COLUMBUS – After a third day of protests in downtown Columbus sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police, Gov. Mike DeWine has activated the Ohio National Guard to support Columbus police and restore order and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has imposed a citywide curfew.
The 10:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m. curfew is in effect until further notice and anyone on the streets during those hours is subject to arrest, Ginther said.
Police said downtown workers should be prepared to show identification.
Downtown streets were closed to non-emergency traffic at 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
DeWine, Ginther and Columbus police Chief Thomas Quinlan all said they believed legitimate voices of protest were being drowned out by individuals bent on stirring violence and destruction.
I am now calling to service the @OHNationalGuard to help protect the citizens of Ohio. Further, at the request of @MayorGinther and the @ChiefQuinlan, I am ordering the @OSHP to also help enforce the criminal laws in Columbus.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 30, 2020
“I understand that people are angry. I understand that people have pent up rage. And, I understand that we are living in uncertain times right now,” DeWine said, but called on Ohioans to follow the “better angels of their nature.”
Columbus police declared a public safety emergency in downtown Columbus and advised residents to avoid the area as Saturday afternoon as thousands of marchers converged on the Statehouse.
EMERGENCY IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS 5/30/20 1:40pm:
Please stay out of the downtown area for your safety and the safety of others. pic.twitter.com/F5PTwiP8d3
— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) May 30, 2020
Eyewitness and media reports say several hundred protesters began gathering before 11:00 a.m. and marched north on N. High Street to the OSU campus area.
The protest was mostly peaceful but witnesses and journalists report police deployed pepper spray and tear gas.
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus), City Council President Shanon Hardin and Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce were pepper-sprayed near the intersection of Broad and High streets.
Protests were staged in several Ohio cities on Saturday and DeWine also activated the National Guard in Cleveland at the request of Mayor Frank Jackson.
Thousands protesting in downtown Columbus, OH for the third straight day, wrapped around the Ohio Statehouse on both sides of the street. (Bike cops aggressively keeping people out of the streets so far) #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/pPxDyock0q
— SURJ Columbus (@SURJColumbusOH) May 30, 2020
Police reportedly said five people were arrested and two officers were injured by thrown objects Friday during a second night of protests over Floyd’s death.
FRIDAY 5/29/20 11:08pm:
5 arrests.
2 officers injured by protestors throwing rocks/bricks at them.
Setting off fireworks/inducing panic.
Protestors breaking windows – @shortnorth businesses targeted.#columbusriots #columbusprotests #ColumbusOH #columbuspolice @5_columbus pic.twitter.com/86qsIs9jDo
— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) May 30, 2020
The clash between police and protesters came in the heels of a destructive confrontation downtown Thursday night which left windows of the Ohio Statehouse and nearby businesses smashed.
Friday night’s protest began at Columbus police headquarters around 8 p.m. as people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd, according to WBNS 10-TV.
Mounted officers and police on foot used pepper spray and flash-bang grenades to control the crowd during confrontations outside City Hall, at Broad and High streets and in the Short North where there were reports of looting, the station reported.
The protesters threw water bottles and shot fireworks at the officers, according to the report.
The mayor of Cincinnati announced a 10 p.m. curfew Saturday and Sunday in areas of the city following damage to businesses during protests which resulted in 11 arrests and minor injuries to two officers.
Protesters burned businesses in Minneapolis, smashed police cars and windows in Atlanta, broke into police headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and chanted curses at President Donald Trump outside the White House as anger over Floyd’s killing spread to to cities nationwide.
Thousands also demonstrated peacefully, demanding justice for Floyd, who died after a white officer pressed a knee into his neck. The officer was arrested on a murder charge and was fired along with three others who were involved in the incident.