Texas police, city leaders respond to George Floyd protests (Gallery)
Protestors in Texas’ largest cities are responding to the death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis man who was killed when an officer kneeled on his neck.
This weekend, Texans joined thousands of protestors nationwide to protest police violence. Here’s what happened across the state:
Austin
Officers on horseback and bicycles responded to the protest outside of the state capitol. After 12 hours of protesting on May 30, protestors have continued to block I-35 and the downtown area May 31. Police arrested an estimated 19 people.
Dallas
Officers deployed pepper spray and tear gas as protestors marched downtown to police headquarters, according to The Associated Press. During the protests, many businesses were broken into and set on fire. Local officials have installed a 7 p.m. curfew, effective May 31, the Texas Tribune reported. Police arrested over 90 protestors on May 30.
Houston
Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Floyd’s body will return to Houston, his hometown, according to The Associated Press. Turner did not give any more information, and the family has not announced funeral details. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said police arrested over 130 people since protests began on May 29. On Twitter, Acevedo showed support for Floyd, saying, “If you love your neighbor and have the right heart, please honor the memory of George Floyd and stand for justice.”
San Antonio
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has issued a curfew for the downtown business district from 10 p.m. May 31 until 6 a.m. June 1, according to the Texas Tribune. Police used tear gas on protestors as the movement downtown turned violent after the destruction of businesses and vehicles. In response to the protests, someone vandalized The Alamo Cenotaph. Twitter users have reported law enforcement used rubber bullets on the crowd.
