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Breonna Taylor decision: two officers shot in Louisville as protests erupt across US – live Breonna Taylor decision: two officers shot in Louisville as protests erupt across US – live
(32 minutes later)
Crowds gather from coast to coast after just one officer involved in Taylor’s killing is charged with wanton endangermentCrowds gather from coast to coast after just one officer involved in Taylor’s killing is charged with wanton endangerment
Dr Melanye Price has written about Breonna Taylor for the New York Times this morning. In a piece headlined “It hurts to keep hoping for justice”, Price picks up on Kentucky’s attorney general, Daniel Cameron using the phrase “Mob justice is not justice”. She writes:
Read it here: New York Times – Melanye Price: It hurts to keep hoping for justice
Also with the election in mind, here is some social media news. Facebook’s long-delayed independent oversight board plans to launch in mid-to-late October, just before the presidential election, although a board member said he did not know whether it would hear cases related to the contest
The board, announced by Facebook in response to criticism of its handling of problematic content, will initially have the power to review decisions to take down posts from Facebook and Instagram, and recommend policy changes.
Elizabeth Culliford reports for Reuters that some experts have said it will not be able to help combat misinformation, because it will have no authority at first to evaluate posts that the company decides to leave up.
Oversight board member – and former Guardian editor – Alan Rusbridger told Reuters in an interview that the board was now aiming for an October launch. A spokesman confirmed that timetable, saying the launch, originally planned for last year, had also been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Rusbridger said he did not know whether the board would hear cases about content connected to the US election.
Away from the Breonna Taylor protests for a moment, a quick snap from Reuters here that one of president Donald Trump’s most senior military advisers, retired General Paul Selva, is joining a large group of former Pentagon leaders to publicly endorse Joe Biden, according to a letter seen by the news agency.
Selva, who served as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until July 2019, appears on a list of 489 national security experts - including former military leaders, ambassadors and White House officials - who signed a letter being released on Thursday that declares Trump “not equal to the enormous responsibilities of his office.”
“Thanks to his disdainful attitude and his failures, our allies no longer trust or respect us, and our enemies no longer fear us,” reads the letter by the group, called “National Security Leaders For Biden.”
Other groups of former national security leaders have endorsed Biden and criticized Trump, but, Reuters say, it is remarkable that a recently retired four-star general like Selva - who was the Pentagon’s No. 2 military officer - would publicly endorse any candidate and sign onto a letter condemning a president he served.
CNN’s Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, notes:
The events of yesterday and last night are liable to push police and justice reform back into the public spotlight and make them a focus of the election campaign. Adam Mahoney has been in Chicago for us, looking at why the city is the only one in America’s top 10 not yet to agree to new police reforms, despite civil rights protests and a bloody summer of police shootings.
Read it here: Why Chicago hasn’t enacted police reforms despite demands for change
Here are some more of the pictures that have been coming through of a night of protest and demonstrations in many US cities.Here are some more of the pictures that have been coming through of a night of protest and demonstrations in many US cities.
Like many cities in the US there was a Black Lives Matter protest in San Jose yesterday over the Breonna Taylor decision. The East Bay Times reports:Like many cities in the US there was a Black Lives Matter protest in San Jose yesterday over the Breonna Taylor decision. The East Bay Times reports:
Our multimedia team have put together this report, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in more than a dozen cities across the US after a grand jury decided not to directly charge police officers for the killing of Breonna Taylor.Our multimedia team have put together this report, as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in more than a dozen cities across the US after a grand jury decided not to directly charge police officers for the killing of Breonna Taylor.
Pulitzer Prize winning Robin Givhan has written powerfully for the Washington Post this morning, in a piece simply titled Miss Breonna Taylor.Pulitzer Prize winning Robin Givhan has written powerfully for the Washington Post this morning, in a piece simply titled Miss Breonna Taylor.
Read it here: Washington Post – Robin Givhan: Miss Breonna TaylorRead it here: Washington Post – Robin Givhan: Miss Breonna Taylor
Back to Portland, where the Oregnian reports on the evening’s protests. Mark Graves writes for the paper that the demonstration started when hundreds of people filled Southwest Third Avenue in front of the downtown Justice Center: Back to Portland, where the Oregonian reports on the evening’s protests. Mark Graves writes for the paper that the demonstration started when hundreds of people filled Southwest Third Avenue in front of the downtown Justice Center:
He goes on to sayHe goes on to say
Read it here: Oregon Live – Portland, federal police break up downtown protest of Breonna Taylor grand jury decisionRead it here: Oregon Live – Portland, federal police break up downtown protest of Breonna Taylor grand jury decision
Away from the protests for a moment, the Associated Press is reporting that the US justice department is investigating a former Republican Florida Congresswoman accused of spending at least $50,000 of campaign money on vacations and restaurant and luxury hotel bills.Away from the protests for a moment, the Associated Press is reporting that the US justice department is investigating a former Republican Florida Congresswoman accused of spending at least $50,000 of campaign money on vacations and restaurant and luxury hotel bills.
