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CARNAGE ACROSS AMERICA
Driver ‘ploughs into George Floyd protesters’ and police station set ABLAZE on third night of fury across US
A DRIVER was filmed speeding into George Floyd protestors in Denver and a Minneapolis police precinct was stormed and set ablaze on a third night of fury across America on Thursday.
Shocking video captured in appears to show a black Jeep Grand Cherokee plough into a group of protesters at a Black Lives Matter protest.
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Activist Joshua Potash shared the footage on Twitter and claimed that the driver "intentionally" tried to run over the man.
"Warning: this is horrifying," Potash captioned the clip.
"Tonight at a #BlackLivesMatter protest in Denver a car pushed through the protesters blocking the street. Then intentionally turned to try to run a man over."
The violent clash in Denver came as:
- prosecutors decried Floyd's arrest video but involved
- A man claimed he was , one of four police officers involved in Floyd's death
- Minnesota Gov Tim Walz as the peaceful protests erupted in violence
- President and said he feels "very badly" about his death
The black car is shown mowing through a small group of protesters as one man climbs onto the hood of the SUV and slips off.
Moments later, the driver turns toward the protester and appears to ram the man as he runs away before the vehicle is quickly put in reverse and speeds off.
The demonstrators then chase after the car, and one woman can be seen latching onto a passenger-side window while pounding the glass.
Also on Thursday, a crowd of protesters smashed store windows in St. Paul, Minnesota - the day after looting and rioting ravaged pockets of downtown .
Raiders broke into a Target on University Avenue in St. Paul as Gov Tim Walz signed an executive order activating the Minnesota National Guard.
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A statement from Walz's office sent to said the emergency order was necessary after "extensive damage to private property occurred and peaceful protests evolved into a dangerous situation for protesters and first responders".
Police officers were after protesters stormed the Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd Precinct building.
The precinct was set ablaze after rioters smashed equipment, broke windows, and set off fireworks.
Officers retreated after launching projectiles at the demonstrators, according to the .
Officials also warned of reports that gas lines near the building had been cut and that it contained other explosive materials.
"If you are near the building, for your safety, PLEASE RETREAT in the event the building explodes," the city government wrote in a tweet shortly before midnight.
The National Guard mobilized 500 soldiers to control crowds across the Twin Cities as tensions boiled to a fever pitch.
The Times reported that Walz said he supported peaceful protests but was bothered by the widespread destruction.
Footage also showed journalist Ashley Mullany almost being hit by a stun grenade as she reported on the Minneapolis protests.
Mullany was covering clashes between demonstrators and police for Channel 7 News, and had to duck for cover as the grenade was fired over her head.
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The demonstrations were in response to disturbing video footage that showed kneeling on Floyd's neck on Monday as the black man pleaded for his life, saying "I can't breathe!"
The 46-year-old was later rushed to a local hospital, where he died.
Several hundred people showed up for the protests, including Erika Atson, who told the Associated Press she had been at every protest since Floyd's death.
"We don't want to be here fighting against anyone. We don't want anyone to be hurt. We don't want any damages," she said.
"We just want the police officer to be held accountable for his actions."
Officers were pelted with "rocks and bottles" by rioters who also broke into buildings to ransack and destroy property, St. Paul police said on .
President Trump called the George Floyd footage a "shocking sight", but later took to twitter to criticise officials and violence by protesters.
"I can’t stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis," he wrote.
"A total lack of leadership. [Either the mayor brings] the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right.
"These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen.
"Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts."
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In St. Paul, smoke was seen billowing out of a pawn shop as the protests continued into the night.
The city's Mayor Melvin Carter urged looters to "stay home" late Thursday.
"Please keep the focus on George Floyd, on advancing our movement, and on preventing this from ever happening again," he said in a statement obtained by NBC News Thursday.
"We can all be in that fight together."
Police and protesters also clashed in , where reported more than 40 people were arrested at a demonstration in downtown Manhattan.
Dozens of also gathered for a Black Lives Matter protest in Union Square, with some confronting police officers while demanding charges for the four officers involved in Floyd's death.
One officer was injured when someone hurled a trashcan, but the cop is expected to be okay, the news station reported.
A person tried to swipe a gun from an officer's holster, while another cop was punched in the face.
Police told KABC "violent" individuals were spitting on cops.
"We are people, let's just start there, I've been going to these protests since I was 14 years old, and I haven't seen any change, my heart hurts, my soul hurts because I've been seeing my people die on video," one protester told the the news outlet.
"That hurts, I don't think you all understand how much it hurts."
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Meanwhile in Colorado, at least 100 people were involved in a march demanding justice for Floyd.
Shots were reportedly fired into the crowd of peaceful protesters gathered near the State Capitol.
"We just got shot at. Capitol," Denver Rep Leslie Herod said Thursday night.
Herod told from inside the Capitol that someone fired five or six shots from a nearby bus stop.
No injuries have been reported, according to
Demonstrators marched through downtown Denver chanting "No justice, no peace" as they carried signs.
Protesters blocked Interstate 25 at around 7pm, the news station reported.
Officers flung tear gas and shot rubber bullets at people to disperse the crowd in front of the Capitol.
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The intense demonstrations came as , but warned that there's "other evidence" that goes against charging Chauvin.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman called the disturbing footage "graphic, horrible, and terrible", but said he "wouldn't rush to judge" before reviewing all evidence.
"My job in the end is to prove [Chauvin] violated a criminal statute, and there is other evidence that does not support a criminal charge," Freeman said.
"I will not rush to justice because justice will not be rushed," he added.
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Prosecutor in George Floyd case calls arrest video 'horrific and terrible' but Feds still without charging decision
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