Protests erupt in Los Angeles.
LOS ANGELES — Authorities are expressing concern over a large protest Wednesday evening in downtown Los Angeles that left two California Highway Patrol cars vandalized and one demonstrator hurt.
Protesters gathered to express outrage over the death of George Floyd, a black man killed Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground with his knee. The demonstrators marched through the streets of downtown L.A. without much incident, and at one point blocked the 101 Freeway.
But eventually the protest turned more violent. Two California Highway Patrol cars were vandalized during the confrontation, and one demonstrator was injured after falling off a CHP cruiser as it drove away. That protester received medical attention; the person’s condition was not released.
Later, anti-police graffiti was sprayed at LAPD headquarters.
In a statement, the LAPD said: “We hear your anger & your pain. We will always facilitate freedom of speech. Period. All we ask is that protests are held in a safe & legal manner.”
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Wednesday night that he was also “troubled by the violence on the freeway.”
Earlier in the day, he issued a statement calling the video in the Floyd case disturbing and said it tarnished the badge.
“The actions I watched in the video were incredibly disturbing and go against the basic law enforcement principle of preservation of life,” he said.
L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva responded to the downtown protest on Facebook: “Violence is unwarranted and takes away from the message. I urge all of us to protest peacefully for the sake of everyone’s public safety,” he said.