George Floyd protests live updates: Here’s what to know in Charlotte on June 5
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about local protests over the death of George Floyd, a black Minneapolis man who died while being detained by police. Protests have continued in Charlotte, Raleigh and across the country.
Check back for updates.
Seventh night of marches
Charlotte saw more protests Thursday night, with hundreds of people chanting and marching around uptown.
CMPD says it made no arrests and did not need to use riot control tactics, including gas.
The department did three Facebook Live broadcasts from the streets, showing what the events looked like from an officer’s perspective. The videos, which covered nearly four hours of marches, have been viewed nearly 100,000 times as of Friday morning. Nearly 4,000 people had commented, including a mix of criticism and gratitude.
CMPD says the final group of protesters in uptown disbanded around 1:45 a.m.
Charlotte also had a peaceful protest of about 150 people earlier in the day at Freedom Park. Protests were also staged Thursday in communities surrounding Charlotte, including 1,000 in Fort Mill, S.C., and 500 people near downtown Waxhaw.
George Floyd family’s memorial in NC
George Floyd, the Minneapolis man whose death sparked ongoing nationwide protests, will be memorialized Saturday in Hoke County, N.C., where his family lives.
Floyd was born in Raeford, near Fayetteville.
Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin has banned any protests at the event, according to a Facebook post.
The public memorial is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Cape Fear Conference B Headquarters, 10225 Fayetteville Road, in Raeford, he said. A private service for family and friends is at 3 p.m, he said.
“As the Sheriff of Hoke County, I’m asking on behalf of the Floyd family for those who plan on attending the viewing to be respectful to the sensitivity of the family’s time of grief,” Peterkin posted.
“The memorial is about the life that Mr. George Floyd lived and this is a time to embrace the family with expressions of love and kindness.”
Mortar fire investigation
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has reported 53 assaults on officers over six nights of demonstrations, and among the incidents was one involving an explosive that burned an officer on Saturday.
The department is asking for help identifying the person who threw the explosive, which is described as a “soda-can sized mortar.”
Video of the moment shows it was tossed into a group of officers outside an uptown office building and it exploded before they could move.
“The mortar exploded and struck an 11-year veteran of the CMPD,” officials posted on Facebook. “This third-generation cop’s clothing caught fire, he sustained second-degree burns, was struck in the face and arm with shrapnel, and lost hearing for two days.”
“Please help us identify the suspect so no more officers or community members are victimized by the suspect,” the department wrote.
CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward in the case.
At least a dozen officers have had injuries that required medical treatment over the past week, CMPD has reported. No officers were injured during protests Thursday night, officials said.
Why no Charlotte curfew?
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles is resisting a tactic other cities are using to control protests: She say curfews are not planned, despite violence and widespread property destruction in uptown.
“I believe deeply that people should be allowed to protest,” Lyles said Wednesday at a press conference. “They should be able to protest within the law, and a curfew lifts that right.”
Several cities in North Carolina have adopted curfews for one or more nights, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Fayetteville and the entirety of New Hanover County, home of Wilmington.
Lyles has come under fire on social media for not adopting a curfew, with critics citing the 120 arrests in Charlotte and dozens of assaults on police officers.
“I believe in a peaceful non-violent protest,” Josh Olson wrote. “It is time to make a difficult decision to implement a curfew and ask the state for assistance from the National Guard.”
“They should be allowed to protest, but not riot, loot and destroy property!” Jan Campbell Newell wrote on Facebook.
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 7:18 AM with the headline "George Floyd protests live updates: Here’s what to know in Charlotte on June 5."