“ARMED rednecks” stood guard in front of stores in Minneapolis on Wednesday night to protect from looting as people protested the death of George Floyd.
Two men with long beards who were carrying rifles said they supported those demonstrating against the death of Floyd, who died in police custody on Monday, but didn’t support the violence the city is seeing.
One of the men told the Minnesota Reformer: “Basically you see the records that cops keep. And cops are a lot less likely to try and tread on people’s rights when there’s other armed Americans with them.”
“I figured it’s about damn time that some heavily armed rednecks stood with fellow citizens.”
Another armed man told the news outlet he and a friend of his have been seeing which store owners need help to protect from looters.
“It turns out these guys are out here with machetes and shattered windows trying to keep looters out of the businesses ’cause cops can’t get in here,” the man said.
“So I figured before there were cops, there were just Americans, so here we are. Bottom line, justice for Floyd and I hope they stop looting at some point.”
Video from Monday night shows Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin holding Floyd, a 46-year-old who was suspected of using a forged check at a deli, down with his knee on his neck and his other knee in the middle of his back.
Floyd repeatedly said “I can’t breathe,” but Chauvin continued to pin him to the ground.
Minutes later, Floyd went unconscious and Chauvin did not remove his knee until the man was loaded onto a gurney.
Floyd’s cause of death is pending.
Demonstrators soon protested Floyd’s death and on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, clashed with police officers.
Protesters started out peacefully before descending into chaos as cops used rubber bullets, tear gas, and pepper spray.
Hours later, the Lake and Hiawatha areas had descended into total chaos, with looting, violence, and fires.
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At least one under construction apartment block was reported to have been burned down and a factory also caught fire.
Other unverified reports have claimed businesses such as Target, Wendy’s, and Aldi were also torched.
On Wednesday night, looters broke into shops and torched buildings — and protesters vandalized the city’s third police precinct where the officers involved in Floyd’s death were employed before they were fired.