North Carolina cities saw a weekend of George Floyd protests. Here’s what to know
Peaceful and occasionally violent protests were held in cities across North Carolina over the weekend following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while being pinned by a Minneapolis police officer.
The protests in North Carolina mirrored those across the country, with people calling for an end to police brutality.
Check back for updates on what’s happening in North Carolina.
Charlotte
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested 55 people over the weekend — 30 on Saturday and 25 on Sunday — as protests turned violent and businesses were damaged in uptown. Four police officers have been injured, including three hurt Sunday night.
“One of these injuries was the result of an explosive device thrown at police, causing injuries to an officer’s eye,” CMPD said in a press release. “One of the protesters (was) arrested for hitting an officer in the face with a rock,” police said.
Two of the seven protesters arrested for assault on a government official were 15 and 17 year-old juveniles, police said.
Durham
Marches and rallies ended peacefully in Durham, with no vandalism or arrests reported.
“We’re not here to tear up our own community,” Skip Gibbs, a leader of the protest, told demonstrators, The News & Observer reported.
Fayetteville
A curfew was imposed Sunday in Fayetteville as protests escalated.
There was looting at Cross Creek Mall, and a fire was set at the historic Market House in downtown, according to the Fayetteville Observer.
Police announced Sunday that “downtown Fayetteville has been shutdown to vehicle and foot traffic” due to the destruction and cleanup efforts.
Greensboro
Concerns over armed white supremacists prompted march organizers in Greensboro to ask for a police escort during a Sunday protest, the Greensboro News & Record reported.
Despite widespread rumors, there were no encounters with white supremacists, the newspaper said.
Some windows were smashed downtown on Sunday, and protesters emptied trash cans onto streets, Fox8 reported.
High Point
Protesters blocked South Main Street near High Avenue on Sunday night, prompting police to use pepper spray to clear the intersection, according to Fox8.
At least two business storefronts had their glass broken out, the station reported.
Raleigh
The state’s capital city deployed the National Guard as protests became violent.
Protesters spray-painted graffiti on downtown buildings and broke windows of several businesses. Police used tear gas and fired rubber bullets.
Seven people were arrested Sunday at the North Hills shopping center and the Triangle Town Center mall.
Raleigh police said on Twitter the National Guard was being deployed “to provide support as we work to restore order and ensure the safety of residents, protect necessary and critical infrastructure; and help ensure that those who wish to lawfully and peacefully exercise their 1st Amendment right to protest can do so.”
The mayor said she planned to enact a curfew on Monday.
Salisbury
The Salisbury Police Department arrested two people — one white and one black — in connection with shots fired as two separate groups of protesters gathered Sunday near the Fame Civil War statue downtown.
Jeffrey Allan Long, 49, and Brandon M. Walker, 34, were arrested, said police, who did not list their charges. No injuries were reported.
Wilmington
Wilmington enacted a curfew Sunday after its third night of violent protests that included objects thrown at the New Hanover County courthouse.
Wilmington police said the sheriff’s office “deployed inert gas in an effort to disperse the crowd” around 8 p.m. Sunday when protesters refused to comply with orders. Fireworks were thrown at passing vehicles on some streets, police said in on Twitter.
Eight people were charged with failure to disperse, three with curfew violations and two with “inciting to riot,” WECT reported.
Wilson
Downtown Wilson was “swarmed” Sunday with protests that turned violent late in the day as a “burning bomb” was thrown at an office, according to the Wilson Times.
The protesters tossed bottles, bricks and fireworks at police and sheriff’s deputies, and law enforcement responded with tear gas, the newspaper reported.
Winston-Salem
Marches in Winston-Salem were largely peaceful Sunday, except for an incident in which a truck found itself caught in the crowd, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.
Some protesters threw bottles at the truck while others tried pushing it, the newspaper said.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 10:44 AM with the headline "North Carolina cities saw a weekend of George Floyd protests. Here’s what to know."