Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday announced a nighttime curfew following days of protests in the capital.

Thousands have been taking to the streets in response to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by police during his arrest.

Floyd died on Monday last week after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes as he and his colleagues arrested him.

An onlooker's cell phone recorded the incident showing the 46-year-old black man moaning, "Please, I can't breathe" and "Don't kill me" as the police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck. However, the video didn't show how the confrontation started.

After several minutes of the police office pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck, the victim went silent and was later pronounced dead.

The video quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread protest from Tuesday afternoon, some of which have deteriorated into chaos.

The protests in Washington, D.C. has lasted three days, and Bowser said the curfew was imposed to protect property.

“Every American should be outraged by the murder of George Floyd,” Bowser said. “I want to implore D.C. residents to think of ways to be part of the solution, not part of the destruction.”

The curfew will begin at 7PM and end in the morning, and will last for two days.

(With input from The Washington Post)