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George Floyd killing: protests spread across US as Twitter hides Trump tweet 'glorifying violence' – live George Floyd killing: protests spread across US as Twitter hides Trump tweet 'glorifying violence' – live
(32 minutes later)
People took to the streets in Denver, Oakland, New York and elsewhere, while Twitter hid a tweet from the president threatening military crackdownPeople took to the streets in Denver, Oakland, New York and elsewhere, while Twitter hid a tweet from the president threatening military crackdown
Joe Biden has weighed in on Trump’s tweet glorifying violence against protesters and the arrest of a CNN reporter in Minneapolis.
“This is not abstract: a black reporter was arrested while doing his job this morning, while the white police officer who killed George Floyd remains free. I am glad swift action was taken, but this, to me, says everything,” the presumptive Democratic nominee wrote in a tweet.
Biden said he would not “lift” Trump’s tweet that partly reads, “When looting starts, shooting starts.”
“I will not give him that amplification. But he is calling for violence against American citizens during a moment of pain for so many. I’m furious, and you should be too,” Biden wrote.
Before his death beneath a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on Monday, George Floyd was suffering the same fate as millions of Americans during the coronavirus pandemic: out of work and looking for a new job.
Floyd moved to Minneapolis from his native Houston several years ago in hopes of finding work and starting a new life, Christopher Harris, Floyd’s lifelong friend, told the Associated Press.
As a teen in Texas he was a football star many nicknamed “gentle giant”.
But he lost his job as a bouncer at a restaurant when Minnesota’s governor issued a stay-at-home order.
Floyd, 46, grew up in Houston’s Third Ward, one of the city’s predominantly black neighborhoods, where he and Harris met in middle school.
At 6 feet, 6 inches, Floyd emerged as a star football player, positioned as the tight end for Jack Yates High School team, and played in the 1992 state championship game in the Houston Astrodome.
Donnell Cooper, one of Floyd’s former classmates, said he remembered watching Floyd score touchdowns. Floyd towered over everyone and earned the nickname “gentle giant.”
“Quiet personality but a beautiful spirit,” Cooper said.
His life later took a different turn and in 2007 Floyd was charged with armed robbery in a home invasion in Houston and in 2009 was sentenced to five years in prison as part of a plea deal, according to court documents.
Harris, Floyd’s childhood friend, said he and some of their mutual friends had moved to Minneapolis in search of jobs around 2014. Harris said he talked Floyd into moving there as well after he got out of prison.
“He was looking to start over fresh, a new beginning,” Harris said. “He was happy with the change he was making.”
Just hours after being arrested while covering the Minneapolis protests, CNN reporter Omar Jimenez and his crew are back on the air, reporting live about the death of George Floyd.
Twitter has hidden a White House tweet for glorifying violence, applying the same label to an official government account that it did to Trump’s account.Twitter has hidden a White House tweet for glorifying violence, applying the same label to an official government account that it did to Trump’s account.
The White House account had reshared the president’s tweet about the Minneapolis protests, which read in part, “When the looting starts, shooting starts.”The White House account had reshared the president’s tweet about the Minneapolis protests, which read in part, “When the looting starts, shooting starts.”
Twitter hid Trump’s original tweet and has now taken the same course of action with the White House’s tweet, a disappointing illustration of the current state of affairs.Twitter hid Trump’s original tweet and has now taken the same course of action with the White House’s tweet, a disappointing illustration of the current state of affairs.
A Democratic congressman from Minnesota criticized police officers for arresting a CNN crew amid the Minneapolis protests.A Democratic congressman from Minnesota criticized police officers for arresting a CNN crew amid the Minneapolis protests.
“I can neither understand nor accept that a crew of credentialed reporters were arrested for doing their jobs while a crew of officers have not been arrested for the killing of a defenseless man by violating the most fundamental responsibility of their jobs,” wrote Dean Phillips, who represents the Minneapolis suburbs.“I can neither understand nor accept that a crew of credentialed reporters were arrested for doing their jobs while a crew of officers have not been arrested for the killing of a defenseless man by violating the most fundamental responsibility of their jobs,” wrote Dean Phillips, who represents the Minneapolis suburbs.
