latimes--2020-05-31--National Guard monitors L.A. City Hall as downtown shops clean up

In a stark symbol of tensions rippling through parts of Los Angeles , National Guard troops stood with Los Angeles Police Department officers on the steps of City Hall on Sunday to protect the landmark .
About 100 demonstrators had gathered in Grand Park , after a demonstration earlier in the day at Pershing Square .
Downtown was hit by protests and looting Friday night and Saturday morning .
On Saturday night , some businesses saw more looting .
On Sunday , many merchants were still cleaning up .
When Maria Alvarado , 38 , store manager of Fallas along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this morning , she knew she had her work cut out for her .
Merchandise racks and clothing lined the floor , cash registers were toppled over and broken , and windows were shattered .
Alvarado said rioters also attempted to start a fire in the store , as evidenced by the aftermath .
“ The riots are concerning because they ’ re hurting us too , ” Alvarado said .
“ Our workers are having their hours cut , and the stolen merchandise is costly .
After reopening the store we had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then this happened.
” With escalating concerns of riots and COVID-19 , Alvarado said she was concerned for the financial stability of her business .
Along West 4th Street nearby , Chris Andino of North Hollywood had been boarding up businesses since 3 a.m. as rioters began to clear out of the area .
Andino maneuvered around broken window and mirrors to the building ’ s gym .
In every corridor by Pershing Square , pedestrians walked around , but businesses were all boarded up .
Neighborhood resident Kelzy David , a 25-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time sleeping as helicopters and rioters filled Pershing Garden .
“ It ’ s hard seeing our neighborhood like this , ” David said .
“ But the graffiti and broken windows , they ’ re all part of the cause , and I support it .
”

Members of the National Guard and LAPD officers patrol City Hall on Sunday.
In a stark symbol of tensions rippling through parts of Los Angeles, National Guard troops stood with Los Angeles Police Department officers on the steps of City Hall on Sunday to protect the landmark.
About 100 demonstrators had gathered in Grand Park, after a demonstration earlier in the day at Pershing Square.
Downtown was hit by protests and looting Friday night and Saturday morning. On Saturday night, some businesses saw more looting.
1 / 81 Protesters stand on top of a burned LAPD cruiser. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 81 Protesters stand on top of a bus stop at the Los Angeles Civic Center to demonstrate for justice Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 81 Protestors turn on their cell phone flashlights at Los Angeles City Hall at 9 pm on Wednesday as part of a silent protest against the death of George Floyd. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 81 A protester confronts National Guardsmen as thousands of protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles to demonstrate for justice in the George Floyd murder by cop case Wednesday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 81 Protesters dance on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 81 Thousands of protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles Wednesday night to demonstrate for justice in the killing of George Floyd. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 81 LAPD Cmdr. Gerald Woodyard takes a knee with protesters and L.A. clergy during a march in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 81 Khalil Mitchell speaks to protesters kneeling near a police line, preaching calm and working to preserve a peaceful protest on Monday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 81 In Hollywood, hundreds of protesters march Monday against police brutality. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 81 AJ Lovelace, a director and writer, and others keep potential looters from entering a dry cleaning store as they attempt to march peacefully. “We need peace and we need someone to talk to each other,” he said after the looters fled the scene. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 81 Demonstrators in Riverside retreat as county sheriff’s deputies fire nonlethal rounds on Monday after law enforcement announced an unlawful assembly. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 81 Protesters in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 81 An arrest in Hollywood during a protest Monday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 81 A demonstrator, injured while trying to flee the firing of nonlethal rounds, lies on the ground in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 81 An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 81 Riverside County deputies advance on demonstrators on Monday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 81 Fireworks thrown by a protester explode at the feet of Riverside police. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 81 Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco takes a knee with demonstrators. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 81 A watch and jewelry store is looted in Van Nuys on Monday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 81 A looting arrest in Van Nuys. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 81 AJ Lovelace, director and writer, tries to stop looters from breaking into a Walgreens in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 81 An LAPD officer arrests a suspected looter in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 81 Police advance on a line of protesters in Hollywood, firing rubber bullets. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 81 Arrests are made of those out after curfew in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 81 Protesters in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 81 A store is looted in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 81 Protesters in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 81 People out after curfew are arrested Monday at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 81 Arrests in Hollywood. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 81 Protests in Westwood. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 81 Volunteers help clean up the mess left by looters in Long Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 81 Protest in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 81 National Guardsmen outside Santa Monica Place. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 81 Gilbert Haro and sons Richard, 8, and James, 6, help clean up in Santa Monica. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 81 Protesters face off with police in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 81 Santa Monica stores were the target of looting on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 81 Suspected looters in custody in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 81 L.A. County sheriff’s deputies in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 81 Sake House employee Jared Settles can’t bear to watch as the restaurant burns in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 81 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 81 Broken glass from a looted store covers the sidewalk in Santa Monica. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 81 Cecelia Rosales, who said she was homeless, walks past a line of police officers in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 81 A man guards a convenience store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 81 Looting erupted Sunday in Long Beach. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 81 Police and protesters face off in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 81 A police officer inspects the damage to a Santa Monica supermarket. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 81 A protester is treated after being struck by a rubber bullet. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 81 Looting in Long Beach on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 81 Looting in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 81 A suspected looter in Long Beach. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 81 Smashing windows in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 81 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 81 People walk away with surfboards in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 81 People rush out of a looted store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 81 Protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 81 Cheers for protesters in downtown Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 81 City Hall on Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 81 A shattered storefront on Melrose Avenue on Sunday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 81 Smashed windows on La Cienega Boulevard. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 81 Downtown L.A. on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 81 People carry merchandise from a looted store. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 81 A person carries items from a looted store in the Fairfax District on Saturday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 81 A couple of protesters embrace on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 64 / 81 People protest Saturday at Pan Pacific Park. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 65 / 81 Protesters gather around a fire in the middle of a downtown L.A. street on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 81 Police fire percussion rounds to clear protesters from Grand Avenue in in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 81 A protester remains defiant after being pushed to the ground by police on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 81 Protesters are arrested by Los Angeles police in front of City Hall on Saturday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 81 Protesters take to the streets Friday in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 81 Protesters are escorted off the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 81 A protester is escorted off the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 81 Protesters climb over a barrier during the May 29 protest in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway northbound and southbound in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 81 Police officers assume a defensive stance as a protester approaches them on the 110 Freeway on May 29. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 81 During a May 29 protest, Los Angeles police patrol the 110 after having moved protesters off the freeway. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 81 A protester rides a skateboard on the 110 Freeway. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway northbound and southbound in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 81 A protester confronts LAPD officers on Friday in downtown L.A. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 81 A protester lies hurt on the 101 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles on May 27. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 81 An injured man gets up with the help of emergency workers during a protest May 27 in downtown L.A. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
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On Sunday, many merchants were still cleaning up.
When Maria Alvarado, 38, store manager of Fallas along West 5th Street, came into work this morning, she knew she had her work cut out for her.
Merchandise racks and clothing lined the floor, cash registers were toppled over and broken, and windows were shattered. Alvarado said rioters also attempted to start a fire in the store, as evidenced by the aftermath.
“The riots are concerning because they’re hurting us too,” Alvarado said. “Our workers are having their hours cut, and the stolen merchandise is costly. After reopening the store we had three good days of business, but then this happened.”
With escalating concerns of riots and COVID-19, Alvarado said she was concerned for the financial stability of her business.
Along West 4th Street nearby, Chris Andino of North Hollywood had been boarding up businesses since 3 a.m. as rioters began to clear out of the area. Andino maneuvered around broken window and mirrors to the building’s gym.
In every corridor by Pershing Square, pedestrians walked around, but businesses were all boarded up. Neighborhood resident Kelzy David, a 25-year-old physical therapy assistant, had a hard time sleeping as helicopters and rioters filled Pershing Garden.
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“It’s hard seeing our neighborhood like this,” David said. “But the graffiti and broken windows, they’re all part of the cause, and I support it.”


latimes--2020-05-31--In the heart of Santa Ana, residents clean up and debate after protest

