Black Lives Matter protests: news summary for 18 June
Black Lives Matter protests: latest news - 18 June
Denzel Skinner was fired after 8 years on the job as a shift leader at a Taco Bell in Youngstown, Ohio after he refused to take off his BLM face covering.
He was told by a supervisor he couldn't wear the face cover but he was adamant Taco Bell's policy says nothing about face covers with messages on them. The one stipulation -- face coverings had to be clean. Skinner explained in a Facebook Live video that he wore the face cover because the surgical masks provided by the joint to employees proved inadequate in warm conditions.
Paris police bans three protests, including U.S. Embassy demonstration
The Paris police authority said it had decided to ban three protests scheduled for Saturday, including a demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy, due to fears of public disorder and COVID-19 risks.
The police added in a statement on Friday that its decision to ban one of the protests was in light of recent gang violence between ethnic communities in Dijon and Nice.
Last Saturday, protesters at an anti-racism rally in central Paris clashed with police, as a wave of anger continued to sweep the world following the death in the United States of African American George Floyd.
It marks the day in 1865 when news of the Emancipation Proclamation — a document issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War declaring that all slaves “are, and henceforward shall be free”
Artist Dustin Klein projects an image of George Floyd onto the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Julia Rendleman
Klobuchar urges "woman of color" as Biden's running mate
(Reuters) U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar effectively pulled herself out of contention to be Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate on Thursday, saying she felt that the historic moment required picking a woman of color.
"This is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket, and there are so many incredible qualified women," she said in an interview on MSNBC. "If you want to heal this nation right now – my party, yes, but our nation – this is sure a hell of a way to do it."
Biden, who will take on Republican President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election, is under pressure to pick a black woman as his understudy as racial tensions flare over instances of police brutality.
People take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, on Thursday.
(Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
Jennifer Lawrence joins Twitter, calls for criminal charges over Breonna Taylor death
Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence has joined Twitter, using her presence on the social-media platform to call for charges to be brought against police officers involved in the shooting to death of Breonna Taylor, an African-American woman, in Louisville in March.
Lawrence, who is from the Kentucky city, said: "For three months since her murder, Breonna Taylor’s family, the people of Louisville, Americans across the country, and many around the world have called out for justice, And yet, those calls have gone unanswered.
"No arrests have been made, the officers responsible for her death remain unemployed by the LMPD, and disturbingly, the LMPD’s own investigation report was woefully inaccurate. As a Louisvillian, as a human being, I cannot be silent."
Trump tweets on infrastructure investment
A long thread on Twitter has come out from the president highlighting the work being done improve roads, bridges etc...
Here's an example
Kellogg's marketing suggested to be racist
Black Lives Matter activist and former U.K. member of Parliament Fiona Onasanya criticized Kellogg’s earlier this week, asking why “three white boys” serve as the mascots of one the company’s signature cereals, Rice Krispies, and a monkey is displayed on boxes of Coco Pops in the United Kingdom, according to the Federalist.
The company responded...
Taco Bell manager reportedly fired
They say that any news that keeps you in the spotlight is good but the food company cannot be enjoying this trending topic.
Black Lives Matter - UK Soul Locked in Live
A three-day online music festival featuring the cream of UK soul playing live at the Hideaway, London - artists including Omar, Mica Paris, Terri Walker, Tippa Irie, Floacist and more... An absolutely stunning, star-studded line-up. Not to be missed!! Tune in from 8 p.m. GMT at lockedin.live See you there!
Scottish solidarity
Art is powerful and at a time when all Scotland’s venues are closed for the foreseeable future, they can still have a voice by offering their walls and doors to be used for this dramatic, vital statement of support for Black Lives Matter.
How Black Lives Matter could reshape the 2020 elections
Interesting piece from TIMEpolitics on how a surge in new voter registrations during the Black Lives Matter protests could affect the outcome of the US presidential elections.
Atlanta prosecutors hope to persuade jury to second-guess officer who shot Brooks
(Reuters) Prosecutors seeking to convict Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe for murder in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks must try to persuade jurors to do something they rarely do - second guess split-second police decisions.
On Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard brought 11 charges against Rolfe, with the most serious being felony murder which carries the death penalty.
Atlanta's mayor fired Rolfe after Friday's shooting. Civil rights groups were quick to condemn the lethal methods.
Spanish minister stands up for Columbus statues amid global protests
(Reuters) The education minister in Spain's leftist coalition government defended the country's numerous statues of 15th century navigator Christopher Columbus against calls by anti-racism activists to tear them down amid a wave of global protests.
The first European to reach the Americas, Columbus is often seen by rights activists as a symbol of racial hatred as his discovery opened the gates to invasions from Europe resulting in millions of deaths all over the Americas.
"Cities have history and moments which must be respected and learned from," minister Isabel Celaa told reporters when asked about demands by protesters, including some left-wing politicians, in Spain to tear down the statues.
Taco Bell fire employee for Black Lives Matter Covid mask
The fast food chain took the decision to fire an employee for a wearing a coronavirus face mask supporting the Black Lives Matter protests, despite his insistence it did not infringe company policy.
Belgian-Congolese street artist NovaDead, whose real name is Julien Crevaels, poses next to a giant mural paying tribute to George Floyd, in the aftermath his of death in Minneapolis police custody, in Brussels, Belgium June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Trump backs Kaepernick returning to NFL
(Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would be in favor of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick returning to the field.
Kaepernick says no NFL teams have signed him since he left the San Francisco 49ers after the 2016 season because he knelt during the pre-game playing of the national anthem to protest racial injustice.
"As far as kneeling, I would love to see him get another shot," Trump said in an interview with Sinclair Broadcast Group. "But obviously he has to be able to play well. If he can’t play well, I think it would be very unfair."
As recently as Sunday, Trump said he would not watch NFL games if players did not stand for the national anthem. He has said in the past it was disrespectful to the country.
Atlanta megachurch pastor apologizes for ‘white blessing’ comments
Louie Giglio, the pastor at Passion City Church in northeast Atlanta, has apologised after suggesting that the "blessing" of slavery is missed in the USA.
Black Lives Matter protests, live updates: welcome
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests sparked in the US and across the world by the killing of George Floyd in police custody late last month.
We'll endeavour to bring you the latest developments as they unfold.