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Trump's comment 'this is a great day' for George Floyd draws immediate outrage – live Trump's comment 'this is a great day' for George Floyd draws immediate outrage – live
(32 minutes later)
‘Hopefully, George is looking down right now and saying, “This is a great thing happening for our country”’ Trump says amid police brutality at protests‘Hopefully, George is looking down right now and saying, “This is a great thing happening for our country”’ Trump says amid police brutality at protests
Seattle has banned the use of teargas by police for 30 days. The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted that the organization was wrong for not letting players peacefully protest.
“We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” Goodell said in a video posted to social media. “We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter.”
The statement is a huge reversal for the NFL. After former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick began kneeling before games to protest police brutality, no team offered him a contract.
Yesterday, a group of NFL players called on the league to “condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people” in a video. “How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players?” Tyrann Mathieu of the Kansas City Chiefs asked in the video, which was shared widely yesterday.
Here are some scenes from Detroit, where a huge showing of protestors has shut down a bridge:
Trump has rolled back yet another Obama-era environmental protection. The president signed a proclamation today that opened the Atlantic Ocean’s only fully protected marine sanctuary to commercial fishing.
Trump’s proclamation allows fishing to resume at the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, reversing a policy from the Obama banning crabbing and fishing in the monument in order to protect endangered whales and other marine life.
Obama had blocked of 5,000 miles of the monument off the coast of New England in 2016 over opposition from crabbers and lobster catchers.
The city’s mayor announced the policy at a press conference amid growing concern over the use of chemical agents against protestors. Nearly 1,300 public health providers and experts have signed a letter this week, warning that dousing crowds in teargas and pepper spray will accelerate the spread of coronavirus.The city’s mayor announced the policy at a press conference amid growing concern over the use of chemical agents against protestors. Nearly 1,300 public health providers and experts have signed a letter this week, warning that dousing crowds in teargas and pepper spray will accelerate the spread of coronavirus.
Public health experts and civil rights advocates have long advocated against the use of tear gas, a chemical weapon that can be lethal, especially to the elderly and those with underlying conditions like asthma. Various international treaties and the Geneva Convention have banned its use in international warfare.Public health experts and civil rights advocates have long advocated against the use of tear gas, a chemical weapon that can be lethal, especially to the elderly and those with underlying conditions like asthma. Various international treaties and the Geneva Convention have banned its use in international warfare.
Kanye West will provide financial support to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.Kanye West will provide financial support to the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
The Guardian’s André Wheeler report’s: The Guardian’s André Wheeler reports:
West will fund the entire college education of George Floyd’s six-old-daughter, representatives for the rapper confirmed late Friday afternoon to PEOPLE. In addition, the rapper will also donate $2 million to support the “legal defenses and families” of the late Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.West will fund the entire college education of George Floyd’s six-old-daughter, representatives for the rapper confirmed late Friday afternoon to PEOPLE. In addition, the rapper will also donate $2 million to support the “legal defenses and families” of the late Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
The news comes after West was seen participating in a South Side Chicago protest Thursday. The appearance came after a notable silence from West, as many in the hip hop field, including Jay-Z, Drake, and Ludacris, issued calls for justice. West is a noted supporter of President Trump, who has threatened violence and military action against protestors repeatedly.The news comes after West was seen participating in a South Side Chicago protest Thursday. The appearance came after a notable silence from West, as many in the hip hop field, including Jay-Z, Drake, and Ludacris, issued calls for justice. West is a noted supporter of President Trump, who has threatened violence and military action against protestors repeatedly.
While West has not publicly commented on the deaths of Floyd, Arbery, or Taylor, his wife, Kim Kardashian-West, wrote she was “infuriated and disgusted.” Previously, the couple have worked closely with President Trump on criminal justice reform and freeing inmates.While West has not publicly commented on the deaths of Floyd, Arbery, or Taylor, his wife, Kim Kardashian-West, wrote she was “infuriated and disgusted.” Previously, the couple have worked closely with President Trump on criminal justice reform and freeing inmates.
Another dispatch from our West Coast bureau…Another dispatch from our West Coast bureau…
Earlier today, California governor Gavin Newsom called for an end to police chokeholds, a technique that has been controversial for decades.Earlier today, California governor Gavin Newsom called for an end to police chokeholds, a technique that has been controversial for decades.
