El Paso police say tear gas & bean bags were fired at protesters, 2 officers hurt, 3 arrested
UPDATE: El Paso police officials confirmed Monday that tear gas and bean bag rounds were fired into Sunday's protest crowds.
Police said two officers were injured in the protests by demonstrators who threw rocks, bottles and "projectiles" at them. Authorities did not describe the extent of the injuries, but did indicate that the attackers disappeared into the protest crowd and escaped.
A 20-year resident of the neighborhood where Memorial Park sits described the scene to ABC-7: “It made a big splat on one of the (officer's) shields and then more bottles got thrown and the cops fired the gas and they dispersed like cockroaches," Armando Cardoza recalled on Monday.
Three arrests were also made during the protests, police said, but those arrests were unrelated to the assaults on the two officers.
Some who participated in Sunday's protest questioned the need to use gas on the park crowd and accused the police of being overly aggressive.
“I did inhale gas," activist Guillermo Casimiro told ABC-7 on Monday. "I did get it on my face. People with medical supplies laid me down and poured milk on my face and sprayed my eyes with solution. We wanted to be heard but they shut us out. They wanted to shut us out so hard they had to throw gas.”
ORIGINAL REPORT: EL PASO, Texas -- The El Paso Police Department headquarters at 911 Raynor Street as well as Memorial Park in central El Paso were the scenes of protests Sunday evening against police brutality in the wake of the Minnesota death of George Floyd.
As it reached midnight, only a few dozen protesters remained outside the police station. Things appeared to be calm and winding down.
Several dozen protestors in #ElPaso still outside @EPPOLICE headquarters. Right after this video was taken crowd started chanting #GeorgeFloyd’s name. @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/yiK6bMj2kA
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
Nonetheless, a heavy and visible police presence remained outside of the building. In addition to EPPD officers, there were also state troopers, constables, park rangers and FBI agents as well as officers from Hudspeth County.
Still a heavy law enforcement presence outside @EPPOLICE nearly 6 hours after #gerogefloydprotest protest originally started here in #ElPaso. pic.twitter.com/DqaJC2z5uQ
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
At Memorial Park around midnight there were no more protesters, but plenty of debris to be found littering the park grounds; police were in the process of documenting some of the debris as potential evidence.
Earlier, police fired tear gas in the park as it neared 10 p.m. to disperse a crowd that had apparently gotten rowdy; there was no word of any arrests, a police spokesman told ABC-7. Police couldn't immediately say if Antifa or other activist groups had shown up in El Paso.
Former longtime El Paso Times reporter Aaron Montes, now a city council candidate, witnessed officers in riot gear firing gas canisters.
My heart sank when I saw police in riot gear. It broke when I heard the popping from tear gas. pic.twitter.com/KENC2rfGW7
— Aaron J. Montes (@aaronmontes91) June 1, 2020
The protests, which had started around the dinner hour when it was light out, went long after dark at both the park and police headquarters, where it was a calmer scene.
Still going on pic.twitter.com/pUnvfbkCtH
— Wil Herren KVIA ABC-7 (@WilHerrenKVIA) June 1, 2020
"I can't breathe," "No justice, no peace," "Black lives matter" and "George Floyd" were among the chants the crowd of thousands of protesters shouted in unison in front of the police headquarters when their rally first got underway for the evening.
As the street became packed with protesters, some took to the rooftops of nearby buildings. Officers sought to clear people gathered on the roof of the Davita Kidney Care building directly across the street from their headquarters.
Crowds gathering on the roof of a local business. Police presence even seen on the roof of headquarters.
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
EPPD tweeting later asking protestors to get off safely. @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/53Apw3CptV
Montana Avenue near the police building was closed to traffic after protesters spilled onto the road, but about 90 minutes into the protest police told demonstrators to clear the street and reopened it to traffic.
At one point, the police actually had to break up a brief altercation that took place between different factions of protesters in front of the police building.
— Wil Herren KVIA ABC-7 (@WilHerrenKVIA) June 1, 2020
Law enforcement helicopters could be heard flying overhead and horns honked from passing cars as some of the marchers headed to Memorial Park to stage another demonstration there.
protestors are heading back to Memorial Park after protesting in front of @EPPOLICE headquarters for about one hour. @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/2Z6PLrUH5d
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
At another point, officers in riot gear could be seen by ABC-7 crews getting into police vehicles that headed out from headquarters to Memorial Park where they deployed a short time later.
Tensions are escalating in El Paso as police in tactical gear show up at Memorial Park. pic.twitter.com/GySFwwkMGS
— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) June 1, 2020
Protesters orchestrated a powerful moment when those officers first arrived at the park.
