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Police Use Tear Gas As Crowds Damage Downtown Sacramento Businesses For Second Night

Sunday, May 31, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Scot Rodd / CapRadio

Stevante Clark leads a group of demonstrators near the California Capitol Sunday, May 31, 2020.

Scot Rodd / CapRadio

This story was last updated at 12:08 a.m.

A day after peaceful demonstrations in front of the Capitol gave way to law enforcement firing rubber bullets at demonstrators and crowds breaking into stores in downtown Sacramento, protests restarted Sunday afternoon.

Latest updates

11:55 p.m.

Protests focused on police violence and the death of George Floyd extended into Sunday night, even as other groups splintered off to damage businesses in some part of downtown and Midtown.

Stevante Clark, brother of Stephon Clark, led a group near the state Capitol. Others took a knee in front of officers, asking them to do the same.

10:30 p.m.

After a number of stores downtown were broken into Saturday night, there were many people in Sunday's protests trying to redirect people away from damaging businesses.

Some stood in front of windows to make sure they couldn't be smashed, or yelled at others in the crowd to stop stealing merchandise.

 

At Pennisi’s Deli, which was also broken into Saturday night, protestors apologized to the owners after the business was damaged.

Despite those efforts, a large number of businesses were again damaged Sunday night.

 

10:08 p.m.

Officers at the north end of the Capitol have declared Sunday's protest an unlawful assembly, and are telling demonstrators to disperse.

 
Officers are using tear gas, pepper bullets and other "non-lethal" methods to move the crowd.

The Sacramento Fire Department says there has been multiple fires downtown, including the Rite Aid in the 800 Block of K St. and the 7-11 at 8th and J streets. They reported no one was injured.

8:50 p.m.

Sacramento Police have reported cases of vandalism in downtown Sacramento Sunday. Windows of some businesses and cars had been broken near J and 10th streets.

 

Around 8:50 p.m., a large group of demonstrators had gathered in front of the state Capitol. Hundreds of people assembled dropped to one knee, also chanting George Floyd's name.

6:30 p.m.

After weaving through downtown streets, the group made its way to Interstate 5 shortly after 6:30 p.m.

 

Groups of demonstrators walked through downtown streets, returning to the state Capitol, where Saturday's protest began early in the day. After weaving through downtown streets, the group made its way to the highway shortly after 6:30 p.m.

The crowd blocked traffic for around a half-hour before returning downtown.

4 p.m.

Sunday's events began around 2 p.m. A crowd of hundreds gathered at Cesar Chavez Plaza in a peaceful event to remember George Floyd, the man killed by Minneapolis police earlier this week. Speakers gave attendees tips for protesting, and demonstrators laid down flowers, candles, posters and songs to remember black lives lost to police violence.

 

Later in the afternoon, groups of demonstrators walked through downtown streets, returning to the state Capitol, where Saturday's protest began early in the day.

Some business owners boarded up their buildings Sunday morning in anticipation of further damage. Business groups in the city are advising that businesses and restaurants close for the night in Sacramento's central city.

No curfew in Sacramento

Sunday afternoon Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced Sacramento would not issue a curfew, as some major cities have done. Earlier in the day he said he would consider the measure, but only if leaders determined it could be effective.

Sunday morning Steinberg toured downtown businesses damaged by the crowd Saturday night. While he called for the police officers involved in Floyd's death to be prosecuted, he said "the kind of destruction that we see in our city, and worse in other cities, is the opposite of righteous protest.”

The city announced it will be partnering with 10 local law enforcement agencies to respond Sunday evening. Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn said eight agencies were involved in Saturday night's response.

Sac RT, YoloBus stop service

Sacramento Regional Transit announced it would suspend Sunday service into and out of downtown Sacramento/Central Business District at 1:30 p.m. in anticipation of continued demonstrations. YoloBus also announced it would end service into the central city Sunday.

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