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George Floyd killing: protests rage as anger mounts in cities across US – live
George Floyd killing: protests rage as anger mounts in cities across US – live
(32 minutes later)
Crowds call for justice and an end to police brutality in demonstrations in Atlanta, Kentucky, New York and California
Crowds call for justice and an end to police brutality in demonstrations in Atlanta, Kentucky, New York and California
New York state senator Zellnor Myrie and state assemblymember Diana Richardson were “pepper sprayed and handcuffed” tonight, apparently during the protests.
From the Guardian’s Chris McGreal, on the ground in Minneapolis:
Once again the police retreated. Once again the protesters took control.
Minnesota’s governor had pledged that Friday would be different to the previous night when the police abandoned the area around the 3rd precinct to thousands of people angry over the death of George Floyd.
But as the curfew came into force at 8pm, the protesters were back out in force and not giving ground. Defying repeated orders, and waves of tear gas, they kept pushing forward until the police gave way.
Within half an hour the police station, the symbol of what the protesters saw as their victory the previous evening, was back in their hands. They celebrated with selfies and tours of it wrecked interior.
As the sun went down, the protesters kept pushing the police back. The governor had threatened to send in the National Guard but they were nowhere to be seen. But neither, for now, was there a repeat of the looting and burning of buildings.
Still a long evening lay ahead.
Back in Louisville, Kentucky, local TV reporter Kaitlin Rust was on the air when police began firing projectiles at her and her cameraman.
Back in Louisville, Kentucky, local TV reporter Kaitlin Rust was on the air when police began firing projectiles at her and her cameraman.
Rust screamed, yelling, “I’m getting shot!” before correcting herself to note that they were either rubber bullets or pepper balls.
Rust screamed, yelling, “I’m getting shot!” before correcting herself to note that they were either rubber bullets or pepper balls.
“Who are they aiming that at?” the anchor asked, as the police officer pointed the gun at camera.
“Who are they aiming that at?” the anchor asked, as the police officer pointed the gun at camera.
“It’s directly at us,” Rust said.
“It’s directly at us,” Rust said.
“Why are they doing that?” the anchor asked.
“Why are they doing that?” the anchor asked.
The earlier protest in Washington DC that led to a lockdown of the White House consisted of several hundred demonstrators gathering and shutting down an intersection at U and 14th streets.
The earlier protest in Washington DC that led to a lockdown of the White House consisted of several hundred demonstrators gathering and shutting down an intersection at U and 14th streets.
One man briefly clashed with secret service officers, but the lockdown was quickly lifted and the overall protest remained small in scope. More protests are scheduled in the capital on Saturday.
One man briefly clashed with secret service officers, but the lockdown was quickly lifted and the overall protest remained small in scope. More protests are scheduled in the capital on Saturday.
In San Jose, California, protesters blocked a major freeway and chanted George Floyd’s name in the downtown area.
In San Jose, California, protesters blocked a major freeway and chanted George Floyd’s name in the downtown area.
Mayor Sam Liccardo reported that protesters damaged at least one police car and that law enforcement deployed tear gas. One officer was hurt, and several protesters were arrested, he said.
Mayor Sam Liccardo reported that protesters damaged at least one police car and that law enforcement deployed tear gas. One officer was hurt, and several protesters were arrested, he said.
Video showed a police officer apparently instigating a physical confrontation with a protester that ended in that protester’s arrest.
Video showed a police officer apparently instigating a physical confrontation with a protester that ended in that protester’s arrest.
Former New York mayor and current Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani waded into the action to criticize Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey the “criminal friendly policies” of all “so-called Progressive Democrat mayors and governors”.
Former New York mayor and current Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani waded into the action to criticize Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey the “criminal friendly policies” of all “so-called Progressive Democrat mayors and governors”.
Some photos from the protests:
Some photos from the protests:
Outside the White House:
Outside the White House:
The scene in New York:
The scene in New York:
In Kentucky, demonstrators are protesting the death of Breonna Taylor:
In Kentucky, demonstrators are protesting the death of Breonna Taylor:
In Louisville, Kentucky, demonstrators gathered again to protest the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was shot by police while sleeping in her apartment. The plainclothes officers had been serving a no-knock search warrant, searching for a suspect in a narcotics investigation who Taylor’s family believes was already in custody at the time of her death.
In Louisville, Kentucky, demonstrators gathered again to protest the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was shot by police while sleeping in her apartment. The plainclothes officers had been serving a no-knock search warrant, searching for a suspect in a narcotics investigation who Taylor’s family believes was already in custody at the time of her death.
Tonight in Louisville, protesters burned flags outside the Hall of Justice before shattering windows and setting fire.
Tonight in Louisville, protesters burned flags outside the Hall of Justice before shattering windows and setting fire.
Police responded with tear gas.
Police responded with tear gas.
This came after hours of peaceful marching.
This came after hours of peaceful marching.
Hey all, Vivian Ho taking over the blog tonight, as demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd continue to rage across the country.
Hey all, Vivian Ho taking over the blog tonight, as demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd continue to rage across the country.