Wow. Powerful moment at Memorial Park. Moments after police arrived and prostestors started chanting again and began walking down to Copia. WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/tGsirjK0vA @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/y8uRTcJZYT
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
The situation started to get tense in the park at points during the demonstrations as protesters blocked police.
Things starting to escalate near Memorial Park. Protestors are forcing the police units to reverse. @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/73OEiuEhs8
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
There were also concerns that tensions could escalate and confrontations or clashes take place.
Another video from the one of the areas near Memorial Park that escalated. @abc7breaking pic.twitter.com/k4rTlLhTpH
— Brianna Chávez KVIA ABC-7 (@bri_chavez) June 1, 2020
Some officers reported being assaulted by having bottles thrown at them in a few incidents at Copper and Copia, one of the main march spots.
Areas were cleared. Some in crowd surrounded officer and threw bottles at officer on motor https://t.co/OI0bc6goP1
— EL PASO POLICE DEPT (@EPPOLICE) June 1, 2020
In another instance, a police SWAT vehicle was spray-painted by protesters.
Marchers, many of them kneeling, surround an El Paso police tactical van. Someone spray painted the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/SjfWgbDOPN
— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) June 1, 2020
Officers took a knee with some of those protesters to diffuse the potentially confrontational situation and keep it from getting out of hand.
An incredibly powerful moment. https://t.co/1aBxcFuKMA
— Stephanie Valle (@StephanieValle7) June 1, 2020
There was another instance of officers taking a knee later in the night outside the police department as protesters and officers shared a musical moment.
Things are at ease right now. Protesters got a little reggae going, this guys dancing up a storm and some of the cops here at taking a knee when it’s chanted at them by the crowd. #ElPaso #Texas #protest #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/ZwIXkqDhFB
— Michael Gordon KVIA ABC-7 (@MichaelGordonTV) June 1, 2020
Some protesters had left the park at dusk before things got rowdy and headed back again to the police headquarters building.
Protestors heading back to police station pic.twitter.com/w0ZOK70RVz
— Wil Herren KVIA ABC-7 (@WilHerrenKVIA) June 1, 2020
As night fell, hundreds remained outside police headquarters.
I’d say about 300-325 or so people out front of police HQ. Maybe a hair more #ElPaso #texasprotests #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/6wMdIuCYCo
— Michael Gordon KVIA ABC-7 (@MichaelGordonTV) June 1, 2020
Things were boisterous there but remained mostly peaceful into the night.
Passionate but peaceful right now in front of El Paso police HQ #GeorgeFloyd #ElPaso pic.twitter.com/Bs61GTdLmu
— Michael Gordon KVIA ABC-7 (@MichaelGordonTV) June 1, 2020
Some even shared free water and pizza with their fellow protesters at the demonstration scenes.
Really a nice community moment here. Folks handing out cold water and pizza. Not so crazy about the bare hands all touching that pizza box though #ElPaso pic.twitter.com/1DKHlQKVHv
— Michael Gordon KVIA ABC-7 (@MichaelGordonTV) June 1, 2020
El Paso's was the latest of many demonstrations taking place in cities across the nation sparked by the recent death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, one of whom is now charged with his murder.
The El Paso demonstration, word of which was spread by social media, was the first protest to occur in the Sun City. The department's headquarters was struck by vandals early Saturday morning who spray-painted messages about Floyd on some walls of the building.
Saunday's protest crowd in El Paso was dominated by younger people.
Hundreds of El Pasoans now marching to El Paso police headquarters. Crowd dominated by young people. Very emotional, peaceful protest. Police escorting marchers. pic.twitter.com/Dg5kQ3U4C3
— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) June 1, 2020
The protesters gathered initially by the hundreds in the park before heading to the police headquarters.
A couple hundred people are already gathered in El Paso’s Memorial Park to protest the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. They’re taking a knee now and plan to march to police headquarters. pic.twitter.com/7L3QXrfIWj
— Bob Moore (@BobMooreNews) June 1, 2020
The only other protest in the Borderland this weekend involved dozens of college students along Main Street in Las Cruces in a rally that was peaceful.
Some other protests this weekend across Texas in cities like Dallas, Houston and Austin turned confrontational and violent at times, resulting in hundreds of arrests.
I hope the police are smart enough to post someone outside to watch in case someone wants to tag the building again!
I think they have officers surrounding the building. Hope there is no trouble. We don’t need that kind of stuff here.
You hope they are smart enough K1DPR? Lol. No need to say more. Lol. Madmike and his 8th grade level thinking is not good. He will probably pull out an eraser. Lol.
