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George Floyd protests: Minneapolis city council to abolish police department as calls for defunding sweep US George Floyd protests: fired officer to appear in court as calls to defund police sweep US
(30 minutes later)
Floyd’s body has been flown to his hometown of Houston, Texas, where mourners will be able to view his casket todayFloyd’s body has been flown to his hometown of Houston, Texas, where mourners will be able to view his casket today
Big news from the weekend is certainly that the Minneapolis city council pledged to disband the police department. The embattled agency responsible for George Floyd’s death will now be replaced by an alternative model of community-led safety. Derek Chauvin, the fired Minneapolis Police Department officer who pressed his knee on the neck of George Floyd for nearly nine minutes, will make his first appearance in court later today, US media is reporting.
The council vote was passed by a supermajority, meaning Mayor Jacob Frey, who opposed the move, cannot override it. Chauvin, 44, is scheduled to appear at the Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis at 12.45pm Central time (roughly six hours from now). He faces charges of third-degree murder, second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
I’ve been contacted by a reader who said they grew up near the city of Vidor, in east Texas. He wanted to alert me to a Black Lives Matter protest there on Saturday that consisted of just around 150 people. But it is significant, the reader said, because of Vidor’s reputation.
Here’s an excerpt from the Texas Monthly magazine, which covered the protest:
The demonstration “may not seem like much”, wrote the reader in an email, “but when they gather in Vidor, Texas, that’s a big deal.”
Big news from the weekend is certainly that the Minneapolis city council pledged to disband the police department. The embattled agency responsible for George Floyd’s death could now be replaced by an alternative model of community-led safety.
The nine councilmembers who announced their support represent a supermajority on the twelve-person council, meaning Mayor Jacob Frey, who opposes the move, could not override it.
Frey was heckled by a crowd of protesters on Saturday when he ruled out defunding the police department.Frey was heckled by a crowd of protesters on Saturday when he ruled out defunding the police department.
Here’s a video of Frey walking through the crowds as they shout: “Go home!”Here’s a video of Frey walking through the crowds as they shout: “Go home!”
Note: this post was amended to make clear a vote had not yet taken place.
George Floyd’s body has been flown to his hometown of Houston, Texas, where mourners will be able to view his casket on Monday.George Floyd’s body has been flown to his hometown of Houston, Texas, where mourners will be able to view his casket on Monday.
A six-hour viewing will be held at The Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston, the final stop of a series of memorials across the country. Visitors in Houston will be required to wear a mask and gloves, as per coronavirus restrictions.A six-hour viewing will be held at The Fountain of Praise church in southwest Houston, the final stop of a series of memorials across the country. Visitors in Houston will be required to wear a mask and gloves, as per coronavirus restrictions.
Floyd’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, where he will be buried next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd.Floyd’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, where he will be buried next to his mother, Larcenia Floyd.
Previous memorials have taken place in Raeford, North Carolina, near where Floyd was born, and Minneapolis, where he lived at the end of his life and was killed. Mourners there observed 8 minutes 46 seconds of silence - the period that Floyd was filmed pinned under a police officer’s knee.Previous memorials have taken place in Raeford, North Carolina, near where Floyd was born, and Minneapolis, where he lived at the end of his life and was killed. Mourners there observed 8 minutes 46 seconds of silence - the period that Floyd was filmed pinned under a police officer’s knee.
Three Guardian writers have just published features that take a deeper look at the protest movement:Three Guardian writers have just published features that take a deeper look at the protest movement:
Lois Beckett, who covers gun violence and the far right in the US, has been interviewing family members of black Americans who were killed by police or white vigilantes for whom the past week has been painfully familiar.Lois Beckett, who covers gun violence and the far right in the US, has been interviewing family members of black Americans who were killed by police or white vigilantes for whom the past week has been painfully familiar.
But they also see signs of change, she writes:But they also see signs of change, she writes:
Adam Gabbatt, who writes for us from New York, has also been looking at the potential impact of the movement, particularly around whether it could energize young voters in presidential, state and local elections.Adam Gabbatt, who writes for us from New York, has also been looking at the potential impact of the movement, particularly around whether it could energize young voters in presidential, state and local elections.
There is precedent for real change inspired by protests, he writes.There is precedent for real change inspired by protests, he writes.
Finally, Michael Sainato, a contributor who covers civil rights issues, has written about the large numbers of protesters, more than 10,000, who have been arrested around the US.Finally, Michael Sainato, a contributor who covers civil rights issues, has written about the large numbers of protesters, more than 10,000, who have been arrested around the US.
Many were non-violent:Many were non-violent:
Read Sainato’s full story here:Read Sainato’s full story here:
Hello…Hello…
…and welcome to a fresh US politics live blog as we enter a new day on Monday across the US. The sun has risen in New York while it is still the early hours of the morning along the West Coast.…and welcome to a fresh US politics live blog as we enter a new day on Monday across the US. The sun has risen in New York while it is still the early hours of the morning along the West Coast.
I’m Oliver Holmes, and I’ll be with you for the next couple of hours. You can reach me via Twitter and also on email: oliver.holmes [@] theguardian.comI’m Oliver Holmes, and I’ll be with you for the next couple of hours. You can reach me via Twitter and also on email: oliver.holmes [@] theguardian.com
Please do send anything you think is worth including on our blog.Please do send anything you think is worth including on our blog.
For those who have been sleeping or offline, here is an update with the main developments:For those who have been sleeping or offline, here is an update with the main developments:
The Minneapolis city council pledged to abolish the city’s police department and replace it with a new system of public safety. The historic move has been hailed as the first concrete victory in the mounting nationwide movement in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd.The Minneapolis city council pledged to abolish the city’s police department and replace it with a new system of public safety. The historic move has been hailed as the first concrete victory in the mounting nationwide movement in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd.
New York City’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, pledged to cut police department funding. The money will be given to Youth and Social Services. The mayor also lifted a contentious citywide curfew.New York City’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, pledged to cut police department funding. The money will be given to Youth and Social Services. The mayor also lifted a contentious citywide curfew.
A protester was shot in Seattle, Washington. A man drove a car into a demonstration and shot a demonstrator. Police said officers have a man in custody.A protester was shot in Seattle, Washington. A man drove a car into a demonstration and shot a demonstrator. Police said officers have a man in custody.
The US soccer federation is considering repealing its ban on players kneeling during the national anthem, ESPN has reported.The US soccer federation is considering repealing its ban on players kneeling during the national anthem, ESPN has reported.