As a protest against police brutality Saturday night in Santa Ana turned from a rally into a free-for-all , a debate well known to Orange County raged on social media : The county seat has long loomed large in the region ’ s imagination .
A dying , dangerous brown super barrio that tarnishes the rest of O.C .
A proud town worth defending .
A place wasted on its residents .
One with potential .
All of those conflicting emotions — and more — were expressed online while more than 400 protesters went from holding signs and chanting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canisters and rubber bullets of police officers and sheriff ’ s deputies .
On a Facebook livestream watched simultaneously at one point by more than 21,000 people , the majority of viewers registered their disgust with angry-face emojis and worries about what it would mean for their city .
On Instagram , some suggested that damage should rain down only on gentrified areas of the city .
Snapchat users joked that everyone should take the melee to wealthy Huntington Beach , Irvine or Newport Beach .
And on Twitter , more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Santa Ana might burn .
The debate over what the protest meant for the city continued early Sunday morning , as more than 100 people descended on Bristol Street between McFadden and Edinger avenues , where the protest took place .
“ Santa Ana wouldn ’ t be like this if wealthy cities didn ’ t dump their problems on us , ” said 19-year-old Axidi Iglesias .
“ White people in Huntington Beach protested for a haircut .
Here , it ’ s against actual problems.
” Graffiti in English , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walls , street curbs and trees .
Glass shards glistened on the ground .
A burned Boost Mobile display still smoldered .
Rocks littered parking lots like jacaranda blooms .
Everyone who showed up had face coverings , gloves , brooms — and opinions .
“ They destroyed for their game and not the cause , ” said Alexander Rodriguez , 25 , who stood outside a Smart and Final on Edinger with smashed-in windows .
“ They don ’ t care how the world sees us.
” “ It puts us in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machinist Antonio Ortiz , who remained in his truck .
“ What did we win from all this ?
” “ I tell my kids all the time about using their voice , ” said Santa Ana High history teacher Ann Huizar .
She picked trash out of bushes alongside her son .
“ But it needs to be in a constructive way.
” At O ’ Reilly Auto Parts , store manager Miguel Briceño spoke through the crack of a boarded-up door .
“ They don ’ t listen to our silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ so maybe they ’ ll listen to this.
” One thing no one questioned : the location .
In a county as widespread as Orange County , picturesque areas — the Huntington Beach Pier , the Orange Circle , outside the Disneyland gates — have become favorite spots for protesters .
This stretch of Santa Ana is the opposite : It ’ s right in the middle of working-class neighborhoods , the type of location outsiders usually never bother to explore .
Nevertheless , it ’ s become Santa Ana ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make itself heard .
On Easter weekends , lowrider clubs cruise all day and night .
After big victories by Mexico ’ s men ’ s soccer team , boisterous fans gather at Bristol and McFadden and swarm from there .
Over the years , that intersection in particular has seen protests against gang violence , Donald Trump and police brutality , and in favor of immigration reform and student rights .
“ That ’ s the heart of Santa Ana right there , ” said Cal State Fullerton professor Erualdo Gonzalez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latino communities .
His grandmother ’ s house stands two blocks away from there .
“ It ’ s a microcosm of what Santa Ana is — the housing , the consumerism , the mexicanos.
” He wasn ’ t surprised at all the rancor over Saturday ’ s events — both among the protesters and the audience at home .
Friends and relatives who were at the protest have organized against city leaders over what they see is their neglect of Santa Ana ’ s working-class residents .
But others in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be better , and how this new generation is just messing everything up .
“ Some people agree with all the bad stereotypes and say , ‘ Yeah I want to get out of Santa Ana , ’ and others want to stay and improve and fight for it , ” Gonzalez said .
“ But for everyone from here , there ’ s an us-against-the-world mentality .
And when the rest of Orange County talks trash , that ’ s when we really unite.
” The damage from Saturday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bristol Shopping Mall off McFadden .
A long line of shoppers stood in front of La Flor de Mexicali for fresh corn tortillas .
Outside Christy ’ s Donuts , the usual scrum of retired Latino laborers hung out with their coffee and crullers .
“ What the chamacos [ young people ] did wasn ’ t right , ” said 72-year-old Jesus Cervantes .
But , he said , what police did to George Floyd “ wasn ’ t right , either .
Of course people are going to get angry.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who only gave her name as Cheryl , said worried tenants had texted her all night .
“ They have put a lot of money into getting ready to reopen , ” she said .
“ And what happens ?
This ?
You don ’ t punish the people who live here .
They ’ re stealing from their own community.
” As more people came to clean up , tears began to stream down her face .
“ This here ?
” she said , her glasses fogging up .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is the Santa Ana I love.
” Alma Arias , directing friends in the cleanup , said , “ If we want people to stop stereotyping us , we need to be the change.
” The 30-year-old payroll manager came from Placentia but grew up in Santa Ana .
“ It ’ s frustrating to wake up to this , ” she said .
“ I ’ m proud that my city showed up and stood up , ” said Gilbert , 33 .
“ The problems from the police are real.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cracked that he attended a rally in Orange earlier that Saturday “ and it was all white people .
They don ’ t know what ’ s really up.
” He said that , during the 2018 FIFA World Cup , he received a ticket for honking his horn after Mexico ’ s upset over Germany .
“ We all get hassled here — everyone has stories , ” Sanchez said .
“ The rest of Orange County doesn ’ t even know .
That they keep putting us down is pathetic @ @

As a protest against police brutality Saturday night in Santa Ana turned from a rally into a free-for-all, a debate well known to Orange County raged on social media:
What’s up with Santa Ana?
The county seat has long loomed large in the region’s imagination. A dying, dangerous brown super barrio that tarnishes the rest of O.C. A proud town worth defending. A place wasted on its residents. One with potential.
All of those conflicting emotions — and more — were expressed online while more than 400 protesters went from holding signs and chanting to breaking windows and dodging the tear gas canisters and rubber bullets of police officers and sheriff’s deputies.
On a Facebook livestream watched simultaneously at one point by more than 21,000 people, the majority of viewers registered their disgust with angry-face emojis and worries about what it would mean for their city. On Instagram, some suggested that damage should rain down only on gentrified areas of the city. Snapchat users joked that everyone should take the melee to wealthy Huntington Beach, Irvine or Newport Beach.
And on Twitter, more than a few nonresidents expressed joy at the possibility that Santa Ana might burn.
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The debate over what the protest meant for the city continued early Sunday morning, as more than 100 people descended on Bristol Street between McFadden and Edinger avenues, where the protest took place.
“Santa Ana wouldn’t be like this if wealthy cities didn’t dump their problems on us,” said 19-year-old Axidi Iglesias. “White people in Huntington Beach protested for a haircut. Here, it’s against actual problems.”
Graffiti in English, Spanish and Spanglish marked buildings, walls, street curbs and trees. Glass shards glistened on the ground. A burned Boost Mobile display still smoldered. Rocks littered parking lots like jacaranda blooms.
Everyone who showed up had face coverings, gloves, brooms — and opinions.
“They destroyed for their game and not the cause,” said Alexander Rodriguez, 25, who stood outside a Smart & Final on Edinger Avenue with smashed-in windows. “They don’t care how the world sees us.”
“It puts us in a bad position,” said 40-year-old machinist Antonio Ortiz, who remained in his truck. “What did we win from all this?”
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“I tell my kids all the time about using their voice,” said Santa Ana High history teacher Ann Huizar. She picked trash out of bushes alongside her son. “But it needs to be in a constructive way.”
At O’Reilly Auto Parts, store manager Miguel Briceño spoke through the crack of a boarded-up door.
“They don’t listen to our silent protests,” said the 38-year-old, “so maybe they’ll listen to this.”
One thing no one questioned: the location.
In a county as widespread as Orange County, picturesque areas — the Huntington Beach Pier, the Orange Circle, outside the Disneyland gates — have become favorite spots for protesters. This stretch of Santa Ana is the opposite: It’s right in the middle of working-class neighborhoods, the type of location outsiders usually never bother to explore.
Nevertheless, it’s become Santa Ana’s primary staging ground when the city wants to make itself heard.
On Easter weekends, lowrider clubs cruise all day and night. After big victories by Mexico’s men’s soccer team, boisterous fans gather at Bristol and McFadden and swarm from there. Over the years, that intersection in particular has seen protests against gang violence, President Trump and police brutality, and in favor of immigration reform and student rights.
“That’s the heart of Santa Ana right there,” said Cal State Fullerton professor Erualdo Gonzalez, who specializes in urban planning in Latino communities. His grandmother’s house stands two blocks away from there. “It’s a microcosm of what Santa Ana is — the housing, the consumerism, the mexicanos.”
He wasn’t surprised at all the rancor over Saturday’s events — both among the protesters and the audience at home. Friends and relatives who were at the protest have organized against city leaders over what they see is their neglect of Santa Ana’s working-class residents. But others in his circle openly complain about how things used to be better, and how this new generation is just messing everything up.
“Some people agree with all the bad stereotypes and say, ‘Yeah I want to get out of Santa Ana,’ and others want to stay and improve and fight for it,” Gonzalez said. “But for everyone from here, there’s an us-against-the-world mentality. And when the rest of Orange County talks trash, that’s when we really unite.”
The damage from Saturday’s protest wasn’t as bad outside the Bristol Shopping Mall off McFadden. A long line of shoppers stood in front of Tortilleria Flor De Mexicali for fresh corn tortillas. Outside Christy’s Donuts, the usual scrum of retired Latino laborers hung out with their coffee and crullers.
“What the chamacos [young people] did wasn’t right,” said 72-year-old Jesus Cervantes. But, he said, what police did to George Floyd “wasn’t right, either. Of course people are going to get angry.”
The area’s property manager, who gave her name only as Cheryl, said worried tenants had texted her all night. “They have put a lot of money into getting ready to reopen,” she said. “And what happens? This? You don’t punish the people who live here. They’re stealing from their own community.”
As more people came to clean up, tears began to stream down her face.
“This here?” she said, her glasses fogging up. “This is the antithesis of violence. This is the Santa Ana I love.”
Alma Arias, directing friends in the cleanup, said, “If we want people to stop stereotyping us, we need to be the change.” The 30-year-old payroll manager came from Placentia but grew up in Santa Ana.
“It’s frustrating to wake up to this,” she said.
Nearby, father-and-son duo Gil and Gilbert Sanchez carried buckets for debris.
“I’m proud that my city showed up and stood up,” said Gilbert, 33. “The problems from the police are real.”
Gil, a retired medical worker, cracked that he attended a rally in Orange earlier that Saturday “and it was all white people. They don’t know what’s really up.”
He said that, during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he received a ticket for honking his horn after Mexico’s upset over Germany.
“We all get hassled here — everyone has stories,” Sanchez said. “The rest of Orange County doesn’t even know. That they keep putting us down is pathetic.”