Antifa leads protest efforts to remove or destroy Confederate monuments of hateful history. It’s No wonder that closet Klansman Terrorist Trump is against them
David Duke was a Republican.
First of all “antifa” is not an organization. Second, the statute you keep referring to addresses only “foreign” terrorist organizations.
True, but the statute only authorizes investigations of domestic organizations via Section 802 of the Patroit Act. It provides no criminal penalty. Criminal penalties under §2331 are only or currently authorized for foriegn terrorist organizations.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a Sunday statement that the regional Joint Terrorism Task Forces of the FBI have been directed to locate and apprehend Antifa leaders.
His statement was issued after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would be declaring Antifa a domestic terrorist organization for its alleged involvement in the terrorizing of major cities after the death of George Floyd. You’ll get visitors soon, Alberto Velarde
There are no antifa leaders. That’s the point. Antifa is not an organization.
Looks like the multiple personalities of the scummy slime alberto is showing up to protest what?
The democrat controlled cities like EL Paso going out and burning and looting what they haven’t earned? The stores and places where poor people gather to make a living or gather with their families?
That’s what communists do people. Destroy what they don’t earn. Typical run city by the communists.
El Paso hasn’t looted or burned anything nadodave. If anything we had a white supremacist come murder over 20 people back in August so back off bro. Your stupid labels won’t change a thing.
White Supremacists are registered democrats? Well yeah I guess that makes sense, never mind then.
We aren’t communists like you. We support the Constitution. Not hide in the sewer like you and your multiple personalities. Only thugs like you want to destroy this country and El Paso.
Remember during the McCarthy era that it was the communists who were supporting the Constitution.
As it turned out, McCarthy was right
Extremism left or right is not good for our country. All of us, Democrats and Republicans should act to fight it if we truly love this country.
Amen Mark but the KVIA trolls are extremists themselves and you can’t fix stupid.
The Democrat Party should be declared a domestic terrorist organization. BTW – It’s the leftist extremist anarchists destroying libtard cities you dolt.
THis is my real name, I don’t hide behind stupid screen names like nadodave, fero2a, real maga, and madmike. That’s cowardly. If 45 is going to designate Antifa a terrorist group, he needs to do the same to all the white nationalist groups. #paradigmshift
Lol. Name one “white supremist” group not named the KKK, which is wholy owned subsidiary of the Democrat party.
.
Ya. None.
.
There are probably like 150 “white supremists” in the USA, and none anywhere near your dumbazz.
Not hiding, just unable to join in any more. Protesting is a young person’s game, and sadly, I am no longer young.
So I guess this whole rona thing is over and we can open everything up I mean what’s the point right now to even worrry about social distancing or peaks in numbers? I don’t want one cop or authority to harass me for wearing a face mask in public. Where is Joy Behar telling these people they are giving up their right to treatment? This is not a Trump issue it’s a cop in Minnesota that killed someone and got arrested and should go to jail for a long a time. This isn’t equality issue………what are they yelling at cops who happen to be African American?
Be that as it may, she sure has the orange buffoon figured out, doesn’t she?
Not hiding, just unable to join in any more. Protesting is a young person’s game, and sadly, I am no longer young. But in my day, 1964-84, I was on the front lines, protecting this country so the likes of you could run your mouth.
Voice of reason… thank you.
But it was El Paso Police Department who ran in to Walmart that dreadful day. …
“My heart sank when I saw police in riot gear. It broke when I heard the popping from tear gas”——
— what for you think they were going to do? Wait another opportunist Uses this relatively peaceful protest to spray paint another wall or police vehicle? Wait until fights start? Wait until looting starts around memorial park homes? Guess who we’ll be calling? 911.
Your heart broke? Lol. That’s female lingo.
Guys what happened to social distancing, staying inside, wearing masks? Is EPPD going to hand out citations for these losers like they did the other batch of losers who protested the lockdown?
So it’s largely meaningless and the lockdowns, stay at home orders, social distancing requirements weren’t justified is what you’re saying? Cool.
Everyone I disagree with is a nazi. A child’s guide to dealing with political debate.
You’re a moron and watch your language, boy.
Fool. I was outside on my lawn as your compadres streamed past my house, past my AWESOME “TRUMP 2020” flags on my 20′ residential flag pole to Memorial Park, then on to P.D. H.Q., on Raynor.
.
I brought my buddy 12guage with me, had his own chair, with two boxes of shells.
.
Some punks RAN THEIR MOUTHES, but none came on the property.
.
