Home Depot is closed in Calumet City following Sunday’s looting of stores in River Oaks Mall and along Torrence Avenue
Demonstrations in response to George Floyd's death reach northwest Indiana
Contributed By:The 411 News
Aftermath of store lootings along Torrence Avenue in Calumet City
Sunday’s executive order by Gov. Eric Holcomb authorizing the state’s National Guard to assist any Indiana community needing help wasn’t required for the protesters gathered at SouthLake Mall as more demonstrations in response to the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman reached northwest Indiana Saturday and Sunday.
Hobart police did use tear gas to disperse the crowd at Southlake Mall Sunday afternoon.
The SouthLake Mall demonstration was mild compared to the looting and destruction that immediately followed Floyd’s death eight days ago. Minneapolis was the first to explode into arson fires and store lootings that next spread across the nation, including to Chicago and its suburbs.
Floyd’s death has filled streets once emptied by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Saturday afternoon a protest march was held in Hammond. Protesters also marched in Munster on Sunday, prompting some businesses to close early.
Sunday afternoon, stores were looted along Torrence Avenue near River Oaks Mall in Calumet City. Police in that city recommended businesses close.
The NWI Times wrote, “Dramatic video footage shows scores of looters smashing windows with hammers and batons and hauling off armfuls of shoe boxes, lamps and other merchandise until police showed up with assault rifles and set off a gas canister in front of MyEyeDr. to disperse the crowd.”
Stores in Calumet City remained closed Monday until the foreseeable future. Police prohibited entry to Torrence Avenue between River Oaks Drive and 170th Street. Mounds of dirt, cement blocks, and trucks blocked entrances to River Oaks Mall and River Oaks Plaza.
Hammond partially blocked eastbound River Oaks Drive (165th Street) from Calumet City.
Monday in Gary, Mayor Jerome A. Prince issued a message to business owners. “Out of an abundance of caution, I strongly advise all non-manufacturing businesses of all kinds in the City of Gary to close effective 5:30 p.m. today, June 1. I strongly advise you to remain closed until 6 a.m. tomorrow, June 2.
The mayor said he was also prepared to enact more restrictive measures, including ordering the closure of businesses and enacting a citywide curfew to protect public safety.
On Monday, workers boarded up the Wig House in River Oaks
Sam’s Club used grocery carts to block parking lot entrances at its River Oaks store
Denny’s Restaurant entrance is blocked
Police blocked southbound traffic at the intersection of Torrence Avenue and River Oaks Drive
Story Posted:06/02/2020
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