Nearly 3,000 people had amassed at the FREE Stamp downtown between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. After chants and speeches there, those assembled marched west on Lakeside to the Justice Center.
There, speakers called for justice in the wake of Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Some invoked the names of Tamir Rice, Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams, whose deaths at the hands of Cleveland cops were top of mind.
In a beautiful moment, the crowd chanted “WE HEAR YOU” to the incarcerated people at the County Jail and applauded for them.
The majority of the march progressed onward from the Justice Center, but a faction remained and began banging on the windows and throwing bottles. A police unit arrived on bicycles and engaged the front line of demonstrators on the Justice Center steps.
Before long, the police were firing tear gas canisters into the crowd and throwing flash grenades in an effort to disperse. The dispersals were successful, but temporary. Angered by these provocations, the demonstrators fled from the tear gas but then marched back with hands up, only to be fired at again.
By now, many of the marchers from the larger contingent had returned to the vicinity of the Justice Center, and the police began firing tear gas canisters deep into the crowds, further East on Lakeside (where I was perched) and into the park across the street. They were firing at demonstrators who weren’t advancing on the Justice Center steps.
Smoke filled the air. Additional police arrived, including the mounted unit and those in riot gear. The protesters began spray painting statues and buildings in the vicinity. Some broke the windows of bus stations. In perhaps the most dramatic action, police cruisers were set ablaze on W. 3rd and Ontario, shooting plumes of black smoke into the air.
At roughly 4 p.m., vehicle traffic into downtown was shut down, and the police began to attempt to disperse the crowds more aggressively. Rubber bullets and pepper balls were fired and tear gas continued to be shot from every angle.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2020.
Protesters turned public opinion against themselves when they resorted to arson, assault, and vandalism in Downtown Cleveland as ways to display their anger about the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They even set a parked police car on fire and vandalized the benches in front of the Cleveland Police Headquarters. Using extreme violence in Cleveland to protest the excessive force by a police officer in Minnesota is unreasonable and unjustified. I hope that the authorities use the videos taken of the extreme violence to identify, indict, try, convict, and imprison the violent criminals and their judges order them to pay restitution to the City of Cleveland. I also hope that a reward be given to those who help identify and testify against these violent criminals.
If the violent protesters were trying to get sympathy for their grievance, they failed miserably.
Instead, the violent protesters demonstrated why they should be scorned.
The Cleveland Police should be embarrassed for not being able to protect their own police cars and police headquarters from the violent protesters.
Why should Cleveland residents reasonably expect the Cleveland Police to protect them and their property from violent criminals when the Cleveland Police can’t even protect their own police cars and police headquarters from the same?
Is it also the cops fault that Colossal Cupcakes was broken into and completely destroyed? The cop in Minneapolis owns his actions. And the rioters today in Cleveland own those actions.
But kudos to the peaceful protestors. You folks are doing it right.
They should have held the protest/riot at Stealyard Commons. Nothing to loot at the Justice Center.
A simple question: How can you call the idiot cop in Minneapolis a white supremacist when he isn’t even married to white woman?
funny, the way i read it, it seemed like the police started some of the crap themselves. but, i wasn’t there, so, i don’t know.
and scene leaves the scene at 3pm before all the property destruction. Take a drive downtown tomorrow. Its fucked.
Mr Akron: having an Asian wife is kind of a ‘thing’ in the white nationalist movement (eg. Richard Spencer)
Mr Akron, whats your name bud?
Sorry, Pete…you lost me when you started ranting about Commies again, and blaming SCENE and other media and Sleepy Frank Jackson for the rioting and looting. Which I don’t happen to think is cool at at all. It’s sad and it’s disgusting and it’s counterproductive.
And I don’t believe you own any business at all… don’t try to bullshit a bullshitter. You’re still hunkered in your basement bunker, running off at the mouth, same as you do every other goddamn day. And your name isn’t even Pete. But I’m positive your eyes are brown, because you’re always such a lying sack of shit.
The majority of people involved in these protests and the police watching them just want peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations. Its something that makes us great as a nation, that we can gather peacefully and make our voices heard. What isnt great is the nasty ones, the few people that want to destroy, damage, be violent, and inflict pain, all the while inciting others to do so as well. Hate begets more hate, violence begets more violence. Until we stand up to hate and violence in all forms against anyone and everyone, there will be times like this where people get swept away in whats going on and they help provide cover for the really bad ones that want to hurt, destroy, and tear everyone apart.
“..some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
It was antifa whites that kept leaving the protest and going out on smash and burn missions. Antifa members started the cars on fire. Antifa members were responsible for initiating the destruction in Cleveland. Take a look, how many blm protesters draw an ‘A’ with a circle around it and carry a black and red flag. None.
They smashed and threw a bunch of those scene street dispenser boxes.
And they got the city lockdown and the national guard called in and on alert. They left organized a collective attack on dozens of US cities this week under the guise of a protest. This was a set up.
caucasold, you should know better than to assume. You should have already realized by my Asian moniker than I am not caucasian– let alone a caucasian supremist.
I also know a lot more than you seem to think I do– especially, about being victimized by racism.
