Yesterday, angry and passionate Americans, of all races and ages, continued to demonstrate following the death of George Floyd, an African American man who died in Minneapolis after police officer Derek Chauvin brutally pinned him down for 8 minutes. It has now been confirmed that for three of those minutes, the unarmed and handcuffed man was unconscious.
Across Los Angeles, hundreds of Angelenos came together in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement in Hollywood, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice, causing Mayor Garcetti to continue the curfew which is now in its fourth day.
A poignant moment happened in front of the Laugh Factory Comedy Club. Standing under a marquee that featured a photo of Floyd, LAPD Cmdr. Cory Palka spoke to the crowd and dropped to a knee in a sign of solidarity with the cheering group.
Palka got on a megaphone and spoke with protesters who surrounded him “If I take a knee with you guys will you give me your verbal acknowledgement that this is a peaceful rally,” Palka asked the protesters.
They cheered and shouted and chanted “Take a knee, take a knee.”
Palka paused, and put one knee on the ground and bowed his head briefly as the crowd cheered. Some reached out to shake his hand. “We stand together,” Palka said.
While many of the demonstrations did begin as peaceful marches, some did escalate into violence in the later hours.
Stores were looted and burned. The iconic Rock n’ Roll Ralphs in Hollywood saw looters raid the store. Approximately 70 were arrested. Amid reports of widespread looting in Vallejo, Calif., police said early Tuesday that officers shot a suspect while responding to a break-in at a Walgreens store. Demonstrators also stopped traffic on the northbound 405 near UCLA. Several were later arrested.
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Police were also pelted with rocks and bottles during clashes. Reel 360 photographer Nick Devars took these photos around the city over the weekend:
BEVERLY HILLS
MELROSE
As marches proceed today in Hollywood, Venice, Manhattan Beach, and at Cal State Northridge. This is quickly shaping up to be one of the largest marches to hit LA County this week. A curfew has been set for 6 PM by Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Have a story tip, video or photo, contact West Coast Editor Colin Costello at colin@reel360.com
