George Floyd protests summaty 5 june | Minneapolis, US riots, reactions, Trump, Anonymous...
George Floyd death sparks protests in US: latest updates, Saturday 6 June
George Floyd protests live updates | Minneapolis, US riots, reactions, Trump, Anonymous...
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A woman in Manchester, UK, wears a face mask with the words "I Can't Breathe" written on, as she walks past a mural of George Floyd, by street artist Akse, ahead of a demonstration on Saturday to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
Biden wins Democratic Party nomination
In case you missed it, former vice-president Joe Biden has formally won the Democratic Party nomination to take on current incumbent Donald Trump in November's US presidential election, having secured the 1,991 delegates needed.
Writing on the blog site Medium, Biden said: "This is a difficult time in America’s history. And Donald Trump’s angry, divisive politics is no answer. The country is crying out for leadership. Leadership that can unite us. Leadership that can bring us together."
He added: "Today, I’m once again asking every American who feels knocked down, counted out, and left behind, to join our campaign. Because we aren’t just building the movement that will defeat Donald Trump, we are building the movement that will transform our nation.
"I truly believe that when we stand together, finally, as One America, we will rise stronger than before."
Black Lives Matter protests in the UK
Demonstrators in St Ablans, UK, are seen in the rain wearing protective face masks during a Black Lives Matter protest in Verulamium Park on Saturday. (Photo: REUTERS/Paul Childs)
Japanese, South Korean capitals see protests
Hundreds took to the streets in Tokyo and Seoul on Saturday to support US protests against police brutality.
In Tokyo, marchers protested against what they said was police treatment of a Kurdish man who says he was stopped while driving and shoved to the ground, leaving him with bruises.
Organisers invoked the US protests, saying they were also marching in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"I want to show that there's racism in Japan now," said 17-year-old high school student Wakaba, who declined to give her family name.
She and her friend, Moe, marching in their school uniforms, held a sign saying: "If you're not angry, you're not paying attention". "No justice, no peace, no racist police," the crowd chanted.
In Seoul, dozens of South Korean activists and foreign residents gathered, some wearing black masks with "can't breathe" in Korea, echoing George Floyd's final words as he lay on the pavement. Others participated in an online "viral photo protest".
"South Korea is becoming a multicultural society," organiser Shim Ji-hoon said. "So I proposed this march to have awareness of racial discrimination and make a world of living together." (Reuters)
Australians show solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement
Protesters raise their fists to the sky in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday. Events across the country have been organised in solidarity with protests in the United States following the killing of George Floyd, and to rally against aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
George Floyd protests: Molotov cocktail thrown back into agitator's car
Video: Molotov cocktail thrown back into agitator's car
When a man placed what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail in the road during a peaceful protest in Riverdale, California, earlier this week, it was thrown back into his car to stop it from exploding in the street. (Viewer discretion advised.)
Denver judge bans use of chemical agents against peaceful protesters
A federal judge in Denver has banned police from using chemical agents or projectiles against peaceful protesters, labelling the actions of some officers in the city and across the US “disgusting”.
“The time is past to rely solely on the good faith and discretion of the Denver Police Department and its colleagues from other jurisdictions,” Judge R Brooke Jackson said, adding: “The Denver Police Department has failed in its duty to police its own.”
Jackson concluded: “I do not seek to prevent officers from protecting themselves or their community. I seek to balance citizens’ constitutional rights against officers’ ability to do their job.”
NFL apologises for not letting players protest
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday apologised to players in the league for not listening to their concerns about racism or letting them peacefully protest. "We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest," he said. "We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter."
Buffalo police officers suspended over pushing elderly man
Victim in Buffalo "alert and oriented... in serious but stable condition"
The lawyer representing Martin Gugino, who on Thursday was pushed to the ground by police and suffered a head injury, has said he remains in a "serious but stable condition" and is "alert and oriented".
Two officers have been suspended without pay.
