George Floyd protests spread nationwide

Tensions mount as thousands of people gather in Atlanta to protest the death of George Floyd. 

Protesters can be heard chanting and seen facing a line of police near the CNN building.

Armored vehicles can be seen at the CNN center, and protesters could be seen running in fear of possible tear gas.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a tweet today she encouraged residents to peacefully protest.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp shared Lance Bottoms tweet on his official Twitter account. 

A group of protesters in downtown Minneapolis took a knee in front of state patrol and National Guard for 9 minutes for George Floyd. They raised their arms and chanted “I can’t breathe”

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds according to a preliminary report from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

Multiple protests are erupting across the country, including in Georgia, Kentucky, New York and Wisconsin, following the death of George Floyd, and are expected to continue through the weekend.

Floyd’s death, like those of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, have sparked outrage across the nation.

In New York City, hundreds of people protesting peacefully wearing face masks could be seen gathering outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

In Kentucky, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer asked for protesters to be peaceful in his city, following Taylor's death in March.

"These protests certainly reflect the anger, the hurt, the frustration, and the exhaustion of so many in our community in our country, sick of seeing story after story of black lives ending at the hands of law enforcement," he said.

Fischer said Louisville would not tolerate violence and will protect the city and its residents from any attempts of violence or property damage.

He also reminded protesters that the city remains in the middle of pandemic, urging people to be safe with their health and the health of others.

Roseville Mayor Dan Roe said he issued an emergency declaration and established a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time for the next three days.

Roseville shares borders with both Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The curfew goes into effect at 5 p.m., the mayor's tweet said.

Similar curfews have been ordered in St. Paul and Minneapolis following protests over George Floyd's death.

Former Vice President Joe Biden called the charges brought against Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer involved in the death of George Floyd, "justified.”

Biden said if he were President now, he'd have ordered a "full blown" Justice Department civil rights probe to determine the culpability of all the officers involved in the incident.

"I don't know all the facts," Biden said. "The answer is it warrants a full-blown investigation and a civil rights investigation as well. Were I president now, I would have the Justice Department civil rights department investigating right now to determine culpability."

Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2020 election, told CNN's Don Lemon he finds President Trump's comments amid the protests "thoroughly irresponsible."

"I think he's thoroughly irresponsible. Thoroughly irresponsible. I mean, it is just absolutely — he talks like — I'm afraid I'll say something I'll regret. I just find him thoroughly, totally irresponsible," Biden said.

He later added while pushed by Lemon: "This President steps across the line constantly."

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Hundreds of demonstrators and faith leaders gathered in New York City's Foley Square in lower Manhattan to protest the death of George Floyd.

A large police presence could seen as protesters made their way across the Brooklyn Bridge with many of them chanting "Black Lives Matter."

The march, organized by the NYC Justice League, urged people to be safe amid the coronavirus pandemic.

President Trump said he doesn't want the looters in Minneapolis to "drown out the voices" of protesters following the death of George Floyd.

He said the memory of Floyd should “be a perfect memory.” 

“The looters should not be allowed to drown out the voices of so many peaceful protesters they hurt so badly, what is happening and it’s so bad for the state and their great city,” he continued.

“I understand the hurt. I understand the pain. People have really been through a lot. The family of George is entitled to justice and the people of Minnesota are entitled to live in safety,” he said.

The city of Saint Paul imposed a curfew Friday beginning at 8 p.m. CT (9 p.m. ET), Mayor Melvin Carter announced at a news conference. 

“I have signed an emergency order, declaring a state of local emergency around this situation in St. Paul right now, and also establishing a citywide curfew that will start at 8 o'clock p.m. tonight and then we'll continue until 6 a.m. tomorrow morning,” Carter said.

He said the order exempts members of the media and workers returning home from work.

Carter said that the curfew would be enforced on Friday and Saturday nights.