George Floyd protests: Target closes down 175 stores nationwide

MINNEAPOLIS — After a third consecutive night of protests in Minneapolis and in several other major U.S. cities, authorities on Friday arrested former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd.

Floyd, 46, died Monday after he was detained for questioning regarding a possible forgery in progress. Video of his death caught by bystanders showed a Minneapolis police officer identified as Chauvin holding his knee to Floyd’s neck for more than five minutes as Floyd pleaded for air, sparking outrage.

Target closes down 175 stores nationwide

Update 7:18 a.m. EDT May 31: Target has temporarily closed 175 stores across the United States because of the nationwide protests.

"Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal," the retailer said in a statement.

Target, based in Minneapolis, closed 71 stores In Minnesota, 49 in California, 12 in New York, while others were closed in various locations nationwide.

Cars burned, stores looted in Seattle

Update 6:36 a.m. EDT May 31: After several hours of peaceful gatherings and marches by thousands of people in Seattle protesting the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Seattle police said the crowd turned violent, throwing bottles and Molotov cocktails, setting fires, breaking windows and looting businesses in the downtown core.

The damage stretched several city blocks, KIRO-TV reported

Seattle police said multiple officers and citizens were injured when the violence broke out late Saturday afternoon. Seattle police Chief Carmen Best said so far, 27 people were arrested for a variety of offenses including assault, arson, destruction and looting.

Ferguson Police Department building damaged

Update 1:53 a.m. EDT May 31: The police department in Ferguson, Missouri was damaged and all non-essestial personnel were evacuated, according to a tweet by the St. Louis County Police Department.

Multiple shootings in Indianapolis; 1 person killed

Update 1:26 a.m. EDT May 31: At least three people were reported shot and one person was killed during protests in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday night, Indianapolis Police Chief Randal Taylor said in a news conference.

A police officer also sustained minor injuries tonight, Taylor said.

Taylor told residents to go home.

“If you’re still down here tonight you are more than likely into something that you shouldn’t be and we want you to go home,” Taylor said.

Stores looted, gas station set on fire in Florida

Update 12:23 a.m. EDT May 31: Protesters looted stores, blocked roads and set a gas station on fire in Tampa.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said at least three protesters were arrested near University Mall where looters broke into nearby businesses and stole merchandise, WFTS reported. Deputies used tear gas to keep demonstrators from entering the mall.

“While we support everyone’s right to assemble, rioting, looting and vandalizing is unacceptable. We will be on the streets as long as needed in order to keep the protesters and those around them safe, however, we are asking that everyone respect their fellow citizens and the property of others. Anything less is unacceptable.”

A gas station was also set on fire but firefighters were able to get the blaze under control before it reached the pumps.

Nashville mayor declares state of emergency

Update 11:36 p.m. EDT May 30: Nashville Mayor John Cooper declared a state of civil emergency as peaceful afternoon protests grew increasingly violent into the evening.

Thousands of people had peacefully rallied Saturday afternoon but later into the evening protesters began to damage buildings, breaking windows and setting a fire inside the Metro Courthouse.

Police used tear gas and warned protesters the gathering was unlawful.

Gov. Bill Lee issued an order Saturday night for the National Guard to mobilize “in response to protests that have now taken a violent, unlawful turn in Nashville.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Curfews in effect in dozens of cities, National Guard activated

Update 9:49 p.m. EDT May 30: Dozens of U.S. cities have put their citizens under curfew as demonstrations grew violent Saturday across the country.

The mayors of cities including Atlanta, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles have imposed curfews amid growing unrest sparked by the recent death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Almost a dozen governors have activated the national guard in their states, including Texas, Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Utah and the District of Columbia, CNN reported.

Minnesota governor expects spike in coronavirus infections amid protests

Update 8:57 p.m. EDT May 30: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expects to see a spike in coronavirus cases following the protests that have encompassed Minneapolis the last few days, CNN reported.

"I am deeply concerned about a super-spreader type of incident," Walz said, CNN reported. "We're going to see a spike in Covid-19. It's inevitable."

He has warned residents to stay indoors as protests have grown increasingly violent.

Walz had already issued an 8 p.m. curfew that took effect Friday, CNN reported. Earlier Saturday he activated the Minnesota National Guard. Highways into Minneapolis were also shutdown at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Walz said jails have the capacity to hold everyone taken into custody.

Demonstration closes highway in Seattle

Update 8:19 p.m. EDT May 30: Hundreds of protesters spilled onto I-5 in downtown Seattle prompting a shutdown of the north and southbound lanes, KIRO-TV reported.

Protesters marched between cars holding signs.

“The freeway is not a safe or appropriate place for demonstration," Chief John Batiste said on social media. "WSP will thoughtfully do what is necessary to maintain public safety and urges everyone to use caution in the area.”

Protesters also burned multiple police vehicles.

Mayor Jenny Durkan imposed a curfew for 5 p.m. Saturday.

“Crowds need to disburse from downtown immediately,” Durkan said on social media.

Violent protests prompts Philadelphia mayor to impose curfew

Update 7:47 p.m. EDT May 30: Protesters damaged a statue, burned vehicles and set fire to buildings in Philadelphia, prompting the mayor to issue a curfew for Saturday night.

Protesters appeared to tie ropes and set fire to the bottom of the statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo, which has been defaced in the past, was set to be removed later this year from out front of the city's Municipal Services Building, KYW reported.

“The peaceful protests earlier were touching showings of our collective grief,” Mayor Jim Kenney said on social media. “The anger being displayed now cannot continue. Please have respect and dignity for each other and return home.”

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has imposed a mandatory curfew starting at 8 p.m. Saturday until 6 a.m. Sunday.

“Only person with essential duties will be permitted outdoors,” Philadelphia police said on social media.

Curfew imposed as Los Angeles protests grow more violent

Update 7:07 p.m. EDT May 30: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is imposing a curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Saturday as demonstrations in the city grew increasingly violent.

"We will always protect free speech and Angelenos’ right to live without fear of violence or vandalism," Garcetti said on social media.

Protesters damaged police vehicles and threw objects at authorities who swung batons and fired rubber bullets in the crowd.

