The District of Columbia will enforce a 7 p.m. curfew Monday and Tuesday nights following a night of protests and fires in the city, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced.
It will mark the second and third consecutive nights of curfew. Late Sunday night, the District enacted an 11 p.m. curfew as some demonstrations near the White House turned violent.
Protesters in the District and in cities around the country have demonstrated following the death of a black man, George Floyd, in police custody in Minneapolis last week.
“As I said this weekend, we certainly empathize with the righteous cause that people are here protesting,” Miss Bowser said. “Every single American should be outraged by the murder of George Floyd. However, smashed windows and looting are becoming a bigger story than the broken systems that got us here.”
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham said the police made 88 arrests Sunday, 44 of which were charged with felony rioting. He said tactics used by “antagonists” Sunday appeared to be “organized in nature.” Seven MPD officers sustained minor injuries but did not need hospital care, Mr. Newsham said.
The chief issued a warning that “local and federal police” will take violators into custody.
Miss Bowser said the curfews will not affect voting in Tuesday’s local elections, and credentialed media are essential workers and exempt.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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