thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Ask Amy: Handyman’s attitude isn’t much of a fix

Dear Amy : For several years now , my husband and I ( senior citizens ) , have allowed a handyman to perform repairs around our house and business .
Last week , he told my husband that his sister had the coronavirus .
My husband and I both told him that he should hold off completing the garage project that he had started at our house .
He became indignant and insisted that HE was not the one that had the virus and that he hadn ’ t been in contact with his sister except for a job that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her house a “ couple of weeks ago.
” We insisted that he not come to our home for now .
Well , he came anyway , was furious at me especially , perceiving that I was the major influence in his loss of a few dollars a day on our garage project .
He blurted out to me , “ I ’ m through with you , ” several times and left .
I threatened to call the police if he returned uninvited .
A week later , he called my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband said that he “ sent his regards ” to me .
Amy , my husband is a pushover and will just go on like nothing happened .
While I forgive this handyman , I feel he needs to learn a lesson that he can ’ t just rant , put us in jeopardy , and then a week later pretend that everything is just fine and resume work at our home .
I never want to hire him again , yet I know this will cause my husband to take his side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What would you do ?
Please advise .
Dear Standing : You haven ’ t “ allowed ” this man to do repairs .
You have hired him to perform work at your home .
There is a difference .
You two aren ’ t doing one another favors – there is an exchange of money for service , and reasonable expectations and behavior on both sides are supposed to keep this relationship in balance .
Forget about trying to teach him a lesson .
That ’ s not your job .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt the need to tell him you would call the police .
If he considers you ( rather than your husband ) to be “ the problem ” here , then so be it .
He should be paid for the work he has done so far , and you and your husband should find someone else to complete the project .
If he is eager to keep you as clients , he should admit that his behavior was out of line and apologize , specifically to you , because he directed most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ re all a little tense right now , but you and your pushover husband deserve this respect and reassurance from a professional .
Dear Amy : My husband didn ’ t smoke when we married .
He ’ s a one to two pack-a-day smoker , now .
He smokes in “ his ” room .
I ask him if he ’ s smoking that he at least go out on the porch .
He makes a big deal about it , saying , “ Why can ’ t I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” I hate the smoke everywhere — in house , car , and on our clothes !
When I get up in the morning and open my bedroom door , that ’ s all I can smell , and then I get nauseous !
My son ( who quit smoking last year ) said that when he ’ s around me I smell like an ashtray !
Help !
Both my husband and I have quite a few health problems .
I ’ ve talked with him about this numerous times !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Dear Smoked Out : Your husband ’ s smoking has created a significant health risk for both of you .
You ’ ve “ talked with him numerous times.
” Instead of talking , you should absolutely insist – every single day – that he not smoke inside the house .
You should make it too uncomfortable for your husband to smoke inside , and basically bug him enough to send him onto the porch .
Your son ( the former smoker ) should back you up on this .
Your husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habit – he can smoke outside .
If he continues to smoke inside , your exposure to secondhand toxins might seriously limit your options .
Dear Amy : You nailed it in the last paragraph of your response to “ Not Trying to be a B.
” A CEO I once worked for used to say , “ If you ’ re not exceeding your authority , you ’ re not doing your job.
” Dear Been There : “ B ” was openly demonstrating her creativity and ambition .
I told her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it reminds them of themselves .

Dear Amy: For several years now, my husband and I (senior citizens), have allowed a handyman to perform repairs around our house and business.
Last week, he told my husband that his sister had the coronavirus.
My husband and I both told him that he should hold off completing the garage project that he had started at our house. He became indignant and insisted that HE was not the one that had the virus and that he hadn’t been in contact with his sister except for a job that he had done, supposedly, outside of her house a “couple of weeks ago.”
We insisted that he not come to our home for now.
Well, he came anyway, was furious at me especially, perceiving that I was the major influence in his loss of a few dollars a day on our garage project.
He blurted out to me, “I’m through with you,” several times and left.
I threatened to call the police if he returned uninvited.
A week later, he called my husband and they exchanged pleasantries. My husband said that he “sent his regards” to me.
Amy, my husband is a pushover and will just go on like nothing happened.
While I forgive this handyman, I feel he needs to learn a lesson that he can’t just rant, put us in jeopardy, and then a week later pretend that everything is just fine and resume work at our home.
I never want to hire him again, yet I know this will cause my husband to take his side because he’s a softie.
What would you do? Please advise.
— Standing My Ground
Dear Standing: You haven’t “allowed” this man to do repairs. You have hired him to perform work at your home. There is a difference. You two aren’t doing one another favors – there is an exchange of money for service, and reasonable expectations and behavior on both sides are supposed to keep this relationship in balance.
Forget about trying to teach him a lesson. That’s not your job. He threatened you to the point where you felt the need to tell him you would call the police. If he considers you (rather than your husband) to be “the problem” here, then so be it.
He should be paid for the work he has done so far, and you and your husband should find someone else to complete the project.
If he is eager to keep you as clients, he should admit that his behavior was out of line and apologize, specifically to you, because he directed most of his anger toward you.
Granted, we’re all a little tense right now, but you and your pushover husband deserve this respect and reassurance from a professional.
Dear Amy: My husband didn’t smoke when we married. He’s a one to two pack-a-day smoker, now. He smokes in “his” room. I ask him if he’s smoking that he at least go out on the porch. He makes a big deal about it, saying, “Why can’t I smoke a cigarette in my own house?”
I hate the smoke everywhere — in house, car, and on our clothes! When I get up in the morning and open my bedroom door, that’s all I can smell, and then I get nauseous!
My son (who quit smoking last year) said that when he’s around me I smell like an ashtray! Help! Both my husband and I have quite a few health problems.
I’ve talked with him about this numerous times!
What do you or your readers suggest?
— Smoked Out
Dear Smoked Out: Your husband’s smoking has created a significant health risk for both of you. You’ve “talked with him numerous times.” Instead of talking, you should absolutely insist – every single day – that he not smoke inside the house. You should make it too uncomfortable for your husband to smoke inside, and basically bug him enough to send him onto the porch.
Your son (the former smoker) should back you up on this.
Your husband has options for imbibing in his deadly habit – he can smoke outside. If he continues to smoke inside, your exposure to secondhand toxins might seriously limit your options.
Dear Amy: You nailed it in the last paragraph of your response to “Not Trying to be a B.” A CEO I once worked for used to say, “If you’re not exceeding your authority, you’re not doing your job.”
— Been There
Dear Been There: “B” was openly demonstrating her creativity and ambition. I told her that some CEOs appreciate that – because it reminds them of themselves.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--PHOTOS: Second day of Denver protests over George Floyd killing

For the second night in a row , Denver police fired off clouds of eye-burning tear gas in an effort @ @ @ @ @ crowds of demonstrators who had been marching for hours Friday in protest of the death @ @ @ @ @ hands of Minneapolis police .
Around 8 p.m. , police began firing gas and detonating @ @ @ @ @ grenades in an area where protesters had assembled at Lincoln Street and Colfax Avenue near @ @ @ @ @ chaotic scene that sent demonstrators running .
The march had kicked off peacefully at the @ @ @ @ @ more tense scene — resulting in 13 arrests — wrapped up in the same area @ @ @ @ @ could be seen Friday evening spray-painting a statue in front of the Capitol while others @ @ @ @ @ here for the full story .

