SANTA MONICA, Calif. _ Hundreds of protesters converged on Santa Monica on Sunday to continue demonstrations expressing outrage over the police killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd, while some looters targeted stores in the area.
The demonstrators walked from the Santa Monica Pier north along Ocean Avenue, carrying signs and chanting. They then moved downtown before going to the Police Department. The march was peaceful, officials said.
"A peaceful protest is underway along Ocean Avenue between Montana and Colorado," the city said in a statement issued at 1:15 p.m. "The Santa Monica Police Department is on site and has a presence throughout the community."
Amid the demonstration, however, several stores were looted in the downtown area.
Video showed dozens of people breaking into the Santa Monica Place shopping mall and emerging with armloads of clothing. The mall entrance was blocked off by a gate barrier, but looters got through.
The looting appears to have been separate from the march, which moved around Ocean Avenue and massed in front of the pier. In one case, someone broke the window of a pharamacy before walking away.
By 2 p.m., police had arrived at the mall. The nearby Third Street Promenade was cordoned off by police.
Santa Monica also extended its curfew, from 8 p.m. Sunday to 5:30 a.m. Monday.