“Large and violent protest occurring in the area of Beverly Blvd and Fairfax Ave. Do not endanger yourself and your loved ones,” the Los Angeles Police Department said on social media. “Stay away from the area. Large amount of protestors and police presence.”

Mayor issues curfew for Atlanta

Update 6:54 p.m. EDT May 30: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued a curfew starting at 9 p.m. for the city Saturday night.

The citywide curfew will end at sunrise, WSB-TV reported.

National Guard vehicles were deployed to Centennial Olympic Park where protesters gathered for a second night. Protesters destroyed police cars and smashed windows on Friday night.

The Atlanta Police Department said it is monitoring protest activity and is prepared to make more arrests should demonstrations turn violent or destructive.

Police swing batons, shoot rubber bullets at protesters in LA

Update 6:29 p.m. EDT May 30: Police swung batons and fired rubber bullets at protesters in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.

Police vehicles were spray-painted and their windows kicked in as the peaceful protest became violent when police tried to hold protesters from moving forward, CNN reported.

Protesters also appeared to be throwing objects at authorities, CNN reported.

Reporter hit by rock during protest in South Carolina

Update 6:18 p.m. EDT May 30: A news reporter, caught between protesters clashing, was hit by a rock Saturday afternoon.

Reporter Miranda Parnell was OK after being checked out at a hospital.

"A person wearing a MAGA hat showed up at the rally, protesters confronted that person & then rocks were thrown,” Parnell said on social media.

Several hundred people demonstrated in Columbia, South Carolina, tearing down a U.S. and state flag out front of police headquarters, The Associated Press reported.

Denver sets nighttime curfew

Update 5:43 p.m. EDT May 30: A nighttime curfew has been imposed in Denver, the city’s mayor said Saturday.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said the Colorado National Guard will help enforce a 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.

Protesters clashed with police the last two nights in downtown Denver, where windows were broken and authorities used tear gas, flash grenades and pepper pellets.

Thousands of protesters were expected to descend upon downtown Saturday night. A protest organizer urged people to be safe and to not put others in harm’s way.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pickup drives through Florida protest

Update 5:18 p.m. EDT May 30: A pickup truck drove through an intersection in Tallahassee, where protesters were demonstrating Saturday, sending people scrambling out of the way.

The truck was stopped at a light as protesters walked around and near it, apparently talking to the driver before he suddenly accelerated, sending people running and screaming. At one point, a person was on the truck's hood.

The driver was taken into custody after hitting the crowd at a low rate of speed, Tallahassee Mayor John E. Dailey said on social media.

“The peaceful protestors have my unwavering support and I unequivocally condemn any violence toward protestors,” Dailey said.

No one was seriously injured.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Protesters set police car on fire in Pittsburgh

Update 5:03 p.m. EDT May 30: Protesters marching through downtown Pittsburgh set a police car on fire Saturday afternoon.

Protesters used objects to smash and vandalize the vehicle before setting it aflame near the PPG Arena, WPXI-TV reported.

Protesters block traffic on Austin, Texas, interstate

Update 3:48 p.m. EDT May 30: Protesters blocked Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, according to a tweet from ATX, the city’s transportation department.

“We need the community to avoid the area because the IH-35 is blocked,” Austin Police said in a tweet.

Trump threatens to use military police against protesters

Update 3:01 p.m. EDT May 30: President Donald Trump urged "liberal governors and mayors” to get “much tougher” in dealing with protesters, “or the federal government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests.”

“Crossing state lines to incite violence is a FEDERAL CRIME!" Trump tweeted.

Wisconsin governor activates National Guard

Update 2:54 p.m. EDT May 30: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers activated the National Guard to support law enforcement in Milwaukee in their response to “agitators that have disrupted peaceful protests following the murder of George Floyd,” according to a news release.

At least 125 members of the Wisconsin National Guard have been activated immediately to respond to Milwaukee, according to the release.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, declare emergency

Update 2:44 p.m. EDT May 30: Police in Columbus, Ohio declared an emergency in the downtown area “to manage protests near the statehouse,” Mayor Andrew Ginther tweeted.

“We are asking residents to avoid the area,” Ginther tweeted. “We’re calling for everyone to remain calm.”

Police said crowd control devices, including chemical agents, may be used, and protestors were subject to arrest if they did not leave the area, WCMH reported.

DC mayor: Trump tweets an ‘attack on black America’

Update 2:31 p.m. EDT May 30: Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser fired back at President Donald Trump’s tweets, calling his comments on Twitter “an attack on humanity, an attack on black America.”

Bowser added that Trump’s comments were “gross” and criticized Trump’s comments about “shooting and looting” and releasing “vicious dogs."

“To make a reference to vicious dogs is no subtle reminder to African Americans of segregationists who let dogs out on women, children, and innocent people in the South,” Bowser said at a news conference, noting that Trump’s comments over the past two days have been the “glorification of violence against American citizens,” and that “what used to be heard in dog whistles we now hear from a bullhorn.”

Protesters damage College Football Hall of Fame

Update 2:16 p.m. EDT May 30: The College Football Hall of Fame was damaged and looted during violent protests in Atlanta on Friday night, police confirmed in a statement.

The Hall of Fame is located near Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. Protesters smashed the Hall of Fame’s front windows and stole merchandise from its gift shop, ESPN reported.

“Protesters continue damaging businesses, looting and setting fire to buildings,” Atlanta police Sgt. John Chafee said in a statement Saturday. “There has been looting at the College Football Hall of Fame ... and many other businesses. We are grateful for the assistance being provided by multiple local and state law enforcement partners as we work to minimize the damage being caused by these individuals and to restore order in our city.”

Michigan governor urges designated areas for protest

Update 2:03 p.m. EDT May 30: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II urged communities to provide a designated area for people to peacefully protest, according to a statement.

“The First Amendment right to protest has never been more important, and in this moment when we are still battling a killer virus, it is crucial that those who choose to demonstrate do so peacefully, and in a way that follows social distancing guidelines to protect public health,” the statement said. “There will no doubt be more tough days ahead, but we must pull together and treat our fellow Michiganders with dignity, compassion, and humanity."

Murder charge ‘only the beginning’ in case against Chauvin

Update 1:56 p.m. EDT May 30: Third-degree murder and manslaughter charges against former police officer Derek Chauvin are only the beginning of the legal process, Minnesota’s attorney general said.