For the second night in a row, Denver police fired off clouds of eye-burning tear gas in an effort to disperse large, outraged crowds of demonstrators who had been marching for hours Friday in protest of the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Around 8 p.m., police began firing gas and detonating what appeared to be flash grenades in an area where protesters had assembled at Lincoln Street and Colfax Avenue near the state Capitol, a chaotic scene that sent demonstrators running. The march had kicked off peacefully at the Capitol at noon after a more tense scene — resulting in 13 arrests — wrapped up in the same area around 2 a.m. Protesters could be seen Friday evening spray-painting a statue in front of the Capitol while others cheered them on.
Click here for the full story.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Douglas County sheriff reports death of jail inmate

A Douglas County jail inmate found attempting suicide has died of her injuries .
The 54-year-old inmate was discovered by @ @ @ @ @ Monday , and the deputy began life-saving efforts , according to a Douglas County Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ .
Jail medical staff and the Castle Rock Fire Department also responded .
The woman @ @ @ @ @ where she remained in the intensive care unit until she died Friday , the news @ @ @ @ @ cause and manner of death will be determined by the Douglas County coroner .

A Douglas County jail inmate found attempting suicide has died of her injuries.
The 54-year-old inmate was discovered by a deputy at 1:13 p.m. Monday, and the deputy began life-saving efforts, according to a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office news release. Jail medical staff and the Castle Rock Fire Department also responded.
The woman was taken to a hospital where she remained in the intensive care unit until she died Friday, the news release said.
The official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Douglas County coroner.


thedenverpost--2020-05-31--Keeler: Michael Porter Jr.’s tweets on George Floyd weren’t “condoning cops’ behavior,” civil rights

Keeler: Michael Porter Jr.’s tweets on George Floyd weren’t “condoning cops’ behavior,” civil rights icon says

Before you pick up a stone to fling at Michael Porter Jr ’ s glass house , look at the timeline .
Look at the first four entries on the Nuggets rookie ’ s twitter feed from May 27 , in chronological order : 11:42 : Brought tears to my eyes man…that is unbelievable…That is murder .
11:43 : It is a heartbreaking and corrupt world we live in… 11:44 : But regardless GOT TA KEEP THE FAITH til the end .
11:51 : As much as you pray for George family , got ta also pray for the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this evil .
As hard as it is , pray for them instead of hate them…Pray that God changes their hearts .
“ If you really look at what he said , he wasn ’ t condoning the cops ’ behavior , ” John Griffin said of the Nuggets forward .
“ He was saying , ‘ God , I hope these guys change the way they behave and have love in their hearts.
’ We ’ re just in a different age of perspectives.
” We ’ re tired of perspective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being cooped up , trudging the same city blocks , for weeks on end .
Tired of social distance .
Tired of COVID dictating the terms of our lives .
We ’ re turning face coverings into a political wedge issue .
We ’ re walking tinderboxes , waiting to go off at the slightest provocation .
“ I was angry , ” Griffin said of George Floyd , whose senseless , horrific death while in the custody of Minneapolis police has stoked justifiable rage around the country .
“ Events like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out our worst .
And the worst is on full display.
” He has represented our better angels for more than five decades , while also serving as a poignant reminder of past sins .
A member of the University of Wyoming ’ s Black 14 , the 71-year-old Griffin is a walking civil rights icon , a voice of reason rising above the flames .
While he spent a good chunk of his adult life in Denver , he grew up in the racially divisive Los Angeles of the 1950s and ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1965 Watts riots .
He got pulled over as a teenager for DWB — Driving While Black .
His grudges are earned .
Griffin wants justice for Floyd ’ s family , too .
But 11 times out of 10 , he ’ ll still take the path of prayer and repentance over shattered glass , smoke and cinder .
“ ( MPJ ) said what was in his heart , ” Griffin continued .
“ He ’ s a conscientious kid that made a comment because of what the Almighty said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that the 11:51 tweet didn ’ t misread the room .
NBA peers such as Lou Williams , Moe Harkless and Mike Scott eviscerated MPJ on social media for extending grace to the officers at the crux of the incident .
Kendrick Friendly , the co-founder of Denver ’ s Mentoring of Men , felt his tweets were tone-deaf to the concerns , and reality , of the metro ’ s black community .
“ It seems like he ’ s ( writing ) from a place of privilege , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engages African-American youths aged 10 to 18 .
“ Because he ’ s been a star athlete his entire life , he hasn ’ t had to face the same type of things .
They say , ‘ He ’ s Michael Porter Jr. , he ’ s the athlete , he ’ s OK. ’ Whereas the average , ordinary African-American doesn ’ t have that luxury .
“ It ’ s important that he really learn from the experiences in the community .
Maybe it ’ s talking to people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star athletes their whole lives , and get with them and just be educated on the subject of police brutality and systemic racism .
“ Twitter ’ s not the best place to say these things .
Twitter is vicious right now.
” When the country ’ s on fire , context and tweets too often pass like ships in the dark of night .
The trouble with an-eye-for-an-eye is an end game that leaves everybody blind .
“ With MPJ , the thing he ’ s got to deal with is those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not black , ’ all those people who want to throw the race card and ( declare ) who is and who isn ’ t , ” said Brother Jeff Fard , the philanthropist , community organizer , journalist and founder of Brother Jeff ’ s Cultural Center in Five Points .
“ But what do you tell a person of faith ?
You don ’ t tell them to discount their belief system in service to something else .
I think he ’ s on solid ground .
I ’ m not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My grandmother would ’ ve probably said the same thing : ‘ Pray for their hearts , ’ ” said Griffin , whose brother-in-law works in law enforcement .
“ Was she condoning any of it ?
No .
She had that spiritual side of her and it was very religious.
” The last week of May tested our faith at every turn .
The nightmare footage of Floyd ’ s last breaths , just like those of Eric Garner six years earlier , shot Griffin immediately back to 1967 .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pulled over by the LAPD , guilty of changing the carburetor on a ’ 59 Volkswagen together .
Griffin and his friend were three blocks from John ’ s house when the sirens went off .
They never told him why .
They didn ’ t have to .
We ’ ve been working on my VW .
If you don ’ t believe me , officer , look in the back seat .
There ’ s a carburetor on the floor .
“ They held us there for a while , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Griffin recalled .
“ We weren ’ t breaking any laws .
I wasn ’ t speeding.
” “ So I had that experience .
The sad part about it is , that it ’ s gone on too long.
” Sadder , still , that it keeps creeping back .

