This story was last updated at 3:05 a.m.
Demonstrators looted businesses, climbed on cars and lit objects on fire in downtown Sacramento. Sheriff's deputies fired rubber bullets at demonstrators in front of the Sacramento Main Jail downtown, nearly 12 hours after protests started.
As the night continued, some involved in the protest hit glass with hammers, set couches and garbage cans ablaze and spray-painted anti-police slogans on buildings, pothole covers and the Jeff Koons sculpture outside the Golden 1 Center.
Looters could be seen leaving the downtown Macy's and other businesses around the Golden 1 Center and on K Street before marching down J Street into Midtown. Police attempted to break up the gathering near J and 20th streets, firing rubber bullets into the crowd.
Demonstrator Paul Wilson was on J Street around 1 a.m., and said he witnessed the evolution from peaceful demonstrations to vandalism and looting.
“This is what happens when unarmed black men all over keep getting murdered at the hands of people that are supposed to protect us,” he said.
Young people mostly wearing masks showed up before 9 a.m. at the state Capitol, toting signs reading “I Can’t Breathe” and chanting “George Floyd!” and the name of other victims of police violence.
The crowd, which grew as demonstrators congregated in front of the statehouse’s east steps, eventually went on the move, zigzagging through downtown’s streets — and momentarily blocking traffic on Interstate 5 and the Tower Bridge.
Saturday’s demonstrations against police brutality continued following a night of protest in south Sacramento.
Demonstrators broke glass doors to the Sacramento County jail, and fresh graffiti had appeared throughout downtown.
A smaller group stayed at the Capitol until after 7:30 p.m., when some moved back to the jail on I Street.
Shortly before 9 p.m., sheriff's deputies fired rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Many remained in the area, where some set fire to trash cans and smashed store windows, including the Macy's store downtown.
Some people continued through downtown until at least midnight, smashing windows and looting stores.
People continued down J Street into Midtown, until Sacramento Police and other local law enforcement began pushing demonstrators back near 20th Street. Officers fired pepper bullets, rubber bullets and used flash bangs to try and break up the protest.
Jonathan Walker was at the Capitol around 7 p.m. cleaning up water bottles and other litter. He said as a black man, he understands the outrage in the crowd
“But it doesn’t excuse it," Walker said. "At the end of the day this is our city, this is something we need to make sure we look after.”
Many attendees said they disagreed with the vandalism and violence and felt there were more effective ways to show solidarity with Minneapolis.
Mario Castellanos was telling protesters to not damage Mike’s Camera on J Street
“You’re not getting your message across” by damaging small, local businesses, he said.
Chris Lofton, owner of Stylz Tattoos, got some valuables out of his shop before it was looted. But he said the damage on top of having to close during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order could be crippling.
“We’re in a messed-up position," Lofton said. "We haven’t been in business for four months now. And to have this happen is just an extra expense.”
It's not yet clear the extent of any injuries, though people in attendance reported some in the crowd being hit with the rubber bullets. The Sacramento Police Department and California Highway Patrol were not able to provide details on arrests.
Sacramento Police said at least seven officers received minor injuries at Friday night's protest. In a statement early Saturday, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said that he shared the demonstrators' outrage over Floyd's death, but that "violence of any kind is wrong and unacceptable."
"We will not let a few detract and derail the strength of our ability to come together for change," Steinberg wrote. "The trauma that people feel is real. Acknowledge it. Let us acknowledge it, let us respect it, let us demand change. Let us demand an end to systemic racism. No violence against anyone ever!"
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