Peaceful protests in Boston turned violent when protesters smashed out the windows of a police cruiser and set it on fire. Businesses were looted and police had objects thrown at them in the Downtown Crossings area, which led to the National Guard to come in and respond.
Officers in riot gear tried pushing the crowd back while protesters launched fireworks toward them.
The Boston Police Twitter account mentioned police, “fighting to protect our city from those who came to Boston looking to disrupt a peaceful protest and hurt and harm police officers.”
Boston mayor, Marty Walsh, also tweeted about“outsiders”coming in and causing the destruction.
Photo: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 31: A demonstrator walks in front of a Police car that has been lit on fire in response to the recent death of George Floyd on May 31, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. Protests spread across cities in the U.S., and in other parts of the world in response to the death of African American George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)