Local News

Actions

Downtown Vegas cleaned up after night of protests

Posted at 3:11 PM, May 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-08 22:19:11-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — After a night of unrest and protest, people in downtown Las Vegas are undoing the damage there.

A power wash underway. Graffiti in downtown Vegas cleaned after a night of protests.

“It’s kind of emotional now to see this outpouring of support.”

Adam Wiesberg is the general manager of the El Cortez Hotel and Casino in the heart of downtown. He says the hotel had a window broken and had its walls tagged with messages of anger at police and over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“We understand the frustration, we feel the frustration, but it's hard to see the El Cortez damaged. It’s our home and home to so many people in this community,” he said.

Wiesberg witnessed the protest last night from the hotel and says the vast majority of people were peaceful.

“It was 99 percent peaceful, respectful. People trying to convey a very important message, but we just got caught in the crossfire,” he said.

Cleaning crews have been working all this morning to clean up the graffiti and they were also joined by some community members who wanted to help out.

“It really makes me feel great, and that’s not a surprise to me,” Wiesberg said.

He’s glad to see the vandalism and damage wasn’t at the level of other cities across the country and believes the Vegas Strong mantra will help bridge divides.

“This is just another curveball we’ve been thrown, and we’ll get through with it,” he said.