I have experienced racial discrimination by both whites and blacks.
You seem to think that only blacks are the victims of racial discrimination.
There are also more than two races.
Also, Asian-Americans are a much smaller minority than African-Americans. Asian-Americans have often experience racism from African-Americans (Remember when African-Americans burned down Korean-American businesses in Los Angeles after protesters were unhappy with the white LA police officers involved in the Rodney King incident? African-Americans unjustly took their anger against the white police officers against Asian-Americans).
Common decency and common sense should tell you that committing violent crime, theft, and vandalism against the innocent General Public in Cleveland, Ohio to protest excessive force by a Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer against a black Minnesota resident is unreasonable and wrong.
Protesters are also assuming that the reason for the excessive force by the Minnesota police officer was racism. However, assuming often results in false causation. There could be another reason for the excessive force, like police brutality, which doesn’t have to be a product of racism to occur.
Hopefully this doesn’t take away from the fact that emily mcneeley is being tried for being corrupt and helping her wives company in westlake get contracts. How can you work in IT and BCC your wife’s company to your boss. If not a criminal, certainly stupid. Her daddy was busted in Pennsylvania so she and her wife fled to Cleveland.
How are we supposed to live with these antifa people in our midst? They are literally destroying our cities in an effort to provike a communist revolution that is not wanted. They are our enemies and they live next door to us. There is no political solution for coexisting with these people.
I see on scenes Instagram they are asking for donations for the cleanup, just kidding, instead they want you to donate to social justice causes and excuse the damage done by the antifa and blm because things can be fixed and whites are racist.
As usual, the comment section has more truthful information than altards article. I wouldn’t be surprised if he started some fires with his comrades.
The photo’s speak for themselves. That was no protest, it was a full blown riot complete with looting and mass destruction. And Sam’s take is that the nasty cops used tear gas?
That cop executed Floyd in cold blood in front of a world of witnesses. He deserves no less than the same. But the extremists and media rush in to turn it into a racist event rather than explore the possibility that it could have more likely been a very violent rogue cop that should have never had a position of authority. Floyd’s neck color had no bearing on the murder. It would have just as likely happened to anyone that crossed his path.
Is it journalism to use the headline “Massive Cleveland George Floyd Protest Turned Chaotic as Police Fired Tear Gas, Flash Grenades into Crowds”?
The headline reads like police started the violence, while the article reads like the crowd started the violence. How, as a journalism outlet, are you ok with this?
It matters what happened. The truth matters. And someone who went to journalism school knows that. To disregard journalism for clickbait headlines is sad and a major problem in today’s society. Be part of the solution not the problem.
A lot of ink is going to be spilled about what happened yesterday, some of it the truth, and some of it lies. But the most important, undeniably true fact, about yesterday is this. Not a single elected official of the City of Cleveland or Cuyahoga County was present. No one in authority was walking the streets or talking to people: not the mayor, not the city council president, not the county commissioner, not any council member of either the city or the county, and not any of our elected judges.
On the third day of Gettysburg, with his army exhausted, facing one last maximum effort from General Lee’s men, General Winfield Scott Hancock rode openly behind his men, steadying their courage, while exposing himself to rebel artillery and rifle fire. His adjutant begged him to get down off his horse and take cover saying, “General, the corps commander ought not to risk his life that way.” General Scott wheeled his mount and replied, “There are times when a corps commander’s life does not count.”
All of our elected leaders failed that test yesterday. Remember that this November.
“I was angry” is not a valid defense for committing arson, assault, and vandalism to private and public property– especially, the private property of innocent individuals, who had nothing to do in any way with what violent protesters are angry about.
Committing unjust and violent acts to protest an unjust and violent act by someone who doesn’t even live in Ohio or any of its bordering states is absurd.
Yet, I believe that the blame for all of this is not just with those who committed these violent acts against innocents, but also with the Media, who has fanned the flames of racial discontent for higher ratings and more “clicks”.
LMK when you have the balls to take this shit out of Downtown Cleveland and away from hamstrung Cops and empty businesses.
In the meantime our Suburbs will continue to thrive while Cleveland stays a broken shithole full of self loathing, petulant children. Keep living in squalor and making matters worse…..we’re chillin’ on our decks drinking coffee and listenin to the birds chirp.
You hate us cause you ain’t us
Gar, that’s why they want your 2nd Amendment.
Not to worry, all of us folks that actually have to work and pay outrageous taxes in this corruption-filled dump of a city and county will be there to pay for all the restoration and cleanup!!!
And if that’s not enough, we can count on both Taxin Jackson and thief Budish to raise our taxes even more to pay for it all!!!
Sadly, these so-called “protesters “won’t stop the destruction until the entire area of northeast Ohio resembles that of the entire city of East Cleveland!
Remember everyone, downtown will be fixed in a few days, but you can’t bring back the dead.
“Massive Cleveland George Floyd Protest Turned Chaotic as Police Fired Tear Gas, Flash Grenades into Crowds”
WRONG!
It turned chaotic as thugs started vandalizing.
