On 4th night of riots by anarchists and criminals, the city was outnumbered even with local police, 520 state police, and 700 national guard troops for a total force of 2500—the largest deployment of enforcement resources in Minnesota history. Criminal mobs ignored the curfew that was in effect.
Many different hotspots at least two with over 1000 criminals at two different locations and hundreds more at other places, burning buildings, cars, and looting. The fire department can not move in to put them out without first being secured. For most of Friday night after initially trying to push crowds back with the police and national guard troops failed, 520 State police were mobilized. However, while more forces were organized, there was almost no defense of the city until about 1 AM Saturday morning.
In a live broadcast from State Emergency Operations Center, about 1:30 AM CST MN Governor, Mpls Mayor and head of the national guard did a press conference. 1000 more National Guard are being activated, and Governor has talked to US Military Central Command. Trump put on alert some army units to be available. The Governor has been in contact with those of surrounding states for possible assistance. I wonder if the Army is just a threat since I do not know how they avoid The Posse Comitatus Act
The anarchists and other criminals that are controlling the streets are far different than the peaceful protesters about the murder by police of George Floyd that sparked the riots. It appears anarchists, thugs, and other criminals are coming in from other cities. Some have very sophisticated incendiary devices to start fires. Looking at the mobs on continuous TV coverage, maybe half or less are black folks.
Sadly the same criminals are active in other cities. The attack on the CNN Center in Atlanta on live TV was especially dramatic. The black Mayor of Atlanta, in an excellent speech, pleaded with the rioters to go home, as the events are a disservice to what the Black Lives and other movements stand for - not destroying their own neighborhoods. She especially mentioned the founding of CNN by Ted Turner in Atlanta to help the community, which is getting the story of the racial issues out. So, it makes no sense to attack their headquarters.
Similar violence in LA and various other cities, although Minneapolis is ground zero with the police murder of George Floyd.
In Phoenix, we had or own police killing the same night as Minneapolis and over 1000 protestors in the streets Friday night. They were, however, mostly peaceful. In Phoenix, a black man was sleeping in his car on an Interstate and somehow got killed by a State trooper. The details why are sketchy.
I am especially interested in Minneapolis since I lived there - in the suburbs - all my life until I moved to Phoenix