The federal department’s public integrity section is looking into the expenditures by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, from Miami, including a 2017 trip to Walt Disney World with her children and grandchildren, rooms at a Ritz-Carlton resort and a New Year’s Eve meal at a high-end seafood restaurant.The federal department’s public integrity section is looking into the expenditures by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, from Miami, including a 2017 trip to Walt Disney World with her children and grandchildren, rooms at a Ritz-Carlton resort and a New Year’s Eve meal at a high-end seafood restaurant.
Jeffrey Weiner, an attorney for Ros-Lehtinen, said in a statement to WFOR-TV, which first reported the investigation, that Ros-Lehtinen was aware of the investigation and she and former staff members and volunteers were cooperating with the Federal Election Commission and the Justice Department.Jeffrey Weiner, an attorney for Ros-Lehtinen, said in a statement to WFOR-TV, which first reported the investigation, that Ros-Lehtinen was aware of the investigation and she and former staff members and volunteers were cooperating with the Federal Election Commission and the Justice Department.
In a statement to the Miami Herald, the attorney added that they are turning over campaign finance and other records subpoenaed by the Justice Department.In a statement to the Miami Herald, the attorney added that they are turning over campaign finance and other records subpoenaed by the Justice Department.
“We ... are confident that, if bookkeeping errors were committed, they were due to negligence, and not willful or intentional misconduct by the former congresswoman or anyone on her staff, or her accountants,” the news outlets quoted Weiner as saying.“We ... are confident that, if bookkeeping errors were committed, they were due to negligence, and not willful or intentional misconduct by the former congresswoman or anyone on her staff, or her accountants,” the news outlets quoted Weiner as saying.
Ros-Lehtinen declined to seek reelection in 2018 after a 30-year career in Congress. Following her retirement announcement in April 2017, she transferred more than $177,000 from her reelection campaign account to a political action committee she controlled, WFOR-TV reported. Federal law prohibits campaign funds, including those transferred to PACs from being spent on personal use.Weiner declined to explain the campaign-related purpose of the expenditures but said his team has not “found any evidence whatsoever of intentional wrongdoing” by the former Congresswoman or her staff.Ros-Lehtinen declined to seek reelection in 2018 after a 30-year career in Congress. Following her retirement announcement in April 2017, she transferred more than $177,000 from her reelection campaign account to a political action committee she controlled, WFOR-TV reported. Federal law prohibits campaign funds, including those transferred to PACs from being spent on personal use.Weiner declined to explain the campaign-related purpose of the expenditures but said his team has not “found any evidence whatsoever of intentional wrongdoing” by the former Congresswoman or her staff.
Here’s a reminder of what Kentucky attorney general, Daniel Cameron, said, urging protesters to make their voices heard peacefully after only one police officer involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor was indicted by a grand jury.Here’s a reminder of what Kentucky attorney general, Daniel Cameron, said, urging protesters to make their voices heard peacefully after only one police officer involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor was indicted by a grand jury.
Police in Portland, Oregon, have declared a riot after protesters took to the streets there over the Breonna Taylor charging decision. This is not that unusual, as the city has been the focus for months of consecutive Black Lives Matter protests, and the authorities have quite frequently taken that step.Police in Portland, Oregon, have declared a riot after protesters took to the streets there over the Breonna Taylor charging decision. This is not that unusual, as the city has been the focus for months of consecutive Black Lives Matter protests, and the authorities have quite frequently taken that step.
Unusually tonight, though, the Portland police have shared a video which they say is a Molotov cocktail being hurled at them during the protests. The Guardian has not been able to independently verify the footage.Unusually tonight, though, the Portland police have shared a video which they say is a Molotov cocktail being hurled at them during the protests. The Guardian has not been able to independently verify the footage.
Journalist Sergio Olmos, who works for Oregon Public Broadcasting, shared a photo which showed a small fire and some damage at a Portland police bureau.Journalist Sergio Olmos, who works for Oregon Public Broadcasting, shared a photo which showed a small fire and some damage at a Portland police bureau.
The Seattle Times have been reporting on how protests unfolded in the city whose council recently voted to reduce the police department’s budget. They say:
The Seattle Times go on to report that later on:
Around 11pm, a group of officers — some on bikes — rushed into the area, pepper spraying the crowd and sending people running.
