WASHINGTON — Loud noises and explosions were heard in D.C.'s Petworth neighborhood on Wednesday. Fire officials in the District want residents to know that they are fireworks from protests over the death of George Floyd.
Fireworks have been used by protesters during the six days of demonstrations in D.C. Some have even fired these fireworks at law enforcement during nighttime demonstrations. But this has been less of an occasion in recent days.
D.C. Police did respond to the area. But just like D.C. Fire, the department believes it is fireworks.
Residents in the Petworth neighborhood of D.C. speculated about what making the loud explosions and took to Twitter to find out more information. Some thought it could be a transformer blowing due to the hot temperatures D.C. saw Wednesday. Others speculated at it being firework from protesters.
Protesters were out Wednesday evening going into Thursday morning. Around midnight, there was a large group of people gathered near Capitol Hill standing face-to-face with members of the National Guard.
Days of protests have been seen across D.C., Maryland and Virginia over the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. Minnesota officials said Wednesday that all four officers allegedly involved in the death have been charged with crimes.
The Memorial Day viral video showed Floyd being pinned down by his neck by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Floyd, who is repeatedly heard in the video saying he can't breath and asking for Chauvin to get off his neck, died that day.
Chauvin is being charged with 2nd degree murder, while the other three officers are being charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter.
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