latimes--2020-05-31--Scene of unchecked looting sparks anger: 'It was like a McDonald's drive-through'

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested nearly 400 people Saturday during unruly protests , but some officials are concerned at the amount of looting that went unchecked overnight .
Authorities did not have a tally of how many businesses were vandalized or robbed .
But parts of Fairfax Avenue and Melrose Avenue were hard hit , with dozens of storefronts damaged .
Looters also targeted the Grove shopping center , stealing from the Apple Store , Nordstrom and other businesses .
A procession of cars , SUVs and pickups pulled up in front of the MelroseMac store at 6614 Melrose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight .
With no police in sight , looters scrambled empty-handed into the store through shattered windows and emerged moments later with what appeared to be boxes of computers .
The scene was broadcast live for at least a half-hour on L.A. news outlets .
“ It was like a McDonald ’ s drive-through outside the Mac store , where cars were pulling up and others were throwing in looted goods and driving off , ” Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz told KTLA-TV Channel 5 Sunday morning .
“ They were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ It was something the likes of which I ’ ve never seen anywhere.
” Indeed , police think that some of the looting late Saturday was not connected to the original protest , with people driving around looking for an opportunity to target stores .
In downtown , some looting continued despite the 8 p.m. curfew .
Cars cruised around looking for easy marks .
Drivers parked as passengers ran inside to grab goods before hustling back out and filling the trunk with pilfered products .
Groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets of downtown Los Angeles late Saturday night , smashing windows and spray-painting anti-police graffiti on plywood boards that business and property owners had hastily affixed to their buildings earlier in the day .
Among the nearly 400 arrested by the LAPD on Saturday , charges ranged from burglary and looting to vandalism to failure to disperse and curfew violations .
Five officers were injured during the melee , and two were hospitalized .
It was unclear how many protesters were hurt , but photos show some with various wounds .
Times staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this report .

Looters and vandals ransack Spokes ‘N Stuff at Melrose Avenue and Ogden Drive on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Police Department arrested nearly 400 people Saturday during unruly protests, but some officials are concerned at the amount of looting that went unchecked overnight.
Authorities did not have a tally of how many businesses were vandalized or robbed. But parts of Fairfax Avenue and Melrose Avenue were hard hit, with dozens of storefronts damaged. Looters also targeted the Grove shopping center, stealing from the Apple Store, Nordstrom and other businesses.
A procession of cars, SUVs and pickups pulled up in front of the MelroseMac store at 6614 Melrose Ave. and disgorged drivers and passengers around midnight.
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With no police in sight, looters scrambled empty-handed into the store through shattered windows and emerged moments later with what appeared to be boxes of computers.
The scene was broadcast live for at least a half-hour on L.A. news outlets.
“It was like a McDonald’s drive-through outside the Mac store, where cars were pulling up and others were throwing in looted goods and driving off,” Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz told KTLA-TV Channel 5 Sunday morning.
“They were in a line, one by one,” he said. “It was something the likes of which I’ve never seen anywhere.”
Indeed, police think that some of the looting late Saturday was not connected to the original protest, with people driving around looking for an opportunity to target stores.
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In downtown, some looting continued despite the 8 p.m. curfew. Cars cruised around looking for easy marks. Drivers parked as passengers ran inside to grab goods before hustling back out and filling the trunk with pilfered products.
Groups of people — mostly men — wandered the streets of downtown Los Angeles late Saturday night, smashing windows and spray-painting anti-police graffiti on plywood boards that business and property owners had hastily affixed to their buildings earlier in the day.
Among the nearly 400 arrested by the LAPD on Saturday, charges ranged from burglary and looting to vandalism to failure to disperse and curfew violations.
Five officers were injured during the melee, and two were hospitalized. It was unclear how many protesters were hurt, but photos show some with various wounds.
Times staff writers Monte Morin and Richard Winton contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-31--Chicago natives shocked by violence and looting in L.A.

Miles Harrison and his mom , Karen , stood outside their local market on Hayworth and Melrose avenues in disbelief Sunday morning .
Chicago natives , they moved to L.A. last year so Karen could work for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority .
They loved the idea of walking around under the California sun .
But what they saw Saturday night and what Harrison has experienced as a young black man since arriving in L.A. has them thinking of returning to Illinois .
Harrison is an early bird , he said , and during his 5 a.m. jogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been stopped and handcuffed multiple times by police .
The officers question why the 25-year-old doesn ’ t have a California ID and have called his mom each time to verify his identity .
Only lately , he said , have police left him alone because they finally recognize him .
But he still doesn ’ t like to go out alone .
When protesters gathered Saturday on nearby 3rd Street , he joined the demonstration .
It was what he saw on his way home , as the 8 p.m. curfew closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new people — young men and women — who he said were not at the demonstrations were spilling out of cars along Fairfax , dashing into stores to grab items , then diving back into their vehicles and taking off .
A procession of cars , SUVs and pickups pulled up in front of the MelroseMac store at 6614 Melrose Ave. and disgorged drivers and passengers around midnight .
With no police in sight , looters scrambled empty-handed into the store through shattered windows and emerged moments later with what appeared to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast live for at least a half-hour on L.A. news outlets .
“ It was like a McDonald ’ s drive-through outside the Mac store , where cars were pulling up and others were throwing in looted goods and driving off , ” Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz told KTLA-TV Channel 5 Sunday morning .
“ They were in a line , one by one , ” he said .
“ It was something the likes of which I ’ ve never seen anywhere.
” Harrison said that the looters were of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , their actions were only going to reinforce negative stereotypes .
“ This is going to make people more scared of people that look like me rather than building allies .
”

Shop owners assess the damage after looters and vandals ransack businesses along Melrose Avenue on Saturday.
Miles Harrison and his mom, Karen, stood outside their local market on Hayworth and Melrose avenues in disbelief Sunday morning.
Chicago natives, they moved to L.A. last year so Karen could work for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. They loved the idea of walking around under the California sun.
But what they saw Saturday night and what Harrison has experienced as a young black man since arriving in L.A. has them thinking of returning to Illinois.
Harrison is an early bird, he said, and during his 5 a.m. jogs around the neighborhood, he’s been stopped and handcuffed multiple times by police. The officers question why the 25-year-old doesn’t have a California ID and have called his mom each time to verify his identity. Only lately, he said, have police left him alone because they finally recognize him. But he still doesn’t like to go out alone.
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When protesters gathered Saturday on nearby 3rd Street, he joined the demonstration.
It was what he saw on his way home, as the 8 p.m. curfew closed in, that shook him.
Entirely new people — young men and women — who he said were not at the demonstrations were spilling out of cars along Fairfax, dashing into stores to grab items, then diving back into their vehicles and taking off.
A procession of cars, SUVs and pickups pulled up in front of the MelroseMac store at 6614 Melrose Ave. and disgorged drivers and passengers around midnight.
With no police in sight, looters scrambled empty-handed into the store through shattered windows and emerged moments later with what appeared to be boxes of computers.
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The scene was broadcast live for at least a half-hour on L.A. news outlets.
“It was like a McDonald’s drive-through outside the Mac store, where cars were pulling up and others were throwing in looted goods and driving off,” Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz told KTLA-TV Channel 5 Sunday morning.
“They were in a line, one by one,” he said. “It was something the likes of which I’ve never seen anywhere.”
Harrison said that the looters were of every race and ethnicity, but in the end, their actions were only going to reinforce negative stereotypes.
“This is going to make people more scared of people that look like me rather than building allies.”


latimes--2020-05-31--Recalling '92 riots, Von Dutch general manager tells staff to leave Melrose store

Inside Von Dutch , a national apparel store known for its trucker hats with a flagship store on Melrose Avenue , the shelves were empty Sunday .
Expletive-laden graffiti was sprayed in blue on the wall , and the carpet was charred from where someone had set a fire the night before .
The store windows had been smashed , and the front door had also splintered , the cracks spidering over a sign that addressed the coronavirus outbreak and said , “ The well being of our staff & customers is our number one priority.
” Ed Goldman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , helped carry chairs from the ransacked store to a car outside .
“ We were getting ready to open after the pandemic alleviation , ” he said , noting the store had planned to reopen next week .
He wanted to give it a little longer because it had been pretty dead along Melrose , even after shopping restrictions were lifted .
Goldman said when his team alerted him to what was happening in the area , his mind flashed back to 1992 , when he lived in Santa Monica .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ go east of Westwood , he said , because “ you were running the risk of your life being lost.
” He told his team to leave .
“ I told them get out because it ’ s dangerous , ” he said .
“ I was here in ‘ 92 .
A lot of people were just shot for hanging around.
” Benjamin Baumann , who runs the digital initiative of Von Dutch , was outside when protesters first started breaking in around 7:30 or 8 p.m .
He had come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation and was able to talk down the would-be burglars .
“ We told them , ‘ This is our store , ’ ” he said .
“ We completely respect the situation.
” They left but later returned , and Baumann and his friend were chased off .
Vandals then spray-painted their cars .
“ We were trying to keep them away from the store , ” he lamented .
When Baumann got home , he got a text from another friend who said the store was on fire .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Von Dutch fire extinguisher to help put it out .
Goldman had long teased his team about selling fire extinguishers .
There were about 30 decorative extinguishers inside the gutted Melrose shop Sunday morning .
“ It saved the store , ” said Goldman , estimating that losses totaled around a quarter of a million dollars in merchandise .
Shortly after noon Sunday , workers from the city ’ s Department of Building and Safety came in shortly after noon to assess the structure and yellow-tagged the store , meaning it needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen .

