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George Floyd protests: Police suspended after pushing 75-year-old protester – live George Floyd protests: Police suspended after pushing 75-year-old protester – live
(32 minutes later)
Police officers in Buffalo have been suspended for pushing a 75-year-old to the ground during 10th night of protestsPolice officers in Buffalo have been suspended for pushing a 75-year-old to the ground during 10th night of protests
The George Floyd protests take place against the backdrop of the ever-worsening numbers of coronavirus outbreak in the US. The Johns Hopkins University currently puts the figures at more than 1.8m cases in the US, with over 108,000 fatalities.
Bloomberg have a fascinating piece this morning asking one very crucial question: Whatever happened to the coronavirus task-force?
Similarly, task force coordinator Deborah Birx no longer appears in public as frequently as she did. Her voice is mostly mediated through being quoted by White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
It’s an interesting read by Josh Wingrove about the current state of play: Fauci, Virus Task Force Sidelined With Trump All-In on Reopening
The way the Minneapolis Police force reacts to the death of George Floyd is going to place huge scrutiny on Medaria Arrandondo, the chief of police. He’s the first African American to hold the role in the city.
But if you think that might make it easier to reform the force responsible for the death of Floyd, you might need to think again.
My colleague Chris McGreal has been in Minneapolis, looking at one of the other key figures in local policing - Bob Kroll, leader of the Minneapolis police union.
You can read McGreal’s full and worrying report here: Hopeful that Minneapolis policing will change? Meet the police union’s chief ...
There’s been an ongoing row about whether a Black Lives Matter protest would be allowed to take place in Sydney, Australia at the weekend, which has been resolved in a last-ditch court case - and the protest remains banned because of coronavirus fears.There’s been an ongoing row about whether a Black Lives Matter protest would be allowed to take place in Sydney, Australia at the weekend, which has been resolved in a last-ditch court case - and the protest remains banned because of coronavirus fears.
My Australian office colleague Elias Visontay has been following the case in the New South Wales Supreme Court where Justice Desmond Fagan ultimately assessed there would be a public safety risk in allowing the protest to go ahead, likening it to a “defiance” of decisions made by ministers and the expert health advice those decisions were based on.My Australian office colleague Elias Visontay has been following the case in the New South Wales Supreme Court where Justice Desmond Fagan ultimately assessed there would be a public safety risk in allowing the protest to go ahead, likening it to a “defiance” of decisions made by ministers and the expert health advice those decisions were based on.
Justice Fagan said he did not accept the argument of lawyers representing the protest organisers that people would attend the rally regardless of the legal decision, and that in that case, it would be safest for the public to have the cooperation of police to close of streets and allow for greater space for social distancing. He labelled the argument “futile”.Justice Fagan said he did not accept the argument of lawyers representing the protest organisers that people would attend the rally regardless of the legal decision, and that in that case, it would be safest for the public to have the cooperation of police to close of streets and allow for greater space for social distancing. He labelled the argument “futile”.
Justice Fagan also acknowledged the right to protest and the importance of the Black Lives Matter protest in drawing attention to the treatment of Indigenous Australians at the hands of police, but reasoned that many Australians had had to forfeit rights during the pandemic, including to attend church and forfeiting their livelihoods.Justice Fagan also acknowledged the right to protest and the importance of the Black Lives Matter protest in drawing attention to the treatment of Indigenous Australians at the hands of police, but reasoned that many Australians had had to forfeit rights during the pandemic, including to attend church and forfeiting their livelihoods.
Organisers had previously indicated they and supporters would attend the protest regardless of the legal decision, and it has been noted that last week in Sydney some 3,000 people gathered to join a protest based on conspiracy theories over 5G and police took no action.Organisers had previously indicated they and supporters would attend the protest regardless of the legal decision, and it has been noted that last week in Sydney some 3,000 people gathered to join a protest based on conspiracy theories over 5G and police took no action.
Amnesty International UK had called for the protest to be allowed, saying that “Peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, and the New South Wales police should work with organisers to ensure that attendees can social distance, and protests can be carried out in a safe manner. Police must also commit to not fine anyone inadvertently breaking a COVID-19 guideline.”Amnesty International UK had called for the protest to be allowed, saying that “Peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, and the New South Wales police should work with organisers to ensure that attendees can social distance, and protests can be carried out in a safe manner. Police must also commit to not fine anyone inadvertently breaking a COVID-19 guideline.”
This story is going to run and run.This story is going to run and run.
Yesterday was the tenth day of protests following the killing of George Floyd, and it was marked by the solemn occasion of a memorial service in Minneapolis for the 46 year old.Yesterday was the tenth day of protests following the killing of George Floyd, and it was marked by the solemn occasion of a memorial service in Minneapolis for the 46 year old.
We’ll be bringing you ongoing coverage of the protest movement and today’s politics. Here are the key points so far:We’ll be bringing you ongoing coverage of the protest movement and today’s politics. Here are the key points so far:
Civil rights groups are to sue Trump over the assault on peaceful protesters near White HouseCivil rights groups are to sue Trump over the assault on peaceful protesters near White House
Twitter has disabled a Trump campaign video tribute to George Floyd, they say due to copyright complaint. It will no doubt add to tensions between the president and the social media platformTwitter has disabled a Trump campaign video tribute to George Floyd, they say due to copyright complaint. It will no doubt add to tensions between the president and the social media platform
Police officers in Buffalo have been suspended for pushing a 75-year-old to the ground during the protestsPolice officers in Buffalo have been suspended for pushing a 75-year-old to the ground during the protests
The New York Times has dropped its initial defence of a ‘Send in the troops’ article and now says Tom Cotton’s opinion piece did not meet editorial standardsThe New York Times has dropped its initial defence of a ‘Send in the troops’ article and now says Tom Cotton’s opinion piece did not meet editorial standards
Ukrainian prosecutors find no evidence against Hunter BidenUkrainian prosecutors find no evidence against Hunter Biden
Donald Trump is travelling rural Maine today, where he will be visiting a factory making swabs used in coronavirus testing.Donald Trump is travelling rural Maine today, where he will be visiting a factory making swabs used in coronavirus testing.
He might also mention Hydroxychloroquine along the way, the controversial drug at the heart of the scandal of the Lancet withdrawing a study saying it was dangerous to Covid-19 patients.He might also mention Hydroxychloroquine along the way, the controversial drug at the heart of the scandal of the Lancet withdrawing a study saying it was dangerous to Covid-19 patients.
And Trump might get a frosty reception - even the Republican senator for the state, Susan Collins, has been critical of Trump’s handling of the Floyd protests.And Trump might get a frosty reception - even the Republican senator for the state, Susan Collins, has been critical of Trump’s handling of the Floyd protests.
On the economic front, we are also expecting more grim US jobless figures to be announced later this morning.On the economic front, we are also expecting more grim US jobless figures to be announced later this morning.
Hello from London, I’m Martin Belam, and I’ll be running this live blog for a couple more hours now until I hand over to my colleagues in New York. You can contact me on martin.belam@theguardian.com or find me on Twitter @MartinBelamHello from London, I’m Martin Belam, and I’ll be running this live blog for a couple more hours now until I hand over to my colleagues in New York. You can contact me on martin.belam@theguardian.com or find me on Twitter @MartinBelam