The city of Cleveland announced an extended curfew for downtown Cleveland. The current curfew is in effect from 8 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday "due to violence and unrest." The curfew will then be in effect from noon Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s office announced the curfew around 7:45 p.m. Saturday, just 15 minutes before its scheduled start time. It comes in response to the downtown protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The curfew is in effect throughout the central business district (see a map in the document below).
"Although demonstrations began peacefully today, they escalated into criminal activity with buildings vandalized, cars set on fire and looting of downtown businesses," Mayor Jackson's office said in a press release. "This is not an acceptable form of protesting. This is violent criminal activity."
The city warns that anyone downtown at this time is ordered to exit immediately. Those still out after 8 p.m. will be violating the order and are subject to arrest.
The curfew order prohibits people from "walking, running, loitering, standing or motoring" within the impacted area (except major interstates) during the restricted hours.
"All persons are asked to remain within their residences during the curfew unless remaining in their residences could constitute a risk to health or safety," the order states. "All businesses and places of employment located within the area are urged to close their business during the hours for which a curfew has been proclaimed."
The Cleveland Police Department tweeted around 7:36 p.m. that multiple downtown businesses had been vandalized and looted.