A firefighter walks behind a burning building on Melrose Avenue during civil unrest in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Inside Von Dutch, a national apparel store known for its trucker hats with a flagship store on Melrose Avenue, the shelves were empty Sunday.
Expletive-laden graffiti was sprayed in blue on the wall, and the carpet was charred from where someone had set a fire the night before.
The store windows had been smashed, and the front door had also splintered, the cracks spidering over a sign that addressed the coronavirus outbreak and said, “The well being of our staff & customers is our number one priority.”
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Ed Goldman, the general manager for Von Dutch North America, helped carry chairs from the ransacked store to a car outside.
“We were getting ready to open after the pandemic alleviation,” he said, noting the store had planned to reopen next week. He wanted to give it a little longer because it had been pretty dead along Melrose, even after shopping restrictions were lifted.
Goldman said when his team alerted him to what was happening in the area, his mind flashed back to 1992, when he lived in Santa Monica.
Back then, you wouldn’t go east of Westwood, he said, because “you were running the risk of your life being lost.”
He told his team to leave.
“I told them get out because it’s dangerous,” he said. “I was here in ‘92. A lot of people were just shot for hanging around.”
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Benjamin Baumann, who runs the digital initiative of Von Dutch, was outside when protesters first started breaking in around 7:30 or 8 p.m.
He had come to the area with a friend to monitor the situation and was able to talk down the would-be burglars.
“We told them, ‘This is our store,’” he said. “We completely respect the situation.”
They left but later returned, and Baumann and his friend were chased off. Vandals then spray-painted their cars.
“We were trying to keep them away from the store,” he lamented.
When Baumann got home, he got a text from another friend who said the store was on fire. A longtime customer saw the blaze and used a Von Dutch fire extinguisher to help put it out.
Goldman had long teased his team about selling fire extinguishers. There were about 30 decorative extinguishers inside the gutted Melrose shop Sunday morning.
“It saved the store,” said Goldman, estimating that losses totaled around a quarter of a million dollars in merchandise.
Shortly after noon Sunday, workers from the city’s Department of Building and Safety came in shortly after noon to assess the structure and yellow-tagged the store, meaning it needs further inspection before it can be cleared to reopen.


latimes--2020-05-31--Looters hit Santa Monica businesses amid peaceful protests

The tension was palpable Sunday in Santa Monica .
What started as a peaceful protest along Ocean Avenue devolved into chaos around 1 p.m. , as looters smashed storefronts in the Santa Monica Place mall and other downtown businesses .
Couples sitting and enjoying meals at recently opened restaurants looked stunned as cars dropped off people , many of them wearing masks and hoodies , who then shattered a pharmacy on 7th and Broadway .
Several looters stormed inside and took handfuls of items .
At the same time , the demonstrators walked from the Santa Monica Pier north along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A peaceful protest is underway along Ocean Avenue between Montana and Colorado , ” the city said in a statement issued at 1:15 p.m. “ The Santa Monica Police Department is on site and has a presence throughout the community.
” The demonstration was meant to decry the death of George Floyd on Monday in Minneapolis .
The unarmed black man died in custody after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes , despite Floyd ’ s pleas that he couldn ’ t breathe .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the downtown area in what appeared to be an organized attack .
Cars dropped them off in front of businesses , they smashed windows and grabbed what they could , and when police approached , they jumped back into the waiting cars .
Dozens stormed the Santa Monica Place mall , smashing the windows of a Louis Vuitton store and several other shops .
The mall entrance was blocked by a gated barrier , but the crowd got through , leaving with armloads of clothing and other goods before police arrived .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broadway , a Vans store was breached .
Scores ran inside , stealing shoes and skateboards from the showroom and a storage area .
Some loaded merchandise into plastic crates as they roamed the store .
As looters stormed the store , a white woman pleaded with a black woman to stop .
“ I was here during Rodney King .
Please stop , ” she said .
“ I get it.
” The other woman , gripping the arms of a black man standing at her side , responded , “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace.
” Santa Monica police officers rolled up on motorcycles shortly before 3 p.m. and entered the shoe store with guns drawn .
Amid the chaos , Santa Monica pushed up its Sunday curfew to 4 p.m. from 8 p.m. and extended the hours to 5:30 a.m. Monday .
The California Highway Patrol closed the freeway ramps into the city .
Cars stuck at the Cloverfield exit were being directed to continue forward on the 10 Freeway , but a full closure of all lanes was implemented behind the vehicles .
By 2:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had stormed the Santa Monica Place mall , where the storefronts for 7 for All Mankind and Hugo Boss were smashed .
Overhead , a police helicopter circled .
Alarms could be heard as people ran out with arms full of clothes while sirens blared in the background .
A white man walking through the mall area with his bike laughed at the pillaging and said , “ This is great.
” But as police combed the plaza , more looters gathered outside Bubar ’ s Jewelers , on 4th and Broadway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being shot at at another jewelry store .
Amid the sirens , scores of people ran to a nearby alley and began rummaging through what they had taken .
They found what looked like the back entrance to another store and swarmed in but were interrupted by shouts of “ Police !
” that sent the group scrambling again .
More than 50 looters ran from the alley with armloads of shoe boxes and other items while a black car drove up .
“ Get in .
Put it in there .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the driver yelled to the crowds of looters .
One woman began throwing clothes and shoes inside the car as sirens blared in the background .
A few minutes later , police and firefighters showed up after a fire was started at a nearby store .
By then , the protesters had scattered .
All the while , peaceful protesters continued to march , making their way to 5th Street and circling the chaos between looters and police .
Times staff writers Kim Christensen and Joseph Serna contributed to this report .

