San Jose issues citywide curfew for next 7 days, declares local emergency
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose City Manager Dave Sykes has issued a citywide curfew effective Sunday evening as protests in response to the death of George Floyd continue.
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The curfew will be in effect from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., beginning Sunday, May 31 for the next seven days or until further notice.
There will be exceptions to the curfew that allow essential activities to continue, such as for the media, medical service providers and others.
The city has also proclaimed a local emergency to address the civil unrest
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Sykes said during a press conference on Sunday, "We obviously want to be able to support our community and their ability to protest. We have seen acts of violence and vandalism and looting and we need to be able to protect all of our residents."
"We should remember that each one of the hundreds of officers who have stood out in these protests has faced a large number of people Some of them who have been very angry," Mayor Liccardo said. "I'm very proud of the exceptional demonstration of restraint by hundreds of our officers and their professionalism has enabled the safe exercise of First Amendment rights for thousands of our residents and protesters."
RELATED: San Francisco mayor says citywide curfew is 'absolutely necessary' amid protests
Outside San Jose City Hall protesters expressed frustration over the city's new curfew.
"They don't have a curfew when it comes to opening the economy back for black people but they put a curfew when we are protesting for our lives again," said San Jose Resident, Myles White.
White is a tech worker who says all he wants is to be treated equally.
"We are tired of courtrooms not trying us fairly. We are tired of police looking at us and beating us to death," said White.
As tensions ran high police officer kept the line while many around them took a knee. In the crowd ABC7 News reporter Luz Peña met Palo Alto resident, Jennifer Newbury, to her this protest was personal.
RELATED: 38 people arrested, several officers injured in violent San Jose protests
"I wanted to be here with my sons. I wanted to be here with my sons. If you notice they are both black. It's important for me to support them," said Newbury.
In the last three days San Jose has experienced civil unrest, vandalism and violence.
"We have however seen episodes of violent conduct. Ranging from the horrific with the woman driving her SUC and injuring two bystanders," said Mayor Liccardo.
San Jose police is ramping up law enforcement around the city ahead of the curfew.
"Saturday we had about 200 of our officer and then the sheriff helped with about 40 and then tonight we have a full blown mutual aid of about 400 officers," said San Jose Police Department Chief, Eddie Garcia.
Chief Garcia says arrests will be made if necessary.
A citywide curfew has also been issued in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities across the country.
Take a look at the latest stories and videos about the investigation into George Floyd's death in Minneapolis.
VIDEO: SJ police escalate response with flashbang grenades, tear gas, rubber bullets