Caucasoid, what about black racism? There are even black religions in America that claims that “whites” are devils. Are you against black racism?– or are you just against racism against blacks? You should be against all racism period dot.
Destroying white businesses, because they are owned by whites, are racist acts.
The philosophy you should follow is to treat others as you would want them to treat you.
If the protesters yesterday had followed the Golden Rule, they would not have committed arson, assault, and vandalism against innocent people, who had nothing to do with what they are angry about.
Your comments indicate that you are prejudiced against Asians.
Your comments also indicate that you support black political violence– even if it means burning down America.
You posted radical comments, like your “ungrateful Asian immigrant” comment, that makes you sound like a racist.
There is an Asian adage that says, “He who learns from his mistakes is wise, but he who learns from the mistakes of others is wiser.”
What you can learn from George Floyd’s mistakes is not to pass a counterfeit $20 bill to purchase cigarettes, and, if you do so anyway and are stopped by a police officer, to get into the police car when told to do so, instead of falling to the ground and refusing to comply because you claim to be claustrophobic.
If George Floyd had not passed the counterfeit $20 bill, he would still be alive today.
If he had just went in the police car and went along with the process, he would also be alive, even if he had still passed the counterfeit $20 bill.
What caused the police to use force on him was his non-compliance to get in the police car, not his race.
Of course, you can suspect differently, but suspicion is not proof– especially, since the police officers did not use force against George Floyd until after he dropped to the ground and refused to get in the back of the police car.
You probably don’t like these comments, but just remember they were made by someone who is not black or white and who opposes racism of all types and who believes in the Golden Rule.
They’re back at it in Cleveland, breaking & looting….I’m at home at my “boring Suburb” drinking a refreshing IPA on my back deck, STILL not giving a fuck if you all kill each other.
Make America Great Again? My little slice of America has been and will always be Great.
Scene suspicuously removed all their inventory and property Saturday morning “to be safe” as they were aware of the antifa objective to destroy downtown. Meanwhile they promoted the protest.
Memo to Shiwwaku Seven………………………
Derek Chauvin, the police officer who knelt on George Floyd neck had 18 prior complaints
filed against him with the Minneapolis Police Department’s Internal Affairs …
This is why i hate u Anchor babies…. u just got off the Boat and u simply don’t know enough
to speak on Black folks business………………………….
It was the white devil that drop the Atomic Bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima
The explosion wiped out 90 percent of the city and immediately killed tens of thousands people;
Most of whom were civilians, and more died later of radiation poisoning.
It remain the only uses of nuclear weapons in armed conflict……………………………………………..
Black folks has fought White Supremacy for over 400 yrs and we don’t need ANTIFA out there doing fu%ck shxxt……….
Finally: Just stay in ur lane ???? Keep Black folks business out ur mouth…. u simply don’t know enough
Has anybody even HEARD OF police and FBI infiltration? Ever heard of Homeland Security? Jesus, this is a pathetic comment thread.
caucasold, “Anchor babies”? “White devil”? your comments prove that you are a black racist.
I find it amusing that you think that you are informing me of things that I already know.
I know a lot more than you think I do.
You should spend some time researching how Jim Crow laws came about due to “The Compromise of 1877.”
While you are at it, why not research which major political party opposed slavery and which one supported it?
You should also spend some time learning what Booker T. Washington advised African-Americans to do to achieve “equality” in America, which is a myth anyway, because true equality doesn’t really exist, which is why you don’t play basketball as well as LeBron James or even Jeremy Lin.
I don’t seek equality.
Instead, I believe in striving to be “greater than”.
I don’t worry about so-called white supremacy, because what you believe to exist didn’t keep me from overcoming poverty and a disadvantage background to be better off than most black and white Americans.
Since you seem to like history, why not spend some time analyzing and applying the Principles of Industry, Frugality, and Prudence in Benjamin Franklin’s 1758 Essay, “The Way to Wealth”.
Perhaps, if you do, you will also stop worrying about fighting for so-called “equality” if you also achieve being better off than those you seem to hate.
caucasold, here is a tidbit of advice from Booker T. Washington that might benefit you if you apply it– that is, “Earn as much money as you can, because no one discriminates against “green”.
I suggest you spend some time learning the different approaches that Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, and W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for African-Americans to seek equality.
Of the three, Booker T. Washington’s approach is the most practical– and one that you can actually achieve on your own.
I advise you to not waste your time on hating– and being a black racist is a form of hating.
Instead, concentrate your time, energy, and effort on achieving and becoming “greater than”, which is a lot better than striving to be equal.
Just remember, “Knowing is not enough: you must apply. Being willing is not enough, you must do. Having the ability is not enough; you must achieve.”
These are the principles that enable me to overcome racial discrimination.
Whether you choose to apply them is up to you.
People are saying Sam Allard and Vince Grzegorek were part of the destruction Saturday. Both are in antifa and Sam disappeared from the protest as soon as the destruction began.
After the mob occupied the police at the justice center, small groups of antifa went into the undefeated streets smashing and burning then they encouraged the black youth to go in and loot and also to destroy.
Why? Because they hate you…and because you are a fucking liar.