A looter rushes out of the Patagonia Store on 4th Street in Santa Monica on Sunday.
The tension was palpable Sunday in Santa Monica.
What started as a peaceful protest along Ocean Avenue devolved into chaos around 1 p.m., as looters smashed storefronts in the Santa Monica Place mall and other downtown businesses. Police said they made hundreds of arrests and that the National Guard had arrived to help.
Couples sitting and enjoying meals at recently opened restaurants looked stunned as cars dropped off people, many of them wearing masks and hoodies, who then broke into a pharmacy on 7th and Broadway. Several looters stormed inside and took handfuls of items.
1 / 81 Protesters stand on top of a burned LAPD cruiser. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 81 Protesters stand on top of a bus stop at the Los Angeles Civic Center to demonstrate for justice Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 3 / 81 Protestors turn on their cell phone flashlights at Los Angeles City Hall at 9 pm on Wednesday as part of a silent protest against the death of George Floyd. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) 4 / 81 A protester confronts National Guardsmen as thousands of protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles to demonstrate for justice in the George Floyd murder by cop case Wednesday. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 5 / 81 Protesters dance on Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday night. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 6 / 81 Thousands of protesters march down Spring Street in Los Angeles Wednesday night to demonstrate for justice in the killing of George Floyd. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times) 7 / 81 LAPD Cmdr. Gerald Woodyard takes a knee with protesters and L.A. clergy during a march in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 8 / 81 Khalil Mitchell speaks to protesters kneeling near a police line, preaching calm and working to preserve a peaceful protest on Monday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 9 / 81 In Hollywood, hundreds of protesters march Monday against police brutality. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10 / 81 AJ Lovelace, a director and writer, and others keep potential looters from entering a dry cleaning store as they attempt to march peacefully. “We need peace and we need someone to talk to each other,” he said after the looters fled the scene. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) 11 / 81 Demonstrators in Riverside retreat as county sheriff’s deputies fire nonlethal rounds on Monday after law enforcement announced an unlawful assembly. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 12 / 81 Protesters in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 13 / 81 An arrest in Hollywood during a protest Monday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 14 / 81 A demonstrator, injured while trying to flee the firing of nonlethal rounds, lies on the ground in Riverside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 15 / 81 An LAPD officer arrests a looting suspect in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16 / 81 Riverside County deputies advance on demonstrators on Monday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 17 / 81 Fireworks thrown by a protester explode at the feet of Riverside police. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 18 / 81 Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco takes a knee with demonstrators. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 19 / 81 A watch and jewelry store is looted in Van Nuys on Monday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 20 / 81 A looting arrest in Van Nuys. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 21 / 81 AJ Lovelace, director and writer, tries to stop looters from breaking into a Walgreens in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 22 / 81 An LAPD officer arrests a suspected looter in an alley behind a Hollywood Boulevard store. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23 / 81 Police advance on a line of protesters in Hollywood, firing rubber bullets. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 24 / 81 Arrests are made of those out after curfew in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 25 / 81 Protesters in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26 / 81 A store is looted in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 27 / 81 Protesters in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28 / 81 People out after curfew are arrested Monday at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 29 / 81 Arrests in Hollywood. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 30 / 81 Protests in Westwood. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 31 / 81 Volunteers help clean up the mess left by looters in Long Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32 / 81 Protest in Hollywood. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 33 / 81 National Guardsmen outside Santa Monica Place. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 34 / 81 Gilbert Haro and sons Richard, 8, and James, 6, help clean up in Santa Monica. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 35 / 81 Protesters face off with police in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 36 / 81 Santa Monica stores were the target of looting on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 37 / 81 Suspected looters in custody in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 38 / 81 L.A. County sheriff’s deputies in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 39 / 81 Sake House employee Jared Settles can’t bear to watch as the restaurant burns in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 40 / 81 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 41 / 81 Broken glass from a looted store covers the sidewalk in Santa Monica. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 42 / 81 Cecelia Rosales, who said she was homeless, walks past a line of police officers in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 43 / 81 A man guards a convenience store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 44 / 81 Looting erupted Sunday in Long Beach. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 45 / 81 Police and protesters face off in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 46 / 81 A police officer inspects the damage to a Santa Monica supermarket. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 47 / 81 A protester is treated after being struck by a rubber bullet. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 48 / 81 Looting in Long Beach on Sunday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 49 / 81 Looting in Long Beach. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 50 / 81 A suspected looter in Long Beach. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) 51 / 81 Smashing windows in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 52 / 81 An arrest in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 53 / 81 People walk away with surfboards in Santa Monica on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 54 / 81 People rush out of a looted store in Santa Monica. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 55 / 81 Protesters in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 56 / 81 Cheers for protesters in downtown Los Angeles. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 57 / 81 City Hall on Sunday. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) 58 / 81 A shattered storefront on Melrose Avenue on Sunday. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 59 / 81 Smashed windows on La Cienega Boulevard. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) 60 / 81 Downtown L.A. on Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 61 / 81 People carry merchandise from a looted store. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 62 / 81 A person carries items from a looted store in the Fairfax District on Saturday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 63 / 81 A couple of protesters embrace on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles Saturday. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) 64 / 81 People protest Saturday at Pan Pacific Park. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times) 65 / 81 Protesters gather around a fire in the middle of a downtown L.A. street on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 66 / 81 Police fire percussion rounds to clear protesters from Grand Avenue in in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 67 / 81 A protester remains defiant after being pushed to the ground by police on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles on Friday. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 68 / 81 Protesters are arrested by Los Angeles police in front of City Hall on Saturday. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 69 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 70 / 81 Protesters take to the streets Friday in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 71 / 81 Protesters are escorted off the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 72 / 81 A protester is escorted off the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 73 / 81 Protesters climb over a barrier during the May 29 protest in downtown L.A. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) 74 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway northbound and southbound in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 75 / 81 Police officers assume a defensive stance as a protester approaches them on the 110 Freeway on May 29. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 76 / 81 During a May 29 protest, Los Angeles police patrol the 110 after having moved protesters off the freeway. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) 77 / 81 A protester rides a skateboard on the 110 Freeway. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 78 / 81 Protesters block the 110 Freeway northbound and southbound in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 79 / 81 A protester confronts LAPD officers on Friday in downtown L.A. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 80 / 81 A protester lies hurt on the 101 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles on May 27. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times) 81 / 81 An injured man gets up with the help of emergency workers during a protest May 27 in downtown L.A. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)
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At the same time, demonstrators walked from the Santa Monica Pier north along Ocean Avenue, carrying signs and chanting.
“A peaceful protest is underway along Ocean Avenue between Montana and Colorado,” the city said in a statement issued at 1:15 p.m. “The Santa Monica Police Department is on site and has a presence throughout the community.”
The demonstration was meant to decry the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. The unarmed black man died in custody after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes, despite Floyd’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe.
But as the protest got underway, looters swarmed the downtown area in what appeared to be an organized attack. Cars dropped them off in front of businesses, they smashed windows and grabbed what they could, and when police approached, they jumped back into the waiting cars.
Dozens stormed the Santa Monica Place mall, smashing the windows of a Louis Vuitton store and several other shops. The mall entrance was blocked by a gated barrier, but the crowd got through, leaving with armloads of clothing and other goods before police arrived.
A few blocks away, on 4th Street and Broadway, a Vans store was breached. Scores ran inside, stealing shoes and skateboards from the showroom and a storage area. Some loaded merchandise into plastic crates.
As looters stormed the store, a white woman pleaded with a black woman to stop.
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“I was here during Rodney King. Please stop,” she said. “I get it.”
The other woman, gripping the arms of a black man standing at her side, responded, “We are dying. No justice, no peace.”
Santa Monica police officers rolled up on motorcycles shortly before 3 p.m. and entered the shoe store with guns drawn.
Amid the chaos, Santa Monica pushed up its Sunday curfew to 4 p.m. from 8 p.m. and extended the hours to 5:30 a.m. Monday.
UPDATE: As of 2:25pm, tonight's curfew has been updated to 4pm, 5/31. All I-10 and PCH ramps into Santa Monica now closed by CHP. Stay out of downtown. — City of Santa Monica (@santamonicacity) May 31, 2020
The California Highway Patrol closed the freeway ramps into the city. Cars stuck at the Cloverfield exit were being directed to continue forward on the 10 Freeway, but a full closure of all lanes was implemented behind the vehicles.
By 2:30 p.m., more than 50 law enforcement officers had stormed the Santa Monica Place mall, where the storefronts for 7 for All Mankind and Hugo Boss were smashed. Overhead, a police helicopter circled.
Alarms could be heard as people ran out with arms full of clothes and sirens blared in the background.
A white man walking through the mall area with his bike laughed at the pillaging and said, “This is great.”
But as police combed the plaza, more looters gathered outside Bubar’s Jewelers, on 4th and Broadway, as reports came in that looters were being shot at in another jewelry store.
Amid the sirens, scores of people ran to a nearby alley and began rummaging through what they had taken.
They found what looked like the back entrance to another store and swarmed in but were interrupted by shouts of “Police!” that sent the group scrambling again.
More than 50 looters ran from the alley with armloads of shoe boxes and other items while a black car drove up.
“Get in. Put it in there. I’m trying to help you,” the driver yelled to the crowds of looters.
One woman began throwing clothes and shoes inside the car as sirens blared in the background. A few minutes later, police and firefighters showed up after a fire was started at a nearby store.
All the while, peaceful protesters continued to march, making their way to 5th Street and circling the chaos between looters and police.
Around 8 p.m., sirens and store alarms were still blaring as police began to take control of the area, clearing the streets block by block. Business owners were arriving at their stores to assess the damage and protect what was left.
A fire burns in a building on 4th Street in Santa Monica on Sunday night. (Melissa Etehad/Los Angeles Times)
The owner of Cisco Home on Lincoln Boulevard, a designer furniture store, said he rushed to his store after his neighbor texted him that “people were doing crazy things.” Inside, a couch was flipped over and water from the sprinklers had damaged some of the furniture.
“We lost everything in 10 minutes,” said the owner, Roman, who declined to give his last name. He estimated that the damage would cost up to $6 million.
The owner of a nail salon near Lincoln and Broadway stood outside his business at 8 p.m., giving instructions to workers unloading a truck full of wooden boards.
The owner, who didn’t want to share his name, said he arrived at his business at about 4 p.m. to find it destroyed. He shook his head.
Rafael Resendez, the owner of the barber shop next door, was also speaking with workers, helping them board up his business. Looters had taken up to $12,000 worth of equipment, including hair cutting tools and cash registers.
Resendez said Sunday was the first day his shop, Lincoln Barbers, had been open in two months because of the coronavirus outbreak. He closed at 2 p.m., telling his employees he didn’t think the looters would hit them. He had posted posted a sign that read “Mexican owned” and messages in support of the protesters in hopes they would avoid his business.
It didn’t work.
“I feel guilty” for not doing more, he said. “Those people are looking for excuses to commit crimes. They don’t care about [George Floyd]. I do care about him. This is not the way to do it.”
People are arrested in Santa Monica. (Melissa Etehad/Los Angeles Times)
Dozens of protesters were arrested Sunday evening after hours of demonstrating across downtown. The group was pushed by law enforcement to the entrance to the Big Blue Bus station on Colorado Avenue, where they were encircled and arrested. Police offered to let them leave but when many tried, other officers did not let them pass.
“When they said we could leave they blocked us off and then they arrested us,” said Stevie Doaty, 22, who moved to Los Angeles a month ago from Cleveland.
Elsewhere in the city, a Los Angeles Police Department officer watched as firefighters put out flames on top of Sake House, a restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard.
“This is upsetting,” he said. “Most of these people aren’t from L.A. They’re just out here just causing havoc and chaos.”
The police officer said 99% of police are in support of the protesters’ message, and that he was protecting them, not looters.
“They’re throwing Molotov cocktails and looting and looting and looting. It’s difficult to deal with that,” he said. “I’m hoping I get more than three hours of sleep tonight.”
Times staff writers Kim Christensen and Joseph Serna contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-31--Looters even steal ice cube trays from freezer at Melrose store amid protests

