Boston Night Of Violence Damage: Cleanup Begins [Photos]

BOSTON — After a night of looting and clashes between protesters and police, the city pivoted to clean up the destruction left in its wake.

City officials traveled around the Boston Common suited up in hazmat gear to clean graffiti from monuments, road signs and buildings.

Amid the chaos of Sunday night, Boston police said seven officers were injured so severely they had to be taken to the hospital and several more were treated at the scene. A total of 21 cruisers were damaged and some 40 people were arrested. At least one cruiser was set ablaze on Tremont Street and several businesses were broken into. Live television broadcasts showed looters jumping through the shattered windows of businesses on Newbury Street and carrying stolen items out.

Boston called in help from Massachusetts State Police, surrounding community police, including Brookline officers in riot gear, as well as the National Guard. Tear gas was used to help disperse the crowds.

One city worker said his team usually cleans between 20 and 30 pieces of graffiti on a given day; this morning he said he estimated more than 200 objects needed to be scrubbed.

"It's everywhere," he said.

Shopkeepers arrived to their storefronts Monday morning to assess the damage. Dozens of storefronts on Newbury Street had clear evidence of the riots from Sunday.

Boston joined cities across the country that saw peaceful demonstrations, rooted in anger and frustration at police mistreatment of African Americans, devolve into chaos.

Last week's death of George Floyd after his arrest by Minneapolis police and video surfaced of an officer kneeling on his neck for nearly 9 minutes triggered demonstrations and sparked anger that has been bubbling for years.

Mayor Marty Walsh and other local officials — from Boston police Commissioner William Gross, to police departments around the state — disparaged the actions of the Minneapolis police officers involved. Sunday Walsh condoned the protests but condemned the riots.

Photos: Thousands Of Protesters March In Boston