Atlantic City Mayor Condemns Looting, Addresses Police Brutality
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — People should be angry about police brutality, says Marty Small, Sr. But the Atlantic City mayor believes that's no excuse for looting, which occurred as a peaceful protest Sunday for George Floyd concluded.
Seventeen people were arrested Sunday, including 11 not from Atlantic City. The city will enforce a 7 p.m. curfew until next Monday, Small said.
"People should be pissed," Small said. "I’m angry, and it happens time and time again in America. ... But I’m speaking about Atlantic City. People from Atlantic City need to step up when things are happening in Atlantic City."
A peaceful protest took place in Atlantic City on Sunday for Floyd, who was killed at the hands of Minneapolis police. But hours of peaceful protesting gave way to looting.
At least 20 businesses were damaged, Small said. As the peaceful protest concluded, a group of rioters walked along Atlantic Avenue, breaking windows and stealing merchandise, police said.
Even some businesses that weren't damaged chose to board up their windows.
"As soon as we started to open up businesses to give our economy some sense of normalcy, this happens," Small said.
People gathered Monday to help clean up the community.
"Coming together with our beautiful community to help clean up the damages by out of town vandals who attempted to ruin the message our fine citizens peacefully expressed during the day," the Atlantic City Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post.
The curfew may get lifted earlier if officials feel the city is no longer under threat, Small said.
"Don’t lose faith in the city of Atlantic City," he said. "We are doing great things. Our economy is going to rebound, and from going through COVID-19, we’re going to be stronger for it."
Floyd, a black man, was handcuffed and lying face down on a Minneapolis street Monday when officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. Floyd became unresponsive after 2 minutes, 53 seconds, according to the criminal complaint.
Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In the wake of Floyd's death, protests against racism and police brutality have sparked around the world.
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