On Sunday morning , Ricky Flores swept inside his Melrose Avenue clothing store Flashback , where a sign out front read , “ Now open !
Please wear a mask for entry.
” He and his friend opened the store four years ago , with help from investors they eventually bought out .
A year ago , business was going so well they moved from a smaller space next door to a larger one .
The store had just reopened Friday after being closed since March because of the coronavirus outbreak .
They had sold masks and other merchandise online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the financial losses .
But they closed their doors again Saturday because of the George Floyd protests .
They watched on the news as buildings across the street burned .
When Flores arrived around 7 a.m. Sunday , people were still stealing items from the store , he said .
The alarm was blaring and people had broken the security gate the night before .
“ I thought this was going to be cool , ” Flores said , shaking the broken gate .
“ This ain ’ t no security gate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoes and clothes , people stole three televisions off the wall .
They even stole the ice cube trays from the freezer .
“ What kind of a sick person takes the ice cube trays out of the freezer ?
” Flores and his partner had been optimistic about reopening after Gov .
Gavin Newsom gave the green light for extended retail operations amid the coronavirus outbreak .
But with all of his inventory now gone , he said it will be difficult to start over .
“ We were like , OK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ And then it ’ s like , damn , we just got hit .
The timing — we ’ re barely getting over the virus .
It hurts so bad .
And then to deal with this ?
“ If they say it ’ s safe to open back up in two days , it ’ s like : What are we going to sell ?
” As he swept up shattered glass , passersby stopped to take video and photos of him and the ransacked store .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
On both sides of Fairfax Avenue at Melrose , business owners were sweeping debris or pacing on the sidewalk while talking to repair contractors and landlords on the phone .
Some decided to board up shop and wait for another round of potential unrest .
Flores wondered whether nightfall would bring more of the same .
But he questioned what they ’ d even get if looters return to his store .
“ They already got everything , ” he said .
“ What else could they really rob ?
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be walking up and down this street .
”

Shattered glass fills a storefront on Melrose Avenue on Sunday after a night of looting in the popular shopping area.
On Sunday morning, Ricky Flores swept inside his Melrose Avenue clothing store Flashback, where a sign out front read, “Now open! Please wear a mask for entry.”
He and his friend opened the store four years ago, with help from investors they eventually bought out. A year ago, business was going so well they moved from a smaller space next door to a larger one.
The store had just reopened Friday after being closed since March because of the coronavirus outbreak. They had sold masks and other merchandise online, which helped make up some of the financial losses.
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But they closed their doors again Saturday because of the George Floyd protests. They watched on the news as buildings across the street burned.
When Flores arrived around 7 a.m. Sunday, people were still stealing items from the store, he said. The alarm was blaring and people had broken the security gate the night before.
“I thought this was going to be cool,” Flores said, shaking the broken gate. “This ain’t no security gate. They got through it easily.”
Besides shoes and clothes, people stole three televisions off the wall. They even stole the ice cube trays from the freezer.
“What kind of a sick person takes the ice cube trays out of the freezer?”
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He estimated losses totaling $200,000.
Flores and his partner had been optimistic about reopening after Gov. Gavin Newsom gave the green light for extended retail operations amid the coronavirus outbreak. But with all of his inventory now gone, he said it will be difficult to start over.
“We were like, OK, things are looking up,” he said. “And then it’s like, damn, we just got hit. The timing — we’re barely getting over the virus. It hurts so bad. And then to deal with this?
“If they say it’s safe to open back up in two days, it’s like: What are we going to sell?”
As he swept up shattered glass, passersby stopped to take video and photos of him and the ransacked store. Many other stores were in a similar position Sunday. On both sides of Fairfax Avenue at Melrose, business owners were sweeping debris or pacing on the sidewalk while talking to repair contractors and landlords on the phone.
Some decided to board up shop and wait for another round of potential unrest.
Flores wondered whether nightfall would bring more of the same. But he questioned what they’d even get if looters return to his store.
“They already got everything,” he said. “What else could they really rob? I hope the National Guard is going to be walking up and down this street.”


latimes--2020-05-31--She watched livestream of her Melrose shop being looted: 'Please don't light it on fire'

What Lindsay Pierce saw on her security cameras Saturday night made her ill. After hours of being glued to the TV news , she ’ d turned her focus to her computer , where she could monitor her Melrose Avenue business , Wax , through security cameras .
She wanted to keep an eye on her store as protesters continued to move through the Fairfax District .
The 33-year-old has owned the store for a year , but the business has been around for more than a decade .
About 11 p.m. , she said , three young men darted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shattered .
They immediately moved to the business ’ internet router and disconnected it , cutting off Pierce ’ s connection .
“ I started sweating .
I got sick to my stomach .
I was just thinking , ‘ Please don ’ t light it on fire , ’ ” Pierce said Sunday morning as friends and workers cleaned up the vandalized business and cleared the sidewalk of broken glass .
“ We ’ ve just been doing a lot of remodels , ” she said .
“ We have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then we got shut down eight weeks later .
So it was just one blow after another .
“ But this is definitely the lowest one.
” She said she got only about an hour of sleep before she headed to the store at 6 a.m. to survey the damage .
All of the business ’ electronics were stolen , along with some small merchandise .
But it could have been a lot worse , Pierce said .
She , her husband and colleagues worked to board up the windows , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ router so she could watch the business from home for another night .
“ We ’ re just preparing for it to happen again tonight , though I really hope it doesn ’ t. ” Many other stores were in a similar position Sunday .
On both sides of Fairfax Avenue at Melrose , business owners were sweeping up glass or pacing on the sidewalk while talking to repair contractors and landlords on the phone .
Spokes ’ N Stuff bicycle shop closed at 6 p.m. Saturday .
The owner , Joey Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boutique next door when he left .
“ And that ’ s a black-owned business , ” he said .
“ It obviously wasn ’ t about protests.
” He ’ s had his store on Melrose for 20 years .
It stayed open during the pandemic because it was considered an essential business .
But , now , he estimates his losses from one night of looting could total $ 100,000 .
“ They not only took my bikes , they took customers ’ bikes as well , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different way of policing this matter .
People have to feel safe , ” Harris said .
“ I think they really need to think about how to plan when something like this happens .
Do the citizens need to arm themselves to protect their properties ?
”

Lindsay Pierce’s business, Wax, was vandalized Saturday night on Melrose Avenue. Friends and workers boarded up the store in anticipation of further unrest.
What Lindsay Pierce saw on her security cameras Saturday night made her ill.
After hours of being glued to the TV news, she’d turned her focus to her computer, where she could monitor her Melrose Avenue business, Wax, through security cameras.
She wanted to keep an eye on her store as protesters continued to move through the Fairfax District. The 33-year-old has owned the store for a year, but the business has been around for more than a decade.
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About 11 p.m., she said, three young men darted inside after windows of the glass storefront were shattered. They immediately moved to the business’ internet router and disconnected it, cutting off Pierce’s connection.
“I started sweating. I got sick to my stomach. I was just thinking, ‘Please don’t light it on fire,’” Pierce said Sunday morning as friends and workers cleaned up the vandalized business and cleared the sidewalk of broken glass.
“We’ve just been doing a lot of remodels,” she said. “We have been pouring a lot of money into it, and then we got shut down eight weeks later. So it was just one blow after another.
“But this is definitely the lowest one.”
She said she got only about an hour of sleep before she headed to the store at 6 a.m. to survey the damage. All of the business’ electronics were stolen, along with some small merchandise. But it could have been a lot worse, Pierce said.
She, her husband and colleagues worked to board up the windows, and they planned to install a new router so she could watch the business from home for another night.
“We’re just preparing for it to happen again tonight, though I really hope it doesn’t.”
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Many other stores were in a similar position Sunday. On both sides of Fairfax Avenue at Melrose, business owners were sweeping up glass or pacing on the sidewalk while talking to repair contractors and landlords on the phone.
Spokes ’N Stuff bicycle shop closed at 6 p.m. Saturday. The owner, Joey Harris, saw people breaking windows at Sorella boutique next door when he left.
“And that’s a black-owned business,” he said. “It obviously wasn’t about protests.”
He’s had his store on Melrose for 20 years. It stayed open during the pandemic because it was considered an essential business. But, now, he estimates his losses from one night of looting could total $100,000.
“They not only took my bikes, they took customers’ bikes as well,” he said.
“They’ve gotta find a different way of policing this matter. People have to feel safe,” Harris said. “I think they really need to think about how to plan when something like this happens. Do the citizens need to arm themselves to protect their properties?”


latimes--2020-05-31--Melrose Avenue shop manager grabs nail gun as looters try to break in