At a news conference, Keith Ellison said charging Chauvin, who is seen on video putting his knee on George Floyd’s neck on Monday, is a preliminary move.

“It is a preliminary complaint. It’s still going on,” Ellison said “As a lawyer, I can tell you complaints are amended, charges could be increased, there could be some added, there could be other people who could be charged as well. We are in the beginning of this."

Ellison said there is probable cause to support the complaint against Chauvin, and that the “wheels of justice are moving and now they’re moving swiftly.”

Walz: Minneapolis protesters did not 'share our values’

Update 1:35 p.m. EDT May 30: In his third news conference Saturday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called protesters Friday night as people who “do not share our values.”

“What we’ve seen on the streets of Minneapolis and St. Paul over the last 48 to 72 hours has nothing to do with what these people have done to build Minnesota. We have wanton destruction of black businesses and black infrastructure," Walz said. “We have destroyed landmarks of the nation’s largest indigenous communities that ripped a hole in the soul of a people that have become oppressed from the minute we became a state.”

Walz emphasized that Minnesota residents “stand on the land of the people who created that, and the people who were on the streets last night burned it down.”

"They are not us. They do not share our values," Walz said.

Pentagon offered troops to Minnesota, governor says

Update 1:27 p.m. EDT May 30: The Pentagon offered the use of active-duty soldiers and intelligence to assist in putting down unrest in Minnesota, including some forces who were put on alert to deploy, Gov. Tim Walz said.

The offer was made at the behest of President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported.

Trump, who was heading to Florida to watch the launch of the SpaceX spacecraft, said people in Minneapolis, said have to get tougher” and that the military is “ready, willing and able” to assist if called upon.

“Look, they’ve got to be tough, they’ve got to be smart. We have our military ready, willing and able if they ever want to call our military. We could have troops on the ground very quickly if they ever want our military,” Trump said. “We can have our military there very quickly, they’ve got to be tough, they’ve got to be strong, they’ve got to be respected."

Surgeon General: ‘No easy prescription’ to heal pain

Update 12:49 p.m. EDT May 30: U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted “there is no easy prescription” to healing the pain or calming the anger expressed over George Floyd’s death.

“It’s a pain I too am experiencing … because I’m black,” Adams tweeted.

“We won’t fix or remove all the obstacles and stressors that are affecting people’s health and wellbeing -- especially ones like racism -- overnight. That doesn’t mean we mustn’t try at all," Adams tweeted.

Cuomo: ‘The names change, but the color doesn’t’

Update 12:18 p.m. EDT May 30: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said racial injustice should no linger be viewed as “individual incidents.”

“When you have one episode, two episodes maybe you can look at them as individual episodes. But when you have 10 episodes, 15 episodes, you are blind or in denial if you are still treating each one like a unique situation,” Cuomo said during his daily briefing Saturday.

“How many times have we seen the same situation? Yes, the names change, but the color doesn’t,” Cuomo said.

Police: Molotov cocktail tossed into police van in Brooklyn

Update 12:10 p.m. EDT May 30: Police in Brooklyn, New York, said two Molotov cocktails were thrown into two cars, including a police van, during protests Friday night, a law enforcement official told CNN.

One incident involved a person throwing a Molotov cocktail into a marked police van. The other incident involved a woman walking up to a van holding a bottle with a rag in it, lighting it and throwing it into the van. That vehicle did not catch on fire, according to CNN.

Minnesota governor expects more arrests

Update 11:11 a.m. EDT May 30: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz warned protesters he expects more arrests Saturday night as a curfew was imposed on Minneapolis.

“What you’ve seen in previous nights I think will be dwarfed by what they will do tonight," Walz said at a news conference. "If you are an innocent bystander going out there tonight, you will be swept up in this.

“What the curfew does is it gives us a legal authority to make arrests of people out there.”

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Jon A. Jensen said the deployment of more than 700 National Guard members Friday was the “largest law enforcement operation in Minnesota history,” but “it was not enough.”

Jensen said they now have to have 2,500 personnel mobilized by noon Saturday.

“The governor just announced the full mobilization of the Minnesota National Guard for the first time since World War II," Jensen said. “What does that mean? It means we’re all in.”

Minneapolis mayor critical of demonstrations

Update 10:28 a.m. EDT May 30: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey criticized he demonstrations Friday night in the city and urged that the destruction and violence come to a halt.

“This is no longer about verbal expression. This is about violence and we need to make sure that it stops. We’re in the middle of a pandemic right now. We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one another," Frey said at a news conference. “In order to make sure that we continue to have the necessary community institutions, we need to make sure that our businesses are protected, that they are safe, and that they are secure.”

Minnesota governor mobilizes National Guard

Update 10:20 a.m. EDT May 30: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ordered a full mobilization of the National Guard. the largest deployment in the state’s 164-year history

“The message is clear, Minnesota: We had a tragedy Monday night,” Walz said. “The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd.”

More than 1,000 members of the National Guard were called up, the agency said in a tweet

“I think what’s really important to recognize is the tactics and the approach that we have taken have evolved and need to evolve the same way," Walz said at a news conference. “With a sensitivity to the legitimate rage and anger that came after what the world witnessed in the murder of George Floyd, and was manifested in a very healthy gathering of community to memorialize that on Tuesday night. Was still present to a certain degree on Wednesday. By Thursday, it was nearly gone, and last night is a mockery of pretending this is about George Floyd’s death or inequities or historical traumas to our communities of color.”

Trump criticizes protesters outside White House

Update 9:43 a.m. EDT May 30: President Donald Trump tweeted his thanks to the Secret Service and said that had protesters breached the White House fence on Friday night. they “would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen.

The President also criticized Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, saying she “wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved.”

D.C. Police were on the scene Friday night at Lafayette Park, along with several other agencies, CNN reported.

Minnesota governor: 'I urge for peace’

Update 8:13 a.m. EDT May 30: After a night of protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appealed for calm.

“Minnesotans are asking for and deserve confidence that we can respond to this crisis, and we will,” Walz tweeted Saturday.

Walz ended his tweet with a plea: “I urge for peace at this time.”

Protesters vandalize downtown Phoenix, police say

Update 7:24 a.m. EDT May 30: Protesters have left behind a trail of destruction in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, police said.

