Racial Injustice Protests Turn Violent In Several U.S. Cities

ACROSS AMERICA — Clashes between protesters and police turned violent in several U.S. cities Friday night, underscoring growing tensions amid a week punctuated by deadly police shootings and gun violence.

Protests in cities including Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and Oakland, California, were part of days of demonstrations planned in recognition of those killed in recent police shootings.

Those dead include 13-year-old Adam Toledo of Chicago and Daunte Wright, a Black man who was shot during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a small Minneapolis suburb.

• RELATED: Ex-Cop Kim Potter Charged In Death Of Daunte Wright; Protesters Gather In Chicago After Adam Toledo Video Release

Meanwhile, police are still piecing together what happened when a lone shooter opened fire Thursday night at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, leaving eight people dead and several more injured.

In the background, the country also awaits closing arguments in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd last summer.

After days of extensive and emotional testimony, closing arguments will begin Monday, after which the jury will begin deliberating whether to convict Chauvin of second-degree unintentional homicide and other charges.

Here's a look at how protests unfolded Friday night:

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

At least 100 people were arrested during the sixth night of protests following the death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright at the hands of Brooklyn Center police.

What started as a peaceful crowd of 250 people swelled to more than 500 by nightfall, according to an ABC News report. Officials said they saw small groups of people bringing plywood, shields, umbrellas and liquid bottles to the protest.

By 9 p.m., crowds attempted to breach the fence surrounding Brooklyn Center police headquarters.

"I'm saddened by what happened," Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson said during a news conference Friday night, ABC reported. "Trying to cut down the fence to get into a safe area, their intentions are to cause harm to either the building or the police officers and deputies inside the fence. We need to grieve; we don’t need to have more problems with destruction and deputies hurt, officers hurt."

Protests in the small Minneapolis suburb started Sunday after Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter shot Wright during a traffic stop. The police chief said Potter, who is white, meant to use her stun gun but somehow drew her pistol instead.

Potter resigned and has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.

Portland, Oregon

Police declared a riot in the city, arresting four people after protesters smashed windows, burglarized businesses and set multiple fires during demonstrations Friday night.

Protests in the city started after Portland police fatally shot a man while responding to reports of a person with a gun, The Associated Press reported.

Deputy Police Chief Chris Davis told reporters a white man in his 30s had been shot and killed in Portland by police. The man was pronounced dead at the scene in Lents Park, AP reported.

Protesters demonstrated near the active scene, and police said they had used pepper spray on protesters in order to keep them away. Some people hit officers with sticks and chased them as they were leaving, according to The AP.

Portland has been the site of frequent protests involving violent clashes between officers and demonstrators. Following George Floyd's death, Portland saw demonstrations for more than 100 straight days, according to The AP.

Earlier this week, a crowd set a fire outside the city's police union headquarters following recent fatal police shootings in Chicago and Minneapolis.

• RELATED: Riot Declared In Portland Protests After Police Kill Man
  

Oakland, California

In Oakland, what began as a peaceful demonstration later erupted into violence, leaving windows shattered and fires set, according to several reports. Photos and videos posted online showed marchers with signs and flags. Many chanted the names Wright and Toledo.

Some 25o to 300 people were involved in the march, the Oakland Police Department said. A Honda car dealership was damaged after its showroom windows were smashed, at least one car was set on fire, several spot fires were lit and another blaze was ignited outside of a bank.

During the march, police said protesters "assaulted one of our community members" and hurled bottles and other objects at officers. One officer was reportedly struck in the head with a bottle and suffered an injury.

• RELATED: Fires Set, Windows Broken Amid Police Brutality March In Oakland

Chicago, Illinois

Thousands of demonstrators rallied and marched in Logan Square on Friday. While demonstrations remained mostly peaceful, some protesters did clash with police.

As the demonstration came to an end around 10 p.m., a scuffle broke out between police and a small group of protesters, according to reports.