Chicago mayor to police officers who violate directives: We will strip you of your police powers, you will be fired
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the city will strip officers who violate clear directives of the Chicago Police Department of their powers.
"We will not tolerate people who cross the line. We will not tolerate excessive force. We will not tolerate profanity and homophobic comments," she said.
"Officers who choose to do those things or to tape over their badges, or to turn off their body-worn cameras, all things that violate very clear directives of the Chicago Police Department...we will find you. We will identify you, and we will strip you of your police powers."
She then continued: "It is not only stripping you as appropriate. You will be fired from the Chicago Police Department."
UK health secretary asks people not to protest over coronavirus fears
Whether you're being pepper-sprayed or not (see below), Matt Hancock, the UK health secretary thinks the risk of attending protests is too great and has asked UK citizens not to go.
"I want to say something to you as Health Secretary. Like so many I am appalled by the death of George Floyd an I understand why people are deeply upset, but we are still facing a health crisis, and coronavirus remains a real threat, and the reason that is vital that people stick to the rules this weekend is to protect themselves and their family from this horrific disease"
Tear-gassing a coronavirus "recipe for disaster"
An associate professor who studies tear gas at Duke University: "Using it in the current situation with COVID-19 around is completely irresponsible. There are sufficient data proving that tear gas can increase the susceptibility to pathogens, to viruses."
Mural memories
We've been sharing images over the past week of so with you, and here is a compilation of many of them and others.
Trump standing firm against kneeling
President Donald Trump lobbed barbs at protesters who kneel during the national anthem, after NFL quarterback Drew Brees apologised for remarks he made about the practice. Brees said this week that he would 'never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag,' referring to the possibility of players kneeling during the 'Star-Spangled Banner' in the upcoming NFL season.
Brees apologised on Thursday, saying his words 'lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy.' The kneeling pose has become a symbol of the fight for racial justice in the United States.
Trump tweeted on Friday that Brees 'should not have taken back his original stance.' 'We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart,' Trump wrote. 'There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag - NO KNEELING!'
Jordan and Brand donate $100 million
Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand have announced their plan to donate $100 million over the next ten years to those dedicated to racial equality, social justice and education.
Officers resign in support of guilty colleagues
At first there had been some understanding that the 57 officers were taking a stand against the two offenders, but this wasn't the case. They resigned from the Buffalo Police Dept's emergency response team, not the department.
Police chief gives honest view of systemic problems
"I am not satisfied that we have only a few bad apples. We have serious systemic issues profession-wide that are ignored and sometimes taught to the new officers coming out of the academy."
Strong words from North Texas Police Chief.
Armed arrest during protest
We've seen numerous images of armed 'watchers' of the George Floyd protests. This one, at least, was taken out of circulation.
Minneapolis ban police chokeholds
In the last few hours, Minneapolis police have been prohibited from using neck restraints and choke holds, and officers are now required to intervene when inappropriate force is used by others.
Minneapolis City Council members approved this by vote.
UK protest warning
The UK Health Minister has made a plea to those planning more protests around the United Kingdom.
VP Pence meets church leaders
Donald Trump was criticised by several religious leaders for his photo opportunity the other night, but Mike Pence is going to see how forward steps can be taken.
No foreign interference, says Facebook
Facebook Inc has said that it had seen no evidence of coordinated foreign interference on its platforms targeting US anti-racism protests, after the US attorney general said foreign groups were trying to exacerbate the situation.
'We have been actively looking and we haven't yet seen foreign interference or domestic coordinated inauthentic behavior targeting these protests,' said Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, in a call with reporters.
'We want to caution people against jumping to conclusions without clear evidence of foreign interference.'
Black Lives Matter on the street
Huge letters spelling out 'BLACK LIVES MATTER' have been painted on a street near the White House.
No questions for POTUS
Although a press conference tends to allow for questions from the press, Trump was not hanging about today. Lots of positive spin on the job numbers and an attempt at making something positive out of the killing of a black man at the hands of the police.