In Brooklyn, we have voting rights editor Ankita Rao on the ground, and she is reporting that the police were clashing with protesters, forcing people - including multiple minors - onto sidewalks and arresting them. Later, despite no apparent violence other than some thrown water bottles, police fired a smoking projectile into the crowd. Some black protesters were urging white protesters to form a barrier between the police, who were trying to push them back.
In Brooklyn, we have voting rights editor Ankita Rao on the ground, and she is reporting that the police were clashing with protesters, forcing people - including multiple minors - onto sidewalks and arresting them. Later, despite no apparent violence other than some thrown water bottles, police fired a smoking projectile into the crowd. Some black protesters were urging white protesters to form a barrier between the police, who were trying to push them back.
Guardian reporter Vivian Ho has this update on the demonstrations in Atlanta:
Guardian reporter Vivian Ho has this update on the demonstrations in Atlanta:
Protests turned chaotic in downtown Atlanta, with some demonstrators defacing the CNN headquarters and others smashing police vehicles.
Protests turned chaotic in downtown Atlanta, with some demonstrators defacing the CNN headquarters and others smashing police vehicles.
Protesters threw objects at the CNN building while chanting “no more police” and “fuck CNN”. Someone set a police car on fire.
Protesters threw objects at the CNN building while chanting “no more police” and “fuck CNN”. Someone set a police car on fire.
Later, video showed law enforcement entering the fray and smoking projectiles being shot into the screaming crowd.
Later, video showed law enforcement entering the fray and smoking projectiles being shot into the screaming crowd.
Thousands of protestors remained at Minneapolis’s 3rd precinct police station as the curfew began at 8pm Central time, the Guardian’s Chris McGreal reports.
Thousands of protesters remained at Minneapolis’s third precinct police station as the curfew began at 8pm central time, the Guardian’s Chris McGreal reports.
The protestors have defied police orders to disperse in advance of the curfew, and police have fired tear gas.
The protesters have defied police orders to disperse in advance of the curfew, and police have fired tear gas.
The 3rd precinct was the site of Thursday’s night’s fiery riot, when police abandoned their station and it was set on fire.
The third precinct was the site of Thursday’s night’s fiery riot, when police abandoned their station and it was set on fire.
Star Tribune reporter Ryan Faircloth reports that community leaders say they won’t leave until all four of the officers involved are arrested and charged.
Star Tribune reporter Ryan Faircloth reports that community leaders say they won’t leave until all four of the officers involved are arrested and charged.
The Ramsey County jail has released former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s booking photo, according to KSTP.
Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the death of George Floyd.
Jackie Renzetti reports for the Guardian from Minneapolis, where she has just interviewed some of George Floyd’s friends.
“He put his arm around me and embraced myself and other brothers to really bring a change,” Nijalon Dunn told the Guardian while wearing a t-shirt bearing the last message he received from his friend “Big Floyd”.
Michael Stanley said that his longtime friend was “an uplifting person”.
“He’s probably the only person who takes time out of his day to let you know how good you are, how great you are,” Stanley said.
Follow Jackie on Twitter @JackieRenzetti for further updates as the protests continue.
Mark Zuckerberg has defended Facebook’s decision to allow Donald Trump to post the threat, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts,” in a blog post on Friday evening by arguing that Facebook has a policy to allow warnings of the use of force by state actors.
“Although the post had a troubling historical reference, we decided to leave it up because the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning about state action, and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force,” Zuckerberg wrote in a post on his Facebook page.
“Our policy around incitement of violence allows discussion around state use of force, although I think today’s situation raises important questions about what potential limits of that discussion should be,” he added.
It was not immediately clear if that policy had ever been articulated by Facebook before. In 2019, a Facebook spokesperson declined to clarify the company’s policy around violence and hate speech by state actors on the record to the Guardian. The Guardian has contacted Facebook for comment.
This is not the first time that Facebook’s exemption of state actors from content rules has been questioned. During the campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in Myanmar, Facebook banned an insurgent group fighting to defend the Muslim minority while allowing Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, to continue using its platform to spread its propaganda.
Facebook subsequently banned a number of ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, designating the officially recognized groups as the equivalent to terrorist organizations. The move prompted an outcry from human rights experts who said the company’s decision to favor state actors over non-state actors in armed conflict was inconsistent with both international law and human rights.
In his lengthy post, Zuckerberg also appeared to suggest that if Facebook had decided Trump’s post was intended to incite violence by civilians, they would have taken it down, writing, “Unlike Twitter, we do not have a policy of putting a warning in front of posts that may incite violence because we believe that if a post incites violence, it should be removed regardless of whether it is newsworthy, even if it comes from a politician.”
Zuckerberg also criticized Trump, saying: “I’ve been struggling with how to respond to the President’s tweets and posts all day. Personally, I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric.”
He added: “I disagree strongly with how the President spoke about this, but I believe people should be able to see this for themselves, because ultimately accountability for those in positions of power can only happen when their speech is scrutinized out in the open.”
Guardian voting rights editor Ankita Rao reports from the protest in Brooklyn, New York.
Hundreds of protestors gathered at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday evening chanting, “Fuck the police,” and “No justice no peace.” Protestors wore masks though many police did not.
