Devastating extent of overnight rioting and looting across America is laid bare in shocking pictures - as black mayors for DC and Atlanta plead for end to violent demonstrations in name of George Floyd

  • Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms pleaded with rioters Sunday 
  • They asked protesters to demonstrate peacefully for justice for George Floyd and stop 'destroying our cities'
  • Violent protest broke out all over US after Floyd was killed during an arrest by a white cop last Monday  
  • 'We're sending a very clear message to people that they have a right to exercise their First Amendment rights, but not to destroy our city,' Bowser said on Sunday morning 
  • 'So we saw a level of just destruction and mayhem among some that was maddening,' she continued
  • Bottoms said there were more than 150 arrested in Atlanta on Saturday, saying many were from out of town 
  • More than 1,400 people have been arrested in 17 cities across the US during protests since Thursday  
The devastation of overnight rioting and looting has been laid bare in shocking images from across multiple US cities as black mayors of Washington, DC, and Atlanta, Georgia, plead for an end to violent demonstrations.   
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, both Democratic women, said while they support Americans' right to protest, they wish it was not at the expense of the safety of their community.
Authorities across the nation have arrested more than 1,400 people in 17 cities since Thursday. At least three people have died since the protests began following the horrifying death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed while in the custody of Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officers on Memorial Day.
'We're sending a very clear message to people that they have a right to exercise their First Amendment rights, but not to destroy our city,' Bowser told NBC's Chuck Todd in a joint interview with Lance Bottoms on Sunday morning.
'So we saw a level of just destruction and mayhem among some that was maddening,' she continued. 'Our crews are out right now cleaning up our city, and we are working with all of our law enforcement partners to ensure calm in our city.'
Bowser's comments came as rioters took to the streets in DC over the weekend, clashing with law enforcement all over the city – and even in front of the White House.
Lance Bottoms told Meet the Press that 157 people were arrested in Atlanta.
She admitted that 'there are no easy answers' on how to respond to Floyd's death or race relations between black people and cops, but agreed with Boswer in asserting that 'the solution is not to destroy our cities'.
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George Floyd's killing reignited tensions between law enforcement and the black community in the US causing unrest across the country (protests in major cities depicted)
George Floyd's killing reignited tensions between law enforcement and the black community in the US causing unrest across the country (protests in major cities depicted)
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (right) and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (left) pleaded Sunday morning that rioters stop 'destroying our cities' as they protest the death of George Floyd
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (right) and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (left) pleaded Sunday morning that rioters stop 'destroying our cities' as they protest the death of George Floyd
Protests have escalated across the country all week after video emerged of Floyd being killed during the arrest in Minneapolis.
The cellphone video footage showed that Floyd was handcuffed as four police officers pinned him down.
Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white cop who has since been arrested, is seen kneeling on Floyd's neck for eight minutes as the victim repeatedly said he could not breathe.
Chauvin was taken into custody on Friday after protesters called for him to be arrested – and he was charged with third-degree murder.
Floyd's family, as well as protesters, are calling for the three other officers involved in the arrest - J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao - to be charged, too. 
Washington, DC 
In Washington, DC, the National Guard was activated as almost 1,000 protesters surrounded the White House Saturday night and squared off with Secret Service agents, DC police and United States Park Police.
Law enforcement struck protesters with batons and sprayed pepper spray into the crowds as demonstrators responded by hurling fireworks and bottles at the officers.
Clashes broke out between the crowds and Secret Service agents as they surrounded the president's residence and at least three Secret Service vehicles were seen with their windows smashed and profanities scrawled on the side of them in graffiti.
On Sunday morning, demonstrators took to the streets again, protesting Floyd's death outside an entrance to the White House. 
George Floyd's killing reignited tensions between law enforcement and the black community in the US causing unrest across the country (protests in major cities depicted)
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (right) and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (left) pleaded Sunday morning that rioters stop 'destroying our cities' as they protest the death of George Floyd
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (right) and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (left) pleaded Sunday morning that rioters stop 'destroying our cities' as they protest the death of George Floyd
Protests have escalated across the country all week after video emerged of Floyd being killed during the arrest in Minneapolis.
The cellphone video footage showed that Floyd was handcuffed as four police officers pinned him down.
Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white cop who has since been arrested, is seen kneeling on Floyd's neck for eight minutes as the victim repeatedly said he could not breathe.
Chauvin was taken into custody on Friday after protesters called for him to be arrested – and he was charged with third-degree murder.
Floyd's family, as well as protesters, are calling for the three other officers involved in the arrest - J Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao - to be charged, too. 
Washington, DC 
In Washington, DC, the National Guard was activated as almost 1,000 protesters surrounded the White House Saturday night and squared off with Secret Service agents, DC police and United States Park Police.
Law enforcement struck protesters with batons and sprayed pepper spray into the crowds as demonstrators responded by hurling fireworks and bottles at the officers.
Clashes broke out between the crowds and Secret Service agents as they surrounded the president's residence and at least three Secret Service vehicles were seen with their windows smashed and profanities scrawled on the side of them in graffiti.
On Sunday morning, demonstrators took to the streets again, protesting Floyd's death outside an entrance to the White House. 
Washington, DC: A cyclist stands in front of a damaged office building near the White House on Sunday
Washington, DC: The shattered window of LEBTAV Lebanese Restaurant is seen in DC on Sunday, the morning after protests over the death of George Floyd

Washington, DC: A cyclist passes by graffiti on the side of a building near the White House on Sunday
Washington, DC: Protesters demonstrate outside an entrance to the White House on Sunday morning
Washington, DC: By Sunday afternoon, thousands of protesters had gathered outside the White House

States calling for Guard assistance included California, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Washington state. 
Meanwhile at least 25 cities rolled out emergency curfews to try to bring rioting and looting under control, including San Francisco, Atlanta, Louisville, Los Angeles, Portland, Columbia, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Seattle.

