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George Floyd protests: violence escalates overnight after Trump's threat to deploy army – live George Floyd protests: violence escalates overnight after Trump's threat to deploy army – live
(32 minutes later)
Protests in Philadelphia met with aggression from police; four officers shot in St LouisProtests in Philadelphia met with aggression from police; four officers shot in St Louis
At Axios, Jonathan Swan has two fascinating anonymous quotes from the Trump White House, about the decision to speak in the Rose Garden yesterday, and to order the gassing and beating of protesters in Lafayette Square so the president could walk to St John’s church and be seen in public:
As protests took place on Friday, remember, Trump was taken to a reinforced bunker under the White House. On Saturday he left for Florida and the SpaceX launch – and spoke about the killing of George Floyd while there – but on Sunday, as protests continued, Trump was not seen or heard from.
Overnight into Monday, as fires burned in Washington and other cities, the lights on the north side of the White House were switched off, something which usually only happens when a president dies.
And then a call between Trump and governors, in which the president ranted about bringing in the army, “dominating” the protests and the need for mass arrests and harsh sentencing, was swiftly leaked to media outlets including Guardian US.
It was all disastrous for the president. And so, in short, the whole chaotic scene last night, in which, again, peaceful protesters were hit with tear gas, was just a stunt for the cameras.
Here’s David Smith, our Washington bureau chief:
Outside St John’s, the Church of the Presidents, Trump stood with bible in hand. It caused widespread outrage and widespread quoting of a line about American fascism attributed to the novelist Sinclair Lewis.
Here’s American academic in London and Guardian contributor Sarah Churchwell, with a fascinating thread on who actually said it:
Good morning from New York, where I’m taking on the blog for a while before Joanie Greve signs in from Washington.Good morning from New York, where I’m taking on the blog for a while before Joanie Greve signs in from Washington.
I’m in Washington Heights, where lockdown calm still reigns, a long way from the protests in this city. (There’s something very New York indeed about the New York Times live blog I just linked to: it begins with the weather and the all-important notice that alternate-side parking is “suspended through Sunday”.)I’m in Washington Heights, where lockdown calm still reigns, a long way from the protests in this city. (There’s something very New York indeed about the New York Times live blog I just linked to: it begins with the weather and the all-important notice that alternate-side parking is “suspended through Sunday”.)
The Times is copping a lot of flack this morning – that might be a very British phrase, in which case, it’s being criticised widely – for a front page which did not foreground Donald Trump’s decision to gas and attack peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square so he could stage a walk to a church as a photo op.The Times is copping a lot of flack this morning – that might be a very British phrase, in which case, it’s being criticised widely – for a front page which did not foreground Donald Trump’s decision to gas and attack peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square so he could stage a walk to a church as a photo op.
Here’s a tweet from David Boardman, a former Seattle Times editor turned journalism academic that sums up, in sober fashion, much of the reaction to the Times’ decisions:Here’s a tweet from David Boardman, a former Seattle Times editor turned journalism academic that sums up, in sober fashion, much of the reaction to the Times’ decisions:
The Times story on Trump’s decision, it should be noted, did not pull any punches.The Times story on Trump’s decision, it should be noted, did not pull any punches.
I’m going to hand over now to my colleague in New York, Martin Pengelly.I’m going to hand over now to my colleague in New York, Martin Pengelly.
Thank you for all your helpful emails and messages.Thank you for all your helpful emails and messages.
The archbishop of York in the UK has said he would join protests over the death of George Floyd but that violence should not be part of the action.The archbishop of York in the UK has said he would join protests over the death of George Floyd but that violence should not be part of the action.
John Sentamu, the most senior black leader in the Church of England who retires on Sunday, said he was shielding at present, but added: “I certainly would want to join [the protests]. But at the moment it turns to violence, I wouldn’t be there because I don’t believe violence is the same as going out and protesting.John Sentamu, the most senior black leader in the Church of England who retires on Sunday, said he was shielding at present, but added: “I certainly would want to join [the protests]. But at the moment it turns to violence, I wouldn’t be there because I don’t believe violence is the same as going out and protesting.
“People should have the right to protest but not use violence, because I’m afraid you can end up in trouble and arrested.”“People should have the right to protest but not use violence, because I’m afraid you can end up in trouble and arrested.”
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Sentamu was also critical of Donald Trump’s threat to use troops against protesters in US cities.Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Sentamu was also critical of Donald Trump’s threat to use troops against protesters in US cities.
