Santa Monica Begins Cleanup After a Day of Looting and Destruction
Piles of debris left behind by looters and vandals had already been swept into neat piles early Monday as the seaside city began recovering from a chaotic day.
National Guard members and volunteers were on the streets of Santa Monica as the city recovers from a chaotic day. Michelle Valles reports for Today in LA on Monday June 1, 2020.
Volunteers will begin cleaning up Monday after a day of chaos and looting that left the seaside city’s business district and other areas heavily damaged.
A cleanup effort will begin at 9 a.m. at the Santa Monica Pier. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves and anything else needed to clean up.
Outside a Vans store on Broadway, workers had already started sweeping debris into piles early Monday. Two men from Norwalk and others arrived before daybreak to help.
“I feel bad for the business owners. It just sucks,” said Charles, who was among those cleaning up early Monday.
An armored California National Guard vehicle was parked nearby with at least two Guard members standing watch over a city that erupted in chaos hours earlier.
Another curfew is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Monday for the business district and 4 p.m. citywide.
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Curfew began Sunday afternoon as looters smashed store windows and streamed in and out of stores with merchandise. The looting began after a peaceful protest that included a group marching down Ocean Boulevard around noon, many holding signs protesting the killing of Floyd.
That march was peaceful, but a short time later, looting was reported at several stores in Santa Monica Place shopping center and on nearby Fourth Street, Video showed many people carrying merchandise and running out of stores that had been broken into with shattered glass scattered on sidewalks and graffiti spray painted on buildings.
“On Sunday, Santa Monica honored and respected, and ultimately protected, a peaceful protest against institutional racism," said Mayor Kevin McKeown. "Yet our solidarity with those honoring George Floyd was betrayed, as was his memory, by opportunistic and organized criminals.
"Taking advantage of the protest as a diversion, they stole not only goods, but jobs, and challenged the resilience of our business community, which is poised for recovery from the ongoing pandemic. Sunday was one of the most distressing days in Santa Monica history. We know better than to let the looters obscure the message of the protesters, who have indeed been heard. What a small and selfish criminal element has done instead is to bring our community more closely together. We will support our local businesses to recover from this."
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images
Looters emerge from a store with merchandise during a riot on May 31, 2020 in Santa Monica, California folling a peaceful rally which was held earlier in the day expressing outrage over the death of George Floyd. – Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after five consecutive nights of protests over racism and police brutality that boiled over into arson and looting, sending shock waves through the country. The death Monday of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited this latest wave of outrage in the US over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against African Americans — this one like others before captured on cellphone video.
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Looters emerge from a store with merchandise during a riot on May 31, 2020 in Santa Monica, California folling a peaceful rally which was held earlier in the day expressing outrage over the death of George Floyd. – Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after five consecutive nights of protests over racism and police brutality that boiled over into arson and looting, sending shock waves through the country. The death Monday of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited this latest wave of outrage in the US over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against African Americans — this one like others before captured on cellphone video.
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People run off with merchandise from a store during widespread protests and unrest in response to the death of George Floyd on May 31, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. Protests continue in cities throughout the country after Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis. The National Guard has been deployed in Los Angeles and other major US cities to attempt to stem the tide of rising violence and unrest, with President Donald Trump blaming ANTIFA and tweeting they will be designated a terrorist organization.
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California National Guard is seen parked at the Los Angeles Convention Center after demonstrators protested the death of George Floyd in Los Angeles, California on May 31, 2020. – Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after five consecutive nights of protests over racism and police brutality that boiled over into arson and looting, sending shock waves through the country. The death Monday of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited this latest wave of outrage in the US over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against African Americans — this one like others before captured on cellphone video.
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A man walks past a defaced LAPD vehicle in the Fairfax District, an area damaged during yesterday’s unrest, following violent demonstrations in response to George Floyd’s death on May 31, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody for Floyd’s death. Chauvin has been accused of kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and 3 other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated.
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Volunteers walk past a store marked black owned in an attempt to deter people damaging or looting their business, after demonstrations followed by unrest protesting the murder of George Floyd, on May 31, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The National Guard has been deployed in Los Angeles and other major US cities to attempt to stem the tied of rising violence and unrest, with President Donald Trump blaming ANTIFA and tweeting they will be designated a terrorist organization.