There’s also some unverified footage being widely shared around social media that appears to show a Seattle police officer on a bicycle in running over the head of an injured person who was lying at the side of the road.
Here are some of the pictures that have come through of events in Atlanta, where authorities deployed chemical agents against a crowd of people protesting after the grand jury refused to charge officers with Breonna Taylor’s killing, instead opting to indicte just one officer on charges of wanton endangerment.
Vice president Mike Pence, alongside Ivanka Trump, will no doubt be addressing the subject of the Breonna Taylor protests later today. They already had a planned campaign stop in Minneapolis where they were intending to show support for law enforcement and talk about the president’s “law and order” agenda.
In the city where the death of George Floyd sparked the widespread summer of global Black Lives Matter protests, the pair plan to host a listening session with a “Cops for Trump” group.
Earlier, Joe Biden’s pick for vice president, Kamala Harris, added her voice to those calling for protests to be non-violent.
She also called on people to never stop speaking Breonna Taylor’s name.
Here’s a quick catch-up on where we are right now and what we know:
The Jefferson county grand jury has indicted one of the officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor. Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankinson faces three felony counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. None of the other officers involved in the fatal shooting were indicted. No homicide charges were issued.
Thousands of people joined protests in many major US city which saw protesters chanting “Say her name! Breonna Taylor” and “No justice, no peace”. Posters and shrines dedicated to Taylor were seen all around as protesters marched.
Two police officers in Louisville were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Louisville police have one suspect in custody, but it is unclear whether the suspect and the shooting were related to protests in the city. One officer is undergoing surgery while the second is alert and stable. The police have not released any other information.
A car drove through protests in Denver, there were no injuries. One person was detained.
Chemical agents were used on protesters by the authorities in Atlanta.
President Donald Trump has tweeted that he is praying for the two police officers.
His opponent in November’s election, Joe Biden has tweeted “Even amidst the profound grief & anger today’s decision generated, violence is never & can never be the answer” and said that he and his wife Jill would be keeping the officers shot “in our prayers”.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family of Breonna Taylor, described the grand jury announcement as “outrageous and offensive.” Crump noted that none of the charges announced today appear to relate directly to the fatal shooting of Taylor. “If Brett Hankison’s behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor’s apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder,” Crump said in a tweet.
Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, learned of the charging decision minutes before attorney general’s announcement. The family’s attorney, Sam Aguiar, told CNN: “She had to drive all the way down there to be told this, despite two advanced requests from me to not force her to drive down only to learn no indictments.”
I’m Martin Belam, taking over from Helen Sullivan, and you can get in touch with me at martin.belam@theguardian.com
That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan, for today. Thank you for following along – and a special thanks to those who got in touch.
I’m handing over to my colleague Martin Belam who’ll be bringing you the latest from the reaction to the Breonna Taylor decision.
The San Diego police department has ordered a group of protestors to disperse from outside the police headquarters or face arrest, in what they say is a response to “acts of violence and vandalism”:
The attorney for Taylor’s boyfriend echoing the message from civil rights attorney Ben Crump earlier today.
Crump, who is representing the Taylor’s family, told CNN the indictment is, “like killing Breonna all over again, and added that, “The DA can indict a ham sandwich if they want to ... We strongly feel they did not want an indictment against these police officers.”
Steven Romines, who is representing Taylor’s boyfriend has told CNN, “A prosecutor can indict anybody he wants. And indict him for whatever he wants. They did not want to indict anybody for Breonna Taylor’s murder.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says he has authorized a “limited” deployment of the National Guard, AP reports.
The Democratic governor said Wednesday at a news conference that the deployment is “based on very specific operations,” and is under the sole command of the National Guard.
Beshear said the National Guard would protect “critical infrastructure,” including hospitals. Meanwhile, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the indictment of one of the officers on a charge of wanton endangerment “confirmed our decision to terminate” him from the Louisville Metro Police Department.Fischer said the case is “far from over” and the FBI is continuing its probe into the matter.Also, LMPD is conducting a Professional Standards Unit investigation to determine if any policies and procedures were violated by officers involved in the case.In urging calm, Fischer said: “Let’s turn to each other, not on each other.”
More from Atlanta, via the AP:
Police say they have deployed chemical agents on Atlanta protesters. Georgia State Patrol Spokesperson Franka Young has told The Associated Press the chemical agents were fired after “some unruly protesters” attempted to climb on top of a SWAT vehicle that was stationed in the city.
“They were given orders to get off of the vehicle and when they ignored the orders, the SWAT team was forced to utilize less lethal gas to deter them,” Young said. Some protesters were also arrested after refusing orders to disperse from roads and to walk on sidewalks, Young said. It is not clear how many people were arrested. Young said many protesters had followed police orders.