George Floyd protests live update: Here’s what to know in Charlotte on May 31

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about local protests over the death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man who died while being detained by police. Protests have continued in Charlotte, Raleigh and across the country this weekend.

Check back for updates.

National Guard available

Gov. Roy Cooper said Sunday that 450 members of the National Guard would be available to Raleigh and Charlotte at the request of both cities, which had seen protests turn violent and destructive.

Cooper said the cities had requested help from the National Guard. Some guard members also are trained in helping protect public structures.

The city of Charlotte, however, tweeted late Sunday that the Guard was not being deployed Sunday night.

“There are reports that the National Guard is deploying to Charlotte in response to demonstrations. That is not true. The National Guard has been in #CLT assisting with COVID-19 response. There are no plans at this time to deploy the National Guard in response to demonstrations,” @cltgov tweeted.

Shots fired in Salisbury

Salisbury Post editor Josh Bergeron tweeted shortly after 7 p.m. that “a white man with a Confederate group fired two or three shots into the air as protesters approached” a Confederate statue in downtown Salisbury. The man was taken into custody, he said.

Two protests underway Sunday

Two protests are underway in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. One protest, organized by T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E, was at uptown’s Romare Bearden Park.

Organizers of the Bearden Park protest read the names of victims of what they described as police brutality. They carried signs, saying “I can’t breath,” “Racism is violence” and “De-fund CMPD.”

The second began at First Ward Park. That protest is organized by It Ends Now Charlotte, a group seeking to end racial injustice.

Demonstrators at both sites eventually marched peacefully on the streets of uptown, carrying signs and chanting.

Sunday’s protests follow two nights of demonstrations in Charlotte and many cities across the country.

Floyd died Monday after a Minneapolis police office knelt on his neck during an arrest. According to a video of the arrest, Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe,” a phase echoed by protesters in Charlotte.

Businesses sustain damages

A number of uptown businesses had sustained damages during the weekend protests.

They include: 204 North Kitchen & Cocktails, 5Church restaurant, Sophia’s Lounge and Coco and the Director coffee lounge.

Discovery Place and King’s Kitchen incurred “extensive damage,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a tweet Sunday.

Images posted on social media showed scenes of businesses with shattered glass at their doors and windows.

A video posted on Twitter late Saturday by Queen City Nerve alternative newspaper showed a man trying to break a front window at Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Belk Theater. The man was chased and tackled by protestors.

Support at the jail

Thirty people were arrested on various charges overnight Saturday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.

Activists with Charlotte Uprising said on Twitter it has folks stationed outside the county jail for support and waiting for people to be released from custody.

The group said donations to a bail fund “enable us to bail people out, get essentials for them upon release, get them Ubers home, and provide others with long term support. We are truly grateful.”

Cooper weighs in

In an early Sunday tweet, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper wrote, “I am in continuing contact with Emergency Management leaders about violence occurring in some of our cities.

“Frustrating that planned peaceful protests about real systemic racism are marred. I am grateful for those seeking justice peacefully.”

At a news conference Sunday afternoon, Cooper called the killing of Floyd “unjust..” He noted many demonstrators in the state brought their kids and sought meaningful change.

“I fear the cry of the people is being drowned out by the noise of the riots...

“Black lives do matter.”

Cooper also praised the work of everyone who worked hard to keep the peace.

“We must stop this destruction,” Cooper said, while noting that people should not forget why people are protesting in the streets: Racism, excessive use of force, poverty, white supremacy.

Staff writers Melissa Oyler and Adam Bell contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 10:55 AM.