Mostly naive, dumb kids – but a few “tough guys.” Lol.
I keep a UTS-15 next to the door. google it!
Try googling UTS-15 dumbass. It is just waiting next to my door for you or your punk friends to show up.
Mostly peaceful kids – young, dumb and full of bull, but a few hardcores got into it down the block on Copper by the library.
.
There are still p.d. units down by “Dog Face Lying Pony Soldier” Escobar’s house, but it’s basically quiet.
Come on by, I’ll be here waiting. Fool.
I’ll fight you. Anytime.
Omg. Fight me? I don’t want APS to come down on me. You idiotic elderly dumbass!
Kapernick is right!!!!! Pigs!!!!!!
Let’s place the cards on the table.
It are your mutts. Belong nowhere. Ouch.
No, EPPD protects you and your ilk. We’ll wait it out when PD finally decides your not worth the hassle.
We can pull out your posts and see if they are in line with your employment policies. As long as you don’t work for the government you be ok.
” Thousands protest police brutality at El Paso police headquarters & Memorial Park”
Thousands protest? B.S. KVIA and it’s leftist reporters to include Jim Parker must be dumb and blind. Can’t count. KVIA: Where Fake Leftist News Comes First.
The leftist media has fueled these riots. Emboldened the anarchists. Cheering them on. In the end what did they accomplish? If KVIA Jim Parker deleted all of dumbass Alberto’s rants then he would have no leftists ranting at this crappy web site. Other local media like KTSM reported thousands but adjusted that figure to a little over one thousand. Fake news as usual.
It’s not your dime,you don’t pay taxes. I tripple dip, Army retirement,federal retirement and social security.
I already found all of them. You don’t need an attorney. Just some good computer skills and patience.
You don’t have to be a lawyer. All you have to do is be able to read and think.
It is illegal in Texas to give any legal advice and act like a lawyer without a license to practice law. No SBN? Jesus, such a moron!
We just got a good picture of the level of your character. Thanks. Now there is little doubt.
My neighbors are EPPD, EPSO and a New Mexico State Police Trooper. We eagerly await you
It’s not your dime,you don’t pay taxes. I tripple dip, Army retirement,federal retirement and social security.
Me likewise, a triple dipper, only Navy!
The left can never again ask the question: “Why do you need an AR-15?”
I’m still waiting for that dumbass loser Beto to come and take mine. LMAO.
So you support antifa
Antifa is not a foriegn terrorist organization. It is a loosely knit bunch of rabble-rousers with no centralized leadership. We have no statutes in the US Code that addresses domestic terrorism. Maybe we need one. Contact your congressional representatives and make your concerns known.
USC also covers domestic terrorist organizations like the old Weather Underground, Animal Liberation Front. Within a couple of days, ANTIFA will be joining that pack of scum.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a Sunday statement that the regional Joint Terrorism Task Forces of the FBI have been directed to locate and apprehend Antifa leaders.
His statement was issued after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would be declaring Antifa a domestic terrorist organization for its alleged involvement in the terrorizing of major cities after the death of George Floyd.
Let me guess the FBI buildings Mesa Hills was defaced with RIP GEORGE FLOYD
Hardly, there is a huge wrought iron fence and armed Federal Protective Service guards.
Making threats against federal law enforcement??
That’s it for me. The peanut gallery is just getting way too childish today.
I live on the far west side. Haven’t seen any of that crap here.
The peanut gallery occupied by those nutty Republikklans like asshole Al Val and meth-head Mad Mike, to name a few who happen to be domestic terrorist, Patrick Crusius sympathizers. EL PASO STRONG tho 🏋️💪
ANTIFA posted in Twitter that they are going into the suburbs and take what is theirs. Also reportedly driving around suburban areas, taking photos of houses with a marked unit in the driveway.
If your statement is correct then it’s time Madmike: So called antifas are bringing it to you! No more trash talking or sideline cheerleaders. Go get em madmike!!!!! Mucho macho Madmike and his 5 good balls stayed up all night. Lol.
I am well prepared, are you? Especially when you can’t even be in possession of ammo, much less, firearms!
No unconstitutional Red Flag laws here bub.
Evidently red flag laws have been found constitutional in most all of the Circuits. When the issue has been presented, it has been found constitutional every time. All one needs to know they are necessary here in Texas how to get to this blog and read the comments of the gun toters.
You have no say so here, you aren’t even allowed to own a firearm due to your mental condition as well as your criminal past
Moot issue in Texas moron. No red flag laws. But red flag laws include morons like you who threaten people with a baseball bat or other weapons not just guns. Such a moron.