The arrests of Omar Jimenez and his crew, wbo have since been released, appear to have heightened pressure on Minnesota officials to press charges against the four police officers who were fired over the death of George Floyd.The arrests of Omar Jimenez and his crew, wbo have since been released, appear to have heightened pressure on Minnesota officials to press charges against the four police officers who were fired over the death of George Floyd.
This is Joan Greve, taking over for Tom McCarthy.This is Joan Greve, taking over for Tom McCarthy.
CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, who was arrested while live on air in Minneapolis, described his ordeal after being released from police custody.CNN reporter Omar Jimenez, who was arrested while live on air in Minneapolis, described his ordeal after being released from police custody.
Jimenez said he and his crew had been in “verbal contact” with some of the police officers before he was arrested to determine where they should stand as they reported.Jimenez said he and his crew had been in “verbal contact” with some of the police officers before he was arrested to determine where they should stand as they reported.
He noted there had been no police presence shortly before the arrest, but another person had raced past the crew and been apprehended before officers turned to Jimenez and his crew.He noted there had been no police presence shortly before the arrest, but another person had raced past the crew and been apprehended before officers turned to Jimenez and his crew.
When Jimenez asked the officer why he was placing him under arrest, the officer said, “I’m just following orders.”When Jimenez asked the officer why he was placing him under arrest, the officer said, “I’m just following orders.”
Dan Scavino Jr, Trump’s longtime social media director, has come out swinging against Twitter after the site hid a tweet by Trump overnight that it said violated its rules against glorifying violence.Dan Scavino Jr, Trump’s longtime social media director, has come out swinging against Twitter after the site hid a tweet by Trump overnight that it said violated its rules against glorifying violence.
Tweeting on Twitter, Scavino accuses the site of “targeting the president”.Tweeting on Twitter, Scavino accuses the site of “targeting the president”.
In a further escalation of the social media sideshow, the White House twitter account, which Scavino runs, has re-posted the president’s posts blocked by Twitter.In a further escalation of the social media sideshow, the White House twitter account, which Scavino runs, has re-posted the president’s posts blocked by Twitter.
Trump signed an executive order yesterday that could erode legal protections for Twitter and other social media platforms against liability for content posted on their sites. That followed an unprecedented action by Twitter in which the company slapped a fact-check on Trump lies about the integrity of mail-in voting.Trump signed an executive order yesterday that could erode legal protections for Twitter and other social media platforms against liability for content posted on their sites. That followed an unprecedented action by Twitter in which the company slapped a fact-check on Trump lies about the integrity of mail-in voting.
Beneath it all is the question of who needs whom more: the US president, or Twitter?Beneath it all is the question of who needs whom more: the US president, or Twitter?
The Trump campaign has weighed in on the arrest by Minnesota law enforcement of CNN journalist Omar Jimenez and his crew.The Trump campaign has weighed in on the arrest by Minnesota law enforcement of CNN journalist Omar Jimenez and his crew.
In a cynical somersault, for a campaign trying to reelect a president who has done more to undermine trust in the American media including CNN than any public figure in memory, the Trump campaign comes down on CNN’s side, calling the arrest “outrageous.”In a cynical somersault, for a campaign trying to reelect a president who has done more to undermine trust in the American media including CNN than any public figure in memory, the Trump campaign comes down on CNN’s side, calling the arrest “outrageous.”
The Trump campaign accuses the local and state Democratic elected leaders of failed leadership. There is visible daylight between this campaign statement, which spotlights the federal investigation of Floyd’s killing, and Trump’s own statements, including his tweet overnight about shooting protesters.The Trump campaign accuses the local and state Democratic elected leaders of failed leadership. There is visible daylight between this campaign statement, which spotlights the federal investigation of Floyd’s killing, and Trump’s own statements, including his tweet overnight about shooting protesters.
