This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52951093
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| George Floyd: US capital braces for biggest demonstrations yet | George Floyd: US capital braces for biggest demonstrations yet |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Large crowds have gathered to protest against racism and police brutality in Washington DC amid rising anger, sparked by the death of George Floyd. | Large crowds have gathered to protest against racism and police brutality in Washington DC amid rising anger, sparked by the death of George Floyd. |
| Mr Floyd died in Minneapolis on 25 May, after a policeman knelt on his neck even as he said he could not breathe. | Mr Floyd died in Minneapolis on 25 May, after a policeman knelt on his neck even as he said he could not breathe. |
| There have been protests across the US since, but Washington's police chief believes Saturday's "may be one of the largest we've ever had in the city". | There have been protests across the US since, but Washington's police chief believes Saturday's "may be one of the largest we've ever had in the city". |
| Anti-racism rallies have also been taking place in other countries. | Anti-racism rallies have also been taking place in other countries. |
| Parliament Square in central London was filled with people supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, despite calls by the British government to avoid mass gatherings for fear of spreading the coronavirus. | Parliament Square in central London was filled with people supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, despite calls by the British government to avoid mass gatherings for fear of spreading the coronavirus. |
| Infections have been confirmed in a handful of US protestors in Kansas, Georgia and Ohio, reports the New York Times. | |
| In Australia, there were major protests in the cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that focused on the treatment of indigenous Australians. | In Australia, there were major protests in the cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that focused on the treatment of indigenous Australians. |
| Mr Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after being arrested outside a shop. | Mr Floyd, an unarmed black man, died after being arrested outside a shop. |
| Video footage showed a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while he is pinned to the floor. Mr Floyd is heard repeatedly saying "I can't breathe". | Video footage showed a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneeling on Mr Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while he is pinned to the floor. Mr Floyd is heard repeatedly saying "I can't breathe". |
| Mr Chauvin has been dismissed and charged with murder. Three other officers who were on the scene have also been sacked and charged with aiding and abetting. | Mr Chauvin has been dismissed and charged with murder. Three other officers who were on the scene have also been sacked and charged with aiding and abetting. |
| On Saturday, hundreds of people queued to pay respects to Mr Floyd in Raeford, North Carolina, laying flowers at a public viewing of his body in a church. A private memorial service has been held in Raeford, near where Mr Floyd was born. | |
| What is planned in Washington? | What is planned in Washington? |
| Almost a dozen different demonstrations have been advertised by organisations and activists, according to local media. | Almost a dozen different demonstrations have been advertised by organisations and activists, according to local media. |
| Protesters have been asked to gather at landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, and some are expected to march towards the White House. | Protesters have been asked to gather at landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, and some are expected to march towards the White House. |
| "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," Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham told journalists. | "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," Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham told journalists. |
| He did not provide a crowd estimate, but Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said local officials were projecting that between 100,000 and 200,000 people would attend, the Associated Press reported. | He did not provide a crowd estimate, but Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said local officials were projecting that between 100,000 and 200,000 people would attend, the Associated Press reported. |
| More on George Floyd's death | More on George Floyd's death |
| On Friday, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has clashed with President Donald Trump over his handling of the protests triggered by Mr Floyd's death, asked for the withdrawal of all federal law enforcement officers and National Guard troops from the city's streets. | On Friday, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has clashed with President Donald Trump over his handling of the protests triggered by Mr Floyd's death, asked for the withdrawal of all federal law enforcement officers and National Guard troops from the city's streets. |
| In recent days, it had become apparent that their presence was "unnecessary" and "may counterproductive to ensuring the protesters remain peaceful", she said. | In recent days, it had become apparent that their presence was "unnecessary" and "may counterproductive to ensuring the protesters remain peaceful", she said. |
| Ms Bowser also renamed as Black Lives Matter Plaza an area opposite the White House where federal officers fired smoke grenades to clear protesters ahead of a visit to a church by Mr Trump on Monday. | Ms Bowser also renamed as Black Lives Matter Plaza an area opposite the White House where federal officers fired smoke grenades to clear protesters ahead of a visit to a church by Mr Trump on Monday. |
| City workers painted "Black Lives Matter" in large yellow letters on the ground. | City workers painted "Black Lives Matter" in large yellow letters on the ground. |
| 'We're just getting started' | 'We're just getting started' |
| By Helier Cheung, BBC News, Washington | By Helier Cheung, BBC News, Washington |
| By noon, more than 1,000 protesters had gathered outside Lafayette Park, near the White House, at the newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. | By noon, more than 1,000 protesters had gathered outside Lafayette Park, near the White House, at the newly renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. |
