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George Floyd killing: family holds memorial service in Minneapolis – live George Floyd killing: family holds memorial service in Minneapolis – live
(32 minutes later)
Rev Jesse Jackson among invitees at first of three memorial services across the US to mark the violent death of George FloydRev Jesse Jackson among invitees at first of three memorial services across the US to mark the violent death of George Floyd
More from our reporter at the memorial service for George Floyd in Minneapolis, which you can watch in the livestream embedded above…
The family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, said the fight for justice would have to go on “inside the courtroom and outside the courtroom”. It was revealed that Floyd had tested positive for coronavirus in April but Crump said that wasn’t what killed him.
“It was that other pandemic that we’re far too familiar with in America, that pandemic of racism and discrimination that killed George Floyd,” he said.
Then family members stepped up to remember Floyd.
Philonise Floyd described his love for his elder brother.
“We didn’t have much. Our mom did what she could. We would sleep in the same bed,” he said.
Philonise described his brother as inspiring, and how they would talk and dance and cook with their mother.
“It was amazing, everywhere you go and see how people cling to him. They wanted to be around him. George, he was like a general. Every day you walks outside and there’s a line of people … wanting to greet him and wanting to have fun with him.
“Guys that was doing drugs, like smokers and homeless people. You could tell because when they spoke to George they felt like they was the president because that’s how he made you feel.
“It’s crazy man. It’s amazing to me that he touched so many hearts.”
In Los Angeles, which has seen its share of protests and arrests since the killing of George Floyd, Mayor Eric Garcetti has confirmed that there will be no curfew tonight.
“Angelenos are rallying around powerful and peaceful demonstrations against racial injustice,” said Garcetti. “We remain committed to protecting the right of all people to make their voices heard and ensuring the safety of protesters, businesses, residents, families, and our entire community.”
There’s also this from the sheriff of Alameda County, which centres on Oakland:
At a press conference in Washington on Thursday, Attorney General William Barr said federal law enforcement officers had gathered intelligence that extremist groups including Antifa had “hijacked” peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd, seeking to incite violence and destruction.
“We have evidence,” Barr said, “that Antifa and other similar extremist groups, as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions, have been involved in instigating and participating in the violent activity.”
Last week, Donald Trump sought to designate Antifa, an amorphous group name for the antifascist movement, a terrorist organization.
Barr added: “We are also seeing foreign actors playing all sides to exacerbate the violence.”
Pressed by a reporter about why he mentioned Antifa as opposed to “boogaloo” or other far-right extremist elements, Barr said there was a “witches brew a lot of different extremist organizations trying to exploit the protests.”
Federal forces have taken over Washington’s response to the unrest, under Barr’s direction. All of the justice department components – including the FBI, the US Marshals, the Bureau of Prisons, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration – have been tapped to respond to violence and looting.
Questions have been raised about such officers appearing in public – and being used to control the public – without identifying marks or insignia on their uniforms.
In total, Barr said federal officials made 51 arrests for crimes connected to “violent rioting”.
The heads of each bureau provided updates. Here are the highlights:
Barr said the justice department was conducting a “parallel and independent” investigation in possible federal civil rights violations.
FBI director Christopher Wray said the agency had collected evidence that Antifa and “other agitators” were behind some of the violence.
Acting ATF director Regina Lombardo said her agents had responded to “shootings, burglaries, arson, bombings, especially destructive devices such as a molotov cocktail.”
BOP director Michael Carvajal said officers were not told to not identify themselves. He said they normally operate only with their own institutions and therefore don’t need to identify themselves. He added that he probably should have considered marking the officers when they were deployed outside the White House.
Our reporter is at the memorial service in Minneapolis, which you can follow in the live stream above:
George Floyd’s family arrived to gospel songs from a choir and band under a brightly lit replica of the street mural of Floyd painted on a wall at the site of his death. They sat in the centre of the sanctuary at the North Central University campus in downtown Minneapolis, with most other guests socially distancing at least a seat apart from each others.
Mourners included Martin Luther King III and Jesse Jackson; political leaders, including state governor Tim Walz and US senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith; and celebrities including Kevin Hart and Jamie Foxx.
The mood outside was sombre. A small group came to remember Floyd, and some held signs demanding justice and reform of the police, but there were no vocal protests.
