A group of protesters in Minneapolis vandalized the 5th Precinct building in the city and set fire to officers, police said Sunday.
The Minneapolis Police Department has released images showing red paint on the sidewalk outside the building and graffiti such as “Blood on your hands,” “Pig Sty” and “F — you all” on it building and porch sprinkled.
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Chief Medaria Arradondo said a group marched to the area at 10 a.m. Saturday and continued to vandalize the building and shoot “commercial-grade fireworks” at officers.
Police said protesters vandalized the 5th Precinct exterior with spray paint and threw large rocks at the building.
(Minneapolis Police Department)
“This lawful and senseless conduct will not be tolerated,” Arradondo said in a statement obtained by FOX9 Minneapolis. “Actions like these do absolutely nothing to enable and activate constructively real and genuinely needed reforms.”
He said those who crack down on peaceful protests, “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent legal.”
Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
(Minneapolis Police Department)
Officers witnessed between 50 and 60 protesters marching to the area, police spokesman John Elder told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. While he said the demonstration was initially peaceful, the group eventually became violent.
Alder said some staff members were still inside the building when Protestants threw large stones at the building. Responding officers were shot with fireworks, he said, adding that no one was injured, and no one was arrested.
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association responded to the violence on Twitter, writing that it’s tired of being nice and politically correct for people who destroy, burn and plunder. These are not rational people and only want destruction. ”
Mayor Jacob Frey called the destruction of public property “unacceptable” in a statement about the incident obtained by FOX9.
“There is no honor in destroying public property,” Frey said. “I am involuntary in my commitment to protecting the First Amendment right to protest peace. But these actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Minneapolis.”
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The 5th Precinct was a place of revolt in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25. Founders took over the 3rd Precinct building and burned it the day after Floyd died in police custody.
