Update: Target updated its list of store closures Sunday and removed Peninsula locations from the list.
Target announced Saturday night that it has temporarily closed dozens of stores throughout the country, including multiple Peninsula locations, following damage and looting at some of its stores nationwide amid protests in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by Minneapolis police on Monday, May 25.
Floyd died Monday after being pinned to the ground by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. Bystanders captured video of the officer using his knee to pin down Floyd between his neck and head. Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.”
Local Target stores that are temporarily closing include ones in Mountain View, East Palo Alto, Redwood City and San Mateo. It's unclear when they will reopen. Most closures are in California, Minnesota, Texas and New York.
"We are heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing communities across the country," according to a Target press release. "At this time, we have made the decision to close a number of our stores. We anticipate most stores will be closed temporarily. Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal."
Protests continued nationwide on Saturday, including in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Thousands gathered in San Francisco, and as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday night, the protest was peaceful, with many protesters dropping to a knee in the streets while police officers stood by and watched.
In Oakland, where protests of Floyd's killing Friday night left more than 70 downtown businesses vandalized and/or looted, police were beefing up in preparation to respond to protesters Saturday night. By early Saturday night, there had been no reports of violence. San Jose, which also was the scene of a protest Friday night, had not experienced any problems as of early Saturday night.
Protests have been held in major cities throughout the country in the past week, with several turning violent.
Bay City News Service contributed to this report.
Comments
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 2:40 am
on May 31, 2020 at 2:40 am
Racism, inequality, corporate greed and police brutality eventually trigger looting and other counter-violence. There is only one fix: re-elect President Trump. And Make Russia - I mean America - Great Again. In Russia, everyone is free to do what's required.
Rengstorff Park
on May 31, 2020 at 9:11 am
on May 31, 2020 at 9:11 am
Vlady, lapochka: thanks for the reminder, though I posit that you really don't leave anything to chance: you and yer orange boy will rig it anyway.
I see you took good advantage of the peaceful protests (the first couple days) and got your boogaloo bois involved. You are so smart! Burn, baby, burn.
Minnesota Attorney General: Web Link
See also: Umbrella Man.
Good work, Vlad. You win again. All hail....
Rengstorff Park
on May 31, 2020 at 9:18 am
on May 31, 2020 at 9:18 am
Oh, btw Vlad, some more reporters to add to your list for "special" attention. You're so good with the press!
NYT "seven American officials briefed on recent intelligence"
March 10, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Russian government has stepped up efforts to inflame racial tensions in the United States as part of its bid to influence November’s presidential election, including trying to incite violence by white supremacist groups and to stoke anger among African-Americans, according to seven American officials briefed on recent intelligence.
Russia’s lead intelligence agency, the S.V.R., has apparently gone beyond 2016 methods of interference, when operatives tried to stoke racial animosity by creating fake Black Lives Matter groups and spreading disinformation to depress black voter turnout. Now, Russia is also trying to influence white supremacist groups, the officials said; they gave few details, but one official said federal investigators are examining how at least one neo-Nazi organization with ties to Russia is funded.
another community
on May 31, 2020 at 9:47 am
on May 31, 2020 at 9:47 am
Closing the MV Target makes absolutely no sense, Target management has some explaining to do. It is literally the only store in the city of MV, the only store for miles around that is closing due to looting fears. Fortunately Walmart is open across the street, but many prefer to avoid that store due to crowds and unscrupulous behavior of Walmart management.
TARGET - you need to reopen this store.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 10:22 am
on May 31, 2020 at 10:22 am
Not sure I understand the closing of the MV store, looking it up, it looks like they closed all stores between SF and MV and 1 store in San Jose.. it has been quiet down here, has it not?
another community
on May 31, 2020 at 10:25 am
on May 31, 2020 at 10:25 am
The status of the Mtn View and EPA stores is not clear. KCBS could only confirm that 7 of the 21 Bay Area stores were closed today. They were mostly in the SF and Oakland area. Somebody with first-hand information, please post here as a public service.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 10:54 am
on May 31, 2020 at 10:54 am
I literally don’t understand MV. Oakland, sure. RWC? Maybe? Still a stretch. EPA? Haven’t seen much but I don’t know. Mountain View? Small store, quiet town. It already isn’t accepting drive-up orders as of last night so I’d assume it’s closed already? How long? Why? I can’t comprehend this for MV. San Jose stores are open and we’ve seen the looting in SJ.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 10:59 am
on May 31, 2020 at 10:59 am
Web Link
Are these the stores closed indefinitely? Did the list get shorter or is this a different list?
