'You are here profiting off of our fucking pain'

On Saturday night, while a group of looters were smashing windows and damaging property along Second Avenue, Desiree Barnes made an impassioned plea to the group.

Barnes, reportedly a former aide in the Obama White House, approached the group between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place around 9 p.m. ... where Dan LaDue began capturing her video ...

View this post on Instagram

The last 24 hours have been a journey. After talking with people I respect and some sleep, the right thing to do is for this to stay up. I have to stand by what I know I felt from her in that moment of wanting to get her message out. The resonance from people from all walks of life, all across the board, both sides of the aisle, is something I haven't seen from people in a long time. She's a New Yorker, she knew what she was doing. She's frustrated and wanted to be heard. Some people don't want that opinion heard. And based off the overwhelming amount of messages people sent yesterday, she isn't alone. I stand by what I did. I'm out here now looking for her, hope to have an update soon. Please share, thank you. Edit: the legend @dnbarnes

A post shared by Dan LaDue (@danladue) on Jun 1, 2020 at 11:34am PDT

Scenes from the start of last night's peaceful protest on Avenue D

Hundreds of people gathered last evening on Avenue D and Ninth Street — one of the many peaceful gatherings citywide against police brutality sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The starting point for this protest is also the spot where several NYPD officers were involved in violent arrests on May 2.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy was at the start of the protest, which moved along Ninth Street to Avenue C and eventually to East Houston... the final stop was the Barclay's Center...

More post-protest looting and unrest south of Union Square; Astor Place hit

[Photo by Ed Yoo]

The end of the fifth night of protests in the city saw more damage and looting to businesses in the hard-hit area south of Union Square.

Nearly two hours before the city's 11 p.m. curfew, looters were seen smashing their way into the Zumiez store on 13th Street and Broadway. Photographer Ed Yoo shared these images, saying that "it was nuts." (All photos here are by Ed.)



The Daily News has footage of the looters smashing their way into the skateboard apparel shop. They were inside for two minutes before police arrived.

The paper spoke with two of the men breaking into the store:

"It’s not just about George Floyd. It's about people who can't afford things," said one looter, a 22-year-old Bedford-Stuyvesant resident who gave the name Twin Moses. "We're going to sell this stuff back on the street for a lower price. We're getting our own back."

Another looter, who didn't give his name, rushed out of the store with his arms full of hoodies, designer sportswear and skateboards. "They've been beating my ass for 400 years. Now I'm going to buy my own chains. They call me black. Black America," he said.

Further south, windows were smashed at the Gap Women, Kmart and Starbucks on Astor Place...





The Astor Place Starbucks appears to have been ransacked...







Windows were broken at Kmart, but it's unclear if anyone entered the store... there appears to be security inside...







As in previous days, the citywide protests against racist police violence in the aftermath of George Floyd's death were said to be peaceful. However, as multiple published reports noted, as night falls, people use the crowd as cover.

Mayor de Blasio has announced an 8 p.m. curfew for today...

These protests have power and meaning. But as the night wears on we are seeing groups use them to incite violence and destroy property.

Our first priority is keeping people safe, so I’m extending the curfew to Tuesday. It will begin at 8pm.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 2, 2020

Mayor extends curfew to 8 tonight

These protests have power and meaning. But as the night wears on we are seeing groups use them to incite violence and destroy property.

Our first priority is keeping people safe, so I’m extending the curfew to Tuesday. It will begin at 8pm.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 2, 2020

The curfew will be in place through Sunday for now.

Monday's parting shot

A reader photo offering an aerial view of one of the peaceful protests early this evening... as the crowded was heading west along Houston at Avenue A... this marked the fifth straight day in NYC to denounce the death of George Floyd and cases of police brutality around the country...

The aftermath of looting on the Bowery last night

Multiple businesses along the Bowery were vandalized and looted last night ...this is the aftermath from the group who had started fires and broken windows earlier on Third Avenue...

EVG contributor Stacie Joy looked at the damage at the 7-Eleven between Third Street and Fourth Street. The convenient store was looted...









Windows were smashed at the Sweetgreen right next door... it's unknown if anything was taken...



... Gemma was hit next door to the Bowery Hotel...



... there appeared to be looting at the Trek Bicycle Shop between First Street and Houston...



Other broken windows were spotted at the Crunch on Fourth Street...



... and the Whole Foods Bowery at East Houston...

Restaurant windows smashed along Avenue A, St. Mark's Place

Reports are coming in about smashed windows along Avenue A between 12th Street and 14th Street... Christine Champagne took these photos, showing the damage at Au Za'atar, Baker's Pizza, Gomi and Planet Rose...







Witnesses say the damage was done by the "fake protestors" using the George Floyd rallies as cover for vandalism.

Updated

Jackflashnyc has photos of the damage at Caffe Bene at 13th Street...



... and Convive Wine and Spirits a few storefronts to the south, where looters took the register but not any alcohol...



Also:

@evgrieve raclette restaurant on 12th and liquor store on avenue A and 12th street 🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/2fvAYf0XEz

— jeffrey blum (@jeffreyblum) June 1, 2020

Updated 8:15 a.m.

Riian Kant-McCormick reports that a window was broken at Empellón Al Pastor on Avenue A at St. Mark's Place...



More restaurant doors and windows were broken along St. Mark's Place, per Steven...





Vinny & O report that the front door at Desi Galli on Avenue B between 10th Street and 11th Street was smashed...