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Los Angeles police fire tear gas at crowds celebrating Lakers’ NBA championship

Monday, 12 October 2020 10:35 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 12 October 2020 12:13 PM ]

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US police fire tear gas amid tensions with fans after Lakers win in Los Angeles, California, on October 11, 2020. (Photo by RT)

Los Angeles police have fired tear gas as clashes broke out with crowds celebrating LA Lakers’ victory in the 2020 NBA Finals during a joyful Sunday night.

Videos from the scene showed tear gas grenades exploding in the middle of an unruly crowd.

Los Angeles Lakers fans packed the streets around the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday night to celebrate the Lakers’ 17th NBA title.

People convened for the celebration despite Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s pleas not to gather outside during the coronavirus pandemic.

At one point fans engaged in confrontations with riot police, who responded with projectiles amid the mostly joyful spirit.

The Lakers claimed their 17th NBA title after defeating the Miami Heat 106-93 on Sunday night.

The US police violence set off nationwide protests earlier this year after the killing of African-American George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May.

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Tensions also escalated as far-right extremist white supremacists and Trump supporters faced off against Black Lives Matter demonstrators ahead of the presidential election.

In September, Kyle Rittenhouse, a Trump supporter, shot three protesters, two fatally, with an assault rifle in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during protests against police violence. The 17-year-old vigilante has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

US Attorney General William Barr called on top prosecutors last month to bring a rarely used sedition charge against people protesting against police and racism.

Trump has been under scrutiny for his response to a series of fatal incidents involving police officers and black citizens that have largely fueled the Black Lives Matter demonstrations across the US.

The president has even deployed his federal forces to crack down on anti-racism demonstrations in US cities, including Portland, where protesters remained on the streets practically for several weeks.

Trump has accused Democratic leaders of supporting “civil unrest” in Portland and other cities and attributed the violence to “political opportunists.”

Democratic leaders, in response, have accused Trump of taking political advantage by promoting hate and violence.

Trump has recently said that he has no responsibility “at all” to understand the pain and anger felt by Black people in the US.