More from the memorial service for George Floyd which is being held in Minneapolis and which you can follow via livestream above:More from the memorial service for George Floyd which is being held in Minneapolis and which you can follow via livestream above:
Reggie Jones, 47, travelled up from South Carolina to sell George Floyd T-shirts outside the memorial to raise funds for the victim’s children with the permission of the family. He said he had not seen protests like those that have swept the US over the past week.Reggie Jones, 47, travelled up from South Carolina to sell George Floyd T-shirts outside the memorial to raise funds for the victim’s children with the permission of the family. He said he had not seen protests like those that have swept the US over the past week.
“Some things are going to change. It’s going to help officers be conscious of their actions. It’s going to allow people to hear us. Hear the cry. This crime right here really punched us in the gut. Not just African Americans but people from all over,” he said.“Some things are going to change. It’s going to help officers be conscious of their actions. It’s going to allow people to hear us. Hear the cry. This crime right here really punched us in the gut. Not just African Americans but people from all over,” he said.
Jones said he was pleased that the three other police officers were charged on Thursday with aiding and abetting Derek Chauvin in the murder of Floyd.Jones said he was pleased that the three other police officers were charged on Thursday with aiding and abetting Derek Chauvin in the murder of Floyd.
“It was necessary. Four police officers was there. Three of them could have stopped it,” he said.“It was necessary. Four police officers was there. Three of them could have stopped it,” he said.
The memorial service for George Floyd is being held in Minneapolis and a livestream is embedded at the top of this blog. Our reporter Chris McGreal is there, as he has been throughout this extraordinary time in the city. Here’s a sample of his report before the service, which follows in full via a link:The memorial service for George Floyd is being held in Minneapolis and a livestream is embedded at the top of this blog. Our reporter Chris McGreal is there, as he has been throughout this extraordinary time in the city. Here’s a sample of his report before the service, which follows in full via a link:
John Kelly, formerly secretary of homeland security and White House chief of staff, has dismissed Donald Trump’s criticism of James Mattis, the former secretary of defense who on Wednesday night aimed a blistering broadside at the president’s handling of protests over the death of George Floyd.John Kelly, formerly secretary of homeland security and White House chief of staff, has dismissed Donald Trump’s criticism of James Mattis, the former secretary of defense who on Wednesday night aimed a blistering broadside at the president’s handling of protests over the death of George Floyd.
Mattis, a retired Marine Corp general, called Trump “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.”Mattis, a retired Marine Corp general, called Trump “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.”
He also compared Trump’s behaviour to Nazi propaganda and called the president’s stunt on Monday, ordering the gassing of peaceful protesters so he could stage a photo op outside St John’s church, an “abuse of executive authority”.He also compared Trump’s behaviour to Nazi propaganda and called the president’s stunt on Monday, ordering the gassing of peaceful protesters so he could stage a photo op outside St John’s church, an “abuse of executive authority”.
Trump tweeted back: “Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General.”Trump tweeted back: “Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General.”
Almost as inevitable as the abuse was the fact that the tweet contained a lie. Mattis resigned in December 2018, over Trump’s attempt to withdraw US troops from Syria. Trump brought his departure forward, but didn’t fire him.Almost as inevitable as the abuse was the fact that the tweet contained a lie. Mattis resigned in December 2018, over Trump’s attempt to withdraw US troops from Syria. Trump brought his departure forward, but didn’t fire him.
On Thursday Kelly, like Mattis a retired general though from the Army rather than the Marines, told the Washington Post: “The president did not fire him. He did not ask for his resignation. The president has clearly forgotten how it actually happened or is confused. The president tweeted a very positive tweet about Jim until he started to see on Fox News their interpretation of his letter. Then he got nasty. Jim Mattis is a honorable man.”On Thursday Kelly, like Mattis a retired general though from the Army rather than the Marines, told the Washington Post: “The president did not fire him. He did not ask for his resignation. The president has clearly forgotten how it actually happened or is confused. The president tweeted a very positive tweet about Jim until he started to see on Fox News their interpretation of his letter. Then he got nasty. Jim Mattis is a honorable man.”
Unlike Mattis, Kelly has spoken out about Trump before, backing impeachment witness Lt Col Alexander Vindman and expressing quite wide disagreement. Asked in February why he went to work for Trump in 2017, Kelly said he had been “fascinated – not necessarily in a good way – but fascinated as to what that election meant to our country”.Unlike Mattis, Kelly has spoken out about Trump before, backing impeachment witness Lt Col Alexander Vindman and expressing quite wide disagreement. Asked in February why he went to work for Trump in 2017, Kelly said he had been “fascinated – not necessarily in a good way – but fascinated as to what that election meant to our country”.
