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'They're Not With Us': Peaceful Protesters, Looters Clash In Long Beach

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) -- Groups of protesters marched through the city of Long Beach on Sunday to speak out against injustices against African Americans.

This was the fifth day of protests in the L.A.-area, but the first large gathering in Long Beach, following the deadly arrest of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.

For complete coverage of the situation in Minneapolis visit CBSMinnesota.com and stream CBSN Minnesota

Organized peaceful demonstrations throughout Long Beach consisted of holding up signs, chants for justice, kneeling, and choruses of "hands up, don't shoot" and "no justice, no peace."

Separately, just after 6 p.m., a crowd of more than two dozen people stormed a Hot Topic store at The Pike Outlets, breaking glass and running out with items from the store. Looting also continued at the El Super supermarket on Long Beach Boulevard and at Jean Machine.

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Protesters began clashing with people who were looting stores, urging them to stop.

Some fireworks were fired toward Long Beach police who were set up in a skirmish line near Pine Avenue and Broadway.

Long Beach fire crews also responded to a CVS pharmacy at Long Beach Boulevard and Sixth Street. The store appears to have been looted and a fire set inside.

CVS

Residents all across Los Angeles County are under a mandatory curfew from 6 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday. Long Beach's curfew was set to begin at 8 p.m.

Long Beach police said it has quadrupled units out in the city to respond to the unrest along with other departments. The National Guard was also called to assist in the city and they were en route as of 9:16 p.m.

Mayor Robert Garcia urged people participating in unlawful activity, saying in a press conference, "For all those who are looting and causing destruction in our city, you are not welcome in our community. You are not welcome in Long Beach."

Garcia also said that he supports the calls for justice against Floyd's death but does not condone the destruction of property and violence.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)

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