South Carolina saw a weekend of George Floyd protests. What happened across the state?
Protests in South Carolina over the death of George Floyd, who died while in police custody in Minneapolis, stayed peaceful for the most part, but there was some violence around the state and dozens of arrests.
Derek Chauvin, the police officer seen on video with his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been arrested and charged with murder and manslaughter, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” have become a rallying cry for many protesters angry over the deaths of black people while in police custody across the country.
The May 25 killing sparked protests and rioting in Minneapolis that spread to cities around the country.
Protesters marched to chants of “I can’t breathe” and “No justice, no peace” in at least half a dozen cities in South Carolina over the weekend. Several cities enacted curfews in hopes of keeping people off the streets.
Police fired teargas at protesters in Columbia, Charleston and Greenville over the weekend and some marchers broke windows and vandalized buildings.
Gov. Henry McMaster put the National Guard on alert Sunday to respond if protests turned violent.
Columbia
Protests in the state capitol over the weekend ended with smashed windows, police cars burned, 50 arrests and more than a dozen officers injured, The State reports.
Saturday’s march started peacefully, but later devolved as protesters moved toward the Columbia police headquarters, guarded by police in riot gear.
Protesters faced off with police both Saturday and Sunday, throwing water bottles and rocks. Police responded with tear gas and shooting beanbags into the crowd, The State reports.
City council members in Columbia enacted a curfew for parts of the city until Monday morning.
Charleston
Peaceful protests in Charleston turned into riots Saturday night, according to multiple reports.
Windows were smashed and businesses looted along King Street, an area filled with shops and restaurants, according to WCSC.
Protests Sunday were calmer, but police arrested almost three dozen people in a park during a standoff with officers after a curfew went into effect at 6 p.m., the news outlet reported.
The Charleston Police Department said in a Facebook post some of the unruly behavior was spontaneous, but “other acts were clearly coordinated and organized with direct purpose to cause destruction.”
Greenville
Two days of peaceful protest marches in Greenville broke down into clashes with police Sunday night, according to the Greenville News.
Hours after the official end to a march Sunday, police and protesters faced off in the downtown area, the newspaper reports. Police used tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowd, the News reports.
Several people were arrested during the weekend protests, WYFF reports, but police did not provide an exact number.
Myrtle Beach
The City of Myrtle Beach enacted a civil emergency order and a curfew Sunday afternoon after a peaceful protest earlier in the day. Police said they received a “specific threat” that prompted the curfew, according to The Sun News.
Tourists and locals were told to stay home after 6 p.m. and some businesses along the tourist-heavy boardwalk area boarded up their stores like they would for a hurricane.
Police joined protesters in their march Sunday, but some people split off to continue protesting in front of the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
More than a dozen people were arrested during the Myrtle Beach protest when they refused to move after the curfew began.
Spartanburg
City officials in Spartanburg enacted a curfew without warning late Sunday night, according to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Police arrested three people for violating the curfew, the newspaper reported.
According to WSPA, police said “protesters were blocking traffic and throwing rocks, bricks and water bottles Sunday night. Officers said there was no damage to property.”
The curfew continues Monday, starting at 7 p.m., police said.
Summerville
The Town of Summerville continued its curfew to begin again at 6 p.m. Monday, according to the town. A protest is planned for the town just outside of Charleston Monday afternoon.
Organizers of march say they are planning for a peaceful protest Monday afternoon, according to WCBD.
“The Town is encouraging all businesses in the area of Main St. to close or completely secure their properties and parking lots by removing any furniture or debris,” a statement from the town said.
“The Town fully respects the rights of individuals to peacefully protest. The Police Department will be assisted by surrounding local, state, and federal agencies to work to ensure the safety of peaceful protesters,” the town said on Facebook.
Some businesses around downtown Summerville were boarding up their windows Monday afternoon, WCBD reports.
This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 11:42 AM.