Before you pick up a stone to fling at Michael Porter Jr’s glass house, look at the timeline. Look closely at the first four entries on the Nuggets rookie’s twitter feed from May 27, in chronological order:
11:42: Brought tears to my eyes man…that is unbelievable…That is murder.
11:43: It is a heartbreaking and corrupt world we live in…
11:44: But regardless GOTTA KEEP THE FAITH til the end.
11:51: As much as you pray for George family, gotta also pray for the police officer(s) who were involved in this evil. As hard as it is, pray for them instead of hate them…Pray that God changes their hearts.
Words you find: Murder. Corrupt. Evil.
Words you don’t: Excuse. Pardon. Forgive.
“If you really look at what he said, he wasn’t condoning the cops’ behavior,” John Griffin said of the Nuggets forward. “He was saying, ‘God, I hope these guys change the way they behave and have love in their hearts.’ We’re just in a different age of perspectives.”
We’re tired of perspective. Tired of patience. Tired of being cooped up, trudging the same city blocks, for weeks on end. Tired of social distance. Tired of COVID dictating the terms of our lives. We’re turning face coverings into a political wedge issue. We’re walking tinderboxes, waiting to go off at the slightest provocation.
“I was angry,” Griffin said of George Floyd, whose senseless, horrific death while in the custody of Minneapolis police has stoked justifiable rage around the country. “Events like this bring out our best. And bring out our worst. And the worst is on full display.”
He has represented our better angels for more than five decades, while also serving as a poignant reminder of past sins. A member of the University of Wyoming’s Black 14, the 71-year-old Griffin is a walking civil rights icon, a voice of reason rising above the flames.
While he spent a good chunk of his adult life in Denver, he grew up in the racially divisive Los Angeles of the 1950s and ‘60s, the straw that stirred the 1965 Watts riots. He got pulled over as a teenager for DWB — Driving While Black. His grudges are earned.
Griffin wants justice for Floyd’s family, too. But 11 times out of 10, he’ll still take the path of prayer and repentance over shattered glass, smoke and cinder.
“(MPJ) said what was in his heart,” Griffin continued. “He’s a conscientious kid that made a comment because of what the Almighty said in his heart.”
Which isn’t to say that the 11:51 tweet didn’t misread the room. NBA peers such as Lou Williams, Moe Harkless and Mike Scott eviscerated MPJ on social media for extending grace to the officers at the crux of the incident. Kendrick Friendly, the co-founder of Denver’s Mentoring of Men, felt his tweets were tone-deaf to the concerns, and reality, of the metro’s black community.
“It seems like he’s (writing) from a place of privilege,” said Friendly, whose organization empowers and engages African-American youths aged 10 to 18. “Because he’s been a star athlete his entire life, he hasn’t had to face the same type of things. They say, ‘He’s Michael Porter Jr., he’s the athlete, he’s OK.’ Whereas the average, ordinary African-American doesn’t have that luxury.
“It’s important that he really learn from the experiences in the community. Maybe it’s talking to people in his family who haven’t been star athletes their whole lives, and get with them and just be educated on the subject of police brutality and systemic racism.
“Twitter’s not the best place to say these things. Twitter is vicious right now.”
When the country’s on fire, context and tweets too often pass like ships in the dark of night. The trouble with an-eye-for-an-eye is an end game that leaves everybody blind.
“With MPJ, the thing he’s got to deal with is those who say, ‘You’re not black,’ all those people who want to throw the race card and (declare) who is and who isn’t,” said Brother Jeff Fard, the philanthropist, community organizer, journalist and founder of Brother Jeff’s Cultural Center in Five Points.
“But what do you tell a person of faith? You don’t tell them to discount their belief system in service to something else. I think he’s on solid ground. I’m not one to come out against him.”
Words you find: Tears. Unbelievable. Heartbreaking.
Words you don’t: Exonerate. Reprieve. Exempt.
“My grandmother would’ve probably said the same thing: ‘Pray for their hearts,’” said Griffin, whose brother-in-law works in law enforcement.
“Was she condoning any of it? No. She had that spiritual side of her and it was very religious.”
The last week of May tested our faith at every turn. The nightmare footage of Floyd’s last breaths, just like those of Eric Garner six years earlier, shot Griffin immediately back to 1967. To the two young black men in overalls, pulled over by the LAPD, guilty of changing the carburetor on a ’59 Volkswagen together.
Griffin and his friend were three blocks from John’s house when the sirens went off.
They never told him why.
They didn’t have to.
We’ve been working on my VW. If you don’t believe me, officer, look in the back seat. There’s a carburetor on the floor.
“They held us there for a while, then they let us go,” Griffin recalled. “We weren’t breaking any laws. I wasn’t speeding.”
He sighed.
“So I had that experience. The sad part about it is, that it’s gone on too long.”
Sadder, still, that it keeps creeping back.


thedenverpost--2020-05-31--Colorado records no new deaths tied directly to COVID-19 as hospitalizations continue to fall

Colorado health officials on Saturday reported no additional deaths tied directly to COVID-19 , while 1,443 people who had contracted the virus have now died since March .
That ’ s an increase of seven deaths of people who had the virus but no additional fatalities tied directly to COVID-19 over Friday ’ s tallies , though there ’ s a lag in reporting deaths to the state health department — particularly death-certificate data .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recently revamped the way it reports deaths related to the new coronavirus , listing the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus as well as the number of deaths that have been directly attributed to COVID-19 on a death certificate .
Current hospitalizations continue to decrease .
There have been 4,333 people hospitalized since the outbreak was confirmed in the state in early March , but only 308 people were hospitalized with symptoms of the illness as of Saturday afternoon , state data shows .
That ’ s the lowest level of hospitalizations since March 28 , when 307 people were in the hospital for COVID-19 .
Meanwhile , 21 individuals since Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lower level of care such as a rehabilitation facility , according to state data .
A combination of private facilities and the state-run lab tested 5,668 people on Friday , state data shows .
The testing rate — 99.5 tests per 100,000 people per day — is getting close to the 152-tests-per-100,000 people pegged as the golden number for health officials to understand where the virus is spreading .
Gov .
Jared Polis on Tuesday said the state now has the supplies and capabilities to test 8,500 people per day .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for or are believed to have COVID-19 , the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus , though health officials have said they believe the true number is closer to 167,000 .
Officials have also confirmed outbreaks at 280 contained facilities across the state , including nursing homes , jails and factories .
That ’ s three more than the previous day .
The state health department announces new totals of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases daily based on what ’ s reported up from Colorado ’ s counties ; though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on a particular day , they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state .

Colorado health officials on Saturday reported no additional deaths tied directly to COVID-19, while 1,443 people who had contracted the virus have now died since March.
That’s an increase of seven deaths of people who had the virus but no additional fatalities tied directly to COVID-19 over Friday’s tallies, though there’s a lag in reporting deaths to the state health department — particularly death-certificate data.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recently revamped the way it reports deaths related to the new coronavirus, listing the total number of fatalities in which the person had the virus as well as the number of deaths that have been directly attributed to COVID-19 on a death certificate.
Current hospitalizations continue to decrease. There have been 4,333 people hospitalized since the outbreak was confirmed in the state in early March, but only 308 people were hospitalized with symptoms of the illness as of Saturday afternoon, state data shows. That’s the lowest level of hospitalizations since March 28, when 307 people were in the hospital for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, 21 individuals since Friday either went home or were transferred to a lower level of care such as a rehabilitation facility, according to state data.
A combination of private facilities and the state-run lab tested 5,668 people on Friday, state data shows. The testing rate — 99.5 tests per 100,000 people per day — is getting close to the 152-tests-per-100,000 people pegged as the golden number for health officials to understand where the virus is spreading.
Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday said the state now has the supplies and capabilities to test 8,500 people per day.
To date, 26,098 people have tested positive for or are believed to have COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory illness causes by the virus, though health officials have said they believe the true number is closer to 167,000.
Officials have also confirmed outbreaks at 280 contained facilities across the state, including nursing homes, jails and factories. That’s three more than the previous day.
The state health department announces new totals of coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases daily based on what’s reported up from Colorado’s counties; though the deaths and positive test results may be announced on a particular day, they may have occurred any time in the past and are just now being reported to the state.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--PHOTOS: Denver protests for George Floyd third day in a row

Crews board move plywood panels to board up windows at the Denver Post building May 30 , 2020 .
Many @ @ @ @ @ was sprayed all over the building during Friday night 's George Floyd protests .
Protesters @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd , a 46-year-old black man who was killed by a Minnesota police @ @ @ @ @ the ground with his knee on his neck .

