Hundreds of demonstrators again took the streets of downtown Los Angeles Sunday to demand justice and call for change following the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last week.
A large group of protesters assembled at Pershing Square on Sunday afternoon before beginning a march through the downtown area, according to aerial footage from the scene.
The demonstration appeared largely peaceful, although there was a tense moment shortly after 3 p.m. when a police SUV collided with two protesters, footage showed.
The pedestrians fell to the ground and immediately got back up. Others chased after the police vehicle and appeared to throw objects at it as it quickly backed up, turned around and sped away.
The involved officers were on their way to a robbery call when the collision took place, the LAPD said in a written statement.
They encountered a group of protestors, which caused them to slow to a stop, officials said.
“At that point, a group of individuals surrounded the police vehicle and threw objects into the vehicle shattering the rear window and damaging the driver’s side mirror,” according to the police statement. “Officers attempted to drive away, when people ran out in front of the cruiser. One of them was struck but got up and ran away before they could be identified.”
Police asked anyone with information to contact the department.
More than 500 National Guard troops arrived in L.A. overnight to assist local authorities in maintaining order. Another 500 were sent to greater Los Angeles County.
