NEW YORK - As the the city prepares for more protests over the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota, Mayor Bill de Blasio says looting is unacceptable but at this time is not considering a curfew for the city.
Looters smashed windows at stores in Manhattan overnight including those in Herald Square, The Diamond District and SoHo.
Some broke into high-end stores like Chanel, Tory Burch and Kate Spade.
Demonstrators also started a dumpster fire near Herald Square.
The New York City Police Department says more than 200 people were arrested, some for looting, Sunday night into early Monday.
At least seven officers were injured and a dozen department vehicles vandalized.
Ahead of more expected protests Monday, NY1 crews spotted some stores being boarded up, including Nordstrom's in midtown Manhattan and a Target in Forest Hills, Queens.
The mayor said most protesters were peaceful and that most NYPD officers acted with restraint during the weekend's demonstrations. But he warned police that any reports of misconduct will be fully investigated.
The mayor specifically referenced the viral video showing a police van driving into a crowd of protesters.
De Blasio said actions like that have no place in the NYPD.
"There is no situation where a police vehicle should drive into a crowd of protesters or New Yorkers of any kind. It is dangerous, it is unacceptable. This was an extremely aberrant situation and there were extenuating circumstances, I believe, because of incidents that had happened earlier. And I understand the danger of why it could have been a much bigger conflict there was looming. But it is still not acceptable for our officers to ever drive into a crowd," De Blasio said.
The mayor said police reforms have come a long way, and neighborhood policing has helped de-escalate many situations.
But he also said more reform is needed to bring police and the community together.
The mayor says the arrest of his 25-year-old daughter over the weekend came as a surprise, but added he respects and admires her for peacefully standing up for what she believes in.
Chiara de Blasio was arrested Saturday night and charged with disorderly conduct.
"When I found out she had been arrested, I finally reached her with Chirlane and we asked her to recount the whole story. And look, I love my daughter deeply, I honor her, She's such a good human being, she only wants to do in the world, she wants to see a better and more peaceful world. She believes a lot of change is needed. I'm proud of her that she cares so much that she was willing to go out there and do something about it," De Blasio said.
Speaking on "Mornings On 1", Police Commissioner Dermot Shea noted the department had a challenging weekend but said he and the department understand what's going on in the city and nation.
“We’re going to take a heck of a lot of criticism—at times it’s warranted. But we’ve got to be out there, that’s the bottom line,” Shea said.
Crowds first gathered Sunday near Barclays Center, Grand Army Plaza, Manhattan Bridge, and Union Square.
At Barclays Center, the protests started peacefully but turned violent around 10 p.m.
There were several scuffles between protesters and police.
Protesters hurled insults and water bottles at officers.
Demonstrators say killing of black men by police needs to stop.
"Anytime a cop kills a civilian, it always takes an extreme amount of time, a very long time for us to get any justice. We're out here because we want to see all four cops arrested and charged with murder - and not just third-degree murder, but second degree murder, especially for the guy that knelt on George Floyd's neck," said one protester.
"It just feels like this happens over and over again and nothing ever changes. But you just have to keep showing up because it feels like that's the only choice," said another protester.
Meantime, Mayor Bill de Blasio is facing criticism over his response to the protests from two of the city's likely mayoral candidates.
His press secretary tweeted out video earlier in the day of the mayor walking through Brooklyn neighborhoods and speaking with neighbors.
De Blasio later went to several protest sites, and tweeted that he had checked around Barclays and noted plenty of police presence.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson responded to that on Twitter saying, "What?! You aren't seeing the same thing as everyone else tonight!"
City Comptroller Scott Stringer was blunt calling out the Mayor and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea on Twitter, saying, "New Yorkers are crying out for systemic change in policing, and it's clear @NYCMayor and @NYPDShea aren't listening. What we're seeing tonight is a total failure of leadership."