Trump's press conference in summary
POTUS focused on three main topics at his press conference. George Floyd protests, coronavirus, and the latest jobs numbers.
He stated that he thought the country was 'largely through' the Covid-19 pandemic and pushed for states that haven't already opened up to do so. “This is better than a V,” he said regarding the shape of the recovery curve. “This is a rocket ship.”
US unemployment has dropped to 13.3% (with hotel and leisure industries a big part of the improvement) and Trump had been tweeting about this prior to the conference.
Trump calls it a 'great day' for George
After calling a press conference, the US President made some remarks that have not gone down well with many.
“Hopefully, George is looking down right now and saying, ‘This is a great thing happening for our country.'
“A great day for him, a great day for everybody. This is great day for everybody.”
28 of 30 NBA teams issue statements on Floyd death
Interesting video essay from NBA journalist with info correct at time of publication
George Floyd's GoFundMe sets donation record
The campaign has already raised more than 13 million dollars eclipsing the 1.5 objective initially set out.
Black Lives Matter rallies Papuan activists in Indonesia
Thousands of miles from the protests that have swept the United States, Black Lives Matter has become a rallying cry for pro-Papuan activists in Indonesia, provoking questions about accusations of deep-seated racism.
Indonesian social media users have adopted the hashtag #PapuanLivesMatter alongside #BlackLivesMatter and prominent writers and artists have promoted it, a sign that the issue resonates beyond Papuans in an archipelago of 270 million.
Accusations of discrimination have endured for decades in the resource rich and remote provinces of Papua and West Papua, whose indigenous people are of dark-skinned Melanesian origin in contrast with most in the world's fourth most populous nation.
New French George Floyd tribute mural
All across the world, murals and graffiti works playing tribute have been seen over the past two weeks, this is the latest from French artist Combo in Grenoble.
Paris bans George Floyd protest planned at U.S. Embassy
French police have banned a demonstration planned to take place in front of the U.S. Embassy in Paris on Saturday as protests mount around the world over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The Paris police department said on Friday it had decided to ban the demonstrations because of the risks of social disorder and health dangers from large gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trouble had broken out at another anti-police demonstration in the French capital on Wednesday. Thousands had turned up despite a police ban on the event in memory of Adama Traore, a 24-year old black Frenchman who died in a 2016 police operation which some have likened to Floyd's death.
Heavy handed police assigned to admin. roles
The officers in question were caught on video lashing out at an Australian TV camera man working in Washington DC on Monday last.
Black NFL players send a very powerful message to the NFL. They want them to apologise for stopping its players from peacefully protesting.
Tensions continue to escalate between Trump and Twitter after they disable his George Floyd tribute video.
Trump's accompanying tweet said: "We are working toward a more just society, but that means building up, not tearing down. Joining hands, not hurling fists. Standing in solidarity, not surrendering to hostility.”
He peppered it with warnings against 'radical left-wing groups' though.
Here is Al Sharpton's eulogy to George Floyd. A moving tribute to the man remembered as a 'gentle giant'.
Police brutality under the microscope now in the US and it seems as though repercussions are starting to be doled out.
Drew Brees apologises again over insensitive comments
Step-by-step you will see my heart for exactly what it is and the way everyone around me sees it. I’m sorry it has taken this long to act and to participate in a meaningful way but I am your ally in this fight.
Buffalo police officers suspended over pushing elderly man
The two police officers have been suspended and the man is in serious but stable condition.
Kanye West launches college fund for George Floyd's daughter
The rapper started a college fund for Floyd's six-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, following a week of protests across the nation for the Black Lives Matter movement.
George Floyd Memorial Service: as it happened
George Floyd's memorial service took place last night
“We were smarter than the underfunded schools you put us in,” Al Sharpton said. “But you had your knee on our neck. We could run corporations and not hustle in the streets, but you had your knee on our neck. We had creative skills, we could do whatever anybody else could do. But we couldn’t get your knee off our neck.”
Live coverage of George Floyd protests
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the George Floyd protests that are currently happening across the United States.