The Los Angeles Times notes that the Los Angeles police department limited the use of the carotid neck holds – where officers apply pressure to a detainee’s neck – after 1982, after the then LAPD chief Daryl Gates notoriously said blacks die from the technique at disproportionate rates because the “veins or arteries of blacks do not open up as fast as they do in normal people”.The Los Angeles Times notes that the Los Angeles police department limited the use of the carotid neck holds – where officers apply pressure to a detainee’s neck – after 1982, after the then LAPD chief Daryl Gates notoriously said blacks die from the technique at disproportionate rates because the “veins or arteries of blacks do not open up as fast as they do in normal people”.
The carotid neck hold was not used by the officer in Minneapolis who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck.The carotid neck hold was not used by the officer in Minneapolis who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck.
Newsom also had words on the approach police have used to disperse crowds of demonstrators, which has included the use of tear gas and rubber bullets.Newsom also had words on the approach police have used to disperse crowds of demonstrators, which has included the use of tear gas and rubber bullets.
“Protesters have the right to protest peacefully – not be harassed. Not be shot at by rubber bullets or tear gas,” Newsom said.“Protesters have the right to protest peacefully – not be harassed. Not be shot at by rubber bullets or tear gas,” Newsom said.
“Today I am calling for the creation of a new statewide standard for use of force in protests. Acts of violence against peaceful protestors will not be tolerated.”“Today I am calling for the creation of a new statewide standard for use of force in protests. Acts of violence against peaceful protestors will not be tolerated.”
Aside from force targeted at protestors, public health experts have warned that the use of tear gas, which causes people to sneeze, gag and cough, could accelerate the spread of coronavirus in the middle of the pandemic.Aside from force targeted at protestors, public health experts have warned that the use of tear gas, which causes people to sneeze, gag and cough, could accelerate the spread of coronavirus in the middle of the pandemic.
Newsom addressed the need for larger and more consistent efforts to change what he described as a two-tier justice system that treats people who “are rich and guilty a hell of a lot better than it treats people that are poor and innocent”.Newsom addressed the need for larger and more consistent efforts to change what he described as a two-tier justice system that treats people who “are rich and guilty a hell of a lot better than it treats people that are poor and innocent”.
“One thing we know about our criminal justice system, it’s not blind,” Newsom said.“One thing we know about our criminal justice system, it’s not blind,” Newsom said.
The governor called on Californians to reject the sense of “normalcy” that has resulted in an unequal justice system.The governor called on Californians to reject the sense of “normalcy” that has resulted in an unequal justice system.
“We’ve accepted that as normal. Normalcy created the conditions that led to this moment. If you want to go back to normalcy – I’m not going there with you”, he said.“We’ve accepted that as normal. Normalcy created the conditions that led to this moment. If you want to go back to normalcy – I’m not going there with you”, he said.
News from Canada, where prime minister Justin Trudeau this afternoon took a knee with protesters at an event in memory of George Floyd.News from Canada, where prime minister Justin Trudeau this afternoon took a knee with protesters at an event in memory of George Floyd.
According to Reuters, Trudeau was “wearing a black mask and surrounded by bodyguards [when he] made a surprise appearance at the “No justice = No peace” rally in front of parliament in Ottawa. His appearance came a day after police shot and killed an indigenous woman during a wellness check in eastern Canada.”According to Reuters, Trudeau was “wearing a black mask and surrounded by bodyguards [when he] made a surprise appearance at the “No justice = No peace” rally in front of parliament in Ottawa. His appearance came a day after police shot and killed an indigenous woman during a wellness check in eastern Canada.”
When Trudeau kneeled, protesters chanted “Stand up to Trump!”When Trudeau kneeled, protesters chanted “Stand up to Trump!”
More from Reuters: “Demonstrations were held in other Canadian cities on Friday, including Toronto, where hundreds walked downtown.More from Reuters: “Demonstrations were held in other Canadian cities on Friday, including Toronto, where hundreds walked downtown.
“Trudeau three times took a knee alongside other protesters, a gesture used to protest against police brutality and the treatment of African-Americans by police. Afterward, several people thanked Trudeau for kneeling.”“Trudeau three times took a knee alongside other protesters, a gesture used to protest against police brutality and the treatment of African-Americans by police. Afterward, several people thanked Trudeau for kneeling.”
Our west coast tech reporter sends the following report about the Washington Post’s big story on internal dissent at Facebook…Our west coast tech reporter sends the following report about the Washington Post’s big story on internal dissent at Facebook…
Internal documents from Facebook show thousands of employees oppose chief executive Mark Zuckerberg’s choice not to remove inflammatory speech posted on the platform by Donald Trump, a Washington Post report shows.Internal documents from Facebook show thousands of employees oppose chief executive Mark Zuckerberg’s choice not to remove inflammatory speech posted on the platform by Donald Trump, a Washington Post report shows.
