DETROIT (WXYZ) — Tear gas was deployed and several arrests were made during the second day of protests in downtown Detroit.
Chief Craig held a press conference after several arrests were made.
He said M-80 fireworks were thrown at police officers. After what were initially peaceful demonstrations, he said one agitated group started propelling various objects, including bricks and rocks.
Chief Craig said many protesters came in with ice chests filled with bricks.
"They came in with the intention to be violent," the chief said.
Chief Craig said five people were arrested in the altercation.
According to 7 Action News Reporter Rudy Harper, tear gas was deployed at one point.
A few hundred protesters faced off with police.
A group called "Detroiters Against Police Murders" is holding the protest. Protests in Detroit have been relatively peaceful on Saturday with most protesters wearing masks.
According to the Facebook event page, nearly 300 people have expressed interest in attending. The group says they are taking a stand against the murders of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY.
The group also urges attendees to "not engage in any illegal behavior," as well as "watch out for undercover agent provocateurs."
This comes after hundreds of people gathered in downtown Detroit on Friday night as part of nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis this week.
One man was killed during the protest in what Detroit police say was a targeted shooting that did not involve officers.
- Man killed in shooting not involving police, several arrests made at large protest in Detroit
According to Detroit police, 61 participants were arrested during the George Floyd protest in downtown Detroit on Friday night. In a press conference on Saturday, Mayor Mike Duggan reported among those arrested were natives of places including Clarkston and Plymouth.
Community leaders insist rioters damaging city property were not Detroiters.
"We ain't tearing down our city. Detroiters don't stand for that," said Maurice "Pastor Mo" Hardwick with the Live in Peace Movement.