“Property throughout the downtown Phoenix area has been vandalized as some demonstrators engage in criminal behavior, breaking windows and doors to municipal and private business and destroy cars parked along the street,” Phoenix Police Department tweeted.

Nearly 200 arrested in Houston protest

Update 7:05 a.m. EDT May 30: Nearly 200 people have been arrested in Houston, Texas, following Friday night protests.

According to a tweet from the Houston Police Department, most of those arrested will be charged with obstructing a roadway.

The department also told CNN four of its officers sustained minor injuries and protesters damaged eight police vehicles.

“Our officers who were attacked are in the hospital, patrol cars ruined, businesses damaged,” Houston Police Officer’s Union President Joe Gamaldi said in a tweet.

“This is not who we are as a City and as a community. We will protect your right to protest, but we will not allow our city to decay into chaos.”

Deputy fires upon San Jose protest

Update 6:52 a.m. EDT May 30: Law enforcement opened fire during Friday night protests in San Jose, police said.

Sgt. Enrique Garcia of the San Jose Police Department told an NBC News local affiliate the shooting involved a Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy firing on a vehicle captured on cellphone video striking one or more demonstrators.

2 Federal Protective Service officers shot, 1 killed in Oakland protest

Update 6:44 a.m. EDT May 30: Two Federal Protective Service officers were shot during Friday night protests in Oakland, California, and one of them died, police confirmed to CNN.

A police department spokesman told the network at least 7,500 protesters flooded the streets, resulting in widespread incidents of vandalism, thefts, arson and assaults on officers.

“Two Federal Protective Services officers stationed at the Oakland Downtown Federal Building suffered gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, one succumbed to his injury,” the police department said.

The Federal Protective Service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, provides security and law enforcement services at U.S. government facilities, CNN reported.

Dozens arrested during NYC protests

Update 4:35 a.m. EDT May 30: At least 50 arrests were made in New York City Friday night into early Saturday morning as protesters seeking justice following the death of George Floyd poured into the streets.

A New York Police Department official told NBC News that in addition to the arrests, the protests resulted in injuries to numerous officers, including bloody noses, lost teeth and leg injuries.

Portland police declare a riot in the city and order protesters to disperse

Update 4:01 a.m. EDT May 30: Portland police ordered crowds of protesters to disperse early Saturday, declaring the city a riot scene.

“Disperse now or you will be subject to gas, projectiles, and other means necessary for dispersal,” the Portland Police Department advised Saturday morning via Twitter. “This event has been declared an unlawful assembly. If you do not go home now, force will be used to disperse you.”

According to police, Portland’s Justice Center had been attacked by protesters and set on fire, CNN reported.

Man shot, killed as protests continue in Detroit

Update 3:42 a.m. EDT May 30: A 19-year-old man was killed after shots were fired into a crowd of protesters in Detroit late Friday, the city’s police department has confirmed.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the unidentified victim died later at a nearby hospital. Police said in a statement the shots were fired by an unknown suspect in a gray Dodge Durango.

Earlier in the evening, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said a person had been arrested after trying to run an officer over with a vehicle, CNN reported.

“I will not stand by and let a small minority, criminals, come in here, attack our officers and make our community unsafe. Just know, we are not going to tolerate it,” Craig said.

Minnesota governor: Minneapolis situation remains ‘incredibly dangerous’

Update 3:38 a.m. EDT May 30: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed his state and the entire nation in an early-morning press conference Saturday as violent protests engulfed the Twin Cities for the fourth night and continued their spread across the nation.

Watch the video below.

Police warn LA protesters to disperse or face arrest

Update 2:22 a.m. EDT May 30: The Los Angeles Police Department has declared an unlawful assembly in the downtown area of the city as nationwide protests seeking justice in the death of George Floyd rage for the fourth consecutive night.

"We have declared an unlawful assembly throughout Downtown LA. From the 10 freeway to the 101 & the 110 freeway to Alameda. This is being made following repeated acts of violence & property damage. Residents should stay inside. Business should close. Those on the street are to leave the area," LAPD said in a statement.

According to the department, two LAPD officers were injured during Friday night’s protests.

“There was one officer that got hurt at 7:32 this evening and was transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries. Also, at 8:39, an officer needed help after he was hit with a bottle at Seventh St. and Hope St. and was also transported to the hospital. I don’t have their conditions because the situation is still quite fluid,” the statement said.

Minnesota National Guard, State Troopers arrive to subdue protests

Update 2:10 a.m. EDT May 30: Minnesota State Troopers and the National Guard are actively dispersing protesters from Twin Cities’ streets and assisting local firefighters on multiple scenes, The Washington Post reported.

Despite Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey’s 8 p.m. curfew order, protests have raged with little police presence into the early Saturday morning hours, the Post reported.

Pentagon puts military police on alert for Minneapolis deployment

Update 1:51 a.m. EDT May 30: U.S. soldiers from Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Drum in New York have been ordered to be ready to deploy to Minneapolis within four hours if called, The Associated Press reported.

The Pentagon took the rare step of ordering the U.S. Army to place several active-duty military police units on the ready for deployment as the fourth night of widespread protests swept the nation.

Minneapolis, where earlier this week 46-year-old George Floyd was killed while in police custody, has become the epicenter of the protests demanding justice in his death.

Meanwhile, soldiers in Colorado’s Fort Carson and Kansas’ Fort Riley have been ordered to prepare for potential deployment within 24 hours, The AP reported.

Georgia governor issues state of emergency following protests

Update 1:33 a.m. EDT May 30: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency early Saturday following hours of protests in the greater Atlanta area, activating the National Guard to “protect people & property in Atlanta.”

The protests, demanding justice in the killing of George Floyd, began peacefully but escalated as police cars were damaged, buildings were vandalized and protesters threw objects, broke glass and spray-painted the front entrance to CNN’s Atlanta headquarters, The Washington Post reported.

Earlier Friday night, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms chastised protesters saying they were “disgracing” the city and pleaded for peace, the Post reported.

Bail for accused officer Derek Chauvin set at $500,000, report

Update 1:08 a.m. EDT May 30: Bail for ex-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been set at $500,000, according to documents obtained by CNN.