The Minnesota state patrol releases a statement suggesting there was some doubt as to whether Jimenez and his crew were journalists at the time of their arrest.The Minnesota state patrol releases a statement suggesting there was some doubt as to whether Jimenez and his crew were journalists at the time of their arrest.
That’s hard to square with the footage. Jimenez was holding out his press credentials, identified himself as a journalist and his crew had a professional TV camera as they broadcast the scene live.That’s hard to square with the footage. Jimenez was holding out his press credentials, identified himself as a journalist and his crew had a professional TV camera as they broadcast the scene live.
CNN reporter Omar Jimenez has been released from police custody in Minneapolis and is describing his ordeal on air. He says that arresting officers told him, “I’m just following orders.” In video of his arrest he asks officers where they want him to be and identifies himself as a journalist. No charges were filed and the governor of Minnesota has apologized to Jimenez:CNN reporter Omar Jimenez has been released from police custody in Minneapolis and is describing his ordeal on air. He says that arresting officers told him, “I’m just following orders.” In video of his arrest he asks officers where they want him to be and identifies himself as a journalist. No charges were filed and the governor of Minnesota has apologized to Jimenez:
Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of protests across the United States at the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week.Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of protests across the United States at the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota this week.
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in police custody after a white officer handcuffed him and kneeled on his neck for several minutes as Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in police custody after a white officer handcuffed him and kneeled on his neck for several minutes as Floyd pleaded that he could not breathe.
The protests spread across the nation Thursday night, with people taking the streets from Denver to Kentucky to Oakland to New York. Donald Trump poured fuel on the conflagration with a late-night tweet threatening protesters with a violent military crackdown: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Trump tweeted.The protests spread across the nation Thursday night, with people taking the streets from Denver to Kentucky to Oakland to New York. Donald Trump poured fuel on the conflagration with a late-night tweet threatening protesters with a violent military crackdown: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Trump tweeted.
Twitter responded by hiding the tweet behind a warning saying the message violated the site’s “rules about glorifying violence.”Twitter responded by hiding the tweet behind a warning saying the message violated the site’s “rules about glorifying violence.”
The center of protest activity remained in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, where prosecutors have declined so far to bring charges in Floyd’s killing. Both the FBI and the US attorney’s office are investigating the killing, and charges could result.The center of protest activity remained in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, where prosecutors have declined so far to bring charges in Floyd’s killing. Both the FBI and the US attorney’s office are investigating the killing, and charges could result.
Protesters demanding justice for Floyd set fire to a police precinct building and local businesses, with some reports of looting. The city’s mayor, Jacob Frey, ordered the precinct evacuated. No injuries were reported.Protesters demanding justice for Floyd set fire to a police precinct building and local businesses, with some reports of looting. The city’s mayor, Jacob Frey, ordered the precinct evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Police in Minneapolis arrested a CNN reporter live on air overnight. The reporter, Omar Jimenez, had just shown a protester being arrested when about half a dozen white police officers surrounded him.Police in Minneapolis arrested a CNN reporter live on air overnight. The reporter, Omar Jimenez, had just shown a protester being arrested when about half a dozen white police officers surrounded him.
“We can move back to where you like,” he told the officers wearing gas masks and face shields, before explaining that he and his crew were members of the press. “We’re getting out of your way.”“We can move back to where you like,” he told the officers wearing gas masks and face shields, before explaining that he and his crew were members of the press. “We’re getting out of your way.”
The governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, a Democrat, said he “deeply apologizes” for the arrest. Walz mobilized the state’s National Guard on Thursday to respond in Minneapolis.The governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, a Democrat, said he “deeply apologizes” for the arrest. Walz mobilized the state’s National Guard on Thursday to respond in Minneapolis.