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George Floyd killing: Washington expecting biggest march yet as mourners prepare for second memorial service – live George Floyd killing: Washington expecting biggest march yet as mourners prepare for second memorial service – live
(32 minutes later)
Latest updates as the protests over the killing of George Floyd enter their second weekendLatest updates as the protests over the killing of George Floyd enter their second weekend
On Tuesday 9 June at 7pm BST (2pm EDT) the Guardian is holding a live-streamed event about the meaning of George Floyd’s killing, featuring Guardian journalists including US southern bureau chief Oliver Laughland, reporter Kenya Evelyn, writer Chris McGreal and columnist Malaika Jabali.
Book tickets here.
False social media rumors about so-called antifa activists traveling en masse into rural areas of America have led rightwing vigilantes to carry out armed patrols of small cities and towns in the western United States and beyond.
In some cases, local activists planning peaceful protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and in protest at the killing of George Floyd have been inundated with death threats.
Since Donald Trump tweeted recently that antifa would be declared a terrorist group, the term has gained broader currency on the American right and is seen as a dire threat. In fact, it simply means “anti-fascist” and is used to describe a wide spectrum of leftist and anarchist groups and individuals. It has no existence as a separate organization.
The FBI has said there is “no evidence” of antifa involvement in violence linked to the Floyd protests and NBC News has reported one supposed antifa group posting violent rhetoric on the internet was in fact linked to white supremacists.
But in the Idaho city of Coeur d’Alene, groups of 30-50 men armed with semi-automatic weapons have occupied downtown streets on successive evenings this week, guarding against supposed busloads of radical leftists rumored to traveling from cities such as Spokane or Seattle, according to local residents and social media materials obtained by the Guardian.
Videos posted to social media by supporters of the vigilante groups showed dozens of people walking up and down a downtown shopping strip, with many open-carrying AR-15s and other semi-automatic long guns, and sporting tactical apparel.
Reports coming in of police spraying protesters with pepper spray and at least one arrest after a demonstration in Sydney, Australia.
Tens of thousands of people marched through Australian cities and towns for Black Lives Matter protests on Saturday, defying an attempt from the police to ban one demonstration through the courts.
In a dramatic turn of events, a massive crowd in Sydney learned just as they were gathering outside the city’s Town Hall that the New South Wales court of appeal had ruled their rally was now lawful, overturning a court decision handed down late on Friday.
They were drawing attention to racial profiling, police brutality and the more than 400 Indigenous people who have died in police custody since a royal commission into the problem was held in 1991.
One journalist who was at the scene in Central station filmed the incident, showing what looks like a man being arrested and some physical altercations between police and protesters, while people chant “black lives matter” in the background.
At least 2,000 people marched in Sydney for the ‘Stop All Black Deaths in Custody’ rally, which was declared an authorised public assembly minutes before its scheduled start time of 3pm, after a court ruling was overturned.At least 2,000 people marched in Sydney for the ‘Stop All Black Deaths in Custody’ rally, which was declared an authorised public assembly minutes before its scheduled start time of 3pm, after a court ruling was overturned.
Thousands of protesters rallied in cities and towns across Australia to march against Indigenous deaths in custody and the killing of George Floyd.Thousands of protesters rallied in cities and towns across Australia to march against Indigenous deaths in custody and the killing of George Floyd.
Hi, welcome to our US politics live blog which will be following the Black Lives Matter protests across the world sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis 12 days ago.Hi, welcome to our US politics live blog which will be following the Black Lives Matter protests across the world sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis 12 days ago.
I’m Jessica Murray, I’ll be steering the blog for the next few hours - feel free to get in touch via email (jessica.murray@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (@journojess_)I’m Jessica Murray, I’ll be steering the blog for the next few hours - feel free to get in touch via email (jessica.murray@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (@journojess_)
Here are the key points today so far: Protesters are expected to gather in Washington for a huge demonstration on Saturday.
“We have a lot of public, open source information to suggest that the event on this upcoming Saturday may be one of the largest we’ve ever had in the city,” Washington DC police chief Peter Newsham said.
North Carolina governor Roy Cooper has ordered that all flags at state facilities be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday in honor of Floyd, who was originally from the state’s Fayetteville city. A televised memorial service will also be held in the city.
Here is a quick recap of the latest developments in the last day or so:
On Friday, marches and gatherings took place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, New York and Denver, among other places, while protesters massed again, in the rain, in front of the White House. The night-time protests were largely peaceful but tension remains high even as authorities in several places take steps to reform police procedures.On Friday, marches and gatherings took place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Miami, New York and Denver, among other places, while protesters massed again, in the rain, in front of the White House. The night-time protests were largely peaceful but tension remains high even as authorities in several places take steps to reform police procedures.
A federal judge in Denver ordered city police to stop using tear gas, plastic bullets and other “less-than-lethal” devices such as flash grenades, with his ruling citing examples of protesters and journalists being injured by police.A federal judge in Denver ordered city police to stop using tear gas, plastic bullets and other “less-than-lethal” devices such as flash grenades, with his ruling citing examples of protesters and journalists being injured by police.
In Minneapolis, Democratic city leaders voted to end the use of knee restraints and choke-holds, where pressure is applied to the neck, while California governor Gavin Newsom said he would end state police training of carotid restraints similar to the technique used on Floyd.In Minneapolis, Democratic city leaders voted to end the use of knee restraints and choke-holds, where pressure is applied to the neck, while California governor Gavin Newsom said he would end state police training of carotid restraints similar to the technique used on Floyd.
Black Lives Matter activists have called for cities to defund police departments. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat who in April proposed increasing law enforcement funding, this week reversed course and said he would seek some $150m in cuts to the LA Police Department.Black Lives Matter activists have called for cities to defund police departments. Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, a Democrat who in April proposed increasing law enforcement funding, this week reversed course and said he would seek some $150m in cuts to the LA Police Department.
National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell said the league had made mistakes in not listening to players. The NFL has been locked in a debate with players over kneeling protests during the playing of the national anthem.National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell said the league had made mistakes in not listening to players. The NFL has been locked in a debate with players over kneeling protests during the playing of the national anthem.
Two police officers in Buffalo, New York, were suspended without pay on Thursday and placed under investigation after a video showed them shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground. But the decision was met with pushback from the officers’ colleagues, with all 57 members of the police tactical unit quitting in protest at their treatment.Two police officers in Buffalo, New York, were suspended without pay on Thursday and placed under investigation after a video showed them shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground. But the decision was met with pushback from the officers’ colleagues, with all 57 members of the police tactical unit quitting in protest at their treatment.
Finally, the protests have now spread right across the globe with people in Australia, Japan and South Korea all taking to the streets in solidarity with those in the US and to call out issues of systemic racism in their own countries.Finally, the protests have now spread right across the globe with people in Australia, Japan and South Korea all taking to the streets in solidarity with those in the US and to call out issues of systemic racism in their own countries.