Kelly and Mattis have been widely reported to have been “adults in the room” in the first years of the Trump White House, willing to stand up to the president and obstruct his more dangerous impulses. They have also been widely criticised for moves or silences seen to support such behaviour.Kelly and Mattis have been widely reported to have been “adults in the room” in the first years of the Trump White House, willing to stand up to the president and obstruct his more dangerous impulses. They have also been widely criticised for moves or silences seen to support such behaviour.
HR McMaster, another general who was Trump’s second national security adviser, is due out in the autumn with a book that reportedly discusses his work at the White House. He has not commented publicly on the current situation.HR McMaster, another general who was Trump’s second national security adviser, is due out in the autumn with a book that reportedly discusses his work at the White House. He has not commented publicly on the current situation.
As George Floyd’s family and invitees, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, arrived for the memorial service in Minneapolis, a small crowd gathered outside to pay respects. It included Maudeline St Jean, a nurse who brought her two sons.As George Floyd’s family and invitees, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, arrived for the memorial service in Minneapolis, a small crowd gathered outside to pay respects. It included Maudeline St Jean, a nurse who brought her two sons.
“When I saw that video of George Floyd’s death, it was so horrific I found myself crying. It’s like a horror movie,” she said.“When I saw that video of George Floyd’s death, it was so horrific I found myself crying. It’s like a horror movie,” she said.
“I came to show support for the family, and the fight for black freedom and ending the suffering of black people. I told my boys, you guys are coming with me. You have to be in this. It’s not going to change if we sit home and watch it on television. We have to be a part of this part.”“I came to show support for the family, and the fight for black freedom and ending the suffering of black people. I told my boys, you guys are coming with me. You have to be in this. It’s not going to change if we sit home and watch it on television. We have to be a part of this part.”
St Jean said that the US has given her great opportunity but she was shocked by the racism she encountered.St Jean said that the US has given her great opportunity but she was shocked by the racism she encountered.
“I was born in Liberia, came here 28 years ago. America’s a great country. This is where I got educated. This is where I learned a lot. But there’s 400 years of slavery and the idea that somebody else has the right to tell somebody how they can live. And they have the right to suppress you like they’re your white masters.“I was born in Liberia, came here 28 years ago. America’s a great country. This is where I got educated. This is where I learned a lot. But there’s 400 years of slavery and the idea that somebody else has the right to tell somebody how they can live. And they have the right to suppress you like they’re your white masters.
“We’re not going back to lynching. That’s what they did to George Floyd. They basically lynched him in front of everybody.”“We’re not going back to lynching. That’s what they did to George Floyd. They basically lynched him in front of everybody.”
Her 15 year-old son, Zachary, said the thought the most widespread protests the US has seen in half a century mark a turning point.Her 15 year-old son, Zachary, said the thought the most widespread protests the US has seen in half a century mark a turning point.
“A big change is going to come,” he said. “A lot of change is going to happen. This sparked a lot of stuff in the US. This is going to be for a new generation that’s going to see us. We’re going to be seen, and people will see that black lives do matter. To show we’re not animals. We’re humans too.”“A big change is going to come,” he said. “A lot of change is going to happen. This sparked a lot of stuff in the US. This is going to be for a new generation that’s going to see us. We’re going to be seen, and people will see that black lives do matter. To show we’re not animals. We’re humans too.”
Here’s Chris’s full report from Minneapolis:Here’s Chris’s full report from Minneapolis:
Lauren Gambino in Washington is watching the Department of Justice press conference which is currently being held by Attorney General William Barr, and will be sending in her summary when it’s done.Lauren Gambino in Washington is watching the Department of Justice press conference which is currently being held by Attorney General William Barr, and will be sending in her summary when it’s done.
As I get myself on stream, it seems worthwhile to post what White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said when he held a gaggle earlier, a gaggle being a White House ritual where a White House person stops and takes a few questions from a few White House reporters – collective noun, a lanyard or a grandstand. (Said satirically but with more than a little envy, of course.)As I get myself on stream, it seems worthwhile to post what White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said when he held a gaggle earlier, a gaggle being a White House ritual where a White House person stops and takes a few questions from a few White House reporters – collective noun, a lanyard or a grandstand. (Said satirically but with more than a little envy, of course.)
