Volunteers, police help business owners clean up after vandalism, looting

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After two nights of violent demonstrations in Charlotte, many uptown businesses were cleaning up Thursday morning.

Overnight, crowds knocked out windows, set fires and confronted officers in the streets of uptown.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts said up to 600 protesters and 200 officers were on the streets.

Several businesses have been impacted by the protests. Wells Fargo financial building employees and Fifth-Third non-essential employees were asked not to show up to their uptown offices Thursday morning, while Duke Energy non-essential employees and Bank of America employees were asked to work from home.

Some of the worst damage was to businesses that had their front windows smashed and the stores ransacked.

Channel 9 saw the owner of a business that had been vandalized cleaning up his property with his family -- along with people from the community.

Two CMPD officers also pitched in, cleaning up some of the damage and working to remove one of the doors.

Just a few blocks away, more damage could be seen to several businesses that were in the process of being renovated. Channel 9 spoke with one woman who came down to help with the cleanup and saw those officers also working hard.

"That's inspiring,” said volunteer Victoria Sutton. “It's not even part of their job so I think it is inspiring. Also, I think it shows we are a community. If they want to help out then I'm going to help out."

Channel 9 also ran into a couple from Concord with their work gloves on. They were wearing shirts that read “Back the Blue” as they volunteered to help clean up uptown.

Eyewitness News has learned that a community prayer vigil is being planned for Thursday night at Myers Park United Methodist Church at 1501 Queens Road in Charlotte.

It starts at 6 p.m. and the church is encouraging anyone who can't attend to stop what they're doing at 6 p.m. and say a prayer.

Cox Media Group