Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the Minnesota National Guard to restore order in Minneapolis after violent protests, riots and looting the past two nights following the death of an African American man in police custody.
Walz's order came after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested for National Guard help to prevent further damage and disorder.
"It is time to rebuild. Rebuild the city, rebuild our justice system, and rebuild the relationship between law enforcement and those they're charged to protect," Walz said in a statement. "George Floyd's death should lead to justice and systemic change, not more death and destruction."
Floyd, 46, died Monday while he was detained by Minneapolis police. A video showed a white officer pressing his knee against Floyd's neck, causing him to lose consciousness. The four city police officers involved at the scene were fired on Tuesday.
The Minneapolis Fire Department said that paramedics in the ambulance carrying Floyd checked his pulse "several times … finding none". He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The protests occurred at the location where Floyd was pinned down. On Wednesday night, organizers attempted to keep the protest peaceful. However, thousands of angry protesters threw rocks and tear gas at the police.
Some protesters broke into a nearby Target store and other businesses and began to loot; some set fire to buildings. Police shot tear gas to disperse the crowd.
One man was reported shot to death during the violence. Police said they were investigating the death as a homicide and had a suspect in custody.
In Los Angeles, a similar protest unfolded, and Highway 101 was blocked at one point on Wednesday. Several videos showed some of the protesters throwing objects at a police car.
On Twitter, Jackson Mason wrote: "You can rebel against the police and we support you, but why do you want to loot our shops and burn down our houses? You have found the wrong enemy."
The US Justice Department announced Thursday that it has made the federal investigation into Floyd's death a "top priority".
"What we've seen over the last two days, the emotion and conflict over last night is the result of so much built-up anger and sadness. Anger and sadness that has been ingrained in our black community not just because of five minutes of horror, but 400 years," mayor Frey said during a news conference Thursday.
The mayor called for the Hennepin County attorney to file criminal charges against the former police officers. However, as of Thursday afternoon, no charges had been filed.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told the media Thursday that President Donald Trump was very upset after seeing the video showing Floyd being pinned down. She said the president wants to expedite the investigation, and justice to be served.
Derek Chauvin, the former officer seen with his knee on Floyd's neck, had 18 prior complaints filed with the Minneapolis Police Department Internal Affairs Unit, according to CNN. The nature of the complaints was unclear, and only two of them were "closed with discipline".
Minneapolis Metro Transit tweeted that "out of concern for the safety of riders and employees", bus and light rail service was suspended from 4 pm through midnight Thursday.