Employees have criticized Zuckerberg over his decision to leave live on the site a post made by Trump that seemingly encouraged the shooting of protesters. Social media rival Twitter chose to hide the message behind a warning.Employees have criticized Zuckerberg over his decision to leave live on the site a post made by Trump that seemingly encouraged the shooting of protesters. Social media rival Twitter chose to hide the message behind a warning.
According to a report the Post published on Friday, in response to growing unrest among employees, Zuckerberg held an emergency town hall meeting this week, during which 5,500 workers voted on which questions should be put to him.According to a report the Post published on Friday, in response to growing unrest among employees, Zuckerberg held an emergency town hall meeting this week, during which 5,500 workers voted on which questions should be put to him.
The one that got the highest number of votes asked: “Can we please change our policies around political free speech? Fact checking and removal of hate speech shouldn’t be exempt for politicians.”The one that got the highest number of votes asked: “Can we please change our policies around political free speech? Fact checking and removal of hate speech shouldn’t be exempt for politicians.”
One internal message board at Facebook with hundreds of participants questioned whether the social media giant has an “abusive relationship” with the president, the Post reported.One internal message board at Facebook with hundreds of participants questioned whether the social media giant has an “abusive relationship” with the president, the Post reported.
The Post report is the latest to uncover growing unrest within Facebook and among the company’s partners surrounding Zuckerberg’s content moderation decisions. Criticism has come from former employees and current employees at all levels of the company, including senior staff.The Post report is the latest to uncover growing unrest within Facebook and among the company’s partners surrounding Zuckerberg’s content moderation decisions. Criticism has come from former employees and current employees at all levels of the company, including senior staff.
Also this week, nearly three-dozen founding Facebook employees wrote an open letter to Zuckerberg opposing the decision to leave the Trump post up. Current employees staged a virtual walkout, and online therapy company Talkspace cut ties with Facebook over the issue.Also this week, nearly three-dozen founding Facebook employees wrote an open letter to Zuckerberg opposing the decision to leave the Trump post up. Current employees staged a virtual walkout, and online therapy company Talkspace cut ties with Facebook over the issue.
Facebook did not respond to request for comment.Facebook did not respond to request for comment.
Reports and footage are coming in from across the US of crowds gathering for more protests this afternoon and tonight, as the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd – and other deaths of African Americans at the hands of police, including those of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee in Louisville, Kentucky – fuel lasting civil unrest, the worst since 1968 and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.Reports and footage are coming in from across the US of crowds gathering for more protests this afternoon and tonight, as the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd – and other deaths of African Americans at the hands of police, including those of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee in Louisville, Kentucky – fuel lasting civil unrest, the worst since 1968 and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Hre’s Josh Wood’s report from Louisville about the death of McAtee.Hre’s Josh Wood’s report from Louisville about the death of McAtee.
And here’s a Guardian video, in which Kenya Evelyn, one of our Washington reporters, explains what the George Floyd protests says about America:And here’s a Guardian video, in which Kenya Evelyn, one of our Washington reporters, explains what the George Floyd protests says about America:
From New York, meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that arrests from a week of protests have started to put a strain on the city’s justice system:From New York, meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that arrests from a week of protests have started to put a strain on the city’s justice system:
Good evening from New York – I’m here to take you through the next couple of hours, until Maanvi Singh logs on from Oakland to close out the day in America.Good evening from New York – I’m here to take you through the next couple of hours, until Maanvi Singh logs on from Oakland to close out the day in America.
The Washington Post has an in-depth and fascinating report about troubles at Facebook, over Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to check or question posts by Donald Trump about the George Floyd protests seen by most observers to encourage violence and division.The Washington Post has an in-depth and fascinating report about troubles at Facebook, over Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to check or question posts by Donald Trump about the George Floyd protests seen by most observers to encourage violence and division.
The Post editors have like good editors everywhere gone for the grabby headline: “Facebook employees said they were ‘caught in an abusive relationship’ with Trump as internal debates raged”.The Post editors have like good editors everywhere gone for the grabby headline: “Facebook employees said they were ‘caught in an abusive relationship’ with Trump as internal debates raged”.