The police were reportedly patrolling the Whittier neighborhood during the volatile protests on Saturday and attempting to enforce the new curfew.    
In the video, several members of law enforcement can be heard screaming 'go inside now' to direct residents off of the streets. 
San Francisco and Los Angeles, California
Curfews were also announced in other California cities including San Francisco, where the mayor called for the National Guard to be put on standby.
Images from San Francisco showed police surveying the damage of businesses in the city. Photos showed shattered glass, knocked over mannequins and graffiti sprayed on walls. 
City crews were also seen cleaning up some of the devastation left behind by rioters overnight. 
More than a third of the 1,400 arrests made since Thursday came from Los Angeles alone. Roughly 533 people have been arrested in the city since protests began last week. 
San Francisco, California: Images from San Francisco showed police surveying the damage of businesses in the city
San Francisco, California: City crews were also seen cleaning up some of the devastation left behind by rioters overnight
Los Angeles, California: Volunteers sweep up broken glass in a store in Los Angeles on Sunday
Los Angeles, California: Volunteers are seen sweeping up glass inside a store on Sunday

New York, New York 
In New York City, banks, storefronts and vehicles were destroyed during protests Saturday night. 
One image shows a burned out police car in lower Manhattan. Other images show glass and debris outside a Verizon store and a chair that was thrown into the glass window of a Chase bank. 
New York City officials were looking for a peaceful way forward as the city entered a fourth day of protests against police brutality that have led to the arrest of hundreds of people.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he had no plans to impose a curfew Sunday, unlike other major US cities, and smaller cities throughout the state.
In New York City, banks, storefronts and vehicles were destroyed during protests Saturday night. One image shows a burned out police car in lower Manhattan
New York, New York: Other images show glass and debris outside a Verizon store (pictured)

The governor also said state Attorney General Letitia James's investigation into actions by NYPD officers and protesters will include any protests held throughout the weekend.
Cleanup was under way Sunday morning in New York City, which is still under a lockdown enacted two months ago when it became the US epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.
At least five burned-out NYPD vehicles that remained near Manhattan's Union Square were towed early Sunday afternoon. People walked around broken glass on the street to take pictures of the vehicles.
A handful of protesters rallied peacefully in the square, holding Black Lives Matter signs and giving speeches denouncing police violence while families were picnicking nearby.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 
Damage was also reported in parts of Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh. Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse provided an assist to a local television camera operator after protests turned violent Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
Ian Smith of KDKA-TV was tossed to the ground and his camera was broken outside of PPG Paints Arena, just as Morehouse was exiting the facility.
Per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Smith was dragged inside the arena by Morehouse before being transported to nearby Mercy Hospital.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: A cinder block was thrown into a Starbucks in Pittsburgh during protests in the city on Saturday
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Businesses were destroyed in multiple cities in Pennsylvania, including this Starbucks in Pittsburgh

'I was attacked by protesters downtown by the arena. They stomped and kicked me. I'm bruised and bloody but alive,' Smith wrote on Twitter. 'My camera was destroyed. Another group of protesters pulled me out and saved my life. Thank you!'
KDKA-AM broadcaster Larry Richert wrote of Smith's ordeal on his Facebook page, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Richert lauded the efforts of Morehouse, who is a Pittsburgh native.
'Today, our city's peaceful protest turned violent and ugly,' Richert wrote. 'A Pittsburgh Police car was set on fire in front of PPG Paints Arena. During this event, a good friend from KDKA-TV, Ian Smith, an extremely talented photographer and editor was covering the event with reporter/anchor Paul Martino when they were attacked. Ian said they were shouting "Kill him! Kill him!" and destroyed his camera.
'Fearing and pleading for his life he was saved by Pittsburgh Penguins President David Morehouse who was in his office at the time. There is no way to properly thank Mr. Morehouse for his courage.'
A team spokesperson confirmed Morehouse's role in assisting Smith but declined further comment.
A statue of team co-owner Mario Lemieux was vandalized with spray paint during the protests, which are in response to the death of George Floyd on Monday in Minneapolis. 
Phoenix, Arizona 
Volunteers were using shovels and brooms on Sunday to clean up broken glass outside at least five stores at an upscale mall in a Phoenix suburb that was damaged after a day of peaceful marches turned into a night of sometimes violent protests that included vandalism and an attack on a police station. 
Images showed damaged vehicles inside a car dealership as well as volunteers sweeping and shoveling broken glass outside of stores. 
On Saturday night, people knelt with their hands up in the streets outside Phoenix police and municipal buildings, chanting, 'Hands up, don’t shoot' and 'Black lives matter.' 
Phoenix, Arizona: Property damage from overnight vandalism and looting at a Mercedes-Benz in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale is seen on Sunday
Phoenix, Arizona: In the upscale Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale, some people smashed windows at stores including Neiman Marcus and Urban Outfitters (pictured), grabbing goods and damaging buildings
Officers used flash-bang grenades and dispersed the crowd shortly after 10pm, telling people it was an unlawful assembly.
In the upscale Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale, some people smashed windows at stores including Neiman Marcus and Urban Outfitters, grabbing goods and damaging buildings.  
Phoenix police said Sunday that more than 100 people were arrested on charges of rioting, unlawful assembly or aggravated assault on a police officer while several juveniles were detained for curfew violations, rioting and unlawful assembly.
Protests during daylight were largely peaceful in Phoenix and Tucson.


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