Rodney Beckwith , who goes by his artist name Flewnt , spent the night inside Resist 323 , the store he manages on Melrose Avenue .
A garage door security gate was pulled down in front to protect the shop , which sells custom clothing and art .
But one of the windows at the top of the store was still smashed .
Flewnt was inside when he heard people trying to break in through the back door Saturday night .
He shoved a table saw against the security door to block their access .
“ All I could do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ My survival mode : Get high and get out the door .
I ’ m not going to sit down there .
They ’ re breaking through a door , they ’ re not knocking .
“ I know they ’ re Black Lives Matter .
I ’ m black , but ... they ’ re doing something crazy , ” Flewnt said .
“ I can ’ t say I ’ m black , everything is good , I ’ m on their side .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , but at the same time , I ’ m protecting a business.
” No one managed to breach the security door and get inside , but Flewnt kept a nail gun and an ax with him .
He climbed atop a ladder and kept watch .
“ It ’ s a black dude store .
Leave it alone , ” protesters said when they spotted him perched above .
“ I couldn ’ t get any sleep until daybreak , ” Flewnt said .
“ It was a wild night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A few storefronts down , Happy Ice was papered with fliers showing a photo of the owner below the words “ Black Owned.
” Melrose Avenue along with Fairfax Avenue — two of Los Angeles ’ hippest streets , with rows of designer , clothing and streetwear shops — were targets of looters after protesters and police clashed outside the nearby Farmers Market area .
Numerous businesses were looted , and one building on Melrose Avenue was burned .
Mariana Solaris , 20 , of San Bernardino was walking along Melrose when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came out peacefully to show my support , and the police are aiming right at me .
To feel and experience it for myself — to have to run — I ’ m still shivering .
“ I saw this on the news earlier tonight , and I thought , ‘ No way is it really like that out there with the police.
’ So I came out to see .
And , yeah , it ’ s really like that.
” Eli Ventov has had his store , Reloaded L.A. , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shop had just reopened Wednesday after being closed for months because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The store typically brought in $ 30,000 a month but had lost nearly $ 100,000 during the closure , Ventov said .
Business had been brisk for the past few days .
On Saturday , as the protests began to grow , store workers rushed to Home Depot and bought painters paper to cover the windows so no one would break in .
No one did , but in the same building , looters broke into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , someone threw a gas-filled bottle inside the shoe store , Ventov said .
“ It went from this store , to this store , to this store , ” he said of the resulting fire , gesturing to the Tony-K shop and then to his own store .
Ventov stood across the street and watched his business burn .
“ You see all your life running across your face , ” he said .
“ I can ’ t believe it.
” “ He stayed the whole time .
We saw him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his building burn down , ” said Ramon Pazos , who works at the store .
“ There ’ s nothing we could do but watch.
” On Sunday morning , Ventov stood outside the blackened store , where the roof appeared on the verge of collapse and the sky was visible through burned patches .
He grew teary-eyed as a friend embraced him and told him it would be OK. Passersby stopped and surveyed the damage and offered to help clean up .
“ It ’ s not stable .
The roof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanking those who stopped .
“ What helped me was to think of the bigger picture , ” he said .
“ If I think of why me , or why us , that can drive anybody crazy .
I thought , you know what , if this is what ’ s going to happen , then this is what ’ s going to happen .
”

Looters and vandals ransack Spokes ‘N Stuff at Melrose Avenue and Ogden Drive on Saturday. Several businesses on the trendy row of designer and clothing stores were looted.
Rodney Beckwith, who goes by his artist name Flewnt, spent the night inside Resist 323, the store he manages on Melrose Avenue.
A garage door security gate was pulled down in front to protect the shop, which sells custom clothing and art. But one of the windows at the top of the store was still smashed.
Flewnt was inside when he heard people trying to break in through the back door Saturday night. He shoved a table saw against the security door to block their access.
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“All I could do was try to get to the rooftop,” he said. “My survival mode: Get high and get out the door. I’m not going to sit down there. They’re breaking through a door, they’re not knocking.
“I know they’re Black Lives Matter. I’m black, but ... they’re doing something crazy,” Flewnt said. “I can’t say I’m black, everything is good, I’m on their side. I feel them, I’m with them, but at the same time, I’m protecting a business.”
No one managed to breach the security door and get inside, but Flewnt kept a nail gun and an ax with him. He climbed atop a ladder and kept watch.
“It’s a black dude store. Leave it alone,” protesters said when they spotted him perched above.
“I couldn’t get any sleep until daybreak,” Flewnt said. “It was a wild night. Hopefully tonight will be a little calmer.”
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A few storefronts down, Happy Ice was papered with fliers showing a photo of the owner below the words “Black Owned.”
Melrose Avenue along with Fairfax Avenue — two of Los Angeles’ hippest streets, with rows of designer, clothing and streetwear shops — were targets of looters after protesters and police clashed outside the nearby Farmers Market area.
Numerous businesses were looted, and one building on Melrose Avenue was burned.
Mariana Solaris, 20, of San Bernardino was walking along Melrose when police fired foam pellets.
“I came out peacefully to show my support, and the police are aiming right at me. To feel and experience it for myself — to have to run — I’m still shivering.
“I saw this on the news earlier tonight, and I thought, ‘No way is it really like that out there with the police.’ So I came out to see. And, yeah, it’s really like that.”
Eli Ventov has had his store, Reloaded L.A., along Melrose for nearly 12 years. The shop had just reopened Wednesday after being closed for months because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The store typically brought in $30,000 a month but had lost nearly $100,000 during the closure, Ventov said. Business had been brisk for the past few days.
On Saturday, as the protests began to grow, store workers rushed to Home Depot and bought painters paper to cover the windows so no one would break in.
No one did, but in the same building, looters broke into a Dr. Martens store. Around 7 p.m., someone threw a gas-filled bottle inside the shoe store, Ventov said.
“It went from this store, to this store, to this store,” he said of the resulting fire, gesturing to the Tony-K shop and then to his own store.
Ventov stood across the street and watched his business burn.
“You see all your life running across your face,” he said. “I can’t believe it.”
“He stayed the whole time. We saw him on the news across the street watching his building burn down,” said Ramon Pazos, who works at the store. “There’s nothing we could do but watch.”
On Sunday morning, Ventov stood outside the blackened store, where the roof appeared on the verge of collapse and the sky was visible through burned patches. He grew teary-eyed as a friend embraced him and told him it would be OK.
Passersby stopped and surveyed the damage and offered to help clean up.
“It’s not stable. The roof might collapse,” Pazos said, thanking those who stopped.
“What helped me was to think of the bigger picture,” he said. “If I think of why me, or why us, that can drive anybody crazy. I thought, you know what, if this is what’s going to happen, then this is what’s going to happen.”
Times staff writer Emily Baumgaertner contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-31--Protests in Northern California are marked by frustration and pockets of violence

Thousands of demonstrators in cities across Northern California once again took to the streets Saturday night , even as the National Guard was called in to quell unrest in Los Angeles .
Although those troops were not deployed in other California cities , violence escalated late into the night in many communities , prompting curfews and pleas from local leaders that largely went unheeded .
“ We ’ ve always said this is a national problem and a national concern for people of color , ” said Berry Accius , a civil rights activist who is participating in Sacramento protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Asian , Mexican — people who are on the side of right have had too much talking .
... Everything is cause and effect .
What did you think was going to happen ?
” In Oakland , fires burned for a second night and video showed looters inside a 7-11 and other retail stores , many in the downtown area where only hours earlier shopkeepers had begun cleaning up from the night before .
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said earlier Saturday that protesters ’ rage “ had crossed an unacceptable line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night by widespread looting and multiple fires .
A contract federal security agent outside a U.S. courthouse was shot and killed and another was wounded Friday night , an incident authorities are calling domestic terrorism .
In San Francisco , protesters gathered late in the night in front of Mayor London Breed ’ s home , shooting fireworks and chanting her name .
Though the demonstrations in that city had largely been peaceful throughout the day , in the early evening , protesters broke the windows of a popular mall on Market Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrance to the 101 Freeway before being pushed away by police .
Breed on Saturday night ordered a curfew to go into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday and last until 5 a.m. Monday .
Healthcare workers and public safety employees are exempted from the curfew .
“ Until we see that the situation is under control , we will allow the curfew to remain , ” Breed said at a news conference Sunday .
“ We , again , welcome peaceful protest , but we will not tolerate violence and crime.
” There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looting in the city , San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said Sunday morning .
California authorities have agreed to send around 200 additional law enforcement personnel to San Francisco to keep the city safe , Scott said .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear which agencies would be providing those resources .
Firefighters responded to dozens of fires that were intentionally set across the city on the street , in businesses and in vehicles , San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said .
In addition , there were 250 medical calls , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
In Sacramento , more than 1,000 people gathered at the state Capitol early in the day , where some lobbed water bottles and other items at law enforcement .
Later , they moved to the nearby county jail and smashed windows on a set of doors into the lobby .
After the sun set , protesters returned to the jail and confronted police , who fired “ flash bang ” noise-making devices and non-lethal weapons at the crowd , injuring at least one protester , according to video posted of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby Macy ’ s department store and other retail outlets and looted them .
“ Destruction is the opposite of righteous protest .
Sacramento ’ s small businesses did not cause our nation ’ s anguish , ” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg in a statement .
“ What we are witnessing tonight is not what Sacramento stands for.
” In all three cities , protesters chanted the name of George Floyd , the black man who died last week in Minneapolis after a white officer pinned him to the ground by putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chants — and graffiti — of “ I can ’ t breathe ” also marked the events , reminders of Floyd ’ s last words .
In San Jose , San Francisco and Oakland , police unions representing rank-and-file officers on Thursday issued statements condemning both the officer who knelt on Floyd ’ s neck as well as the three others who participated in the arrest and did not intervene to help Floyd .
And in Santa Cruz , a social media post showed its police chief and mayor taking a knee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way Floyd was pinned down and the long-running civil rights movement sparked by quarterback Colin Kaepernick and meant to drive attention toward disparities in policing of communities of color .
“ It ’ s a recognition that not speaking out on incidents such as this was and is a mistake , ” Tom Saggau , spokesman for police unions in San Jose and San Francisco , said Friday .
But the unusual acts of solidarity from law enforcement did little to stem anger toward them .
Floyd ’ s name was joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women of color whom demonstrators said had been killed by local authorities , representing a larger issue .
Protesters said it was the ongoing systemic racism among law enforcement that ultimately brought them out .
In Sacramento , Stephon Clark ’ s name was taken up by crowds more than once .
Clark , a black man , was killed by Sacramento police in 2018 after they mistook his cellphone for a gun after chasing him into his grandmother ’ s backyard .
Clark ’ s brother , Stevante Clark , was among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Clark shooting also led to massive , though mostly peaceful , protests that contributed last year to the passage of a new use-of-force standard in California , which says police may use deadly force when “ necessary , ” rather than when it is “ reasonable.
” That law went into effect in January .
“ This is not a local issue , ” Clark said on social media Saturday .
“ We as a nation are feeling the effects of police brutality .
”

