LAPD Chief Says Demonstrations 'Should Be Occurring' As Protesters Gather Downtown For Second Night
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Groups of people protesting police brutality following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while in the custody of Minneapolis police, took to the streets Thursday for the second night in a row.
A large group of protesters gathered in Fontana, the same day a Fontana police officer fatally shot a man accused of assaulting a disabled person, officer and a K9, outside of police headquarters.
Officers were out in force, though they said no arrests had been made.
Another group of largely peaceful protesters gathered outside of the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters in downtown Los Angeles around 5 p.m.
Some of the protesters reportedly shouted expletives directed at police lined up outside the building and others surrounded California Highway Patrol cruisers driving down 1st Street.
Police closed 3rd Street and Grand Avenue downtown to traffic in an apparent move to allow protesters to congregate safely and peacefully.
In a Thursday evening statement posted to YouTube, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said the department would do "everything possible" to facilitate protesters as they demonstrated.
"Street demonstrations are and should be occurring across this country and in this city to bring voices to injustices," he said. "It is part of the very democracy of what makes this country great."
Another protest, organized by the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter, marched from the Santa Monica Police Department headquarters to the Venice Beach substation.
"Wear black and orange and come in peace," a social media post read. "Bring masks, signs, a megaphone and anything else to raise the level of awareness."