On Twitter this afternoon – Twitter being a platform that has attempted to censor or censure Trump’s outbursts, and has in return felt the full blast of Trumpian invective and executive orders of dubious utility – Trump went there on the subject of what he deems to be legitimate protest.On Twitter this afternoon – Twitter being a platform that has attempted to censor or censure Trump’s outbursts, and has in return felt the full blast of Trumpian invective and executive orders of dubious utility – Trump went there on the subject of what he deems to be legitimate protest.
“I am a big fan of Drew Brees,” he said of the New Orleans Saints star who waded into huge controversy this week by saying he did not agree with NFL protests against police brutality during the pre-game anthem.“I am a big fan of Drew Brees,” he said of the New Orleans Saints star who waded into huge controversy this week by saying he did not agree with NFL protests against police brutality during the pre-game anthem.
“I think he’s truly one of the greatest quarterbacks,” Trump continued, “but he should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag. OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high. We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!”“I think he’s truly one of the greatest quarterbacks,” Trump continued, “but he should not have taken back his original stance on honoring our magnificent American Flag. OLD GLORY is to be revered, cherished, and flown high. We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!”
Two things. One, protesting, even burning the US flag is a right protected by the US constitution. And two, if Trump says kneeling in front of the flag is not OK, pictorial evidence suggests he thinks groping it is perfectly OK. Which, of course, it is. Like Trump’s regular love-ins with the Stars and Stripes at CPAC and other events, his outrage today is purely performative politics.Two things. One, protesting, even burning the US flag is a right protected by the US constitution. And two, if Trump says kneeling in front of the flag is not OK, pictorial evidence suggests he thinks groping it is perfectly OK. Which, of course, it is. Like Trump’s regular love-ins with the Stars and Stripes at CPAC and other events, his outrage today is purely performative politics.
That’s it from me today. My colleagues, Martin Pengelly and Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Trump’s comment that this is a “great day” for George Floyd sparked outrage. Trump made the comment during a nearly hour-long event in the Rose Garden this afternoon, which mainly consisted of him boasting about the new jobs report. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said the remark, which came less than two weeks after Floyd was killed while in police custody, was “despicable.”
The US unemployment rate surprisingly dropped to 13.3% in May, according to the jobs report released this morning. The news was a welcome surprise, considering economists had predicted the rate could climb to as high as 20%, but the figure is still far from the 3.5% unemployment rate recorded in February.
Minneapolis agreed to ban the use of police chokeholds in response to the killing of Floyd. The Minneapolis city council approved an agreement today with the state’s department of human rights, which also requires officers to intervene anytime they seen an unauthorized use of force.
The DC mayor renamed the section of 16th Street in front of the White House “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” as tensions escalate between the administration and the DC government. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also asked Trump to remove all “extraordinary” law enforcement officers who were sent to the city in response to the Floyd protests, and the president responded by calling Bowser “incompetent.”
The entire Buffalo police department’s emergency response team has reportedly resigned from the team after two colleagues were suspended without pay for pushing a 75-year-old man who was protesting the killing of Floyd. The 57 officers will still by employed by BPD but will no longer serve on the emergency response team. The elderly protester has been hospitalized and is said to be in stable condition.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
The Guardian’s Mario Koran reports from California:
California governor Gavin Newsom is calling on law enforcement to end the use of a certain kind of chokehold that can block the flow of blood to the brain, after George Floyd was killed while in police custody.
Newsom announced the news in an afternoon press conference at the California Museum in Sacramento, where he signed a law last year that specified police can use lethal force “only when necessary in defense of human life”.
Newsom said he would immediately direct the use of carotid hold be removed from the state police training programs, a practice that 15 law enforcement agencies in San Diego County banned earlier this week.
The carotid hold “has no place any longer in 21st century practices and policing,” Newsom said.
The entire Buffalo police department’s emergency response team has resigned from the team in response to the suspensions of two colleagues, according to a local reporter.
The 57 officers will still be employed by BDP, but they will no longer work on the emergency response team.
The news comes after two officers were suspended without pay for shoving a 75-year-old man who was protesting the police killing of George Floyd. The elderly man had to be hospitalized but is said to be in stable condition.
Buffalor mayor Byron Brown said he was aware of the resignations, adding that “contingency plans are in place to maintain police services and ensure public safety within our community.”
The Guardian’s Kari Paul reports from California:
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his board position at the social media company on Friday in an effort to “curb racial hate,” urging his colleagues to fill his seat with a black candidate.
Ohanian, who is married to tennis star Serena Williams, said in a blog post he was making the move as “a father who needs to be able to answer his black daughter when she asks: ‘What did you do?’”