“Police violence is one of the biggest health issues in our country,” said Kimberly Sue, a physician who has also been treating coronavirus patients. “Whether it’s Covid or cops it lowers the life expectancy of black people in this country.”Atlanta native Jabari also said he thought about the risks of Covid-19 when coming but said police brutality and Covid-19 were “two viruses killing black people.”
Guardian reporter Vivian Ho reports:
With protesters outside the gates, it appears that the White House is now under lockdown orders from the Secret Service.
Though CNN reporter Jim Acosta used the word “volatile” to describe the protest, video that he tweeted from outside the White House shows protesters gathered calmly outside, some chanting “Black lives matter” and others chanting, “No justice, no peace’.
Guardian reporter Vivian Ho reports on the criminal complaint against Derek Chauvin, which provides new details on the killing of George Floyd.
Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer charged today with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the killing of George Floyd, had his knee on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds total, according to the complaint.
For two minutes and 53 seconds, Floyd was “non-responsive”.
“Police are trained that this type of restraint with a subject in a prone position is inherently dangerous,” the complaint states.
As captured in the now-viral video, Floyd repeatedly told the officers “I can’t breathe” before pleading with them, saying “Mama” and “please”. One of the officers responded, “You are talking fine” as he struggled.
The other three officers, identified by authorities as Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng, were also fired. According to the complaint, Lane had asked, “Should we roll him on his side?”
Chauvin responded, “No, staying put where we got him.”
“I am worried about excited delirium or whatever,” Lane said.
“That’s why we have him on his stomach,” Chauvin said.
The medical examiner’s autopsy report is still pending, but preliminary findings have determined that a combination of the police hold on Floyd, his underlying health conditions of coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease, as well as “any potential intoxicants” likely contributed to his death.
Floyd ended up on the ground after Lane pointed his gun at him and instructed him to step out of a car. Lane and Kueng had been responding to a report that someone had used a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby store, and the store owner identified the person as sitting in a parked car around the corner. There were three people in the car.
The officers had handcuffed Floyd and were walking him to their police cruiser when he “stiffened up, fell to the ground, and told the officers he was claustrophobic.”
Chauvin and Thoa arrived at about 8:14pm. Within five minutes, Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck.
At 8:25pm, the video “appears to show Mr Floyd ceasing to breathe or speak”.
“Want to roll him on his side?” Lane asked. Kueng then checked Floyds wrist for a pulse. “I couldn’t find one.”
“None of the officers moved from their positions,” the complaint states.
At 8:27pm, Chauvin removed his knee.
While the imagery of fires and broken windows have dominated the news, reporters in the Twin Cities have also been documenting acts of community, solidarity and mutual aid.
Chris McGreal is in Minneapolis reporting for the Guardian, where he has spoken with community members volunteering to clean up the neighborhood or keep watch over their neighbors.
A reporter for the local newspaper, the Star Tribune, has also just retweeted this video of a local mental health clinic that is distributing food to the community. Hunger in the US has spiked in recent months, as the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the economy, putting more than 40 million people out of work.
The Star Tribune has also reported on the owner of a local restaurant, Gandhi Mahal, that was damaged by fire in the rioting on Thursday night. Hafsa Islam wrote on Facebook that her father, Ruhel Islam, responded to news that the restaurant was damaged by staying, “Let my building burn. Justice needs to be served. Put those officers in jail.”
As Trump touted hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine Covid-19 cures, prescriptions for the drugs shot up to 214 times higher than normal, according to a new analysis the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The number of short-term prescriptions for the dug spied even more: from 2,208 prescriptions over a week in March 2019, to 45,858 from 15 to 21 March this year, according to the research by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the Boston Veteran’s Administration Healthcare System and GoodRx.
The president has repeatedly promoted hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19, despite spotty early evidence that it’s effective.
France this week banned the used of Trump’s favorite coronavirus drug after preliminary research suggested that hydroxychloroquine didn’t seem to improve outcomes for Covid-19 patients. The WHO also discontinued the drug’s use in a clinical trial.
Although the antimalarial drug is often safely prescribed to treat conditions including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, it can have serious side effects, including life-threatening heart rhythm problems.
Trump said he took a short course of the drug as a preventative measure abasing the coronavirus, despite any evidence that it works. The FDA has warned against using the drug to treat Covid-19 outside hospital settings or as part of clinical trials.
Protests are taking place in cities across the US over the alleged police murder of George Floyd.
It’s the fourth straight night of protest in Minneapolis, the site of Floyd’s killing and demonstrations are also underway in cities including New York, Atlanta, San Jose, Houston, and elsewhere.
Protesters in Atlanta are facing off against police in front of the CNN headquarters, while in New York a large demonstration has convened at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In San Jose, it appears that protesters have marched onto the highway.
We’ll be doing our best to stay on top of the news from around the country as we head into the evening hours.
The Trump administration’s new national intelligence chief declassified transcripts of the 2016 phone call between Michael Flynn and then Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
The phone call took place during the transition period between the Trump and Obama administrations, and Flynn pleaded guilty to lying about the details of the call to the FBI.
