This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/jun/06/george-floyd-killing-washington-march-protests-second-memorial-service-donald-trump-live-latest-updates

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
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
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who is a long-time critic of Donald Trump and an advocate for civil rights in the US, has given his thoughts on the civil unrest of the last few weeks.
Popovich, who has won five NBA titles with the Spurs, said he believes the “country is in trouble” as he discussed the death of George Floyd.
“In a strange, counterintuitive sort of way, the best teaching moment of this most-recent tragedy, I think, was the look on the officer’s face [during Floyd’s death],” Popovich said in a video published by the Spurs. “For white people to see how nonchalant, how casual, just how everyday going about his job, so much so that he could just put his left hand in his pocket, wriggle his knee around a little bit to teach this person some sort of a lesson – and that it was his right and his duty to do it, in his mind.
“I don’t know ... I think I’m just embarrassed as a white person to know that that can happen. To actually watch a lynching. We’ve all seen books, and you look in the books and you see black people hanging off of trees. And you ... are amazed. But we just saw it again. I never thought I’d see that, with my own eyes, in real time.”
Popovich added that it the onus was on white people to solve the scourge of racism in the United States.
“We have to do it. Black people have been shouldering this burden for 400 years,” Popovich said. “The only reason this nation has made the progress it has is because of the persistence, patience and effort of black people. The history of our nation from the very beginning in many ways was a lie, and we continue to this day, mostly black and brown people, to try to make that lie a truth so that it is no longer a lie. And those rights and privileges are enjoyed by people of color, just like we enjoy them. So it’s got to be us, in my opinion, that speak truth to power, and call it out, no matter what the consequences. We have to speak. We have to not let anything go.”
Surfers off Rockaway Beach in New York paddled out into the Atlantic today in solidarity with protesters across the country demonstrating against police brutality.
Two NYPD patrol boats soon showed up to check out the crowd as the surfers chanted “Black lives matter”
Donald Trump’s campaign has sent out an email to the president’s supporters asking them to sign a petition against people who disrespect the American flag. Here’s what they wrote:
Our beautiful American Flag should be respected and anyone who thinks otherwise is simply UN-AMERICAN! President Trump wants to send the left a message that protesting the American Flag is absolutely unacceptable, but he can’t do it without you.He’s calling on YOU to step up. He wants to know who had his back during this time, so we’re sending him a list of supporters who publicly sign their name to stand with him and our flag.
This is presumably in response to the NFL apologizing on Friday to its players for clamping down against anti-racism protests - most notably that of Colin Kaepernick - in the past. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees also apologized for criticizing anthem protests last week before reversing his comments. Trump said Brees had nothing to be sorry for on Friday - and Brees disagreed. He wrote in a message addressed to Trump on Instagram:
“To @realdonaldtrump. Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been,” Brees wrote. “We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities.”
Adam Gabbatt has looked at how the protests against police brutality have attracted more cases of police brutality:
The nationwide anti-police brutality protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in the US have been marked by widespread incidents of police violence, including punching, kicking, gassing, pepper-spraying and driving vehicles at often peaceful protesters in states across the country.
The actions have left thousands of protesters in jail and injured many others, leaving some with life-threatening injuries.
From Minnesota to New York, Texas, California, Washington DC and many places beyond, from small towns to big cities, police officers have demonstrated just how problematic law enforcement is in the US, drawing condemnation from international groups as well as domestic civil rights organizations.
The International Crisis Group, which monitors unrest around the world, said the police had used “excessive force”. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, said: “All police officers who resort to excessive use of force should be charged and convicted for the crimes committed.”
Numerous incidents of police violence have been exposed in disturbing videos and press accounts in recent days, with little sign that police are adjusting their tactics.
New York City alone has seen numerous incidents. On Saturday 30 May, officers in a police SUV drove at a crowd of protesters in Brooklyn, knocking several to the ground. A day earlier, a police officer was caught on camera violently shoving a woman to the ground during a demonstration. The woman, Dounya Zayer, was taken to hospital and said she suffered a seizure and concussion.
You can read the full story below:
An additional 1,800 members of the national guard have been called up in response to the protests and Covid-19 pandemic across America, bringing the total to 43,340.An additional 1,800 members of the national guard have been called up in response to the protests and Covid-19 pandemic across America, bringing the total to 43,340.
