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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 |
It is past 1am in Washington DC right now, and a whole new day, and protests are still going strong in front of the White House. | |
Protesters have spent the past hours tussling with secret service and law enforcement over barricades. Some said on the live stream that they had been tear-gassed. Others threw water on the secret service. | |
Georgia governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in Fulton County, where Atlanta is located, because of the protests. The emergency declaration allows him to activate up to 500 Georgia National Guard to “protect people and property in Atlanta”. | |
From the Guardian’s Mario Koran, on the ground in Oakland: | |
Police formed a line outside the Oakland police headquarters, where demonstrators gathered, chanting “I can’t breathe” and “you are the virus” to the officers. | |
A black protester stepped forward toward the line of police, shouting “400 years!”. | |
Jesse and Jessica Hurtado, a husband and wife dressed in Brown Beret fatigues, joined the protest in solidarity with black protesters. They had just been to another protest in San Jose. | |
“They’re not just killing African Americans. They’re killing black and brown together,” said Jesse. | |
One man in the crowd stood atop the median as the remains of an American flag burned, while around him boomed flash grenades and fireworks. | |
The night remained largely peaceful after a fight broke out between a white and black protester, but tension mounted as some protestors began to hurl cans and bottles at law enforcement. | |
Police announced: “You have the right assemble peacefully but be advised this is now an unlawful protest. Please disperse from this area.” | |
Moments later, they fired teargas into the crowd. | |
Across California, police were declaring unlawful assemblies at their respective protests: | Across California, police were declaring unlawful assemblies at their respective protests: |
In Oakland, it appeared the police had added tear gas to the projectiles they fired into the crowd: | In Oakland, it appeared the police had added tear gas to the projectiles they fired into the crowd: |
The Guardian’s Chris McGreal is speaking with local business owners in Minneapolis who express fears for their livelihood amid the growing unrest: | The Guardian’s Chris McGreal is speaking with local business owners in Minneapolis who express fears for their livelihood amid the growing unrest: |
Sergio Pineda stood guard over his used car lot as a gas station burned a block away and crowds looted a liquor store and partied in the street. | Sergio Pineda stood guard over his used car lot as a gas station burned a block away and crowds looted a liquor store and partied in the street. |
“It’s all Latino businesses around here. I don’t support what the cops did but I don’t support what’s going on,” he said. “The National Guard should be here protecting. A lot of these are minority owned businesses that aren’t insured.” | “It’s all Latino businesses around here. I don’t support what the cops did but I don’t support what’s going on,” he said. “The National Guard should be here protecting. A lot of these are minority owned businesses that aren’t insured.” |
He said he was prepared to defend his business.“I don’t want to kill nobody but if somebody disrespects my business... ” he said. | He said he was prepared to defend his business.“I don’t want to kill nobody but if somebody disrespects my business... ” he said. |
Jackie Renzetti reports for the Guardian on the scene in Minneapolis earlier on Friday afternoon, shortly after Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced he would charge Derek Chauvin with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd: | Jackie Renzetti reports for the Guardian on the scene in Minneapolis earlier on Friday afternoon, shortly after Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced he would charge Derek Chauvin with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd: |
Demonstrators Friday focused their messages on continuing to hold the other three officers accountable, with chants including “all four” and “one down, three to go.” | Demonstrators Friday focused their messages on continuing to hold the other three officers accountable, with chants including “all four” and “one down, three to go.” |
Around 150 people were present during demonstrations following Freeman’s announcement. The crowd swelled to about 200 throughout the afternoon, where a steady stream of speakers gave talks and led chants. | Around 150 people were present during demonstrations following Freeman’s announcement. The crowd swelled to about 200 throughout the afternoon, where a steady stream of speakers gave talks and led chants. |
Kenney Daniels, 57, is African American and has lived in Minneapolis for most of his life, including 22 years in the city’s southern neighborhoods. He expressed concern over the destruction and violence that took place during the last few nights of protests. | Kenney Daniels, 57, is African American and has lived in Minneapolis for most of his life, including 22 years in the city’s southern neighborhoods. He expressed concern over the destruction and violence that took place during the last few nights of protests. |
“It’s just terrible,“ he said, “but people are just fed up with it .. It just gets more intense every 20, 30 years.” Aside from the general danger of destroying properties, he said he worried how the resulting increased presence of law enforcement would affect the conflict. “I hope these officers can be held accountable so that this can stop,” he said. “This could go a whole another ugly way, for everybody.” | “It’s just terrible,“ he said, “but people are just fed up with it .. It just gets more intense every 20, 30 years.” Aside from the general danger of destroying properties, he said he worried how the resulting increased presence of law enforcement would affect the conflict. “I hope these officers can be held accountable so that this can stop,” he said. “This could go a whole another ugly way, for everybody.” |
Aggie Heart, 59, has lived in south Minneapolis for 40 years. She came Friday with her 29-year-old daughter, Celia Thomas, and Thomas’ four and 12-year-old daughters. Thomas said she hadn’t attended the week’s previous protests because of danger, but wanted to bring her children to the safe environment of the intersection. | Aggie Heart, 59, has lived in south Minneapolis for 40 years. She came Friday with her 29-year-old daughter, Celia Thomas, and Thomas’ four and 12-year-old daughters. Thomas said she hadn’t attended the week’s previous protests because of danger, but wanted to bring her children to the safe environment of the intersection. |
