LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Dozens of people were arrested at protests in downtown Little Rock over the death of George Floyd, the governor said Wednesday as demonstrations continued in Arkansas’ capital city.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said 79 people were arrested late Tuesday after protests outside the Capitol and the governor’s mansion marked the fourth night of demonstrations over the Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody.
Floyd died May 25 after an officer pressed his knee into his neck for almost nine minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air.
Unlike the previous three nights, State Police did not use tear gas to disperse protesters. But Col. Bill Bryant, the State Police director, said officers began arresting people as they began damaging downtown businesses after the protest outside the mansion.
Two reporters from Little Rock television station KATV and another from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette covering the protests were detained, even after showing their press credentials. They were later being released.
Wednesday’s demonstrations included a group of protesters outside Little Rock City Hall.
Little Rock’s mayor on Tuesday ordered an 8 p.m. curfew because of the demonstrations and the coronavirus outbreak.
