Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday night, May 30, for Los Angeles County.
Following days of protests in downtown LA, the city and county of Los Angeles requested assistance, which Newsom also authorized.
The protests have been in response to the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Floyd, 46, was an unarmed black man who died on May 25 in police custody after a Minneapolis officer kneeled on his neck. The officer was arrested Friday and charged with murder in a case that has sparked violent protests across the country.
Requests for assistance include the activation of the National Guard, recognizing that the “local authority is inadequate to address the threat posed by the civil unrest” in the city and county, the emergency declaration reads.
In response to the protesting, Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered a curfew for the city — from 8 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. — and many other LA County cities followed.
Earlier Saturday, Newsom said the state was actively monitoring violent extremist organizations ahead of activities Saturday night.
“To those who seek to exploit Californians’ pain to sow chaos and destruction, you are not welcome. Our state and nation must build from this moment united and more resolved than ever to address racism and its root causes,” Newsom said in a statement.