“Today, more than 43,300 National Guard members in 34 states and DC are assisting law enforcement authorities with ongoing civil unrest, while more than 37,000 Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to support the Covid-19 response,” the national guard wrote in a tweet.“Today, more than 43,300 National Guard members in 34 states and DC are assisting law enforcement authorities with ongoing civil unrest, while more than 37,000 Guard Soldiers and Airmen continue to support the Covid-19 response,” the national guard wrote in a tweet.
Members of the public are attending a memorial service for George Floyd in Fayetteville, near where he was born in North Carolina. Hundreds of people are expected to file into a local church to view his casket before a service for family later in the day.Members of the public are attending a memorial service for George Floyd in Fayetteville, near where he was born in North Carolina. Hundreds of people are expected to file into a local church to view his casket before a service for family later in the day.
A group on horseback and another on motorcycles staged drive pasts in tribute to Floyd, who was killed last month by police in Minnesota.A group on horseback and another on motorcycles staged drive pasts in tribute to Floyd, who was killed last month by police in Minnesota.
“The bigotry against somebody just because of who they are and the color of their skin, because if they’re women or a person of color ... we have to stop the hatred and bigotry,” one mourner, Dan Matthews, told the Fayetteville Observer, adding he had driven four hours to attend the service. “We all have so much to offer in this world and I think people can only reach their full potential when society lets people be equal, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”“The bigotry against somebody just because of who they are and the color of their skin, because if they’re women or a person of color ... we have to stop the hatred and bigotry,” one mourner, Dan Matthews, told the Fayetteville Observer, adding he had driven four hours to attend the service. “We all have so much to offer in this world and I think people can only reach their full potential when society lets people be equal, and that’s what we’re fighting for.”
Protests have already started in Washington DC. More than a dozen separate demonstrations are expected in the capital today, with tens of thousands of people expected to take part. Much of the city’s downtown has been closed to traffic in anticipation of the crowds.Protests have already started in Washington DC. More than a dozen separate demonstrations are expected in the capital today, with tens of thousands of people expected to take part. Much of the city’s downtown has been closed to traffic in anticipation of the crowds.
“The kids wanted to make a difference. The fact that they are kids of color, I didn’t just want them to witness history, I wanted them to be a part of history,” Shanise Hamilton, who was attending one protest along with a number of children in her family, told the Washington Post.“The kids wanted to make a difference. The fact that they are kids of color, I didn’t just want them to witness history, I wanted them to be a part of history,” Shanise Hamilton, who was attending one protest along with a number of children in her family, told the Washington Post.
Protests are planned in cities across America on Saturday, from New York City to Los Angeles.
Texas’ Republican governor Gregg Abbott has condemned four of his party’s state chairs for spreading baseless conspiracy theories that George Floyd’s killing was fabricated in order to hurt Donald Trump’s presidency. The Texas Tribune has now identified seven more Texas Republican chairs that have spread such theories. Some promoted the trope that George Soros is helping fund the protest movement across the country.Texas’ Republican governor Gregg Abbott has condemned four of his party’s state chairs for spreading baseless conspiracy theories that George Floyd’s killing was fabricated in order to hurt Donald Trump’s presidency. The Texas Tribune has now identified seven more Texas Republican chairs that have spread such theories. Some promoted the trope that George Soros is helping fund the protest movement across the country.
Lynne Teinert, the GOP chairperson for Shackelford County, told the Tribune her comments had been “mostly a joke”. Meanwhile, Cindy Weatherby, the Republican chairperson of Reagan County, shared a post asking 21 “puzzling questions” over Floyd’s death such as “Why did the kneeling officer appear completely cool and calm, as if he was posing for the camera?”.Lynne Teinert, the GOP chairperson for Shackelford County, told the Tribune her comments had been “mostly a joke”. Meanwhile, Cindy Weatherby, the Republican chairperson of Reagan County, shared a post asking 21 “puzzling questions” over Floyd’s death such as “Why did the kneeling officer appear completely cool and calm, as if he was posing for the camera?”.
Weatherby told the Tribune she did not believe Floyd’s death was staged but added that if “humans don’t question, there’s something wrong with us.”Weatherby told the Tribune she did not believe Floyd’s death was staged but added that if “humans don’t question, there’s something wrong with us.”
