It was a night of unrest across parts of the Albany area. The international rage unleashed by the death of George Floyd spilled throughout the community.

Throughout Central Avenue, there are looted store fronts with shattered glass; smashed windows at the Albany County probation office; and debris strewn throughout the streets.

Those protesters numbering in the hundreds throughout parts of the night led to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan signing an emergency curfew that expired at 7 a.m. Sunday.

That curfew is being extended through Sunday night. Sheehan said at a press conference Sunday that she feels the pain of residents who are protesting the death of George Floyd. 

“I acknowledge there is a tremendous amount of pain because of what we witnessed with a police officer literally suffocating an individual in custody,” Sheehan said. “I share that pain. I share that anxiety. I share that hurt.”

The mayor said Albany is better than what she witnessed last night, citing the damage cause to local businesses.

“Last night, we saw damage done to local business, many of them black owned businesses. And they may never come back from that damage,” Sheehan said. “They were already suffering from the [coronavirus] shutdown. And now these businesses have been destroyed and looted. “

Sheehan said some of those businesses serve people in underserved communities through business and employment opportunities. Two people were arrested for looting, according to Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

Store owners and people throughout the community helped cleanup efforts Sunday morning. The damage from the unrest in the city of Albany left behind shattered glass, broken windows, and pain

“It's just really sad seeing this to happen to people just like me seeing our brothers and sisters out there, friends, they’re all scared,” said Jarron Childs, who was cleaning up.

Hawkins says those who caused all the damage may not have been from Albany.

“I found it absolutely disgraceful what we saw last night in our city, where we had agitators, many of whom we believe are not even from the city of Albany, to engage in unlawful and unprovoked acts of violence against innocent people and property,” Hawkins said.

But some of those cleaning up the mess behind are also from out of town. Childs is originally from Queens but came to Albany to study at the University at Albany.

“I come from a community like this and it pains me to see how destroyed they become because of all the things that are happening and I feel like it was my part to help clean up and help alleviate some of the pain,” Childs said.

He was part of Saturday’s peaceful protest but knew he had to do more.

“I feel like it was my part to help at least clean up and alleviate some of the pain and stress of some of the local business owners who are already going through a tough time with the pandemic,” Childs said.

Helping even while the city and the country is hurting

“At least seeing there [is] still goodness in people, and people want to help and want to make things better and being the change they want to see in the world. That really makes me feel happy,” Childs said.