Law enforcement, National Guard near 5th Precinct confront protesters in Minneapolis; Gov. Walz to address public soon

Josh Skluzacek

UPDATE: 1:21 a.m. – Law enforcement officers are working to clear the area around 31st Avenue South and Lake Street in Minneapolis, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. People are asked to leave the area.

UPDATE: 12:45 a.m. – Gov. Walz says he will address the media at 1:30 a.m.

UPDATE: 12:35 a.m. – Gov. Tim Walz has urged Minnesotans to go home, saying it has become "dangerous" to be out.

UPDATE: 12:30 a.m. – The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association has called on Gov. Tim Walz to "take control" of the situation in Minneapolis.

UPDATE: 12:19 a.m. – Metro Transit confirms that their busses were used to transport officers to the scene however they are not being used to transport people under arrest.

UPDATE 12:15 a.m. – The Pentagon has taken the rare step of putting military police on alert to go to embattled Minneapolis. (Associated Press)

UPDATE: 12:10 a.m. – Mayor Jacob Frey said in addition to law enforcement heading to the 5th Precinct, resources are being sent to downtown Minneapolis.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, shots have been fired at law enforcement. No troopers or officers have been injured.

UPDATE: 11:58 p.m. – According to the Minnesota Department of Safety, troopers are giving dispersal orders near the 5th Precinct. Leave the are now or you will be arrested.

UPDATE: 11:39 p.m. – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said 350 State Troopers are on the ground near the 5th Precinct in Minneapolis to clear the area and enforce the curfew.

Gov. Tim Walz has also tweeted that the Minnesota National Guard, State Patrol and local police are on the ground responding to incidents in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

11:25 p.m. – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey posted a Tweet, reiterating what the city’s fire department said previously. He also added that he is working with the Department of Public Safety and Minnesota National Guard to provide support in the south Minneapolis.

11:16 p.m. – The Minneapolis Fire Department posted a Tweet, stating the department is working to put out fires in the city. However, expect delays as each scene will need to be secured.

UPDATE: 9:56 p.m. – Protesters are beginning to gather at the Minneapolis Police Department’s 5th Precinct.

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[KSTP]

9:20 p.m. – Protesters are marching on Interstate 35W near Washington Avenue in Minneapolis.

8:30 p.m. – Earlier, a fire has been started in north Minneapolis and tear gas has been deployed on protesters who are still out past the 8 p.m. curfew set in Minneapolis.

6:30 p.m. –Protesters who were marching on Interstate 35W near University Avenue Friday have exited the interstate onto Washington Avenue as demonstrations continue following George Floyd’s death. The group was on Stone Arch Bridge at about 5:40 p.m. and was blocking the Hennepin Avenue Bridge at around 5 p.m. The crowd is now gathered near U.S. Bank Stadium.

KSTP Reporter Callan Gray said the crowd began to disperse just before the 8 p.m. curfew went into effect.

With the curfew set to begin at 8 p.m., the rally is now wrapping up.

The group had been marching on I-35W before moving onto Washington Avenue earlier in the 6 o’clock hour.

Protesters blocked both sides of traffic on the bridge just before 5 p.m.

After about 30 minutes, the group began marching back toward downtown Minneapolis.

KSTP Reporter Kirsten Swanson said many in the crowd had signs and chants like, "hands up, don’t shoot" were occasionally breaking out.

Community leaders call for justice for George Floyd, say arrest of 1 former officer ‘not enough’

According to Swanson, the group has ebbed and flowed since an earlier rally when people met in downtown Minneapolis following a press conference with community leaders.

The group has remained peaceful throughout the day.

KSTP’s Full Coverage

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