Heather Curtis
MARYLAND (WMAL) – Days after D.C. started reopening following the end of a stay-at-home order implemented because of the pandemic, the city will be shutting down temporarily for a second night Monday in an effort to stop rioting prompted by the killing of an unarmed black man – George Floyd – by a Minneapolis police officer last Monday.
Monday and Tuesday night a curfew will go into effect at 7, which is four hours earlier than the curfew set Saturday. Downtown D.C. was heavily damaged Saturday and Sunday after rioters smashed windows, looted and set fires, including one at the historic St. John’s Church across from Lafayette Square. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference Monday the curfew was an effective tool for the police Sunday.
“Every single American should be outraged by the murder of George Floyd, however, smashed windows and looting are becoming a bigger story than the broken systems that got us here,” Bowser said.
The protests in D.C. are happening along with protests in cities across the country that have turned violent with people furious over the killing of Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin who pressed his knee into Floyd’s throat for nearly nine minutes as the man screamed he could not breathe. People filming the incident urged the officer to stop. Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, but many want to see the charges upgraded to first degree murder. The other three officers who stood by as their colleague continued to pin Floyd down do not faces charges, and many, including Floyd’s brother Terrence, want them to also be criminally charged.
Police Chief Peter Newsham said 88 people were arrested Sunday and 11 Saturday in the District. He said charges against them include rioting, burglary and assault. Newsham said many of the bad actors were from the D.C. metro region.
Newsham told Washingtonians the curfew would disrupt their lives but said they have no choice but to impose it. He also had a warning for anyone on the streets after 7 p.m.
“If you are not a member of the media, or you do not have an essential function, you can anticipate that local police and federal police will take you into custody. That is a warning,” Newsham said.
The announcement about the curfew came a few hours before Terrence Floyd’s brother stood at the spot where his sibling was killed and urged people to continue protesting and demanding justice but stop the rioting.
“If I’m not over here messing up my community, then what are ya’ll doing? What are ya’ll doing? Ya’ll doing nothing because that’s not gonna bring my brother back at all,” Terrence screamed.
Sunday afternoon Bowser said she would not impose a curfew as mayors in other cities had done because people intent on breaking the law would not abide by it. Hours later, she did impost one. Monday she explained why she changed her mind.
“Police throughout the day are gathering intelligence, and their intelligence suggested some organizations and tactics that we had noticed from the previous day that they needed additional tools, and that was one,” Bowser said.
Bowser said the curfew would not have any impact on Tuesday’s primary. People are allowed to leave the house after 7 to vote. Polls close at 8.
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