Tensions have risen in the U.S. over the past week amid new reports of fatal police shootings and in anticipation of the verdict in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Continued protests erupted across the country this week over police shootings of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old black man, and Adam Toledo, a 13-year-old boy.
In addition, cities are preparing for unrest while the country awaits the verdict of Chauvin, who is facing several charges in the murder of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in May last year.
The city of Minneapolis as well as a number of major U.S. cities have called for an increased police presence and the deployment of National Guard troops.
Demonstrations erupted in Minnesota earlier this week after police killed Wright Sunday in downtown Brooklyn. Former police officer Kim Potter, a white woman, shot Wright during a traffic stop. Local police said the officer thought she was using her Taser, but instead fired her service weapon.
Protests over the shooting continued Friday for a sixth consecutive day in Minneapolis.
Most demonstrations were peaceful, but on Friday, a small group of protesters started throwing objects and trying to break a fence that surrounded the Brooklyn Center Police Department.
Of the estimated 500 protesters, 136 people were arrested that day, the state said on Twitter.
Another 24 who were detained on Wednesday for violating the curfew and 72 who were arrested on Tuesday.
Protesters also protested the police killing of Toledo after new footage of the body was released Thursday. The officer caught up with the boy after a chase, and Toledo turned around and raised his hands in the surrender position.
Police claimed to have seen the 13-year-old holding a gun, although this was not immediately clear in the video.
The footage led activists and lawyers to accuse the authorities of lying about the circumstances surrounding his death, which took place on March 29.
Demonstrations were held in Chicago, New York, to demand justice for Toledo. About 1,000 people gathered in Chicago on Friday night, according to NBC News. According to the exhaust valve, some people chanted “stop killing children.”
Protesters also gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza in DC Friday to protest against the murders of Wright and Toledo. Some clashed with police after trying to walk through dining areas, throwing fireworks and officers with shiny laser.
Protesters protesting the deaths in Oakland, California, set small fires on fire, smashed windows and spray-painted businesses, according to the outlet.
And in Portland, a riot was declared Friday night after law enforcement officials said protesters set up an Apple store and set a fire outside the premises for the same reason.
To make matters worse, the nation is awaiting the verdict of Chauvin’s trial. The closing arguments are expected to begin on Monday. The cities of the country are building up their law enforcers in anticipation of unrest.
The Minnesota National Guard told The Hill that it maintains more than 3,000 Guardsmen to assist with possible protests, and that they are “willing to bend the number as necessary to support civilian authorization.”
According to reports, razor wire is also being installed around police buildings.
The City of Brooklyn Center declared a curfew on Saturday night at 11 p.m.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, an evening clock of 22:00 was set.
Minneapolis is moving its public schools to virtual learning from Wednesday, as Chauvin’s trial comes to an end.
Police presence is also expected to increase in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Atlanta and New York.
Similar protests erupted nationwide just one year ago over the murder of Floyd Breonna Taylor and the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Circumstances showing Chauvin on top of the man with his knee on Floyd’s neck went viral, sparking anger that sparked a national dialogue on policing.