Thousands of protesters descended on the Colorado Capitol to express their outrage Saturday in Denver’s largest demonstration thus far over the death of George Floyd this week at the hands of Minnesota police.
The day marked the third in a row that hordes of people — clad in face masks and holding signs — inundated downtown Denver in the midst of a global pandemic that has mostly kept people at home since March. After a peaceful protest that started at noon, skirmishes and tear gas were evident by early afternoon — far earlier than in the first two days of Denver protests.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock imposed a curfew Saturday and Gov. Jared Polis called in the Colorado National Guard as the city attempted to restore order after two previous nights of George Floyd protests here and across the country.
The curfew, which applies to all of Denver, begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, lifting at 5 the next morning.
However, many protesters remained near the Capitol as 8 p.m. arrived, and they cheered and blew a horn. A line of police advanced down Lincoln Street just afterward, but scattered groups of protesters were still out well into the night.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Amid coronavirus crisis, Nuggets legend Dikembe Mutombo can’t stop playing defense

Dikembe Mutombo ’ s reach was always destined to be global , canvassing far more of the world than the paint he patrolled for 18 seasons in the NBA .
From the moment he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the fourth overall pick in June of 1991 , Mutombo had designs on something greater .
Somehow , he ’ d give back to his native Democratic Republic of Congo , or honor his parents , who harnessed in him a love for science , or teach a younger generation how to tend to future ones .
Maybe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personality , he ’ d accomplish them all .
“ There ’ s an old proverb from the African continent that says that when you take the elevator to go up , you always got to make sure that you send the elevator down so it can take the other people , ” Mutombo told The Post in a wide-ranging interview this week .
“ My way of sending the elevator down was go back home and try to see how many lives can I touch.
” Mutombo bellows his deep , hearty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of organizations and boards he ’ s affiliated with .
There ’ s the CDC , UNICEF , Special Olympics , Basketball Without Borders and his role as the NBA ’ s first global ambassador .
That ’ s in addition to the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation , which was founded in 1997 and built the Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital in honor of his late mother a decade later .
A K-12 school , dedicated to his father and focused on science and entrepreneurship , is scheduled to open next year near Kinshasa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though Mutombo ’ s native DRC hasn ’ t been crushed by COVID-19 cases ( 69 deaths as of Friday ) , he brims with excitement that his foundation is helping to feed frontline workers and taking on other local initiatives .
“ We serve lunch and dinner to four hospitals with more than 80 doctors and nurses , which was great , ” he said .
“ I ’ m glad that we took those initiatives .
In the Congo , right now , we are launching a local mask production , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are asking people to start making masks at the foundation headquarters.
” At his hospital , there are handwashing stations every 20 meters .
He beams that every doctor , nurse , patient or family member is given a mask for free upon entering .
As a global citizen , and one who feels a moral obligation to address health concerns for those in need , Mutombo can ’ t ignore a health crisis when he knows he ’ s in position to help .
“ One of the doctors says when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the community , it should be a responsibility of every human being living on the planet , ” Mutombo said .
“ … If we didn ’ t think that this great epidemic that affects all of us was just a Chinese problem and we didn ’ t think it was our problem , that ’ d mean we were wrong because we knew that we didn ’ t participate or if we didn ’ t take enough steps , this epidemic would ravage our community globally.
” Mutombo , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrolled at Georgetown , knows that his accomplishments wouldn ’ t have been possible without basketball , without the platform the game provided him .
For that , he thanks his mentors like Bill Russell , Patrick Ewing and legendary Hoyas coach John Thompson .
And though he ’ s just as comfortable discussing global catastrophes as he is reflecting on his storied Hall of Fame career , his tone changes when asked about his favorite memories from the five seasons he spent in Denver .
Inevitably , he brings up the Nuggets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 seed Seattle SuperSonics in 1994 , however , that ’ s not where his mind goes first .
“ I was welcomed to the city like an angel , ” Mutombo said .
“ Like ‘ OK , you ’ re the one who we were looking for.
’ ” The Nuggets had been rudderless after Doug Moe ’ s sterling run throughout the ’ 80s .
Mutombo gave the Nuggets an imposing , finger-wagging , defensive identity .
“ ( I appreciate ) so much that that organization made me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of the city and it made me their franchise player , ” he said .
“ … I gave that beautiful city almost everything they ask of me.
” In turn , they gave him an enduring nickname befitting a man of his stature : Mt .
Mutombo .
“ I don ’ t know if I ’ d gone to some city that is very flat , like other cities in America where there ’ s no mountains , would they have called me Mt .
Mutombo ?
” he joked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you were born .
It ’ s because of the city of Denver that Mt .
Mutombo was born .
I think Dikembe Mutombo ’ s career was born with the Denver Nuggets.
” And from there his legend flourished , an iconic defensive player with an even bigger appetite for helping others .
Dan Issel , the coach when the Nuggets sprung their incredible first-round upset over Seattle , may have said it best during Mutombo ’ s jersey retirement in 2016 .
“ This man has given more for the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever gave him , ” Issel said .
Now , even in retirement , Mutombo refuses to stop playing defense .