The criminal complaint filed in the 4th Judicial District Court of Minnesota indicates there have been no conditions set for Chauvin’s release.

Accused officer Derek Chauvin’s wife says she’s divorcing him

Update 10:45 p.m. EDT May 29: A reporter and anchor for WCCO-TV said that the wife of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin has released a statement through an attorney saying she is devastated by George Floyd’s death.

“This evening, I spoke with Kellie Chauvin and her family. She is devastated by Mr. Floyd’s death and her utmost sympathy lies with his family, with his loved ones and with everyone who is grieving this tragedy. She has filed for dissolution of her marriage to Derek Chauvin,” reads the statement obtained by WCCO-TV.

Protesters overrun Brooklyn Police Precinct

Update 9:55 p.m. EDT May 29: Protesters have reportedly overrun the 88th Precinct in Brooklyn. Other precincts in Brooklyn are under siege according to reports.

Protesters try to breach CNN lobby

Update 9:35 p.m. EDT May 29: Protesters in Atlanta threw rocks and smoke grenades into the CNN lobby in what is believed to be an attempt to breach the lobby.

>>Watch Live: Protesters storm Atlanta’s CNN Center

Derek Chauvin booking photo released

Update 9:05 p.m. EDT May 29: The booking photo of ex-police officer Derek Chauvin has been released by Ramsey County jail.

Lockdown at White House lifted

Update 8:50 p.m. EDT May 29: The lockdown has been lifted at the White House.

White House locked down amid protests near gates

Update 8 p.m. EDT May 29: At least one protester was tackled by Secret Service following protests near the White House.

The White House has been locked down and the secret service is not letting anyone off the grounds according to CNN.

Protests take tense turn in Atlanta

Update 7:45 p.m. EDT May 29: Activists spray-painted a large CNN logo outside the company’s headquarters in Atlanta, breaking a window and tagging doors while protesting the death of George Floyd.

Hundreds of protesters were confronting police outside CNN’s downtown headquarters late Friday. One protester climbed on top of the CNN sign and waved a “Black Lives Matter” flag to cheers from the crowd.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., a scuffle happened between a protester and an Atlanta police officer right outside the CNN Center.

Protesters pelted officers who came over with bottles, striking some of them. Other bottles thrown at authorities exploded behind the police line, but no officers appeared to get hit. Protesters chanted, “Quit your jobs.”

The officers backed their line away from the group of protesters who were throwing objects at them.

Police formed a barricade and they are keeping protesters at bay right now so they can’t go any further down the street.

This comes after protesters peacefully marched from Centennial Olympic Park to the state Capitol, and then back. The tense moments came as it appeared protesters started leaving Centennial Olympic Park.

Trump says he spoke with Floyd’s family members

Update 5:55 p.m. EDT May 29: President Donald Trump says he talked to members of George Floyd’s family on Friday and “expressed my sorrow.”

Trump spoke about his conversation with members of the Floyd family during a White House meeting with businesses executives. He says of the encounter with police captured on video that “it was just a horrible thing to witness and to watch. It certainly looked like there was no excuse for it.”

Trump says the family grieved during the call and that “I could see very much that they loved their brother.”

Trump was also asked about his tweet saying “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” He says he had heard that phrase for a long time, but didn’t know where it originated.

He says the phrase is “very accurate in the sense that, when you do have looting like you had last night, people often get shot and they die. And that’s not good and we don’t want that to happen.”

Trump also spoke about the looters, saying they did a great disservice to their state, city and the country. He said “we can never let that happen again.”

The president also says of the city and its mayor “I don’t think they were very well prepared. But we brought in the National Guard. They will be very prepared tonight.”

NBA veteran Stephen Jackson speaks at George Floyd rally

Update 5:55 p.m. EDT May 29: NBA veteran Stephen Jackson says he’ll use his platform and “everything I have to get a conviction” for the four Minneapolis police officers who were fired after George Floyd’s death.

Jackson, like Floyd, is from Houston and they were friends. The handcuffed black man died after pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck.

That officer, Derek Chauvin, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The charges were announced shortly after Jackson spoke at a news conference organized by activists at Minneapolis City Hall. Actor Jamie Foxx and Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns were among those in attendance.

Jackson is 42. He played for eight NBA teams from 2000-2013 and won a championship in 2003 with the San Antonio Spurs.

He and Floyd called each other “twin” because of their resemblance.

Both were star high school athletes in the Houston area in the 1990s. Floyd had moved to Minneapolis two years ago for a fresh start.

Minneapolis mayor imposes an 8 p.m. curfew

Update 4:55 p.m. EDT May 29: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey imposed a curfew throughout the city starting at 8 p.m. CDT. The proclamation will extend through the weekend.

Chauvin kept knee pressed to Floyd’s neck for 3 minutes after he became unresponsive

Update 3:55 p.m. EDT May 29: A Minneapolis police officer charged Friday with murder in the death of George Floyd kept his knee pressed to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes in total Monday, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday.

Prosecutors said that body camera footage showed Floyd appeared to stop moving three minutes before former Officer Derek Chauvin took his knee off Floyd’s neck. In video footage captured by passersby, Floyd can be heard pleading for air before going silent as onlookers demanded Chauvin get off the 46-year-old.

Prosecutors said Floyd appeared to stop moving around 8:24 p.m. A minute later, officials said he appeared to stop breathing.

Officials said another police officer asked whether Floyd should be moved onto his side, but no one moved him. Another officer checked for a pulse and said he couldn’t find one.

Two minutes later, Chauvin removed his knee from Floyd’s neck, prosecutors said.

Authorities said that preliminary findings from Floyd’s autopsy showed “no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation.”

“Mr. Floyd had underlying health conditions including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease,” according to prosecutors. “The combined effects of Mr. Floyd being restrained by the police, his underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in his system likely contributed to his death.”

Minnesota governor says Chauvin’s arrest ‘good first step toward justice for George Floyd’

Update 3:40 p.m. EDT May 29: Echoing comments he made at an earlier news conference, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the arrest Friday of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin “a good first step toward justice for George Floyd.”

However, the governor said, “it doesn’t change the system problems and persistent inequities that led to his death or the pain our communities live with every day.”

Walz said earlier Friday that he had requested the Hennepin County Attorney move quickly to investigate Floyd’s death and bring justice to his family.