| The crowd was diverse - with people of different ethnicities, and families with children - and there was an upbeat, if determined, mood. Music was being played and food is being handed out as protesters chant "George Floyd", "Breonna Taylor", and "No justice, no peace". | The crowd was diverse - with people of different ethnicities, and families with children - and there was an upbeat, if determined, mood. Music was being played and food is being handed out as protesters chant "George Floyd", "Breonna Taylor", and "No justice, no peace". |
| Sisters Sarina Lecroy, 20, and Grace Lecroy, 16, said they were protesting for the first time, and that they believed the extent of the public outrage and the nationwide nature of these protests could lead to police reforms. | Sisters Sarina Lecroy, 20, and Grace Lecroy, 16, said they were protesting for the first time, and that they believed the extent of the public outrage and the nationwide nature of these protests could lead to police reforms. |
| "We're just getting started this time, but it [the movement] does feel much more collective than in the past," said Sarina. | "We're just getting started this time, but it [the movement] does feel much more collective than in the past," said Sarina. |
| Many placards also reflected the growing debate about how White people should help the cause. One placard held by a demonstrator read: "I may never understand, but I will stand with you." | Many placards also reflected the growing debate about how White people should help the cause. One placard held by a demonstrator read: "I may never understand, but I will stand with you." |
| What do protesters want? | What do protesters want? |
| An end to police brutality is undoubtedly at the forefront of protests nationwide. | An end to police brutality is undoubtedly at the forefront of protests nationwide. |
| But it isn't the only concern. Repeated incidents of police brutality may have become the flashpoint, but issues with law enforcement are emblematic of the wider problem of systemic racism and inequality. | But it isn't the only concern. Repeated incidents of police brutality may have become the flashpoint, but issues with law enforcement are emblematic of the wider problem of systemic racism and inequality. |
| On social media and on the streets, those in support of the movement have called on elected officials to address these longstanding inequalities, from law enforcement to mass incarceration to healthcare. | On social media and on the streets, those in support of the movement have called on elected officials to address these longstanding inequalities, from law enforcement to mass incarceration to healthcare. |
| Black Americans are jailed at five times the rate of white Americans and they are sentenced for drug offences six times more, often despite equal rates of drug use, according to the NAACP. Black mothers die in childbirth at over twice the rate of white mothers, according to national health data. | Black Americans are jailed at five times the rate of white Americans and they are sentenced for drug offences six times more, often despite equal rates of drug use, according to the NAACP. Black mothers die in childbirth at over twice the rate of white mothers, according to national health data. |
| Decades of government-sanctioned segregation have also seen inequalities across school systems, housing and other public resources. | Decades of government-sanctioned segregation have also seen inequalities across school systems, housing and other public resources. |
| A 2019 Pew Research Center study found more than eight-in-10 black adults say the legacy of slavery still affects black Americans' position today. Half say it is unlikely America will ever see true racial equality. | A 2019 Pew Research Center study found more than eight-in-10 black adults say the legacy of slavery still affects black Americans' position today. Half say it is unlikely America will ever see true racial equality. |
| As demonstrator Kyla Berges told BBC Minute: "The system has failed me for 300 plus years, so what do I have to do to make it change?" | As demonstrator Kyla Berges told BBC Minute: "The system has failed me for 300 plus years, so what do I have to do to make it change?" |
| What else is happening in the US? | What else is happening in the US? |
| North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Saturday in Mr Floyd's honour. | North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on Saturday in Mr Floyd's honour. |
| In Buffalo, two police officers have been charged with second-degree assault after they were filmed pushing an elderly protester to the ground, seriously injuring him. | In Buffalo, two police officers have been charged with second-degree assault after they were filmed pushing an elderly protester to the ground, seriously injuring him. |
| The officers, who pleaded not guilty and were released without bail, were suspended without pay after footage of the incident went viral on Thursday. Fifty-seven of their colleagues resigned from the Buffalo Police Department's Emergency Response Team in response to their suspension. | The officers, who pleaded not guilty and were released without bail, were suspended without pay after footage of the incident went viral on Thursday. Fifty-seven of their colleagues resigned from the Buffalo Police Department's Emergency Response Team in response to their suspension. |
| The protestor, 75-year-old Martin Gugino, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition. | |
| On Friday, the Minneapolis City Council and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights agreed to ban police neck restraints and chokeholds. | On Friday, the Minneapolis City Council and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights agreed to ban police neck restraints and chokeholds. |
| California Governor Gavin Newsom also said he would move to end state police training in the use of the "carotid restraint". | California Governor Gavin Newsom also said he would move to end state police training in the use of the "carotid restraint". |
| Seattle's mayor, Carmen Best, meanwhile banned the use by police of CS gas against protesters. And a federal judge in Denver ordered police to stop the use of tear gas, plastic bullets and other non-lethal force. | Seattle's mayor, Carmen Best, meanwhile banned the use by police of CS gas against protesters. And a federal judge in Denver ordered police to stop the use of tear gas, plastic bullets and other non-lethal force. |
| In separate development, the National Football League reversed its policy on protests against racial injustice by players during the national anthem. | In separate development, the National Football League reversed its policy on protests against racial injustice by players during the national anthem. |
| "We were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest," Commissioner Roger Goodell said. | "We were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest," Commissioner Roger Goodell said. |