Here’s what the pool reporter, Christian Datoc of the Daily Caller, wrote about Gidley’s answer to a question about whether Donald Trump is going to fire Mark Esper, his secretary of defense, who publicly disagreed with the president about the possible deployment of troops to quell unrest:Here’s what the pool reporter, Christian Datoc of the Daily Caller, wrote about Gidley’s answer to a question about whether Donald Trump is going to fire Mark Esper, his secretary of defense, who publicly disagreed with the president about the possible deployment of troops to quell unrest:
Here again is Julian Borger, our world affairs editor, on what Esper’s predecessor in the role, James Mattis, had to say about Trump, troops and gassing peaceful protesters in order to stage religiously themed photo ops. Esper, remember, walked with Trump and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley to St John’s church on Monday, a fact which Mattis noted:Here again is Julian Borger, our world affairs editor, on what Esper’s predecessor in the role, James Mattis, had to say about Trump, troops and gassing peaceful protesters in order to stage religiously themed photo ops. Esper, remember, walked with Trump and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Mark Milley to St John’s church on Monday, a fact which Mattis noted:
Martin Pengelly here, taking over from Joan E Greve to take you through the afternoon.Martin Pengelly here, taking over from Joan E Greve to take you through the afternoon.
The New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger is out with a letter to staff who opposed the publication yesterday of an op ed column by Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas and former soldier, whose headline baldly stated its argument: Send In The Troops.The New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger is out with a letter to staff who opposed the publication yesterday of an op ed column by Tom Cotton, a Republican senator from Arkansas and former soldier, whose headline baldly stated its argument: Send In The Troops.
In the words of Mario Koran’s Guardian report, “Numerous New York Times employees tweeted that ‘Running this put Black @nytimes staffers in danger’ along with screenshots of Cotton’s piece.”In the words of Mario Koran’s Guardian report, “Numerous New York Times employees tweeted that ‘Running this put Black @nytimes staffers in danger’ along with screenshots of Cotton’s piece.”
Here’s a chunk of Sulzberger’s letter:Here’s a chunk of Sulzberger’s letter:
Times media reporter Marc Tracy has the full letter:Times media reporter Marc Tracy has the full letter:
That’s it from me today. Martin Pengelly is going to take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Republican senator Lisa Murkowski said she is struggling with whether to support Trump’s reelection, citing James Mattis’ severe criticism of the president’s response to the George Floyd protests. Murkowski said the former defense secretary’s words were “true, honest, necessary and overdue.”
A Georgia investigator testified that one of the men who attacked Ahmaud Arbery used a racist slur against him. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent in charge of the case, the man who filmed the killing of Arbery said Travis McMichael called the black man a “fucking n-----” after shooting him. The killing of Arbery, who was unarmed and jogging when he was attacked, sparked outcry across the country, which intensified after Floyd was killed.
US Navy veteran Michael White has been released from Iran after being detained for nearly two years. White’s release comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran due to reimposed sanctions and the killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
Martin will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
George Floyd’s body lies in a gold coloured casket surrounded by white flowers at his memorial service in Minneapolis.
His portrait is to one side, and a brightly lit street mural dominates the back of the auditorium at North Central University, behind the choir and band.
Floyd’s son, brother and sister are expected to be among those attending.
The eulogy is to be delivered the civil rights activist, Rev Al Sharpton, who is expected to call for national legislation akin to the 1964 Civil Rights Act to offer stronger protections and rights for Americans in dealing with the police.
“It’s not about piecemeal,” he said. “We need fundamental federal laws.”
As he went into the service, Sharpton said he was encouraged that so many white people had been demonstration in support of police reform on a scale not seen before.
After the service, Floyd’s body will be flown to Raeford, North Carolina where he was born for a public viewing and private family service on Saturday. Another public viewing will be held in Houston, where Floyd grew up and lived much of his life, before a private burial.
The family of George Floyd and invitees are gathering in Minneapolis for the first of three memorial services across the country scheduled for 1pm central time.
But thousands of ordinary people who joined protests over the past week to demand justice for Floyd have been asked to keep away amid concerns about social distancing.
Anthony Thornton, a 70 year-old African American computer hardware designer, arrived hours ahead of the service and was the first to set himself up in a beach chair outside.
“I have family in DC. They sent me a brand new phone and said, ‘Dad, go out, bring us some videos.’ So I’m out here to do that and at the end of the day to say I found some peace out of all of this. There’s a lot of destruction all over town,” said Thornton, who boasts he holds the Guinness world record for longest distance a human being has walked backwards in 24 hours.
Does he think that the huge protests across the country will bring about significant change?
