Rioters Vandalize and Break Into Ohio Statehouse During Riot in Columbus Over George Floyd’s Death
Jose Nino
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On March 28, 2020, hundreds of people took to the streets in downtown Columbus to protest the death of George Floyd.
Floyd’s case involved a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck during an arrest on May 25.
The incident sparked a massive riot in Minneapolis which has galvanized other demonstrations across the nation.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, 300 protesters blocked the intersections and there was a heavy police presence in downtown Columbus.
The protests were originally calm, but became disorderly late on the night of March 28, according to reports. WCMH Channel 4 reporter Eric Halperin reported that protesters started smashing windows at the Statehouse downtown and some were able to break inside the building. Halperin reported that law enforcement moved in to protect the Statehouse.
Protesters are starting to break and tip over trash cans along High St. @nbc4i pic.twitter.com/Z8xLGk6KPe
— Eric Halperin (@EricHalperinTV) May 29, 2020
Rioters threw plastic bottles and other small objects at police officers earlier in the evening. Throughout the demonstration, protesters chanted “Black lives matter” and “Say his name”, referring to Floyd. The demonstrators also chanted “I can’t breathe,” which was a reference to Eric Garner’s death in New York back in 2014.
According to a WCMH Channel 4 report, police used a chemical spray to push the crowd back at around 10:20 p.m., which caused the crowd to partially break up. However, according to video footage from WBNS Channel 10, there was still a sizeable crowd on the street around 11:15 p.m..
Around 11:15 p.m Halperin reported that the protests started getting heated when demonstrators began throwing a plastic bottle at a police officer on horseback, which ended up startling his horse.
Halperin reported tensions in Columbus began escalating around 11:15 p.m., showing video of a plastic bottle being thrown at the feet of a horse ridden by a police officer, startling the horse.
Things have just escalated again. This just happened. Police and protesters were closer before I started rolling. @nbc4i pic.twitter.com/8iFvp4dXLa
— Eric Halperin (@EricHalperinTV) May 29, 2020
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther went on Twitter to implore the protesters to exercise restraint.
I understand why some residents are angry and taking to the streets. I have said many times that racism exists across the country, state and right here in Columbus. We are committed to addressing racism wherever we see it.
— Mayor Andrew Ginther (@MayorGinther) May 29, 2020
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