Protest erupts again over man killed by Minnesota deputies

My Northwest
Sun, 06 Jun 2021 02:38 UTC

© AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa

A protester is arrested by police after a vigil was held for Winston Boogie Smith Jr. early in Minneapolis on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Authorities said Friday that a man wanted on a weapons violation fired a gun before deputies fatally shot him in Minneapolis, a city on edge since George Floyd's death more than a year ago under an officer's knee and the more recent fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright in a nearby suburb.

Protesters faced off with officers in Minneapolis early Saturday over the shooting death of a Black man by members of a U.S. Marshals task force.

Photos from the scene following a vigil for Winston Boogie Smith Jr., 32, showed dumpster fires in the street and a line of officers standing guard. It was the second night of protests in response to the fatal shooting Thursday in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood.

Police said 27 people were arrested in the protest, with 26 accused of rioting and one facing a weapons charge. No injuries were reported. Some businesses sustained damage, police said.

Authorities said Friday that Smith was wanted on a weapons violation and fired a gun before two deputies shot him while he was inside a parked vehicle. Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force were trying to arrest him on a warrant for allegedly being a felon in possession of a gun.

Family and friends described Smith as a father of three who was often harassed by police. They are demanding transparency in the investigation and have asked that anyone who might have video footage to come forward.

Police said some people vandalized buildings and stole from businesses after the shooting Thursday. Nine people were arrested on possible charges including suspicion of riot, assault, arson and damage to property.

The fatal shooting comes as Minneapolis has been on edge since the death of George Floyd just over a year ago, and the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by an officer in nearby Brooklyn Center in April.

Comment: And just to see who we're dealing with here, from RT:

Minneapolis rioter FORGETS NAME of man on whose behalf he's rioting... Once reminded, he declares on camera, 'REMEMBER THAT NAME'

A Minneapolis protester attended a riot over a man being shot by police, but he couldn't remember the victim's name. Once reminded of the new martyr's identity, he went on camera to tell his interviewer, "Remember that name."

If the scene wasn't already dystopian enough, the suspected criminal who was fatally shot by police on Thursday was Winston Smith, which happens to be the same name as the protagonist in the George Orwell novel '1984'.

A video of the strange encounter during Thursday night's riot in Minneapolis began with the unidentified man saying from off camera, "Stay here, show, like, hold that space, obviously for, I'm not gonna lie, I forgot his name." Another voice, apparently belonging to a journalist with alternative media outlet Unicorn Riot, then said, "Winston Smith."

The man then thanked his interviewer and agreed to go on camera. "Just so you all know, the person that was shot up in there, his name is Winston Smith," he said. "Don't forget that name, Winston Smith. Say his name, and make sure y'all remember this s**t because we're going to fight for him just the same f**king way we fought for George Floyd."

See also:

• Minneapolis cops shoot armed fugitive dead, sparks new destructive protests
• Minneapolis' George Floyd Square: Crews dismantle barriers as city moves to reopen intersection
• Minneapolis activist whose granddaughter was shot and killed: 'We need police'
• One year after George Floyd, Minneapolis is 'Murderapolis' again
• BLM protesters rallied after Minneapolis police shot a man Sunday afternoon, then called it off when they learned he was white
• Minneapolis business owner prudently ups her peaceful protest insurance
• Minneapolis City Council to offer looting passports to 'peaceful protesters'
• National guard deployed to Minneapolis suburb to quell riots following police shooting UPDATE