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George Floyd protests: man killed in Detroit as demonstrations rage across US – live George Floyd protests: man killed in Detroit as demonstrations rage across US – live
(32 minutes later)
Crowds call for justice and an end to police brutality in demonstrations in Atlanta, Kentucky, New York and CaliforniaCrowds call for justice and an end to police brutality in demonstrations in Atlanta, Kentucky, New York and California
Governor Walz is back. He says supports the federal government’s move to put the army on standby. He calls the situation “an unprecedented threat to our state”.
“Our goal is to do everything we can to start to restore order.”
Now he is answering questions.
Now a public safety official is speaking, calling protesters an “armed and more more entrenched group of rioters”.
He is calling for more police officers and more national guard support. A request has been made for more national guard officers, he says.
He says police officers have been shot at today and some have been injured.
Frey is giving an emotional performance:
“If you have a friend who is out now, call them and tell them to come home, it is not safe. Do the right thing now.”
Mayor Jacob Frey is now talking:
“Minneapolis I know you are reeling ... I’m reeling too. We as a city are so much more than this. We can be so much better than this. There is no honour in burning down your city. There is no pride in looting.”
“It needs to stop.”
Minnesota governor Tim Walz is talking about the protests:
“This is not about George’s death, this is not about inequities that are real, this is about chaos.”
He says his priority is to protect lives, property and maintain law and order.
He says the same scenes will play out tomorrow unless something changes.
“The folks out there now want nothing more than to entice conflict.”
He says he is in touch with neighbouring states and the federal government and warns the situation tomorrow will be “more difficult” because the protests have spread across the country.
And what a night it’s been, and there’s more to come.
Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer shown on video with his knee on George Floyd’s neck, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with Floyd’s death.
Mayor Jacob Frey set an 8pm curfew for Minneapolis, which protesters promptly defied.
The Pentagon issued a rare order that raises questions about a possible military presence in Minneapolis in the coming days.
Protests in Washington DC resulted in a brief lockdown of the White House, with demonstrators still outside sparring with secret service over barricades into the wee hours of the morning.
Protesters damaged the CNN headquarters in Atlanta and set a police car ablaze, prompting governor Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency and activate the Georgia National Guard.
In Brooklyn, protesters and police clashed, with a state senator and state assemblymember getting pepper-sprayed and handcuffed.
In Louisville, Kentucky, where protesters set the Hall of Justice on fire, police aimed and fired projectiles at a reporter and her cameraman during a live shot.
In California, protesters across the state shut down four freeways: two in Oakland, one in San Jose and one in Los Angeles.
A 19-year-old man was shot and killed in Detroit, Michigan after someone fired multiple times into a crowd of protesters.
That’s it from me tonight, my colleague Martin Farrer in Australia will be taking over from here.
Portland’s mayor has called on protesters to refrain from violence:
The Minnesota governor is due to give an update in the coming minutes:The Minnesota governor is due to give an update in the coming minutes:
In Detroit, Michigan, where hundreds marched, a 19-year-old man was killed after someone in an SUV fired multiple times into a crowd of protesters, the Associated Press is reporting.In Detroit, Michigan, where hundreds marched, a 19-year-old man was killed after someone in an SUV fired multiple times into a crowd of protesters, the Associated Press is reporting.
The shooting occurred at about 11:30pm Friday, near the Greektown entertainment district, according to Detroit police. The victim died at a hospital. No details on the victim or the suspect were immediately available.The shooting occurred at about 11:30pm Friday, near the Greektown entertainment district, according to Detroit police. The victim died at a hospital. No details on the victim or the suspect were immediately available.
The day’s march was relatively peaceful, but as events continued into the night, tensions grew.The day’s march was relatively peaceful, but as events continued into the night, tensions grew.
A Detroit police commander was struck by a rock and hospitalized. Officers in riot gear held off protesters across streets, eventually shooting canisters of gas into the crowd.A Detroit police commander was struck by a rock and hospitalized. Officers in riot gear held off protesters across streets, eventually shooting canisters of gas into the crowd.
