foley square where most were wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic this is the only way were going to be heardback in minneapolis the city where the protests began 29yearold sam allkija said the damage seen in recent days reflects longstanding frustration and rage in the black communityi dont condone them he said but you have to look deeper into why these riots are happeningminnesota gov tim walz who said local forces had been overmatched friday fully mobilized the states national guard and promised a massive show of force the guard announced saturday it had more than 4000 members responding to minneapolis and would quickly have nearly 11000the situation in minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of george floyd walz said it is about attacking civil society instilling fear and disrupting our great citiessoon after the citys 8 pm curfew went into force lines of police cars and officers in riot gear moved in to confront protesters firing tear gas to push away throngs of people milling around the citys 5th police precinct station the tougher tactics came after city and state leaders were criticized for not forcefully enough confronting days of violent and damaging protests that included protesters burning down a police station shortly after officers abandoned ittrump appeared to cheer on the tougher tactics being used by law enforcement saturday night he commended the guard deployment in minneapolis declaring no games and also said police in new york city must be allowed to do their jobovernight curfews were imposed in more than a dozen major cities nationwide ranging from 6 pm in parts of south carolina to 10 pm around ohio people were also told to be off the streets of atlanta denver los angeles seattle and minneapolis where thousands had ignored the same order friday nightmore than 1300 people have been arrested in 16 cities since thursday with more than 500 of those happening in los angeles on fridaythe unrest comes at a time when most americans have spent months inside over concerns surrounding the coronavirus which the president has called an invisible enemy the events of the last 72 hours seen live on national television have shown the opposite a sudden pivot to crowds screaming protesters and burning buildings a stark contrast to the empty streets of recent monthsquite frankly im ready to just lock people up atlanta police chief erika shields said at a news conference demonstrations there turned violent friday and police were arresting protesters saturday on blockedoff downtown streets yes you caught us off balance once its not going to happen twicethis weeks unrest recalled the riots in los angeles nearly 30 years ago after the acquittal of the white police officers who beat rodney king a black motorist who had led them on a highspeed chase the protests of floyds killing have gripped many more cities but the losses in minneapolis have yet to approach the staggering totals los angeles saw during five days of rioting in