Dikembe Mutombo’s reach was always destined to be global, canvassing far more of the world than the paint he patrolled for 18 seasons in the NBA.
From the moment he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the fourth overall pick in June of 1991, Mutombo had designs on something greater. Somehow, he’d give back to his native Democratic Republic of Congo, or honor his parents, who harnessed in him a love for science, or teach a younger generation how to tend to future ones.
Maybe, with his irrepressible energy and his infectious personality, he’d accomplish them all.
“There’s an old proverb from the African continent that says that when you take the elevator to go up, you always got to make sure that you send the elevator down so it can take the other people,” Mutombo told The Post in a wide-ranging interview this week. “My way of sending the elevator down was go back home and try to see how many lives can I touch.”
Mutombo bellows his deep, hearty laugh when he thinks about the number of organizations and boards he’s affiliated with. There’s the CDC, UNICEF, Special Olympics, Basketball Without Borders and his role as the NBA’s first global ambassador. That’s in addition to the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, which was founded in 1997 and built the Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital in honor of his late mother a decade later. A K-12 school, dedicated to his father and focused on science and entrepreneurship, is scheduled to open next year near Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.
Even though Mutombo’s native DRC hasn’t been crushed by COVID-19 cases (69 deaths as of Friday), he brims with excitement that his foundation is helping to feed frontline workers and taking on other local initiatives.
“We serve lunch and dinner to four hospitals with more than 80 doctors and nurses, which was great,” he said. “I’m glad that we took those initiatives. In the Congo, right now, we are launching a local mask production, so where we are making masks, we are asking people to start making masks at the foundation headquarters.”
At his hospital, there are handwashing stations every 20 meters. He beams that every doctor, nurse, patient or family member is given a mask for free upon entering. As a global citizen, and one who feels a moral obligation to address health concerns for those in need, Mutombo can’t ignore a health crisis when he knows he’s in position to help.
“One of the doctors says when there’s a problem affecting one part of the community, it should be a responsibility of every human being living on the planet,” Mutombo said. “… If we didn’t think that this great epidemic that affects all of us was just a Chinese problem and we didn’t think it was our problem, that’d mean we were wrong because we knew that we didn’t participate or if we didn’t take enough steps, this epidemic would ravage our community globally.”
Mutombo, who planned to become a doctor when he enrolled at Georgetown, knows that his accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without basketball, without the platform the game provided him. For that, he thanks his mentors like Bill Russell, Patrick Ewing and legendary Hoyas coach John Thompson.
And though he’s just as comfortable discussing global catastrophes as he is reflecting on his storied Hall of Fame career, his tone changes when asked about his favorite memories from the five seasons he spent in Denver. Inevitably, he brings up the Nuggets’ improbable first-round upset of the No. 1 seed Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, however, that’s not where his mind goes first.
“I was welcomed to the city like an angel,” Mutombo said. “Like ‘OK, you’re the one who we were looking for.’”
The Nuggets had been rudderless after Doug Moe’s sterling run throughout the ’80s. Mutombo gave the Nuggets an imposing, finger-wagging, defensive identity.
“(I appreciate) so much that that organization made me the face of the team and the face of the city and it made me their franchise player,” he said. “… I gave that beautiful city almost everything they ask of me.”
In turn, they gave him an enduring nickname befitting a man of his stature: Mt. Mutombo.
“I don’t know if I’d gone to some city that is very flat, like other cities in America where there’s no mountains, would they have called me Mt. Mutombo?” he joked. “You cannot forget where you were born. It’s because of the city of Denver that Mt. Mutombo was born. I think Dikembe Mutombo’s career was born with the Denver Nuggets.”
And from there his legend flourished, an iconic defensive player with an even bigger appetite for helping others.
Dan Issel, the coach when the Nuggets sprung their incredible first-round upset over Seattle, may have said it best during Mutombo’s jersey retirement in 2016.
“This man has given more for the game of basketball than the game of basketball ever gave him,” Issel said.
Now, even in retirement, Mutombo refuses to stop playing defense.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Fox News reporter attacked, chased from demonstration

NEW YORK — A Fox News reporter was pummeled and chased by protesters who had gathered outside the White House early Saturday as part of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd .
For several journalists across the country , the demonstrations were taking an ominous , dangerous turn .
A television reporter in Columbia , S.C. , was hurt by a thrown rock Saturday and a journalist in Minneapolis was shot in the thigh by a rubber bullet .
Demonstrators also broke windows and vandalized the Atlanta office building where CNN is headquartered , and police in Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired what appeared to be pepper bullets at a television news crew .
Fox ’ s Leland Vittert was rattled following the Washington attack that he said was clearly targeted at his news organization .
“ We took a good thumping , ” he told The Associated Press .
A live shot he was doing was interrupted by a group of protesters who shouted obscenities directed at Fox .
Flanked by two security guards , he and photographer Christian Galdabini walked away from Washington ’ s Lafayette Park trailed by an angry group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there were no markings on him or the crew ’ s equipment to identify them as from Fox .
But he said during the demonstration , one man continually asked him who he worked for .
He didn ’ t answer , but the man found a picture of Vittert on his cell phone and shouted to other protesters that he was from Fox .
“ The protesters stopped protesting whatever it was they were protesting and turned on us , ” he said , “ and that was a very different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was chased away from a demonstration in Egypt during the Arab Spring of 2011 by a group that shouted , “ Fox News hates Muslims.
” A correspondent from the website The Daily Caller followed Vittert and the demonstrators as they left the park .
At one point , someone took Vittert ’ s microphone and threw it at his back .
One woman chasing him wore a t-shirt that said , “ I can ’ t breathe , ” a reference what Floyd said earlier this week when a Minneapolis police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vittert said he was “ extremely grateful ” to the Daily Caller for documenting the scene ; Galdabini ’ s camera was smashed .
“ They were putting themselves at risk , ” he said .
“ It makes me proud to do my job and to be a journalist , ” he said .
“ I ’ m proud to be an organization that is unyielding in our coverage .
We ’ re going to keep on telling our story and doing exactly what we ’ re doing.
” Suzanne Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a memo on Saturday that Fox was taking all necessary security precautions to protect its journalists covering the story .
“ We are truly living in unprecedented and transformative times and freedom of the press is a vital element to the foundation of our society , ” Scott wrote .
On Friday , CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his two-person crew were arrested while covering overnight protests in Minneapolis .
They were quickly released , and Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz apologized to CNN .
CNN ’ s headquarters in Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protesters who also fought with police and set cars afire .
While police tried to keep them away from the CNN Center , demonstrators broke windows there and scrawled obscene graffiti on the network ’ s logo .
In Louisville , WAVE-TV was on the air covering a demonstration when video showed a police officer aiming a rifle at reporter Kaitlin Rust and her crew .
She was heard yelling , “ I ’ ve been shot !
I ’ ve been shot !
” and described them as pepper bullets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident , and said police would review the video for potential discipline .
Demonstrators surrounded the police department headquarters in Columbia , S.C. on Saturday and a scuffle broke out with someone wearing a “ Make America Great Again ” hat .
Rocks were thrown and Miranda Parnell , a television reporters from WIS-TV , was injured and taken to the hospital , according to a tweet from network anchor Judi Gatson .
It was not clear who threw the rock that hit Parnell .
In Minneapolis on Saturday , a Swedish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rubber bullet , apparently from a police gun , while covering a protest , according to the Norwegian newspaper VG .
AP correspondents Mike Stewart in Atlanta , Jari Tanner in Minneapolis and Bruce Schreiner and Dylan Lovan in Louisville , and Jeffrey S. Collins in Columbia , S.C. contributed to this report .