County chairs are elected officials whose duties include things such as overseeing local elections. “This is a disgusting level of ignorance that’s hard to hear from anyone, much less an elected official,” Texas congresswoman Donna Howard told the Tribune. “I’m glad to see Republican state leaders finally start to push back against this nonsense and look forward to a day when we can actually debate fact-based policy instead of constantly refuting conspiracies.”County chairs are elected officials whose duties include things such as overseeing local elections. “This is a disgusting level of ignorance that’s hard to hear from anyone, much less an elected official,” Texas congresswoman Donna Howard told the Tribune. “I’m glad to see Republican state leaders finally start to push back against this nonsense and look forward to a day when we can actually debate fact-based policy instead of constantly refuting conspiracies.”
Cuomo says Friday’s protests in New York were “mainly peaceful”. He adds that the protesters “want an America as good as its promise” a quote from the civil rights activist Barbara Jordan.Cuomo says Friday’s protests in New York were “mainly peaceful”. He adds that the protesters “want an America as good as its promise” a quote from the civil rights activist Barbara Jordan.
“New York will lead the way on this change,” he says. “There’s talk and there’s action. We have a moment when we can make the change.” He says that the state will enact four policies: a transparency of prior disciplinary records for officers; no chokeholds by police officers; prohibiting false race-based 911 reports and making them a crime; and designating the attorney general as independent prosecutor for police murders.“New York will lead the way on this change,” he says. “There’s talk and there’s action. We have a moment when we can make the change.” He says that the state will enact four policies: a transparency of prior disciplinary records for officers; no chokeholds by police officers; prohibiting false race-based 911 reports and making them a crime; and designating the attorney general as independent prosecutor for police murders.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo is giving his daily press briefing. He says 35 people died of Covid-19 in the state over the last 24 hours, the lowest number in weeks in a state that has seen nearly 25,000 die from the virus.New York governor Andrew Cuomo is giving his daily press briefing. He says 35 people died of Covid-19 in the state over the last 24 hours, the lowest number in weeks in a state that has seen nearly 25,000 die from the virus.
Two members Buffalo police officers have pleaded not guilty to assault after video emerged of them pushing a 75-year-old to the ground during protests over the death of George Floyd. The man was shown bleeding after striking his head as he fell.Two members Buffalo police officers have pleaded not guilty to assault after video emerged of them pushing a 75-year-old to the ground during protests over the death of George Floyd. The man was shown bleeding after striking his head as he fell.
Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe were arraigned in a Buffalo court on Saturday and both pled not guilty. They will be back in court on 20 July.Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe were arraigned in a Buffalo court on Saturday and both pled not guilty. They will be back in court on 20 July.
Torgalski and McCabe have both been suspended over the incident, which was viewed millions of times on social media. Buffalo police initially said the man had tripped during a confrontation but the city’s mayor later condemned the incident.Torgalski and McCabe have both been suspended over the incident, which was viewed millions of times on social media. Buffalo police initially said the man had tripped during a confrontation but the city’s mayor later condemned the incident.
“After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, Police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening,” Byron Brown said. “I hope to continue to build on the progress we have achieved as we work together to address racial injustice and inequity in the City of Buffalo.”“After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, Police leadership and members of the community, tonight’s event is disheartening,” Byron Brown said. “I hope to continue to build on the progress we have achieved as we work together to address racial injustice and inequity in the City of Buffalo.”
Meanwhile, in New York City, two police officers have been suspended over incidents with protesters last week. In the first, a woman was pushed to the ground during a demonstration outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, in the second an officer pulled down a man’s facemask and pepper sprayed him.Meanwhile, in New York City, two police officers have been suspended over incidents with protesters last week. In the first, a woman was pushed to the ground during a demonstration outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, in the second an officer pulled down a man’s facemask and pepper sprayed him.
“The actions by these officers stand apart from the restrained work of the thousands of police officers who have worked tirelessly to protect those who are peacefully protesting and keep all New Yorkers safe,” NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea said in the statement.“The actions by these officers stand apart from the restrained work of the thousands of police officers who have worked tirelessly to protect those who are peacefully protesting and keep all New Yorkers safe,” NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea said in the statement.
With Washington DC expecting its biggest march on Saturday since the start of the protests, Lauren Aratani has looked at how the city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, has emerged as an opponent of one of her city’s residents, Donald Trump:With Washington DC expecting its biggest march on Saturday since the start of the protests, Lauren Aratani has looked at how the city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, has emerged as an opponent of one of her city’s residents, Donald Trump:
You can read the full story here:You can read the full story here:
The sheriff of Hoke county, where today’s memorial service for George Floyd will take place, has spoken to CNN about the difficulties of being a black law enforcement official while protests against racial injustice and police brutality take place across the country.The sheriff of Hoke county, where today’s memorial service for George Floyd will take place, has spoken to CNN about the difficulties of being a black law enforcement official while protests against racial injustice and police brutality take place across the country.