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A young boy photographs the remains of a burnt-out car, after demonstrations followed by unrest protesting the murder of George Floyd, on May 31, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The National Guard has been deployed in Los Angeles and other major US cities to attempt to stem the tied of rising violence and unrest, with President Donald Trump blaming ANTIFA and tweeting they will be designated a terrorist organization.
MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
People walk past graffiti outside a store on the iconic Rodeo Drive, after demonstrators protested the death of George Floyd in Beverly Hills, California on May 31, 2020. – Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities after five consecutive nights of protests over racism and police brutality that boiled over into arson and looting, sending shock waves through the country. The death Monday of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in Minneapolis ignited this latest wave of outrage in the US over law enforcement’s repeated use of lethal force against African Americans — this one like others before captured on cellphone video.
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The National Guard are stationed in front of the Farmers Market on 3rd and Fairfax, on May 31, 2020.
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The National Guard are stationed in front of Fairfax Avenue, on May 31, 2020, in Los Angeles, California.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 31: U.S. National Guard troops keep watch in the Fairfax District, an area damaged during unrest.
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California National Guard members arrive in downtown Los Angeles Saturday May 31, 2020.
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Volunteers clean up anti-Semitic graffiti at Beth Israel synagogue in the Fairfax District Sunday May 31, 2020 after a night of vandalism.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Looters target businesses on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020.
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A destroyed car is removed from the Fairfax District Sunday May 31, 2020.
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California National Guard members arrive in downtown Los Angeles Saturday May 31, 2020.
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California National Guard members arrive in downtown Los Angeles Saturday May 31, 2020.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Graffiti is seen on a looted business on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. The vast majority of protestors demonstrated peacefully. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody for Floyd’s death. Chauvin has been accused of kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and 3 other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: A man throws a Molotov cocktail as another loots a business on Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020.
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Demonstrators kneel as they block an intersection in the Fairfax District in Los Angeles, California on May 30, 2020.
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People smash a police vehicle in the Fairfax District in Los Angeles, California on May 30, 2020.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 30: People are seen at a gathering at Pan Pacific Park on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: An LAPD vehicle burns after being set alight by protestors during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: An LAPD officer aims a nonlethal weapon during a confrontation with protestors at a Black Lives Matter protest following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Protests have erupted nationwide after Floyd died while in the custody of police in Minneapolis. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: An LAPD vehicle burns after being set alight by protestors during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Protestors march during a demonstration organized by Black Lives Matter following the death of George Floyd on May 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 29: Demonstrators gather on an overpass of the 110 Freeway while police officers gather below in response to the police killing of George Floyd on May 29, 2020 in Los Angeles.
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Demonstrators face a row of police as they block a road leading to the 110 freeway to protest the death of George Floyd, in downtown Los Angeles.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 29: Demonstrators shut down the Freeway 110 North in downtown Los Angeles response to the police killing of George Floyd on May 29, 2020 in Los Angeles.
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A demonstrator confronts police as he protests the death of George Floyd, in Los Angeles, California on May 29, 2020.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 29: Demonstrators lights fireworks while they shut down the Freeway 110 North in downtown Los Angeles response to the police killing of George Floyd on May 29, 2020 in Los Angeles.
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A demonstrator holds up a sign outside City Hall as he protests the death of George Floyd, outside police headquarters in Los Angeles, California on May 29, 2020.
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 29: Demonstrators shut down the northbound 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles in response to the police killing of George Floyd on May 29, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.
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A protester rides a skateboard on the 110 northbound freeway in downtown Los Angeles.
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Protesters block the 110 northbound and southbound freeway in downtown Los Angeles Friday May 29, 2020.
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A protester stands above the nrothbound 110 freeway in Los Angeles Friday May 29. 2020.
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A drone aerial view shows United States National Guard troops gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center after being activated by California Governor Gavin Newsom following violent demonstrations in response to George Floyd’s death on May 31, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was taken into custody for Floyd’s death. Chauvin has been accused of kneeling on Floyd’s neck as he pleaded with him about not being able to breathe. Floyd was pronounced dead a short while later. Chauvin and 3 other officers, who were involved in the arrest, were fired from the police department after a video of the arrest was circulated.
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Demonstrators face a row of police as they block a road leading to the 110 freeway to protest the death of George Floyd, in downtown Los Angeles, California on May 29, 2020.
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A girl jumps holding a sign (Justice Now!) while she and her family protest in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles on May 30, 2020.
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People participate in a peaceful demonstration in Santa Monica on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
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People participate in a peaceful demonstration in Santa Monica on Sunday, May 31, 2020.
