Thousands of people have been arrested and cited for offenses since protests began nearly a week ago following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died after being arrested by Minneapolis police last week.
An analysis of state police data from The Associated Press found that at least 4,400 arrests nationwide have been linked to the demonstrations, which began in Minneapolis but have since spread to dozens of cities nationwide.
Hundreds were arrested in Minnesota over the weekend and, elsewhere, police have clashed with protesters in Washington D.C., New York City and other major metropolitan areas.
In the nation’s capital, numerous fires were set Sunday evening just blocks from the White House where Secret Service agents confronted protesters at the gates.
Pentagon officials said that D.C.’s entire National Guard contingent — more than1,500 soldiers — was deployed to help disperse the protests, according to the AP.
Journalists have been included among those arrested.
A CNN news crew was arrested Friday morning, with the incident caught live on camera. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) quickly apologized for that arrest and the crew was released within hours.
A reporter for HuffPost was also arrested while reportedly covering peaceful protests in Brooklyn, where police and demonstrators violently clashed in the Flatbush neighborhood.
President Trump has made continued calls for overwhelming force against the demonstrations in recent days, blaming the demonstrations on local Democratic officials and lashing out at his presumptive 2020 election opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden.
“Get tough Democrat Mayors and Governors. These people are ANARCHISTS. Call in our National Guard NOW,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “The World is watching and laughing at you and Sleepy Joe. Is this what America wants? NO!!!”
“Other Democrat run Cities and States should look at the total shutdown of Radical Left Anarchists in Minneapolis last night,” Trump added. “The National Guard did a great job, and should be used in other States before it is too late!”
Derek Chauvin, the officer who was caught on camera pinning Floyd to the ground with his knee on the back of his neck for more than 8 minutes, has been charged with third-degree murder, and he and the other three officers on the scene have been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department.