Floyd’s family: Officer’s arrest ‘welcome but overdue’

Update 3:30 p.m. EDT May 29: The family of George Floyd, the man who died Monday after video footage showed a police officer with his knee to Floyd’s neck for minutes as he struggled to breathe, called the officer’s arrest “welcome but overdue.”

Family members and attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Floyd family, said they want former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin to face first-degree murder charges. He was arrested Friday on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter.

“We call on authorities to revise the charges to reflect the true culpability of this officer,” the statement said. “While this is a right and necssary step, we need the City of Minneapolis -- and cities across the country -- to fix the policies and training deficiencies that permitted this unlawful killing -- and so many others -- to occur.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said this week that the technique used by Chauvin to subdue Floyd while detaining him for questioning in connection with a possible forgery in progress had not been approved by police and should have never been used.

“Today, George Floyd’s family is having to explain to his children why their father was executed by police on video,” according to the statement.

“It’s essential that the City closely examines and changes its policing policies and training procedures to correct for the lack of proper field supervision; the use of appropriate non-lethal restraint techniques; the ability to recognize medical signs associated with the restriction of airflow, and the legal duty to seek emergency medical care and stop a civil rights violation.”

Trump defends tweet flagged by Twitter for ‘glorifying violence’

Update 3:05 p.m. EDT May 29: President Donald Trump on Friday defended a tweet he sent earlier in the day that was flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence” arguing that his post was “spoken as a fact, not as a statement.”

“Looting leads to shooting, and that’s why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night - or look at what just happened in Louisville with 7 people shot,” the president wrote.

"It was spoken as a fact, not as a statement. It’s very simple, nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media."

Trump did not address his tweets or the death of George Floyd during a news conference Friday afternoon at the White House.

Early on Friday, Trump posted a message on social media calling protesters in Minneapolis “thugs” and warning that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

According to NPR, the phrase “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” is a well-known phrase dating back to the civil rights era. Miami police Chief Walter Headley said the same thing in 1967 during hearings on crime in his jurisdiction, prompting outrage, NPR reported.

“He had a long history of bigotry against the black community,” professor Clarence Lusane of Howard University told NPR.

Minneapolis mayor: Former officer’s arrest an ‘essential first step’

Update 2:55 p.m. EDT May 29: In a statement obtained Friday by the Star Tribune, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said that the arrest of former police Officer Derek Chauvin is an “essential first step."

“For our black community who have, for centuries, been forced to endure injustice in a world simply unwilling to correct or acknowledge it: I know that whatever hope you feel today is tempered with skepticism and a righteous outrage,” he said.

“We are a nation at a crossroad, and today’s decision from the County Attorney is an essential first step on a longer road toward justice and healing our city.”

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Friday that his office continues to investigate possible charges against the other three officers involved in Floyd’s death.

Justice Department investigating Floyd’s death for possible civil rights law violations

Update 2:35 p.m. EDT May 29: U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr said Friday that the FBI and the Justice Department have launched an independent investigation into whether any federal civil rights laws were violated in the death of George Floyd.

In a statement, Barr called footage of the encounter between Floyd and four Minneapolis police officers, including Derek Chauvin, “harrowing to watch and deeply disturbing."

“The Department of Justice, including the FBI, are conducting an independent investigation to determine whether any federal civil rights laws were violated,” Barr said. "Both state and federal officers are working diligently and collaboratively to ensure that any available evidence relevant to these decisions is obtained as quickly as possible. ... I am confident justice will be served.”

Hennepin County Attorney expects charges will be filed against all officers involved in Floyd’s death

Update 2:20 p.m. EDT May 29: Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Friday that he expects charges will be filed against the three other officers who were involved in George Floyd’s death following the arrest Friday afternoon of former Officer Derek Chauvin.

“I anticipate charges but I’m not going to get into that,” he said at a news conference.

He declined to discuss the evidence that led to Chauvin’s arrest one day after he said authorities needed more time to gather evidence. He said among the items authorities reviewed were the video shot by bystander Darnella Frazier which sparked widespread outrage on social media, Chauvin’s body camera footage and a preliminary report from the medical examiner.

Freeman announced Friday that Chauvin was arrested on third-degree murder and manslaughter charges in Floyd’s death. He was taken into custody by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Hennepin County Attorney to speak after arrest of former Minneapolis police officer

Update 2:08 p.m. EDT May 29: The Hennepin County Attorney, Mike Freeman, said Friday that former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.

Colin Kaepernick launches fund to pay for legal defense of arrested protesters

Update 2:05 p.m. EDT May 29: NFL free agency Colin Kaepernick on Friday announced the launch of a legal defense fund to help protesters arrested amid unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd.

The legal defense initiative was created with Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, a campaign funded by the former San Francisco 49er aimed at empowering black and brown communities.

Kaepernick played with the 49ers until 2016 and faced heavy criticism for his decision to kneel during the national anthem in protest of police brutality.

Protesters gather outside Chauvin’s Florida home

Update 1:50 p.m. EDT May 29: Protesters gathered Friday outside former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin’s home in Central Florida after rumors swirled that he would relocate to the area as protests over the death of George Floyd continue in Minneapolis, WFTV reported.

Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Friday that Chauvin was not at his home in Florida and that he had no plans to visit the area.

Deputies told WFTV there had been no calls for service at the former police officer’s home before Thursday, when two calls came in but no reports were filed.

Deputies said there several calls were made Friday morning.

>> Read more on WFTV.com

Taylor Swift criticizes president for ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts’ tweet

Update 1:25 p.m. EDT May 29: Pop superstar Taylor Swift took to Twitter on Friday to criticize President Donald Trump after he posted a message on social media calling protesters in Minneapolis “thugs” and warning that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

“After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence?” Swift wrote. “We will vote you out in November.”

Officer involved in Floyd’s death arrested

Update 1:15 p.m. EDT May 29: John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, said Friday that he’s received word that Officer Derek Chauvin has been taken into custody, according to multiple reports.

The Star Tribune reported Chauvin was taken into custody by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The newspaper reported the other three officers involved in Floyd’s death had not been charged as of early Friday afternoon.