“People sometimes think that because you’ve got the power and the authority, you can abuse that authority. Martin Luther King said that violence causes as many problems as it solve … darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that; hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.“People sometimes think that because you’ve got the power and the authority, you can abuse that authority. Martin Luther King said that violence causes as many problems as it solve … darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that; hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
“The problem is America has not been listening to the real problems of African Americans and people of colour,” he said.“The problem is America has not been listening to the real problems of African Americans and people of colour,” he said.
The country had not “dealt with this endemic brutality that some people experience from people in uniform”.The country had not “dealt with this endemic brutality that some people experience from people in uniform”.
Although he condemned violence from protesters and authorities, he said people who had watched the video of a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck were “saying enough is enough”.Although he condemned violence from protesters and authorities, he said people who had watched the video of a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck were “saying enough is enough”.
Hi – Oliver Holmes still here.Hi – Oliver Holmes still here.
People can get in contact with me if you see something you think is worth putting on our blog. And thank you for the contributions so far.People can get in contact with me if you see something you think is worth putting on our blog. And thank you for the contributions so far.
You can reach me via Twitter or on email: oliver.holmes [at] theguardian.comYou can reach me via Twitter or on email: oliver.holmes [at] theguardian.com
Below is a very powerful photo by a photographer from a Sunday protest in downtown Long Beach, California, which is receiving a lot of attention online after he posted it in the past few hours.Below is a very powerful photo by a photographer from a Sunday protest in downtown Long Beach, California, which is receiving a lot of attention online after he posted it in the past few hours.
Richard Grant has been clear the man was not fired on but that police did “occasionally” point their rubber bullet guns towards him.Richard Grant has been clear the man was not fired on but that police did “occasionally” point their rubber bullet guns towards him.
It is now well into Tuesday across the US. We are trying to make sense of a night of protests that has witnessed escalating violence following threats by President Trump to deploy the military.It is now well into Tuesday across the US. We are trying to make sense of a night of protests that has witnessed escalating violence following threats by President Trump to deploy the military.
A week after the police killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man who died in Minneapolis when a police officer kneeled on his neck, and the demonstrations have not let up.A week after the police killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man who died in Minneapolis when a police officer kneeled on his neck, and the demonstrations have not let up.
Curfews have been ignored, and both police and protesters are accused of unwarranted attacks, with confrontations in the street raising tensions and quickly turning peaceful protests into street fights.Curfews have been ignored, and both police and protesters are accused of unwarranted attacks, with confrontations in the street raising tensions and quickly turning peaceful protests into street fights.
In St Louis, four police officers were wounded by gunfire, while in Buffalo, two people were injured when a car rammed into a line of law enforcement officers.In St Louis, four police officers were wounded by gunfire, while in Buffalo, two people were injured when a car rammed into a line of law enforcement officers.
Shootings involving police were also reported in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, authorities in the Chicago suburb of Cicero, where protests have been held, said two people had been killed, although they did not identify the victims or circumstances.Shootings involving police were also reported in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, authorities in the Chicago suburb of Cicero, where protests have been held, said two people had been killed, although they did not identify the victims or circumstances.
A dramatic Trump photo-op preceded the night, in which Washington DC police forcefully cleared the streets with teargas, rubber bullets and flash-bangs so the president could pose in front of a church and hold the bible.A dramatic Trump photo-op preceded the night, in which Washington DC police forcefully cleared the streets with teargas, rubber bullets and flash-bangs so the president could pose in front of a church and hold the bible.
“I am your president of law and order,” Trump said outside the church. “I am mobilising all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your second amendment rights.”“I am your president of law and order,” Trump said outside the church. “I am mobilising all available federal resources, civilian and military, to stop the rioting and looting, to end the destruction and arson and to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, including your second amendment rights.”
He vowed to crack down on “professional anarchists, looters, criminals, antifa and others” whose actions had “gripped” America.He vowed to crack down on “professional anarchists, looters, criminals, antifa and others” whose actions had “gripped” America.
Our Washington bureau chief, David Smith, reported on the event that enraged demonstrators but also irked the bishop of the episcopal diocese of Washington. The Right Rev Mariann Budde said she was “not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop”.Our Washington bureau chief, David Smith, reported on the event that enraged demonstrators but also irked the bishop of the episcopal diocese of Washington. The Right Rev Mariann Budde said she was “not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop”.
Richard Wolffe, a Guardian US columnist, says the photo op showed the US leader had reached the “mad emperor” stage:Richard Wolffe, a Guardian US columnist, says the photo op showed the US leader had reached the “mad emperor” stage: