legislation that is aimed at ending racial violence and increasing police accountability.They will also present a case to United Nation Human Rights Committee for sweeping changes to the nation's criminal justice system. A date for when they would be presenting their case was not provided.Taylor, a black woman, was a front-line worker who died after a police-involved shooting. Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were sleeping inside their Springfield Drive apartment on March 13 when officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department attempted to execute a "no-knock" search warrant.MORE: Mother of police-involved shooting victim, Breonna Taylor and family attorney on 'The View'
Three plainclothes officers opened Taylor's front door and "blindly" opened fire into their apartment, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in April by Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer. Taylor was shot at least eight times and died.Arbery, a black man, was out for a jog when two white men saw him and set off to confront him, police said. The men, Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael, a former police officer, were armed.MORE: Man who filmed shooting of Ahmaud Arbery charged with murder
A video shows Arbery and Travis McMichael tussling with the shotgun before three shots are fired. Arbery stumbled and fell to the ground, where he was pronounced dead.City leaders react to protests
The mayor, police chief and city council vice president in Minneapolis emotionally addressed the violent protests that took place Wednesday night over the death of Floyd.Mayor Jacob Frey, who at one point became choked up and tearful, said that the protests were "the result of so much built up anger and sadness.""Anger and sadness that has been engrained in our black community, not just because of five minutes of horror, but 400 years," Frey said at a press conference. "If you're feeling that sadness and anger, it's not only understandable, it's right."Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said he knew that there was a "deficit of hope" in the community and that his department has contributed to that deficit.Police use pepper spray on protesters during a demonstration outside the Third Police Precinct over the death of George Floyd, May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis. People gathered for a second night of protests a policeman who held Floyd to the ground with a knee on his neck.Police use pepper spray on protesters during a demonstration outside the Third Police Precinct over the death of George Floyd, May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis. People gathered for a second night of protests a policeman who held Floyd to the ground with a knee on his neck.Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
He also said that the violence and destruction seen in Wednesday night's protest was mostly caused by a "core group of people" who were not from Minnesota. He said that most of the community members who have been protesting since Floyd's death Monday have been peaceful.Arradondo said he wanted to ensure that people could safely protest, but he said he could not allow for criminal acts.Wednesday night's protest caused destruction and chaos in Minneapolis, including a deadly shooting, looting and multiple fires.The protests, which had been largely peaceful up until Wednesday night, were in wake of Floyd's death after he was apprehended by Minneapolis police Monday. Disturbing video emerged on social media showing a police officer with his knee on the man's neck as the man repeatedly yells out, "I can't breathe."George Floyd is pictured in an undated photo released by the office of Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump.George Floyd is pictured in an undated photo released by the office of Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump.Courtesy Ben Crump Law
"I can't breathe, please, the knee in my neck," the man said in a video showing a police officer pinning him to the ground. "I can't move ... my neck ... I'm through, I'm through."City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins sang "Amazing Grace" at Thursday's press conference before addressing the protests.Jenkins said she wanted to offer "amazing grace" and her condolences to the Floyd family."We feel as if there was a knee on all of our collective necks, a knee that says black lives do not matter," Jenkins, who is black, said. "I am part of this system to help to take that knee off of our necks."Jenkins, Frey and Arradondo said they would be working with the community leaders. A "healing space" will be created at the 3rd Precinct in Minneapolis for residents to express their concerns and anger in a safe and humane way, Jenkins said.Overnight developments
Police said during the protests they responded to a call of a stabbing victim and found a man in grave condition near the protests. The man later died in the hospital and authorities learned he died from a gunshot wound, according to John Elder, the director of communication for Minneapolis police.Slideshow: Protests turn violent over the death of George Floyd
One person was in custody after the shooting, police said. It was not immediately clear what led to the shooting, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the owner of a pawn shop opened fire on a man he believed was burglarizing his business and fatally shot him.Police said multiple businesses were looted during the protests and the city's fire department said there were 30 intentional fires during the protests, including at least 16 structure fires.A construction site burns near the Third Police Precinct, May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. A number of businesses and homes were damaged as the area during protests over the death of George Floyd.A construction site burns near the Third Police Precinct, May 27, 2020, in Minneapolis. A number of businesses and homes were damaged as the area during protests over the death of George Floyd.Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Massive flames were seen in the sky on videos that circulated throughout social media. As of Thursday afternoon, the fire department said crews were still extinguishing fires along East Lake Street.People were also throwing rocks at fire department vehicles responding to the scene, according to the fire department, which noted there were no firefighter injuries. Elder had said people were throwing rocks at firefighters.MORE: Protesters clash with Minneapolis police following death of black man seen pinned down in video
Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Floyd's family, wrote on Twitter the family thanked the protesters and wanted peace in Minneapolis, but "knows that Black people want peace in their souls — and until we get #JusticeForFloyd there will be no peace.""We cannot sink to the level of our oppressors and endanger each other as we respond to the necessary urge to raise our voices in unison and in outrage," Crump wrote Thursday morning. "Looting and violence distract from strength of our collective voice."The city requested assistance from the National Guard late Wednesday during the protests, according to ABC Saint Paul affiliate KSTP.The National Guard did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment."Tonight was a different night of protesting. Last night we had 8,000 protestors all peaceful. Tonight we did not have that," Elder said.Police remove barricades set by protesters outside the Third Police Precinct over the death of George Floyd, May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn. The officer seen on video pinning down Floyd before his death worked at the Third Precinct before he and others involved in the arrest were fired.Police remove barricades set by protesters outside the Third Police Precinct over the death of George Floyd, May 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minn. The officer seen on video pinning down Floyd before his death worked at the Third Precinct before he and others involved in the arrest were fired.Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images
Elder said that there were no serious injuries to officers. He was not sure about the number of people arrested.The fire department said there were no civilian injuries from the fires.Gov. Tim Walz urged people to leave the area as the situation escalated."The situation near Lake Street and Hiawatha in Minneapolis has evolved into an extremely dangerous situation. For everyone's safety, please leave the area and allow firefighters and paramedics to get to the scene," Walz wrote on Twitter.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also asked people to evacuate the area."Please, Minneapolis, we cannot let tragedy beget more tragedy," Frey wrote on Twitter.The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing Floyd's death. On Thursday, it was announced that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the FBI's Minneapolis Field Office were conducting a "robust" criminal investigation into his death."The federal investigation will determine whether the actions by the involved former Minneapolis Police Department officers violated federal law. It is a violation of federal law for an individual acting under color of law to willfully deprive another person of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States," according to a joint statement from United States Attorney Erica MacDonald And FBI Special Agent In Charge Rainer Drolshagen.The officers involved in the incident were identified by police as Officer Derek Chauvin, Officer Thomas Lane, Officer Tou Thao and Officer J Alexander Kueng.All four officers were fired, according to Frey."This is the right call," the mayor said.A police officer aims before firing at protestors gathered near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis, May 27, 2020.A police officer aims before firing at protestors gathered near the Minneapolis Police third precinct after the death of an African-American man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis, May 27, 2020.Eric Miller/Reuters
The Minneapolis Police Department said Monday that officers were initially called to the scene "on a report of a forgery in progress" in a statement on their website.The statement added that officers were advised that the suspect "appeared to be under the influence" and that he "physically resisted officers."He later "appeared to be suffering medical distress" and officers called an ambulance. He was transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance, "where he died a short time later."The police department said there were no weapons of any type used by anyone involved in the incident and no officers were injured.ABC News' Catherine, Thorbecke and Will Gretsky contributed to this report.
Source : abcnews.go.com
Source : abcnews.go.com