NEW YORK — A Fox News reporter was pummeled and chased by protesters who had gathered outside the White House early Saturday as part of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd.
For several journalists across the country, the demonstrations were taking an ominous, dangerous turn.
A television reporter in Columbia, S.C., was hurt by a thrown rock Saturday and a journalist in Minneapolis was shot in the thigh by a rubber bullet. Demonstrators also broke windows and vandalized the Atlanta office building where CNN is headquartered, and police in Louisville, Kentucky, apologized after an officer fired what appeared to be pepper bullets at a television news crew.
Fox’s Leland Vittert was rattled following the Washington attack that he said was clearly targeted at his news organization.
“We took a good thumping,” he told The Associated Press. A live shot he was doing was interrupted by a group of protesters who shouted obscenities directed at Fox. Flanked by two security guards, he and photographer Christian Galdabini walked away from Washington’s Lafayette Park trailed by an angry group before riot police dispersed them.
Vittert said there were no markings on him or the crew’s equipment to identify them as from Fox. But he said during the demonstration, one man continually asked him who he worked for. He didn’t answer, but the man found a picture of Vittert on his cell phone and shouted to other protesters that he was from Fox.
“The protesters stopped protesting whatever it was they were protesting and turned on us,” he said, “and that was a very different feeling.”
He compared it to when he was chased away from a demonstration in Egypt during the Arab Spring of 2011 by a group that shouted, “Fox News hates Muslims.”
A correspondent from the website The Daily Caller followed Vittert and the demonstrators as they left the park. At one point, someone took Vittert’s microphone and threw it at his back. One woman chasing him wore a t-shirt that said, “I can’t breathe,” a reference what Floyd said earlier this week when a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against his neck.
Vittert said he was “extremely grateful” to the Daily Caller for documenting the scene; Galdabini’s camera was smashed. “They were putting themselves at risk,” he said.
“It makes me proud to do my job and to be a journalist,” he said. “I’m proud to be an organization that is unyielding in our coverage. We’re going to keep on telling our story and doing exactly what we’re doing.”
Suzanne Scott, CEO of Fox News Media, said in a memo on Saturday that Fox was taking all necessary security precautions to protect its journalists covering the story.
“We are truly living in unprecedented and transformative times and freedom of the press is a vital element to the foundation of our society,” Scott wrote.
On Friday, CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his two-person crew were arrested while covering overnight protests in Minneapolis. They were quickly released, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz apologized to CNN.
CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta was targeted later Friday by a group of protesters who also fought with police and set cars afire. While police tried to keep them away from the CNN Center, demonstrators broke windows there and scrawled obscene graffiti on the network’s logo.
In Louisville, WAVE-TV was on the air covering a demonstration when video showed a police officer aiming a rifle at reporter Kaitlin Rust and her crew. She was heard yelling, “I’ve been shot! I’ve been shot!” and described them as pepper bullets.
Louisville Police spokeswoman Jesse Halladay apologized for the incident, and said police would review the video for potential discipline.
Demonstrators surrounded the police department headquarters in Columbia, S.C. on Saturday and a scuffle broke out with someone wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Rocks were thrown and Miranda Parnell, a television reporters from WIS-TV, was injured and taken to the hospital, according to a tweet from network anchor Judi Gatson.
It was not clear who threw the rock that hit Parnell.
In Minneapolis on Saturday, a Swedish journalist was shot in the thigh with a rubber bullet, apparently from a police gun, while covering a protest, according to the Norwegian newspaper VG.
AP correspondents Mike Stewart in Atlanta, Jari Tanner in Minneapolis and Bruce Schreiner and Dylan Lovan in Louisville, and Jeffrey S. Collins in Columbia, S.C. contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Cities across U.S. brace for increasing unrest, call in National Guard

By AARON MORRISON and SEAN MURPHY , The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — Protesters set police cars ablaze , smashed businesses ’ windows and skirmished with baton-wielding officers in streets from Atlanta to Los Angeles , as anger over George Floyd ’ s death spread across the country .
Authorities were bracing for more violence Saturday , with some calling in the National Guard to beef up overwhelmed forces .
In Minneapolis , the city where Floyd died Monday after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck and kept it there for more than eight minutes , Minnesota @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s National Guard and promised a massive show of force to help quell unrest that has grown increasingly destructive .
“ The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd , ” Walz said .
“ It is about attacking civil society , instilling fear and disrupting our great cities.
” On Saturday , after a tumultuous night , racially diverse crowds took to the streets again for peaceful protests in dozens of cities .
Friday ’ s protests , too , had started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York to Oakland , California , from Atlanta to Portland , Oregon — before many descended into violence .
At least two deaths were connected to the demonstrations ; hundreds of people were arrested and police used batons , rubber bullets and pepper spray to push back crowds in some cities .
Many departments reported officers were injured , while social media was awash in images of police using forceful tactics , throwing protesters to the ground , using bicycles as shields , and trampling a protester while on horseback .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Los Angeles nearly 30 years ago after the acquittal of the white police officers who beat Rodney King , a black motorist who had led them on a high-speed chase .
The protests of Floyd ’ s killing have gripped many more cities , but the losses in Minneapolis have yet to approach the staggering totals in Los Angeles .
During the five days of rioting in 1992 , more than 60 died , 2,000-plus were injured and thousands arrested , with property damage topping $ 1 billion .
Many protesters spoke of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one more in a litany .
It comes in the wake of the killing in Georgia of Ahmaud Arbery , who was shot after being pursued by two white men while running in their neighborhood , and in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic that has thrown millions out of work , killed more than 100,000 people in the U.S. and disproportionately affected black people .
On Friday , the officer who held his knee to Floyd ’ s neck was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter — but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters are demanding the arrests of the three other officers involved .
Comments from President Donald Trump stoked the anger , when he fired off a series of tweets criticizing Minnesota ’ s response , ridiculing people who protested outside the White House and warning that if protesters breached the fence , “ they would … have been greeted with the most vicious dogs , and most ominous weapons , I have ever seen.
” On Saturday , in Tulsa , Oklahoma ’ s Greenwood District , the site of the 1921 Tulsa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 dead and the city ’ s thriving black district in ruins , protesters blocked intersections and chanted the name of Terence Crutcher , a black man killed by a police officer in 2016 .
Other peaceful protests were being held in Delaware , Florida , Massachusetts , New Jersey and Pennsylvania .
In Atlanta , Georgia native Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics was planning to lead a march Saturday evening downtown from the CNN headquarters to the King Center .
Leaders in many affected cities have voiced outrage over Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were protesting — but as unrest intensified , many spoke of the desperate need to protect their cities and said they would call in reinforcements , despite concerns that could lead to more heavy handed tactics .
The unrest prompted responses across the globe .
A top Vatican cardinal , Peter Turkson who is from Ghana , urged pastors in the United States to plead for calm , while U.S. national soccer player Weston McKennie wore an armband referencing Floyd ’ s death while playing for Schalke in Germany ’ s Bundesliga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of National Guardsmen it says it needs to contain the unrest , and has now called up 1,700 .
The governor is also considering a potential offer of military police , which the Pentagon put on alert .
Governors in Georgia and Kentucky both activated the National Guard after protests there turned violent overnight , while nighttime curfews were put in place in Portland , Oregon , and Cincinnati .
A person was killed in downtown Detroit just before midnight after someone in an SUV fired shots into a crowd of protesters near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And police in St. Louis were investigating the death of a protester who had climbed between two trailers of a Fed Ex truck and was killed when it drove away .
Atlanta saw some of the most extreme unrest .
While crews in that city worked to clean up glass and debris from rioting the night before , a large electronic billboard on Saturday morning still carried the message , “ If you love Atlanta PLEASE GO HOME , ” echoing the mayor ’ s pleas .
National Guard members blocked anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the College Football Hall of Fame and nearby restaurants .
“ This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. , ” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said .
“ You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.
” Video posted to social media showed New York City officers using batons and shoving protesters down as they took people into custody and cleared streets .
One video showed on officer slam a woman to the ground as he walked past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd ’ s killing is part of a pattern , the names of black people killed by police , including Eric Garner , who died on Staten Island in 2014 , were on signs and in chants .
“ Our country has a sickness .
We have to be out here , ” said Brianna Petrisko , among those at lower Manhattan ’ s Foley Square , where most were wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ This is the only way we ’ re going to be heard .
”

