Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a citywide curfew over last weekend, Monday and Tuesday, requiring people within the City of Los Angeles to stay indoors from 8 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Monday morning.
“I will always protect Angelenos’ right to make their voices heard – and we can lead the movement against racism without fear of violence or vandalism,” said Garcetti. “We are extending the curfew to protect everyone’s safety and help our first responders keep the peace.”
LAPD Chief Michael Moore stated, “We stand with our communities and rebuke any instance of police brutality as well as acts of violence or property damage.”
In one instance of protest Sunday, LAPD officers were responding to a possible robbery at the 700 block of South Broadway Street, when their marked black-and-white patrol vehicle encountered numerous protestors in the streets, causing them to slow to a stop. At that point, a group of individuals surrounded the police vehicle and threw objects at the vehicle shattering the rear window and damaging the driver’s side mirror. Officers attempted to drive away, when people ran out in front of the cruiser. One of them was struck but got up and ran away before they could be identified.
During a Sunday afternoon news conference, the mayor acknowledged that there were anarchists among the protesters, who were not specifically looking for justice, but wanted to cause destruction.
“There are a small number of people who want to exploit our pain to commit crime,” he said. “They seek to divide us.”
The violence involved dangerous projectiles directed at the LAPD as well as some property damage to some LA businesses.
“The vast majority of people taking to the streets are doing it peacefully, powerfully, and with reverence for the sacred cause they’re fighting for. This curfew is in place to protect their safety – and the safety of all who live and work in our city.”