“I think the charges were a little bit lenient,” said Thomas, who is a person of color, “and I just hope they stick.” | “I think the charges were a little bit lenient,” said Thomas, who is a person of color, “and I just hope they stick.” |
She expressed dismay at the destruction over the past few days. “I cried for the last few nights, just looking at this place I grew up in – it’s ruined,” she said. “But maybe if something is actually happening, maybe it’s for good.” | She expressed dismay at the destruction over the past few days. “I cried for the last few nights, just looking at this place I grew up in – it’s ruined,” she said. “But maybe if something is actually happening, maybe it’s for good.” |
Brett Davis, 60, is African American and grew up in south Minneapolis, where he has lived for most of his life. He said he thought that the protests, including ones that became destructive, provided necessary pressure for a relatively swift charging decision compared to previous police misconduct cases. | Brett Davis, 60, is African American and grew up in south Minneapolis, where he has lived for most of his life. He said he thought that the protests, including ones that became destructive, provided necessary pressure for a relatively swift charging decision compared to previous police misconduct cases. |
“What they did made this happen,” he said, adding that some of the destruction was done by people simply taking a “badge of opportunity” rather than for the cause. He knows young men involved with some of the destruction well, he said. A history of feeling discriminated against for jobs by area businesses, combined with anger over the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on people of color, contributed to their decisions, he said. | “What they did made this happen,” he said, adding that some of the destruction was done by people simply taking a “badge of opportunity” rather than for the cause. He knows young men involved with some of the destruction well, he said. A history of feeling discriminated against for jobs by area businesses, combined with anger over the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on people of color, contributed to their decisions, he said. |
“They say, we’re not going to do it your old way. We’re not doing the peaceful marches. We’re not going to do all that ... We’re gonna go out and destroy and destruct, because that’s the only time they listen,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been hearing a lot from these young guys.” | “They say, we’re not going to do it your old way. We’re not doing the peaceful marches. We’re not going to do all that ... We’re gonna go out and destroy and destruct, because that’s the only time they listen,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been hearing a lot from these young guys.” |
He said he’s been injured by police multiple times over the years. “Now, you have cameras to show you what the Minneapolis police have been doing for a long time.” | He said he’s been injured by police multiple times over the years. “Now, you have cameras to show you what the Minneapolis police have been doing for a long time.” |
“It’s like a ticking time bomb,” he said. | “It’s like a ticking time bomb,” he said. |
In Oakland, California, protesters began with a downtown gathering as others shut down the Bay Bridge. | In Oakland, California, protesters began with a downtown gathering as others shut down the Bay Bridge. |
The large group met in front of City Hall in Frank Ogawa Plaza, which during the Occupy protests of 2011, was renamed for Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old local black man who was killed when a transit police officer shot him in the back while he laid handcuffed on the ground. | The large group met in front of City Hall in Frank Ogawa Plaza, which during the Occupy protests of 2011, was renamed for Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old local black man who was killed when a transit police officer shot him in the back while he laid handcuffed on the ground. |
Protesters went on to block another freeway, this time Interstate 880. | Protesters went on to block another freeway, this time Interstate 880. |
For those keeping track, in California alone, protesters on Friday blocked four separate freeways: the 101 south in San Jose, Interstate 80 on the Bay Bridge at the Oakland/San Francisco border, Interstate 880 in Oakland and Freeway 110 in Los Angeles. | For those keeping track, in California alone, protesters on Friday blocked four separate freeways: the 101 south in San Jose, Interstate 80 on the Bay Bridge at the Oakland/San Francisco border, Interstate 880 in Oakland and Freeway 110 in Los Angeles. |
Outside Oakland police headquarters, protesters set off fireworks and threw bottles at police. Police responded by firing projectiles into the crowd. | Outside Oakland police headquarters, protesters set off fireworks and threw bottles at police. Police responded by firing projectiles into the crowd. |
In Los Angeles, protesters marched through the downtown area before shutting the 110 freeway. | In Los Angeles, protesters marched through the downtown area before shutting the 110 freeway. |
Some protesters apparently smashed some police car windows, prompting a scuffle in which other protesters tried to fend off an arresting officer by hitting him with signs. | Some protesters apparently smashed some police car windows, prompting a scuffle in which other protesters tried to fend off an arresting officer by hitting him with signs. |
Some protesters also appeared to make a road block out of scooters. | Some protesters also appeared to make a road block out of scooters. |
Here are some more images from the protest: | Here are some more images from the protest: |
Kellie Chauvin, the wife of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd, is divorcing her husband because of his role in Floyd’s death. | Kellie Chauvin, the wife of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd, is divorcing her husband because of his role in Floyd’s death. |
New York state senator Zellnor Myrie and state assemblymember Diana Richardson were “pepper sprayed and handcuffed” tonight, apparently during the protests. | New York state senator Zellnor Myrie and state assemblymember Diana Richardson were “pepper sprayed and handcuffed” tonight, apparently during the protests. |