Trump’s tweets encouraging violence against protesters ‘not helpful,’ Minn. governor says

Update 12:40 p.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Friday criticized a tweet from President Donald Trump in which he called people protesting the death of George Floyd “thugs” and warned that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

“It’s not helpful,” Walz said Friday at a news conference. “In the moment where we’re at, in a moment that is so volatile, anything we do to add fuel to that fire is really not helpful. ... There is a way to do this without inflaming (tensions).”

Twitter flagged the president’s tweet for “glorifying violence,” prompting a series of tweets from Trump criticizing the social media site. A similar tweet posted on the official White House Twitter page was also flagged for the same reasons.

Obama: ‘This shouldn’t be “normal” in 2020 America'

Update 12:20 p.m. EDT May 29: Former President Barack Obama on Friday said everyone has the responsibility of working to ensure that a “new normal” is created “in which the legacy of bigotry and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions or our hearts.”

His comments came as Americans nationwide deal with the ongoing threat of the coronavius pandemic and four days after George Floyd.

“It’s natural to wish for life ‘to just get back to normal’ as a pandemic and economic crisis upend everything around us,” he said.

“But we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’ -- whether it’s while dealing with the health care system or interacting with the criminal justice system, or jogging down the street, or just watching birds in a park.”

Obama said officials in Minnesota will be tasked with ensuring Floyd’s death is thoroughly investigated and that justice is carried out.

“But it falls on all of us, regardless of our race or station -- including the majority of men and women in law enforcement who take pride in doing their tough job the right way, every day -- to work together to create a ‘new normal.’"

Wisconsin attorney general calls for arrest of officers involved in Floyd’s death

Update 12:10 p.m. EDT May 29: Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul called Friday for charges to be filed against the four officers involved in the death Monday of George Floyd.

“What America witnessed happening to George Floyd in Minneapolis was not, in any true sense of the phrase, law enforcement. It was torture and murder, under color of law,” Kaul said in a statement.

“Justice demands that those involved in this depraved crime be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Officials in Minnesota said at a news conference Friday that they expect justice for the officers involved in Floyd’s death will be “swift.”

Minnesota officials expect justice for officers involved in Floyd’s death will be ‘swift’

Update 12 p.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison said Friday that they believe justice will be “swift” for the officers involved in the death Monday of George Floyd.

“It is my expectation that justice for the officers involved in this will be swift. That it will come in a timely manner. That it will be fair,” Walz said Friday at a news conference. “That is what we’ve asked for.”

Ellison said that, following Minnesota law, the charging decisions will come from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.

“I believe that the message has been sent and received that the wheels of justice must move swiftly,” Ellison said. “It’s important that people have confidence that accountability is how we live in Minnesota.”

Minnesota governor apologizes to CNN for arrest of journalists

Update 11:50 a.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized Friday for the arrest earlier in the day of a CNN crew which was broadcast live on air.

“This should not have happened,” Walz said. “I take full responsibility.”

Walz said officers were clearing streets on his order when they arrested CNN journalist Omar Jimenez and two other of the network’s crew. The governor stressed Friday that it is imperative that officials come up with a plan to allow journalists to continue their work safely.

Walz said transparency, including allowing for reporters to cover the situation in Minneapolis, “is a key component of how we fix this.”

The governor said he spoke to CNN President Jeff Zucker after Friday morning’s arrest and apologized.

“I am a teacher by trade and I have spent my time as governor highlighting the need to be as transparent as possible and have the press here and I failed you,” Walz said.

Minnesota governor: ‘Thank God a young person had a camera’ to capture Floyd’s death

Update 11:45 a.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Friday said he was grateful that Darnella Frazier caught video of Officer Derek Chauvin holding his knee to George Floyd’s neck Monday before Floyd’s death.

“Thank God a young person had a camera to video it,” Walz said. “Because there’s not a person who is listening today who wonders how many times that camera wasn’t there.”

Minnesota governor holding news conference amid protests

Update 11:35 a.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is holding a news conference Friday after a third night of protests across Minneapolis and other cities in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Minneapolis City Council member: Floyd, Chauvin used to work together

Update 11:15 a.m. EDT May 29: Minneapolis City Council Vice President Andrea Jenkins told MSNBC on Friday that George Floyd and the Minneapolis police officer seen kneeling on his neck for more than five minutes before his death Monday knew one another.

Jenkins said Floyd and Officer Derek Chauvin worked together for 17 years as bouncers at El Nuevo Rodeo, a Latin club in Minneapolis.

“Officer Chauvin, he knew George,” Jenkins said. “They were co-workers for a very long time.”

Melania Trumps calls for focus on peace, prayers and healing

Update 10:40 a.m. EDT May 29: First lady Melania Trump on Friday urged the nation to focus on “peace, prayers (and) healing” as protests erupted in Minneapolis and other cities due to the death of George Floyd.

“Our country allows for peaceful protests, but there is no reason for violence,” the first lady wrote in a post Friday morning on Twitter. “I’ve seen our citizens unify (and) take care of one another through (COVID-19 and) we can’t stop now.”

Protesters set fire to a Minneapolis police precinct station late Thursday in the third night of protests against Floyd’s killing. Video of his death Monday surfaced this week, showing a Minneapolis police officer holding his knee to Floyd for more than five minutes as he lay prone on the ground begging for air.

Floyd’s death sparked backlash and prompted protests in several cities with more planned over the coming weekend.

White House tweet flagged for ‘glorifying violence’

Update 10:05 a.m. EDT May 29: Officials with Twitter flagged a tweet from the official White House Twitter account on Friday for “glorifying violence.”

The tweet included the exact same language as a tweet posted earlier Friday by President Donald Trump in which he called people protesting police brutality in Minneapolis following the death Monday of George Floyd “thugs.” He also threatened to send National Guard troops to the city to keep peace and warned that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

That tweet was flagged a few hours after it was posted.

After threat to shoot looters, Twitter slaps warning on Trump tweet

Update 9:30 a.m. EDT May 29: The feud between Twitter and President Donald Trump escalated Friday after officials with the social media site flagged a tweet from the president for “glorifying violence” after he threatened to use force against rioters in Minneapolis.

“These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd,” Trump wrote, referring to the black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his head and neck for an extended period of time earlier this week. The president then spoke of sending in National Guard troops to restore order, warning that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

That was evidently too much for Twitter, which placed a warning on the president’s tweet.