“We’re [being] questioned from the black community: How can you be a part of all this mess,” said Hubert Peterkin.“We’re [being] questioned from the black community: How can you be a part of all this mess,” said Hubert Peterkin.
Peterkin added that Floyd’s family had reached out to ask him to help in arranging Saturday’s service.Peterkin added that Floyd’s family had reached out to ask him to help in arranging Saturday’s service.
“I didn’t know how Bridget, the sister, was going to receive me as a law enforcement person,” he said. “There are people who are mad with law enforcement, who’ve never had an incident. Or they just don’t like what’s going on and they should not like what’s going on. But when I walked in front of this woman, and that family, and they embraced me like they did, and hugged me and said thank you. It was tears. I can’t express the feeling. I left there that day saying, wow, you know, that means there’s some hope.”“I didn’t know how Bridget, the sister, was going to receive me as a law enforcement person,” he said. “There are people who are mad with law enforcement, who’ve never had an incident. Or they just don’t like what’s going on and they should not like what’s going on. But when I walked in front of this woman, and that family, and they embraced me like they did, and hugged me and said thank you. It was tears. I can’t express the feeling. I left there that day saying, wow, you know, that means there’s some hope.”
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has attacked China’s “obscene propaganda” over the killing of George Floyd.
In a statement released on Saturday, Pompeo criticized “the Chinese Communist Party’s callous exploitation of the tragic death of George Floyd to justify its denial of basic human dignity exposes its true colors yet again.”
Pompeo said there was a stark contrast between the way China and the US treat their own citizens. “In China, when doctors and journalists warn of the dangers of a new disease the [Chinese Communist Party] silences and disappears them ... in the United States, we value life and transparent systems.”
Some may argue Pompeo’s boss does not exactly value those transparent systems and the press holding the government to account.
There will be a public memorial service for George Floyd today in Fayetteville, North Carolina, close to where he was born. Members of the public will be able to view Floyd’s casket between 11am and 1pm at a local church before a private service for family later in the day. Mourners will be allowed in 10 at a time, and will be asked to wear masks.
There will be another memorial for Floyd in Houston, where he spent much of his life. Many members of his extended family still live in North Carolina and will attend today’s service.
On Friday night, hundreds of people marched down Fayetteville’s Main Street to mark the killing of Floyd by police in Minnesota. “This is important to do because this is something that is ongoing,” LaToya Gordon of Hoke County Peacemakers, a group that organized the march, told the Fayetteville Observer. “Everybody felt that we wanted people to know that we can be peaceful and be heard.”
The Charlotte Observer has details of the scenes in the town as people start to gather for the memorial:
People set up chairs along the busy highway as police dogs scanned the conference-center parking lot. Vendors set up across the highway, giving out Black Lives Matter buttons and selling Floyd shirts that read, “I can’t breathe.”
Gregg Packer took an overnight train from Long Island in New York, arriving in Fayetteville at 3 a.m.
“I felt like I needed to come down here to support the protests and the family of George Floyd,” he said, placing an emphasis on the slain man’s name. “I hope that we can all get along with each other, that we can start treating each other the way we all should.”
Some locals found meaning in a global event arriving at their door, feeling compelled to represent their corner of the world.
“With Fayetteville being a small town, it’s a military town but it’s still small, and Raeford is even smaller,” said Gracie Howard. “All eyes being on this community, it’s opened up a lot of eyes to racial injustice. This has been going on too long. And George, he changed the world.”
The NFL, which has willingly acquiesced to Donald Trump’s opposition to peaceful protesting since Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, changed tack last night. The league’s commissioner, Roger Goodell, put out a statement admitting the league had been wrong not to listen to its players’ opposition to racism (although, significantly, Goodell did not mention Kaepernick, who has been effectively exiled from the league).
Melissa Jacobs has written on the significance of Goodell’s statement:
You can read the full article below:
The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh has filed a grievance after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette pulled an African American reporter from its coverage of this week’s protests because they believed she lacked objectivity.
In a tweet that went viral, Alexis Johnson compared the looting that has taken place at some protests over the police killing of George Floyd to the damage caused by fans at a concert by country singer Kenny Chesney.