By AARON MORRISON and SEAN MURPHY, The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Protesters set police cars ablaze, smashed businesses’ windows and skirmished with baton-wielding officers in streets from Atlanta to Los Angeles, as anger over George Floyd’s death spread across the country. Authorities were bracing for more violence Saturday, with some calling in the National Guard to beef up overwhelmed forces.
In Minneapolis, the city where Floyd died Monday after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck and kept it there for more than eight minutes, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz fully mobilized the state’s National Guard and promised a massive show of force to help quell unrest that has grown increasingly destructive.
“The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd,” Walz said. “It is about attacking civil society, instilling fear and disrupting our great cities.”
On Saturday, after a tumultuous night, racially diverse crowds took to the streets again for peaceful protests in dozens of cities. Friday’s protests, too, had started calmly — in cities from Denver to New York to Oakland, California, from Atlanta to Portland, Oregon — before many descended into violence.
At least two deaths were connected to the demonstrations; hundreds of people were arrested and police used batons, rubber bullets and pepper spray to push back crowds in some cities. Many departments reported officers were injured, while social media was awash in images of police using forceful tactics, throwing protesters to the ground, using bicycles as shields, and trampling a protester while on horseback.
The unrest this week recalled the riots in Los Angeles nearly 30 years ago after the acquittal of the white police officers who beat Rodney King, a black motorist who had led them on a high-speed chase. The protests of Floyd’s killing have gripped many more cities, but the losses in Minneapolis have yet to approach the staggering totals in Los Angeles. During the five days of rioting in 1992, more than 60 died, 2,000-plus were injured and thousands arrested, with property damage topping $1 billion.
Many protesters spoke of frustration that Floyd’s death was one more in a litany. It comes in the wake of the killing in Georgia of Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot after being pursued by two white men while running in their neighborhood, and in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic that has thrown millions out of work, killed more than 100,000 people in the U.S. and disproportionately affected black people.
On Friday, the officer who held his knee to Floyd’s neck was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter — but that appeared to provide little balm. Many protesters are demanding the arrests of the three other officers involved.
Comments from President Donald Trump stoked the anger, when he fired off a series of tweets criticizing Minnesota’s response, ridiculing people who protested outside the White House and warning that if protesters breached the fence, “they would … have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen.”
On Saturday, in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Greenwood District, the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre that left as many as 300 dead and the city’s thriving black district in ruins, protesters blocked intersections and chanted the name of Terence Crutcher, a black man killed by a police officer in 2016. Other peaceful protests were being held in Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
In Atlanta, Georgia native Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics was planning to lead a march Saturday evening downtown from the CNN headquarters to the King Center.
Leaders in many affected cities have voiced outrage over Floyd’s killing and offered sympathy for those who were protesting — but as unrest intensified, many spoke of the desperate need to protect their cities and said they would call in reinforcements, despite concerns that could lead to more heavy handed tactics.
The unrest prompted responses across the globe. A top Vatican cardinal, Peter Turkson who is from Ghana, urged pastors in the United States to plead for calm, while U.S. national soccer player Weston McKennie wore an armband referencing Floyd’s death while playing for Schalke in Germany’s Bundesliga.
Minnesota has steadily increased the number of National Guardsmen it says it needs to contain the unrest, and has now called up 1,700. The governor is also considering a potential offer of military police, which the Pentagon put on alert.
Governors in Georgia and Kentucky both activated the National Guard after protests there turned violent overnight, while nighttime curfews were put in place in Portland, Oregon, and Cincinnati.
A person was killed in downtown Detroit just before midnight after someone in an SUV fired shots into a crowd of protesters near the Greektown entertainment district, police said. And police in St. Louis were investigating the death of a protester who had climbed between two trailers of a Fed Ex truck and was killed when it drove away.
Atlanta saw some of the most extreme unrest. While crews in that city worked to clean up glass and debris from rioting the night before, a large electronic billboard on Saturday morning still carried the message, “If you love Atlanta PLEASE GO HOME,” echoing the mayor’s pleas.
National Guard members blocked anyone from approaching heavily damaged buildings, including the College Football Hall of Fame and nearby restaurants.
“This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said. “You are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country.”
Video posted to social media showed New York City officers using batons and shoving protesters down as they took people into custody and cleared streets. One video showed on officer slam a woman to the ground as he walked past her in the street.
Underscoring that Floyd’s killing is part of a pattern, the names of black people killed by police, including Eric Garner, who died on Staten Island in 2014, were on signs and in chants.
“Our country has a sickness. We have to be out here,” said Brianna Petrisko, among those at lower Manhattan’s Foley Square, where most were wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. “This is the only way we’re going to be heard.”
Murphy reported from Oklahoma City.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Denver businesses assess vandalism, looting costs after George Floyd protests

Zach Monks got a call from his alarm company at 2 a.m. Saturday informing him that there had been a break-in at his store .
Again .
For the third time in two nights , Monks , the owner of Sole St .
Shoes on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver , raced to the shop that he has owned for 15 years and saw 30 to 40 people busting through his front window , grabbing any shoes or piece of apparel they could find .
Police weren ’ t responding as riots encompassed Denver for the second straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally used to help people form orderly lines and started swinging , defending his store .
He estimated he lost $ 25,000 worth of good over the past two nights — just a week after he reopened following the governor ’ s stay-at-home order .
“ If the police can ’ t protect us , ” Monks said Saturday morning , as protesters began to gather for the third day of protests for George Floyd , “ then it ’ s time to call the National Guard.
” Monks was one of dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to broken windows , graffiti and stolen goods — the second straight night of violence that spilled out onto shops and stores throughout the downtown area .
And with thousands of people returning for a third day of protests Saturday , some businesses simply aren ’ t opening their doors , while others plan to close early .
Business owners who spoke to The Denver Post estimate damages from the past two nights will cost them tens of thousands of dollars each — a particularly painful blow given the losses they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday news conference , Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and police chief Paul Pazen expressed their outrage at the looters who hit businesses as they try to recover from lengthy pandemic closures .
Trooper Gary Cutler of Colorado State Patrol said Friday that six of CSP ’ s vehicles were also vandalized , as was the judicial center , but he didn ’ t have an estimate of how much repairs would cost .
A walk through the 16th Street Mall on Saturday morning saw owners boarding up storefronts , sweeping broken glass and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-owner of West of Surrender restaurant on the 16th Street Mall , was welcoming people for brunch Saturday morning as a new window was being installed on the side of her building .
Someone smashed through Friday night , she said , but nothing was stolen .
Mantelli said she planned on being open for brunch and lunch — but after that it ’ s anyone ’ s guess .
“ Everyone ’ s safety comes first , ” she said .
Allen Blumenauer , manager of Wedgles Music & Loan on Broadway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would happen in Minneapolis and other major cities as protests spread over the George Floyd ’ s killing at police hands in Minneapolis .
He wasn ’ t paying much attention to Denver .
But then he got a call that his guitar shop ’ s new windows were broken .
“ What ’ s going to happen when people are cramped , you have this quarantine fatigue going on , people are out of work , people are frustrated ?
And then this incident got put on the news and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , adding he hopes the cop who killed Floyd is fully prosecuted .
Blumenauer said he supports people ’ s right to protest , but that doesn ’ t mean damaging small businesses that are already struggling amid the pandemic .
“ Doing this kind of damage is just going to make people more frustrated and we ’ re not going to want to interact with anyone anymore , ” he said .
Jim Ilg , an operations manager who was speaking at the 11th Avenue Hostel on Friday , said several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his building are minority-owned .
Ilg said he estimates the damages to the building ’ s windows will cost about $ 20,000 — which isn ’ t covered by insurance — on top of the 20 % drop in their business because of the pandemic .
“ We ’ re already suffering — we ’ ve had to lay people off , ” Ilg said .
“ $ 20,000 , that would be a part-time worker ’ s wages for an entire year that was just destroyed in literally seconds , So they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by destroying this .
”