“I believe resignation can actually be an act of leadership from people in power right now,” he said. “To everyone fighting to fix our broken nation: do not stop.”
The executive and investor also pledged any future gains on his Reddit stocks to “serve the black community” and donated $1m to football player and activist Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights camp, which aims to “advance the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown communities.”
Ohanian’s resignation is the latest example of a tech executive taking a public stand against racism and police violence. On Wednesday, Twitter chief executive officer Jack Dorsey also donated to Kaepernick’s non-profit. Google will donate $12m in funding to organizations working to address racial inequalities, chief executive officer Sundar Pichai said on Wednesday.
Reddit has been criticized for its role in stoking hatred and harassment in the past. On Tuesday, former CEO Ellen Pao accused the site of “amplifying” racism and hate.
DC may see its largest protest yet tomorrow, with secretary of the army Ryan McCarthy saying as many as 200,000 people may participate in the city’s demonstrations to protest the police killing of George Floyd.
The DC police department has announced that a number of streets will be closed tomorrow to allow the protesters to march.
DC police chief Peter Newsham said during a briefing yesterday, “We have a lot of public, open-source information to suggest that the event on this upcoming Saturday may be one of the largest that we’ve had in the city.”
He added, “We expect that Saturday’s demonstration will, like I said, be more of the same peaceful demonstrators coming to exercise their First Amendment right in Washington, DC.”
Ohio’s governor said an Ohio national guard member was removed from a mission in DC for expressing white supremacist ideology online.
Republican governor Mike DeWine said the FBI had uncovered information on the member’s online activity prior to the assignment to DC, where thousands of national guard troops have been sent in response to the city’s George Floyd protests.
“While I fully support everyone’s right to free speech, guardsmen and women are sworn to protect all of us, regardless of race, ethnic background or religion,” DeWine said.
“Anyone who displays a malice toward specific groups of Americans has no place in the Ohio national guard.”
DeWine said it was “highly likely” the person would be permanently removed from the guard once the FBI concludes its investigation.
The governor noted Ohio sent 100 of its national guard members to DC to help respond to the protests, although local officials have complained of federal overreach as several states have sent national guard troops to the nation’s capital.
Trump has ordered the removal of thousands of US troops from Germany by September, according to reports.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
The news comes one week after German chancellor Angela Merkel said she would not attend the G7 summit planned for June out of concern about coronavirus, but a White House official told the Journal that the decision on a troop reduction was unrelatd to Merkel’s announcement.
A day after Merkel said she would not attend, Trump announced he was delaying the G7 summit until September and planned to extend invitations to several other countries, including Russia, which sparked intense criticism.
The US park police acknowledged it was a “mistake” to say no tear gas was used on protesters near the White House on Monday, an incident that sparked international criticism of the federal government.
The US park police had confirmed in a statement earlier this week that officers deployed pepper balls against the peaceful protesters, but the agency claimed that weapon was not considered tear gas.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines tear gas as “chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin,” including pepper spray.
In an interview with Vox, US park police spokesperson Sgt. Eduardo Delgado said, “The point is we admitted to using what we used.”
Delgado continued, “I think the term ‘tear gas’ doesn’t even matter anymore. It was a mistake on our part for using ‘tear gas’ because we just assumed people would think CS or CN,” referring to two common forms of tear gas.
DC mayor Muriel Bowser responded to Trump calling her “incompetent” by criticizing the president’s response to the George Floyd protests.
“You know the thing about the pot and the kettle?” Bowser said of Trump’s tweet, during a press conference on the coronavirus crisis.
The Democratic mayor added, “We all have to just refocus on what’s in front of us, and that is that our nation is hurting. It’s in need of healing and leadership at all levels, all the way from the top to mayors like me, to all of us, to focus on how we bring people together.”
Trump is lashing out against the mayor of DC, after Muriel Bowser sent a letter to the president requesting that all additional law enforcement officials brought to the city in response to the George Floyd protests be removed.
In a tweet, Trump described Bowser as “incompetent” and said the National Guard troops sent to DC had “saved her from great embarrassment.”
The president ominously concluded, “If she doesn’t treat these men and women well, then we’ll bring in a different group of men and women!”
The tweet seemed to indicate Trump was considering sending active-duty troops to the city, even though defense secretary Mark Esper has reportedly ordered home several hundred troops from the 82nd Airborne Division who were brought to the capital region in case they needed to support local law enforcement.