Protests over death of George Floyd end in fires, looting, property damage in Raleigh and Fayetteville

Outrage over the death of George Floyd spread to cities in North Carolina Saturday. What began as peaceful marches ended in violence, with clashes between protesters and police in Raleigh and Fayetteville, fires set, windows smashed and looting. It was not clear whether the people doing the looting and causing property damage were part of the original protest.

In North Carolina cities and nationwide, people marched to demand justice for Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody on Monday, and to protest police tactics. Former police officer Derek Chauvin has since been charged for third-degree murder and manslaughter after a video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck went viral.

Some of Floyd's last words, "I can't breathe," were chanted in the streets Saturday and were visible in spray-painted graffiti. Protesters in Durham carried a large white sheet with those words as they marched through downtown.

Thousands gathered on East Chapel Hill and Morris streets in Durham as early as 1 p.m., chanting: "No justice, no peace." City Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton was among the marchers.

"This is a peaceable demonstration. Folk are hurting, folk are angry," he said.

"The police that police Durham know that this is Durham," Middleton said. "They know we're going to show up, they know we are going to raise our voices. They know we are going to come together in times of triumph and in tragedy and collectively celebrate, and collectively heal."

Durham County Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead said in a statement:

As the Sheriff of Durham County I support their right to assemble to express their outage in a peaceful manner. The fact they did so while also expressing their love for all humanity indicates we can make the needed changes happen together.”

In Raleigh, protests began around 5 p.m. and stretched into the night, with fires set along Fayetteville Street and near Moore Square.

A fire was set inside a CVS at Fayetteville and Hargett streets. Multiple businesses were broken into. "Almost every window on Fayetteville Street is broken," WRAL reporter Keely Arthur said.

On Sunday morning, Fayetteville Street was closed to traffic as hundreds of volunteers gathered to clean up trash and clear broken glass.

A grocery store was vandalized on Raleigh Road, as were several small businesses on Capital Boulevard.

By 11:30 p.m., reporters were asked to back away as police in riot gear began to use tear gas to try to subdue looters in downtown Raleigh.

In a statement released overnight, Raleigh Chief of Police Cassandra Deck-Brown said the protests began as a peaceful gathering, expressing a heartfelt frustration with issues regarding the Minneapolis police and local police issues. She said she readily supports and accommodates the right to protest.

However, Deck-Brown said law enforcement officers will not turn a blind eye to individuals who broke store windows, looted and set fires. By noon on Sunday, 12 people had been arrested.

Before things got out of hand, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin and local celebrities rapper J Cole and basketball player Dee Smith were spotted in the crowd.

"It is my hope and prayer that we will have a peaceful expression of our frustration and make a firm commitment to change," Colvin said.

His hope did not come to fruition. By 8 p.m., Fayetteville's historic Market House was set on fire and vandalized, police cars were smashed, and flags were burned there. Protesters threw bottles and other trash at police officers.

Looters broke into Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville and were seen carrying large televisions from a Walmart on Skibo Road.

Downtown Fayetteville was closed to traffic overnight as police and protesters faced off. A statement from Fayetteville Police said, "Due to the events that are transpiring downtown, it has been closed to all traffic. Avoid downtown Fayetteville at this time."

Police said two Walmarts and a Dick’s Sporting Goods store were “destroyed.”