SUNDAY 1 P.M. UPDATE:
President Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. government plans to designate the far-left group Antifa as a designated terrorist organization.
Trump tweeted Sunday afternoon:
The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2020
Meanwhile, protests are again taking place in South Florida on Sunday, including one in West Palm Beach, as well as in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, and Miami.
This is a developing story.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Protests in downtown Miami became violent Saturday night, as demonstrators began throwing objects at police and setting vehicles on fire.
The protests, which took place over the death of George Floyd last Monday in Minneapolis, started peacefully in the afternoon, but turned once the crowd made its way onto I-95, shutting down traffic there in both directions for hours.
Police ultimately fired tear gas into a group of people who were gathered outside the Miami Police Department, as protesters could be seen throwing rocks and setting police cruisers on fire in the downtown area.
Videos posted on social media showed protesters chanting, “Whose streets? Our streets”
Officers in riot gear also stood in formation, as the protesters threw rocks and kicked tear gas canisters at them.
In addition, looting could be seen from a news helicopter above Bayside Marketplace along Biscayne Boulevard.
The Miami protest started peacefully near the Torch of Friendship around 3 p.m.
At least 57 people in Miami-Dade County were arrested overnight, as Mayor Carlos Jimenez implemented a curfew from 10 p.m. Saturday through 6 a.m. Sunday, and from 9 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.
It applies Countywide. Residents in all cities must abide.
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) May 31, 2020
Elsewhere in around the state, protesters in Tampa broke store windows and set a gas station on fire on Saturday night, also following a peaceful daytime demonstration.
In Tallahassee, the situation got even more dangerous, when a pickup truck drive through a crowd of protestors. The vehicle then stopped and started again, with a person on its hood at one point. No serious injuries were reported there, according to police.
Police handcuffed the driver but did not release his identity or say whether he would face charges.
Closer to home, a group also gathered on Saturday afternoon at Lake Worth Beach City Hall to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
During that demonstration, two people pulled the American flag from its flagpole, tore it, and then attempted to burn it in front of the CVS near City Hall.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies ended up retrieving the destroyed flag, and will dispose of it with a proper burial.
The crowd later departed City Hall, moved down Lake Avenue, and then traveled to Bryant Park.
Additionally, more than 50 protesters gathered at Pine Tree Park in West Palm Beach at 11 a.m. Saturday. They chanted “Black Lives Matter” while waving signs at passing vehicles.