Cleaning up the aftermath of protests that turned violent in Boston

BOSTON — Several rallies and marches in Boston on Sunday started out peaceful before turning violent and destructive as the night went on. On Monday morning, many crews were cleaning up the streets.

Video from Sunday night shows thousands of people filling the streets of Boston, marching peacefully to protest George Floyd’s May 25 death in Minnesota.

Many people carried signs that read “Black Lives Matter,” “Justice for George” and “Silence is violence.”

One of the marches began in Roxbury and ended at the Massachusetts State House. As the day turned dark though, the situation devolved fast and the National Guard was called in to back up State and Boston Police.

Boston Police said officers were pelted with glass bottles, rocks and even bricks. Police cars were set on fire and people were looting, breaking into stores and smashing store-front windows.

As of 3 a.m., Boston Police said seven police officers were brought to the hospital for injuries and several more were treated on scene, 21 police cruisers were damaged and 40 people were arrested. That number is likely to increase.

Former Boston Police Chief Dan Linskey applauded the majority of the demonstrators who remained peaceful and eventually went home before things turned worse.

Security analyst Dan Linskey on Sunday night protests, role of police Dan Linskey, former Boston police supt.-in-chief and a Boston 25 News security analyst said solutions to the legitimate outrage people feel over police use of force was overshadowed by agitators who turned a peaceful protest in the city Sunday into a destructive event as the night went on.

Another rally featured church leaders at Boston Police Headquarters, where people observed a moment of silence for 8 minutes and 49 seconds, which is the length of time that the Minneapolis Police Officer kneeled on George Floyd’s neck.

Video has been shared on social media of Boston Police officers standing atop one of their damaged cruisers Sunday night.

Boston Police Officer Kim Tavares responded to that video, saying, “The car was already damaged so in order for the officers to be able to move the vehicle, they had to break the glass to peel away the windshield out so they could safely drive it out.”

BPD says video showing officers breaking windshield of cruiser was already damaged, glass broken to drive it away from scene Boston police responded to the video ciculating on social media that claimed police were damaging the cruiser Sunday night by breaking the glass on the windshield. BPD says the cruiser was already damaged and the glass was broken so they could safely drive it away from the scene.

Many businesses were allowed to begin reopening on Monday for curbside pickup, but with store-front damage, broken glass and plywood covering doors and windows, some may have to wait.

0 of 25

Cleaning up the aftermath of protests that turned violent in Boston Cleaning up the aftermath of protests that turned violent in Boston

© 2020 Cox Media Group