Violent Anti-Cop Protests End in Hundreds of Arrests, Multiple Officers Injured in Minnesota, Louisiana

Black Lives Matter demonstrators shut down a Minneapolis freeway late Saturday while protesting the deaths of two black men at the hands of white police officers.

Philando Castile was one of the men who died after being shot by police during a routine traffic stop in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, last week. Since the fatal shooting, individuals have gathered outside the Minnesota governor's mansion. But on Saturday, they marched from the executive residence to Interstate 94, shutting down the major artery, which connects the Twin Cities, for more than five hours.

The situation only escalated from there as protesters threw rocks, bottles and even firecrackers at city police officers and Minnesota state troopers. Police told WCCO-TV that more than 100 people were arrested and 21 members of law enforcement were injured. All of them are expected to recover.

Explosions going off in the middle of protestors on I94 #PhilandoCastile pic.twitter.com/KmpivkNbpU

— Brandon Long (@BLongStPaul) July 10, 2016

BREAKING: Protestors on I-94 now throwing fireworks at police. pic.twitter.com/RffGiOCKtn

— Timothy Blotz (@TimBlotzFOX9)

July 10, 2016

Video from the demonstration captured a number of individuals chanting "f*** the police." Others reportedly shouted "abolish the police."

Black Lives Matter continue to dance in St Paul after blocking the I-94. pic.twitter.com/yTx1yDFduC

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 10, 2016

#BlackLivesMatter protesters on i94 in Saint Paul, Minnesota chanting "abolish the police." Have thrown fireworks and injured 1 officer.

— Danielle Butcher (@DaniSButcher)

July 10, 2016

“It’s really a disgrace,” St. Paul police Chief Todd Axtell said during a news conference Sunday. “Protesters last night turned into criminals, and I am absolutely disgusted by the acts of some. Not all, but some.”

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said some of the protesters brought their children, in some cases using them as human shields against police.

In Louisiana, where Alton Sterling died during a confrontation with police outside a convenience store, 102 more people were arrested during anti-police protests Saturday night, including Black Lives Matter leader DeRay Mckesson.

Hundreds gather to protest outside Baton Rouge store where man was shot and killed by police https://t.co/RFYsSZwkJIhttps://t.co/85tucChtg6

— ABC News (@ABC) July 6, 2016

Officers were seen standing in riot gear, including shields, helmets, rifles and vests.

Airline is shut down at BRPD. I got pushed by a cop for not moving fast enough @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/Pwv6z65V3K

— Mark Armstrong (@TvMarkArmstrong) July 9, 2016

Louisiana's governor, John Bel Edwards, was scheduled to hold a news conference on Sunday to address the overnight protests.

(H/T: KMSP-TV)

—

Follow the author of this story on Twitter and Facebook:

Follow @jonstreet