I went to downtown D.C. this morning to take a look at the aftermath of last night’s George Floyd protests. I was early enough to be among the first sightseers watching bewildered store owners surveying the damage.
Most of the damage is limited to the area around Lafayette Square in downtown Washington. However, I saw property damage as far as the CVS in Mount Vernon Triangle, near Chinatown.
Vandalism from the George Floyd protest in downtown Washington D.C.
A coffee shop with its windows smashed out during the George Floyd protest in Washington D.C.
Vandalism from the George Floyd protest in Washington D.C. near the White House.
An office in downtown D.C. near the White House, which was vandalized during the George Floyd protest.
It’s a strange scene: Fresh spray paint covers buildings closest to the White House. Many places have broken windows, but a few were spared completely.
Security guards keep watch from inside of a cellphone store with crushed windows. Construction crews restore windows at higher-end buildings as tow trucks fetch damaged vehicles from the streets. Some vandalized banks are cordoned-off with caution tape but otherwise abandoned.
A restaurant with windows destroyed by the George Floyd protest in downtown Washington D.C.
A bank near the White House, which was vandalized during the George Floyd protest.
A bank near the White House, which was vandalized during the George Floyd protest.
Vandalism from the George Floyd protest in downtown Washington D.C.
Opaline restaurant with windows destroyed by the George Floyd protest in downtown Washington D.C.
Opaline restaurant with windows destroyed by the George Floyd protest in downtown Washington D.C.
I spoke to the owners of Lebanese Taverna, a local restaurant chain. The women were outside of their downtown restaurant trying to figure out what to do about the massive broken windows.
Unlike the banks next door, the restaurant owners didn’t think replacing the windows immediately was a good idea because more protests are expected this evening.
And although the owners said they were supportive of the protesters, they noted that their shop was damaged by someone who may have just wanted to cause trouble — specifically, they said a red-headed white teenager smashed their windows.
The office building manager came up and said he was finding security guards for tonight.
Lebanese Taverna with its windows smashed out during the George Floyd protest in Washington D.C.
For now, the damage appears to be mostly limited to broken windows and graffiti, but no one knows if (or when) that will change.
For this Sunday afternoon, the focus is sweeping broken glass and barricading as much as possible before nightfall. 🛠️
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