Since the protests inspired by the death of George Floyd began in Chattanooga on May 30, police have made at least 28 arrests, 25 of which took place during the first three days of the demonstrations, according to Hamilton County court records.
Protesters have taken to the streets across the nation and world demanding action from their city governments and police departments after Floyd, a handcuffed black man, died as a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him to the ground with his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
About half of those arrested in Chattanooga face charges stemming from either refusing to get out of the road or resisting a police line. Others face more serious allegations, including two firearm-related arrests, as well as stealing police riot gear, throwing rocks or fireworks at police and protesters or destroying or vandalizing public property.
The first group of arrests came after protesters resisted police efforts to push them from the intersection of Frazier Avenue and Tremont Street into Coolidge Park on May 30. Some physical altercations broke out between protesters and police, and at least five people were taken to the Hamilton County Jail that night.
The following day, three men were arrested for allegedly vandalizing two lampposts on the steps of the Hamilton County Courthouse on Georgia Avenue.