Thousands of demonstrators in cities across Northern California once again took to the streets Saturday night, even as the National Guard was called in to quell unrest in Los Angeles. Although those troops were not deployed in other California cities, violence escalated late into the night in many communities, prompting curfews and pleas from local leaders that largely went unheeded.
“We’ve always said this is a national problem and a national concern for people of color,” said Berry Accius, a civil rights activist who is participating in Sacramento protests. “Everybody — black, white, Asian, Mexican — people who are on the side of right have had too much talking. ... Everything is cause and effect. What did you think was going to happen?”
In Oakland, fires burned for a second night and video showed looters inside a 7-11 and other retail stores, many in the downtown area where only hours earlier shopkeepers had begun cleaning up from the night before.
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Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said earlier Saturday that protesters’ rage “had crossed an unacceptable line” after the city was devastated Friday night by widespread looting and multiple fires. A contract federal security agent outside a U.S. courthouse was shot and killed and another was wounded Friday night, an incident authorities are calling domestic terrorism.
In San Francisco, protesters gathered late in the night in front of Mayor London Breed’s home, shooting fireworks and chanting her name.
Though the demonstrations in that city had largely been peaceful throughout the day, in the early evening, protesters broke the windows of a popular mall on Market Street. Hours later, protesters blocked an entrance to the 101 Freeway before being pushed away by police.
Breed on Saturday night ordered a curfew to go into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday and last until 5 a.m. Monday. Healthcare workers and public safety employees are exempted from the curfew.
“Until we see that the situation is under control, we will allow the curfew to remain,” Breed said at a news conference Sunday. “We, again, welcome peaceful protest, but we will not tolerate violence and crime.”
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There were 10 felony arrests on suspicion of looting in the city, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said Sunday morning.
California authorities have agreed to send around 200 additional law enforcement personnel to San Francisco to keep the city safe, Scott said. It wasn’t immediately clear which agencies would be providing those resources.
Firefighters responded to dozens of fires that were intentionally set across the city on the street, in businesses and in vehicles, San Francisco Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said. In addition, there were 250 medical calls, many a result of violence, she said.
In Sacramento, more than 1,000 people gathered at the state Capitol early in the day, where some lobbed water bottles and other items at law enforcement. Later, they moved to the nearby county jail and smashed windows on a set of doors into the lobby. After the sun set, protesters returned to the jail and confronted police, who fired “flash bang” noise-making devices and non-lethal weapons at the crowd, injuring at least one protester, according to video posted of the incident.
Protesters also broke into a nearby Macy’s department store and other retail outlets and looted them.
“Destruction is the opposite of righteous protest. Sacramento’s small businesses did not cause our nation’s anguish,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg in a statement. “What we are witnessing tonight is not what Sacramento stands for.”
In all three cities, protesters chanted the name of George Floyd, the black man who died last week in Minneapolis after a white officer pinned him to the ground by putting his knee on Floyd’s neck. Chants — and graffiti — of “I can’t breathe” also marked the events, reminders of Floyd’s last words.
In San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland, police unions representing rank-and-file officers on Thursday issued statements condemning both the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck as well as the three others who participated in the arrest and did not intervene to help Floyd. And in Santa Cruz, a social media post showed its police chief and mayor taking a knee with protesters, a reference both to the way Floyd was pinned down and the long-running civil rights movement sparked by quarterback Colin Kaepernick and meant to drive attention toward disparities in policing of communities of color.
“It’s a recognition that not speaking out on incidents such as this was and is a mistake,” Tom Saggau, spokesman for police unions in San Jose and San Francisco, said Friday.
But the unusual acts of solidarity from law enforcement did little to stem anger toward them.
Floyd’s name was joined by a list of other men and women of color whom demonstrators said had been killed by local authorities, representing a larger issue. Protesters said it was the ongoing systemic racism among law enforcement that ultimately brought them out.
In Sacramento, Stephon Clark’s name was taken up by crowds more than once. Clark, a black man, was killed by Sacramento police in 2018 after they mistook his cellphone for a gun after chasing him into his grandmother’s backyard. Clark’s brother, Stevante Clark, was among those protesting in Sacramento over the weekend.
The Clark shooting also led to massive, though mostly peaceful, protests that contributed last year to the passage of a new use-of-force standard in California, which says police may use deadly force when “necessary,” rather than when it is “reasonable.” That law went into effect in January.
“This is not a local issue,” Clark said on social media Saturday. “We as a nation are feeling the effects of police brutality.”
Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-31--Despite curfew, downtown L.A. hit by more looting overnight

Despite a citywide curfew , groups of people — mostly men — wandered the streets of downtown Los Angeles late Saturday night , smashing windows and spray-painting anti-police graffiti on plywood boards that business and property owners had hastily affixed to their buildings earlier in the day .
Cars cruised around downtown looking for easy targets to loot .
Drivers parked as passengers ran inside to grab goods before hustling back outside and filling the trunk with pilfered products .
The CVS pharmacy on 8th and Grand avenues was boarded up after being vandalized and looted the night before .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ banging on the front door .
After about five minutes , it finally broke and two people ran inside , grabbing items .
Soon , a stream of people rushed into the store and began removing items .
The scene was the same around 11 p.m. at a computer store on Melrose and Highland avenues in the Fairfax District , where throngs of people drove up , ran into the shop and emerged with boxes of electronics .
An 8 p.m. curfew enacted by Mayor Eric Garcetti did appear to clear the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police taking people into custody for curfew violations .
The number of arrests was not immediately available Sunday morning .
As the sun rose over downtown L.A. , crews went to work sweeping up a sea of shattered glass and covering up graffiti with paint rollers .
National Guard troops deployed onto the streets of Los Angeles after Gov .
Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency .
A platoon of soldiers walked patrol between Skid Row and Bunker Hill , while Humvees rumbled through the Financial District .
The soldiers on foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat gear , with gas masks strapped to their thighs .
Some looked self-conscious as passersby stopped to photograph them , while others nodded and said , “ Good morning.
” It was the first time the National Guard has been called into Los Angeles since the 1992 riots , which erupted after the police officers who beat Rodney King were found not guilty .

Despite a citywide curfew, groups of people — mostly men — wandered the streets of downtown Los Angeles late Saturday night, smashing windows and spray-painting anti-police graffiti on plywood boards that business and property owners had hastily affixed to their buildings earlier in the day.
Cars cruised around downtown looking for easy targets to loot. Drivers parked as passengers ran inside to grab goods before hustling back outside and filling the trunk with pilfered products.
× National Guard troops deployed onto the streets of Los Angeles early Sunday morning as looting, vandalism and violence intensified and the police department struggled to restore order after two days of discord.
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The CVS pharmacy on 8th and Grand avenues was boarded up after being vandalized and looted the night before. On Saturday night, one person began banging on the front door. After about five minutes, it finally broke and two people ran inside, grabbing items.
Soon, a stream of people rushed into the store and began removing items.
The scene was the same around 11 p.m. at a computer store on Melrose and Highland avenues in the Fairfax District, where throngs of people drove up, ran into the shop and emerged with boxes of electronics.
An 8 p.m. curfew enacted by Mayor Eric Garcetti did appear to clear the streets in many areas. TV footage showed police taking people into custody for curfew violations. The number of arrests was not immediately available Sunday morning.
As the sun rose over downtown L.A., crews went to work sweeping up a sea of shattered glass and covering up graffiti with paint rollers.
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National Guard troops deployed onto the streets of Los Angeles after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.
A platoon of soldiers walked patrol between Skid Row and Bunker Hill, while Humvees rumbled through the Financial District.
The soldiers on foot patrol carried M-4 rifles and wore full combat gear, with gas masks strapped to their thighs. Some looked self-conscious as passersby stopped to photograph them, while others nodded and said, “Good morning.”
It was the first time the National Guard has been called into Los Angeles since the 1992 riots, which erupted after the police officers who beat Rodney King were found not guilty.