Castro City
on May 31, 2020 at 12:20 pm
on May 31, 2020 at 12:20 pm
Can't understand why MV target is closed? Right next to the largest minority neighborhood in MV? Does anyone realize how many calls the MVPD respond to at Target and Walmart? It's one of their busiest beats. Some must never have experienced encounters with the MVPD as a minority. MV Police are some of the most arrogant and power hungry around unless you're a Karen or a Chad or a BBQ Becky who feeds their egos and compliments them on their fancy gear. They are also one of the most militarized forces around, with M4 automatic carbines strapped to their motorcycles even! Seriously? M4 carbines? Those are weapons of war. What place do they have with a small town like MV? And don't forget the City Council has approved their posture, so they are equally to blame.
another community
on May 31, 2020 at 12:40 pm
on May 31, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Minority Vet, are you implying that Target decided to close the MV store because it is near a minority neighborhood? If so then that’s terrible judgement on Target’s part. I don’t know what reasoning Target used to close the MV store, but they definitely owe the community an explanation. Hopefully MV Voice reporters will uncover the truth.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 1:01 pm
on May 31, 2020 at 1:01 pm
You fret over a Target store and minorities nearby and local police with weapons of mass repression? Come visit Moscow. Leave Covid behind. We are still considering a Trump Tower. I just want the 2 top floors in the name of my family trust. What is it they say in America: LET'S MAKE A DEAL.
Rengstorff Park
on May 31, 2020 at 1:17 pm
on May 31, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Oh, Vlad, dear lapochka, your better days (for satire) are behind you. As all comics now know: Trump ruined the comedy market - how can one out-satire a Trump?
I did like that old one of yours you used to tell, though: How come there are no more Walmarts in Irag?
.
.
.
.
.
(scroll)
.
.
.
.
.
(they all became Targets)
Time to update that one.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 1:52 pm
on May 31, 2020 at 1:52 pm
[Post removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on May 31, 2020 at 2:01 pm
on May 31, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Just got back. The MV target is open with a nice line outside. Wal mart has a line wrapping about the corner of the building all the way back to el Camino!!!!
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Jun 1, 2020 at 11:57 am
on Jun 1, 2020 at 11:57 am
The last post from Vladimir P was "disrespectful" and "offensive"? Well sure. So is Vladimir's ongoing campaign to re-elect Donald Trump. So is police brutality. So is looting. So is failing to take obviously steps to prevent looting. Which brings me back - so to speak - to the Great Mall in Milpitas. It was reported by another newspaper online last night that Milpitas police arrived at the Great Mall within 3 minutes of an alarm at Neiman Marcus. Looters had hit but were already gone. The Milpitas police normally have an office at the mall. All across the country and Bay Area, stores were being looted. You'd think Milpitas police might have had one car at the Great Mall. But apparently not. And so Vladimir's sarcastic advice to local police was to head off looters by watching stores - especially malls. It remains Vladimir's advice.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Jun 1, 2020 at 1:21 pm
on Jun 1, 2020 at 1:21 pm
An updated story online reports that looters were at the Great Mall in Milpitas last night when officers arrived but they "scattered" and no arrests were made. It also says the Milpitas PD issued a news release AFTERWARD pledging to post officers at the Great Mall and elsewhere to head off looting.
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Jun 1, 2020 at 6:14 pm
on Jun 1, 2020 at 6:14 pm
Continuing with my theme. I am seeing on tv right now a report about a phone call today from President Trump to the Governors. The President has put the chairman of the joint chiefs in charge of something not specified. The general subject was protests and looting. He put the Secretary of Defense on the call who told the Governors that the government needed to "dominate the battlespace." Trump. My kind-of-guy. No law - just order.