SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the fourth night in a row demonstrators are taking to the streets in the Sacramento region and across California to protest George Floyd's death by Minneapolis police and racial injustice.
Editor's note: This article will be continually updated throughout the day with the latest news about protests happening in Sacramento and surrounding areas.
UPDATE: 10:20 p.m.
After a night of peaceful demonstrations in downtown Sacramento, police officers have started arresting people for violating a newly imposed curfew in the city.
Protesters marched through much of downtown without having any interactions with police officers. After organizers of the demonstration asked protesters to go home after it was over, police arrived to Cesar Chavez Plaza and the surrounding area to enforce curfew.
At least one woman from the protest on a megaphone told stragglers "you are not supporting black lives matter if you stay and defy police. Go home."
After the protest ended, Stevante Clark, the brother of Stephon Clark, a Black man killed by police in his grandmother's Meadowview backyard, insisted that people leave and go home instead of continuing another night of vandalism.
"The legacy of George Floyd and Stephen Clark has nothing to do with looting, with violence, with murder, with slander — none of that," Stevante said after leading protesters peacefully around downtown for hours. "It has everything to do with love, accountability, justice, transparency and legislative change."
Videos online show several people being arrested after the protest ended. It's unclear if there has been any vandalism or looting like there had been in previous nights.
UPDATE: 8:00 p.m.
As protesters continue to march through the streets of Downtown Sacramento of the police killing of George Floyd, the citywide curfews in Sacramento and West Sacramento are officially in affect until 5 a.m.
Violating the curfew could result in up to six months in jail, $1,000 fine, or both. Because the Sacramento County Jail is not currently doing intake because of coronavirus, Mayor Steinberg says anyone arrested would likely be taken to the jail, where the may end up being turned away.
UPDATE: 7:50 p.m.
According to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership Group, over 150 businesses were vandalized over the weekend, causing an estimated $10 million in damage.
Micheal Ault, Executive Director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership said several hundred windows were broken with at least 300 instances of graffiti in the downtown core.
In a press conference announcing the city's curfew Monday, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said "We've experienced more than $10 million worth of damage, mostly to downtown and midtown... We expect more trouble tonight."
UPDATE: 6:30 p.m
West Sacramento Mayor Chris Cabaldon announced that the city will impose a citywide curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. effective Monday night. Similar to Sacramento's curfew, West Sacramento's will also provide exceptions to health care providers, first responders, people going to and from work and the news media.
The city council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve the curfew.
5:30 p.m.: As nearly 500 California National Guard soldiers roll into Sacramento in preparation for a fourth consecutive night of protests, the city council announced that it would impose an 8 p.m. curfew across the city.
The citywide curfew, which is from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., will remain in effect until the city council or the Director of Emergency Services lifts it.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the city took the step "firmly but reluctantly."
Steingberg said the city will revisit the curfew time during Tuesday's regular council meeting.
The curfew is expected to apply to everyone except for first responders, the National Guard, essential workers, and the news media.
Steinberg also announced that the "homeless population will not be affected by today's order."
The city is expected to announce that law enforcement are "authorized and charged, to the extent provided by law, with the responsibility of enforcing this curfew and are further authorized to arrest persons that do not obey this curfew after due notice, oral or written, has been given to that person."
A Sacramento Regional Transit official said that buses and light rail will be suspended only in the downtown Sacramento area beginning at 8 p.m.
RELATED:
- CLOSED | Malls, businesses and medical centers close before Sacramento-area protests
- Trump threatens to deploy US military unless states halt violent protests
- 500 California National Guard troops in Sacramento as Mayor Steinberg proposes citywide curfew
- Gov. Newsom addresses recent California protests following death of George Floyd
WATCH MORE | Protest Surprise: During one moment from a tense night of George Floyd protests in Sacramento, a protester and police officer shook hands before taking a knee together.
► STAY UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING HAPPENING BY DOWNLOADING OUR APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Daily Blend Newsletter