THOUSANDS PROTESTING MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AT BARCLAYS CENTER

Thousands of people — as many as 5,000 according to reports — gathered at the plaza outside Barclays Center Friday evening, part of nationwide protests against the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police earlier in the week.

The protests started peacefully before the NYPD, apparently in response to a fire set somewhere on the plaza, began beating and arresting protesters.

The protesters at one point climbed atop the Barclay Center subway stop before being removed by police.

Across the country, current and former NBA players, including former Net Stephen Jackson, a friend of Floyd’s, and the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s still grieving the loss of his mother from…