Washington, DC – On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that more than 300 people in 29 states have been charged for crimes ranging from attempted murder to damaging property, all “under the guise of peaceful demonstrations”.
Over 300 People Facing Federal Charges For Crimes Committed During Nationwide Demonstrations https://t.co/db0xW3Rr0Q
— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) September 24, 2020
About 40 out of the 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide have filed charges for crimes related to arson, burglary, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, felony civil disorder, and many other crimes.
While approximately 80 individuals were charged with crimes relating to arson and explosives, approximately 15 individuals were charged with damaging federal property, including the Portland Courthouse, Nashville Courthouse, Minneapolis Police Third Precinct, Seattle Police East Precinct, and many more.
Local and corporate businesses were also destroyed, and subject to looting including a Target Corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, Boost Mobile Store in Milwaukee, local restaurants including a Los Angeles pizza parlor, and a sushi bar in Santa Monica.
Approximately 35 people have been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer and related offenses. A man in Boston allegedly fired 11 times at law enforcement officers, including at a deputized federal officer.
Approximately 30 people have been charged with crimes related to civil disorder. In several of these instances the people used social media to incite destruction and assaults geared towards law enforcement officers.
In Cleveland, two Pennsylvania men were charged with driving to the city with the intent to participate in a riot and commit acts of violence.
The men had a black backpack which contained a hammer, two containers of Sterno Firestarter Instant Flame Gel, a can of spray paint, a glass bottle of liquor with a bar-style pour top. A Glock semi-autmomatic firearm, and two magazines which were loaded with ammunition were found in their vehicle.
The arrests of these people came following months of protests and riots across the country after the death of George Floyd in May after an officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes.
Now, however protests and riots have shifted to Louisville, Kentucky after a grand jury on Wednesday indicted one police officer in the case surrounding the shooting of Breonna Taylor. The officer, Brett Hankison, was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree.
After the grand jury’s decision, angry mobs of protesters flooded the streets where two police officers were shot and wounded Wednesday evening.
Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder stated that a suspect was in custody, and that the two officers are expected to make a recovery.
LATEST: Police said two officers were shot during demonstrations that erupted after a Kentucky grand jury indicted one officer for allegedly endangering the neighbors of Breonna Taylor during the police shooting that resulted in her death.https://t.co/z0Imi84VNh pic.twitter.com/lQMnHdtE60
— ABC News (@ABC) September 24, 2020
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