![Police watch protestors in the streets at the intersection of Broad and High streets in downtown Columbus on Thursday. [nvimax_19 / Twitter]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/54d0674/2147483647/strip/true/crop/900x675+0+0/resize/840x630!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F05%2F864764090_918423888.jpg)
A protest against police brutality in downtown Columbus turned violent Thursday night. Protestors broke windows at the Ohio Statehouse and nearby businesses after a clash with Columbus police officers.
Around 400 people gathered at Broad and High streets to demonstrate over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Around 9:45 p.m., media outlets report some people clashed with police and started hurling water bottles, trash cans and other items at the officers. The officers responded by using pepper spray on some of the protestors.
Part of the crowd was forced back and then several demonstrators broke windows at the Statehouse and at some nearby businesses.
27 windows damaged at the @OhioStatehouse after a George Floyd protest that went on for hours in downtown Columbus pic.twitter.com/PGzeOF0r6v
— Karen Kasler (@karenkasler) May 29, 2020
Police arrested several of the protestors.
Mayor Andrew Ginther tweeted for protesters to remain peaceful.
I respect peaceful protests and ask residents to remain peaceful in their actions tonight and every night.
— Mayor Andrew Ginther (@MayorGinther) May 29, 2020
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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