Members of the Pittsburgh guild subsequently sent identical versions of Johnson’s tweet along with the hashtag #IStandWithAlexis.
“We feel taking a black woman off the most monumental national story about civil rights in the last 50 years is punishment,” the guild’s president, Michael A Fuoco, told the Associated Press. “We have very few black journalists. Someone who has the contacts and the insights for this story, that is what you want.”
The Post-Gazette is yet to comment on the matter.
On Friday, Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto praised Johnson’s reporting. “I have first account knowledge of her reporting,” he wrote on Twitter. “She has been fair in questioning all sides. She has been critical of me & our administration- when it was necessary. Most importantly, she has been professional in journalistic accepted practices & integrity.”
Johnson said on Friday she has been touched by the support she has received. “Okay. Now I’m crying thank you @PGNewsGuild for going to bat for me,” she wrote. “Thank you everyone for your support and your words of encouragement, your actions. I am just ... wow. Thank you.”
General Charles Q Brown Jr, a nominee to become the US Air Force’s first-ever black service chief, has posted a video to Twitter talking about his experiences as an African American military member.
“I’m thinking about how full I am with emotion, not just for George Floyd, but the many African Americans who have suffered the same fate as George Floyd. I’m thinking about protests in my country ... The equality expressed in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution that I’ve sworn my adult life to protect and defend,” he said. “I’m thinking … about my own experiences, that didn’t always sing of liberty and equality. I’m thinking about living in two worlds, each with their own perspective and views.”
Brown logged 130 combat hours as a fighter pilot but said he had to work harder than others in the Air Force to prove himself. “I’m thinking about the pressure that I felt to perform error free, especially for supervisors that I perceived expected less of me as an African American,” he said. “I’m thinking about having to represent, to work twice as hard, to prove that their perceptions of African Americans were invalid.”
A report last week detailed racial disparities in the Air Force’s justice system. Brown talked in the video how he hopes he can change the service if he is appointed as the service’s new head.
“I’m thinking about how my nomination provides some hope but also comes with a heavy burden,” he said. “I can’t fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can I fix decades of discrimination that may have affected members of our Air Force.”
Reports last week indicated the US attorney general, William Barr, had ordered law enforcement to use gas and horses to clear a group of peaceful protesters who had gathered near the White House so that Donald Trump could hold a photo opportunity outside a local church. Now Barr, like so many Trump allies, is in damage limitation mode and says he did not personally issue any such command – even if he agreed with it.
“I’m not involved in giving tactical commands like that,” Barr told the Associated Press on Friday. “I was frustrated and I was also worried that as the crowd grew, it was going to be harder and harder to do. So my attitude was get it done, but I didn’t say, ‘Go do it.’”
Guardian columnist Lloyd Green has had a deeper look at Barr, and his influence in Trump’s administration:
You can read the full article here:
I’m handing over to my colleague Tom Lutz in New York now, thank you to everyone for reading along and sending in your comments and suggestions.
Guardian US reporter Kenya Evelyn explains why the unrest sparked by the police killing of George Floyd could be a defining moment for racial politics in America, and how the coronavirus pandemic set the backdrop for the protests.
Despite warnings from the government to avoid mass gatherings due to Covid-19 restrictions, Parliament Square in London is already full of protesters today.
Other protests are planned for around the country, including in Manchester, Leicester, Sheffield and Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The home secretary, Priti Patel, urged people not to join the Black Lives Matter protests because “we must put public health first at this particular time”. She said:
Videos have shown hundreds of protesters kneeling in silence - a gesture used to protest against police brutality and racism.
Meanwhile, some people are handing out free personal protective equipment (PPE) to demonstrators - hand sanitiser, gloves and masks.
With a knee to his neck and head against the concrete, George Floyd became the face of one of the largest uprisings in modern American history. His final moments at the hands of four Minneapolis police officers was replayed on social media and television all across a country that was already in crisis.
America is in economic free fall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. And it is black Americans who have been disproportionately impacted by mounting deaths and crushing job losses, making up a disproportionate number of the 42 million people left unemployed.
Black Americans, already subjected to generations of systemic racism, were now more likely to die from the coronavirus and also faced losing their jobs in higher numbers as a result of record unemployment.
George Floyd, then, was no exception.
State medical examiners confirmed this week that Floyd had contracted the coronavirus by late-April. He had also lost his job. But that didn’t cause his death.
Instead, Floyd died from what historian Carol Anderson called “the longest ongoing saga in American history”.