Trump tore into Twitter early on Friday morning.

“Twitter is doing nothing about all of the lies & propaganda being put out by China or the Radical Left Democrat Party,” the president tweeted soon after 7 a.m. “They have targeted Republicans, Conservatives & the President of the United States.”

CNN disputes Minnesota State Patrol’s account of reporter’s arrest

Update 8:50 a.m. EDT May 29: Officials with CNN disputed an account Friday from Minnesota State Patrol of the arrest of one of the news network’s journalists, Omar Jimenez.

Jimenez, who is black and Latino, was arrested early Friday while reporting on protests in Minneapolis that were sparked by the death Monday of George Floyd.

In a tweet posted Friday morning, Minnesota State Patrol said three members of a CNN crew were inadvertently arrested as authorities were clearing the streets after protests and riots over Floyd’s death.

“The three were released once they were confirmed to be members of the media,” according to authorities.

However, officials with CNN shared video of the arrest, which happened live on national television.

CNN noted that another of its reporters, who is white, was not arrested Friday although he was near the area where Jimenez was arrested.

“I was treated much differently than (CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez) was," journalist Josh Campbell said, according to CNN. “I’m sitting here talking to the National Guard, talking to the police. They’re asking politely to move here and there. A couple times I’ve moved closer than they would like. They asked politely to move back. They didn’t pull out the handcuffs. Lot different here than what Omar experienced.”

Minnesota attorney general says he expects charges against officers soon

Update 8:30 a.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison told CNN on Friday morning that he anticipates charges will soon be filed against the four Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd.

“We are standing by and helping any way we can,” Ellison told the news network. “I anticipate there will be charges. I hope soon. But that is the prerogative of another prosecuting authority.”

He told CNN that authorities were ensuring that their case was strong before announcing charges.

“Everybody believes that this is a violation of Mr. Floyd. And I believe that everybody wants to see these charges filed as soon as they can be," he said. "But again, I do want to say we have seen cases that seem so clear go south.”

Minneapolis police release CNN crew

Update 7:49 a.m. EDT May 29: CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his crew have been released from police custody in Minneapolis, the network reported.

Jimenez, along with producer Bill Kirkos and photojournalist Leonel Mendez, were arrested during a live broadcast shortly after 6 a.m. The crew was reporting on protests of George Floyd’s death that turned violent overnight.

The team was released from the Hennepin County Public Safety facility in downtown Minneapolis moments ago, CNN reported.

Minnesota governor apologizes for CNN team’s arrest while covering protests

Update 7:38 a.m. EDT May 29: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke with CNN President Jeff Zucker Friday morning after the network’s team in Minneapolis was arrested while covering the protests of George Floyd’s death that turned violent overnight.

Walz called the arrests “unacceptable,” said he “deeply apologizes” for what happened and is working to have the CNN team released immediately, the network reported.

Minnesota police arrest CNN team

Update 6:45 a.m. EDT May 29: CNN journalist Omar Jimenez has been taken into police custody during a live broadcast at the site of the Minneapolis protests, the network reported just before 6:30 a.m.

Jimenez was arrested after identifying himself clearly to officers.

>> Related: Who is Oscar Jimenez, the CNN reporter arrested during Minneapolis violent protests?

The reporter’s crew, including a producer and camera operator, were also placed in handcuffs, CNN reported.

The network responded by calling the arrests a "violation of First Amendment rights.

Minneapolis police, protesters clash in pre-dawn confrontations

Update 6:25 a.m. EDT May 29: Police in Minneapolis clashed with protesters early Friday morning, following the third consecutive night of demonstrations challenging police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in police custody earlier this week.

According to CNN, the officers – some in riot gear – used pepper spray and batons to disperse crowds nearest the police station upon arrival.

Police were also seen shoving at least one person, while some protesters threw projectiles at the officers and others ran, CNN reported.

Minneapolis fires back at Trump for ‘weakness’ claims

Update 3:20 a.m. EDT May 29: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressed U.S. President Donald Trump’s tweet from earlier in the evening which criticized the weakness of the city’s leadership as Thursday night protests turned violent.

“Weakness is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions. Weakness is pointing your finger at somebody else, during a time of crisis. Donald Trump knows nothing about the strength of Minneapolis. We are strong as hell. Is this a difficult time period? Yes. But you better be damn sure that we’re going to get through this,” Frey said during a press conference.

Trump threatens military intervention in Minneapolis

Update 1:32 a.m. EDT May 29: In a series of early-morning tweets, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized protesters in Minneapolis, calling them “THUGS” and promising Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the weight of the military if needed.

Minneapolis authorities urge caution among residents near riot scenes

Update 1:05 a.m. EDT May 29: A police spokesman told NPR all personnel at the overrun third precinct are safe, but city leaders warned residents near the blaze to maintain distance, following unconfirmed reports of a possible explosion.

“We’re hearing unconfirmed reports that gas lines to the Third Precinct have been cut and other explosive materials are in the building,” the city tweeted. “If you are near the building, for your safety, PLEASE RETREAT in the event the building explodes.”

Original report: Protesters have overrun the Minneapolis Police Department Third Precinct, the third straight night of violent protests spreading beyond the city.

Flames are visible around the precinct but it is unclear if it is on fire.

Livestream video showed the protesters entering the building, where fire alarms blared and sprinklers ran as blazes were set. Police appeared to have left the building located in the neighborhood not far from where Floyd died Monday. A spokesman didn’t immediately respond to messages left by The Associated Press.

Anger over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man in police custody, has spread beyond Minneapolis with looting and fires set along a major St. Paul street.

Earlier Thursday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard to try to stem the violence. After calling in the Guard, Walz urged widespread changes in the wake of Floyd’s death.

It was the third consecutive night of violent protests following Floyd’s death on Monday. In footage recorded by a bystander, Floyd can be seen pleading that he can’t breathe as Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneels on his neck. As minutes pass, Floyd slowly stops talking and moving.

Dozens of businesses across the Twin Cities have boarded up windows and doors Thursday in an effort to prevent looting.

Minneapolis shut down nearly its entire light-rail system and all bus service through Sunday out of safety concerns.

Check back for more on this developing story.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Cox Media Group