The Guardian’s indefatigable Chris McGreal continues with his coverage on the ground in Minneapolis:The Guardian’s indefatigable Chris McGreal continues with his coverage on the ground in Minneapolis:
Many of the protesters who broke through the police lines near the 3rd precinct station earlier in the day and kept marching, regrouped in a Latino section of the city where the looting of what was reputed to be the biggest liquor store in the city turned into a big street party.Many of the protesters who broke through the police lines near the 3rd precinct station earlier in the day and kept marching, regrouped in a Latino section of the city where the looting of what was reputed to be the biggest liquor store in the city turned into a big street party.
But there were still those determined to keep the focus on George Floyd and the demand for justice.But there were still those determined to keep the focus on George Floyd and the demand for justice.
”We’re going to keep this going until all those cops are in jail,” said a young white woman dressed entirely in black who would only give her name as Serena. “It’s not good enough to charge one with third degree murder. That’s saying he didn’t mean to do it. It was first degree murder. He chose to kill George Floyd. And we want those other three cops arrested and convicted too. That’s what justice looks like.””We’re going to keep this going until all those cops are in jail,” said a young white woman dressed entirely in black who would only give her name as Serena. “It’s not good enough to charge one with third degree murder. That’s saying he didn’t mean to do it. It was first degree murder. He chose to kill George Floyd. And we want those other three cops arrested and convicted too. That’s what justice looks like.”
Another woman on a bike held aloft a sign: “3 cops left”.Another woman on a bike held aloft a sign: “3 cops left”.
The National Guard finally made an appearance around midnight but only to protect a group of firefighters dousing a blaze at a Shell gas station.The National Guard finally made an appearance around midnight but only to protect a group of firefighters dousing a blaze at a Shell gas station.
The crowd was relaxed, sensing that the soldiers were not there to interrupt their protests or their party. Some attempted to debate the shortcomings of policing in Minneapolis. Others posed for pictures next to the armoured vehicles.The crowd was relaxed, sensing that the soldiers were not there to interrupt their protests or their party. Some attempted to debate the shortcomings of policing in Minneapolis. Others posed for pictures next to the armoured vehicles.
But the protesters sensed that they owned the streets, at least in this part of the city and for this night.But the protesters sensed that they owned the streets, at least in this part of the city and for this night.
The Associated Press is reporting that the Pentagon is ordering the Army to put several active-duty military police units on the ready to deploy to Minneapolis.The Associated Press is reporting that the Pentagon is ordering the Army to put several active-duty military police units on the ready to deploy to Minneapolis.
This comes after Donald Trump tweeted that he told Minnesota governor Tim Walz that “the Military is with him all the way”. Twitter hid that tweet behind a warning that it “glorifies violence” - Trump had ended that tweet with “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” a nod to former Miami police chief Walter Headley, who in December 1967 promised violent reprisals to protests over stop-and-frisk tactics.This comes after Donald Trump tweeted that he told Minnesota governor Tim Walz that “the Military is with him all the way”. Twitter hid that tweet behind a warning that it “glorifies violence” - Trump had ended that tweet with “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” a nod to former Miami police chief Walter Headley, who in December 1967 promised violent reprisals to protests over stop-and-frisk tactics.
It’s incredibly rare for the Pentagon to order something of this sort, the AP noted.It’s incredibly rare for the Pentagon to order something of this sort, the AP noted.
In Phoenix, Arizona, protesters marched for not just George Floyd, but for Dion Johnson, a 28-year-old black man who was shot and killed by an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer in a “struggle” in which there are scant details.In Phoenix, Arizona, protesters marched for not just George Floyd, but for Dion Johnson, a 28-year-old black man who was shot and killed by an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer in a “struggle” in which there are scant details.
A large group gathered peacefully for hours, discussing how the officer did not have his body camera on and chanting “Black lives matter”. They then marched to Phoenix police headquarters, where the situation devolved.A large group gathered peacefully for hours, discussing how the officer did not have his body camera on and chanting “Black lives matter”. They then marched to Phoenix police headquarters, where the situation devolved.
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:
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:
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.”
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:
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New York state senator Zellnor Myrie and state assemblymember Diana Richardson were “pepper sprayed and handcuffed” tonight, apparently during the protests.