“No I don’t. I know some form of justice will eventually happen. But it will take many years. We could have the same situation next month,” he said.
Republican senator Lisa Murkowski emphasized that she would continue to work with Trump and his administration, even as she struggles with whether to support his reelection.
The Alaska Republican said there should not be too much focus on who she would vote for, arguing it would distract from important questions in connection to the George Floyd protests.
Murkowski acknowledged some might consider that a “dodge,” but she added, “I think there are important conversations that we need to have as an American people among ourselves, about where we are right now.”
Republican senator Lisa Murkowski said she has been struggling with the question of wether to support Trump this year for some time now.
“I am struggling with it,” Murkowski told reporters on Capitol Hill. “I have struggled with it for a long time. I think you know that.”
The Alaska Republican noted she did not support Trump in the 2016 election, but she said she thought questions about who she would vote for are “distracting” amid the George Floyd protests.
Republican senator Lisa Murkowski said that she is struggling with whether to support Trump in his bid for reelection, citing James Mattis’ criticism of the president.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Murkowski applauded Mattis for his excoriating statement about the president’s response to the George Floyd protests.
Murkowski said the former defense secretary’s words were “true, honest, necessary and overdue,” going on to say she is sruggling with whether to support Trump this year.
“Perhaps we’re getting to the point where we can be more honest with the concerns that we might hold internally, and have the courage of our own convictions to speak up,” Murkowski said.
In his statement, Mattis said he was “angry and appalled” by Trump’s response to the protests. “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try,” Mattis said. “Instead he tries to divide us.”
Another 1.9 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the total number of claims passed 42 million since the coronavirus pandemic hit the US.
The pace of layoffs has slowed dramatically from its peak of 6.6m at the start of April as states start to relax quarantine orders and last week was the ninth consecutive week of declines. But the scale of layoffs remains staggeringly high. In the worst week of the last recession “just” 665,000 people filed for unemployment.
Jason Reed, professor of finance at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, said the numbers may be coming down, but “this is unprecedented. The figures are so high that it’s hard to grasp the reality.”
On Friday the labor department will release May’s monthly jobs report. Economists are predicting unemployment will rise to close to 20% from 14.7% in April and some 8m more jobs will have been lost after a combined drop of 21.4m in March and April.
A Georgia investigator testified that one of the men who attacked Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man who was fatally shot while jogging in February, used a racist slur against him.
According to Richard Dial, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent in charge of the case, the man who filmed the fatal encounter said Travis McMichael called Arbery a “fucking n-----” after shooting him.
McMichael apparently made the remark before police arrived on the scene, after shooting Arbery three times. McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, were arrested last month and have been charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Dial testified today during a preliminary hearing in the case, which is meant to determine whether probable cause exists to support the criminal charges.
Arbery’s killing sparked protests against police brutality, which intensified after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd. The two men’s names, along with that of Breonna Taylor, have been chanted many times at protests in recent days.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell offered a message in support of Mark Esper after the White House signaled the defense secretary’s job may be in trouble.
“In these challenging times, the President and the American people are very well-served by the expert advice and principled leadership of people like Secretary Esper and Attorney General Barr,” McConnell said in a tweet.
“I appreciate their dedicated work at this difficult time for our nation and their steadfast commitment to their constitutional duties to preserve peace and order, uphold liberty, and protect the American people so they can freely exercise their rights. I am glad President Trump has assembled such an impressive team that is working hard for all Americans.”
McConnell’s message could provide a boost for Esper as speculation intensifies over whether the president will dismiss the defense secretary, which could create a very ill-timed cabinet shake-up.
Esper said yesterday that he did not support sending active-duty troops to states that have seen George Floyd protests, as Trump has suggested doing.
Hours later, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tip-toed around a question about whether the president still has confidence in Esper. “As of right now, Secretary Esper is still Secretary Esper,” McEnany said.
The secretary of the army interestingly sent a tweet about soldiers needing to protect Americans’ right to peaceably assemble, just three days after a group of peaceful protesters near the White House were forcibly removed using tear gas.
“Every Soldier and Department of the Army Civilian swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution. That includes the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances,” secretary of the army Ryan McCarthy said in a tweet.
The timing of the tweet was noteworthy, considering Trump has sought to depict the protesters who have demonstrated in response to the killing of George Floyd as violent “thugs.”
The tweet also comes one day after defense secretary Mark Esper reversed plans to withdraw active-duty troops froom the DC region, who were deployed in response to the protests.