Chinese in San Francisco give strong backing to demonstrators

San Francisco's Chinese community has expressed solidarity with African Americans following the police killing of George Floyd, despite the losses they sustained during the looting.

Businesses in San Francisco sustained widespread damage on May 30 after what started as peaceful protests turned into a storm of looting. The looting reached Chinatown around 11:30 pm, said Leanna Louie, a member of a neighborhood watch group United Peace Corps.

Louie said about 50 looters ransacked stores on Grant Avenue, mostly jewelry stores, in Chinatown, when she and two other members were patrolling the neighborhood in their car.

Afraid of more looting and vandalism, many stores have closed or reduced hours, and some have put up "for rent" signs. Since Monday night there have been more police in Chinatown, said Louie.

While condemning the looting, she said she supported the black community and peaceful protests against police brutality. "Almost all my neighbors are African Americans and most of my friends are African Americans," Louie said.

Demonstrations continued across the US on the weekend, following the death of Floyd.