Zach Monks got a call from his alarm company at 2 a.m. Saturday informing him that there had been a break-in at his store. Again.
For the third time in two nights, Monks, the owner of Sole St. Shoes on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver, raced to the shop that he has owned for 15 years and saw 30 to 40 people busting through his front window, grabbing any shoes or piece of apparel they could find.
Police weren’t responding as riots encompassed Denver for the second straight night, so Monks grabbed a stand normally used to help people form orderly lines and started swinging, defending his store. He estimated he lost $25,000 worth of good over the past two nights — just a week after he reopened following the governor’s stay-at-home order.
“If the police can’t protect us,” Monks said Saturday morning, as protesters began to gather for the third day of protests for George Floyd, “then it’s time to call the National Guard.”
Monks was one of dozens of business owners who woke up Saturday to broken windows, graffiti and stolen goods — the second straight night of violence that spilled out onto shops and stores throughout the downtown area. And with thousands of people returning for a third day of protests Saturday, some businesses simply aren’t opening their doors, while others plan to close early.
Business owners who spoke to The Denver Post estimate damages from the past two nights will cost them tens of thousands of dollars each — a particularly painful blow given the losses they’ve experienced during the pandemic.
During a Saturday news conference, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and police chief Paul Pazen expressed their outrage at the looters who hit businesses as they try to recover from lengthy pandemic closures.
Trooper Gary Cutler of Colorado State Patrol said Friday that six of CSP’s vehicles were also vandalized, as was the judicial center, but he didn’t have an estimate of how much repairs would cost.
A walk through the 16th Street Mall on Saturday morning saw owners boarding up storefronts, sweeping broken glass and installing new windows.
Leah Mantelli, co-owner of West of Surrender restaurant on the 16th Street Mall, was welcoming people for brunch Saturday morning as a new window was being installed on the side of her building. Someone smashed through Friday night, she said, but nothing was stolen. Mantelli said she planned on being open for brunch and lunch — but after that it’s anyone’s guess.
“Everyone’s safety comes first,” she said.
Allen Blumenauer, manager of Wedgles Music & Loan on Broadway, was worried Thursday night about what would happen in Minneapolis and other major cities as protests spread over the George Floyd’s killing at police hands in Minneapolis. He wasn’t paying much attention to Denver. But then he got a call that his guitar shop’s new windows were broken.
“What’s going to happen when people are cramped, you have this quarantine fatigue going on, people are out of work, people are frustrated? And then this incident got put on the news and it’s awful to watch,” he said, adding he hopes the cop who killed Floyd is fully prosecuted.
Blumenauer said he supports people’s right to protest, but that doesn’t mean damaging small businesses that are already struggling amid the pandemic.
“Doing this kind of damage is just going to make people more frustrated and we’re not going to want to interact with anyone anymore,” he said.
Jim Ilg, an operations manager who was speaking at the 11th Avenue Hostel on Friday, said several of the businesses that were damaged in his building are minority-owned.
Ilg said he estimates the damages to the building’s windows will cost about $20,000 — which isn’t covered by insurance — on top of the 20% drop in their business because of the pandemic.
“We’re already suffering — we’ve had to lay people off,” Ilg said. “$20,000, that would be a part-time worker’s wages for an entire year that was just destroyed in literally seconds, So they’re taking jobs away from people by destroying this.”


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Broncos Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little diagnosed with cancer, Syracuse teammate says

Broncos Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little has been diagnosed with cancer , a former teammate told the Syracuse Post-Standard .
Pat Killorin , who played with Little at Syracuse , said the 77-year-old is fighting a treatable , but aggressive form of cancer .
He has organized a GoFundMe page titled “ Friends of Floyd ” to help cover Little ’ s medical expenses .
“ No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life , ” Killorin wrote on the GoFundMe page .
“ Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has yet written , with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ , the final play of his life.
” The Broncos selected Little with the sixth overall pick of the 1967 NFL draft .
The 5-foot-10 , 196-pound back went on to play all nine of his NFL seasons in Denver , ammassing 12,173 all-purpose yards and 54 touchdowns as a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro pick .
He was the NFL rushing leader in 1971 and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010 .
Little first made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he compiled 3,341 yards from scrimmage and 39 touchdowns following in the footsteps of legendary backs Jim Brown and Ernie Davis .
There is a bronze statue of the three backs standing outside the football program ’ s practice facility .
“ Jimmy Brown is the greatest back ever , but Floyd Little is right next to him , as far as I ’ m concerned , walking hand in hand down that football field , ” Killorin told the Post-Standard .

Broncos Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little has been diagnosed with cancer, a former teammate told the Syracuse Post-Standard.
Pat Killorin, who played with Little at Syracuse, said the 77-year-old is fighting a treatable, but aggressive form of cancer. He has organized a GoFundMe page titled “Friends of Floyd” to help cover Little’s medical expenses.
“No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life,” Killorin wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many, Floyd doesn’t believe he has yet written, with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the final play of his life.”
The Broncos selected Little with the sixth overall pick of the 1967 NFL draft. The 5-foot-10, 196-pound back went on to play all nine of his NFL seasons in Denver, ammassing 12,173 all-purpose yards and 54 touchdowns as a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro pick. He was the NFL rushing leader in 1971 and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Little first made a name for himself at Syracuse, where he compiled 3,341 yards from scrimmage and 39 touchdowns following in the footsteps of legendary backs Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. There is a bronze statue of the three backs standing outside the football program’s practice facility.
“Jimmy Brown is the greatest back ever, but Floyd Little is right next to him, as far as I’m concerned, walking hand in hand down that football field,” Killorin told the Post-Standard.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--SpaceX rocket ship blasts off into orbit with 2 Americans

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. — A rocket ship built by Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth with two Americans on Saturday , ushering in a new era in commercial space travel and putting the United States back in the business of launching astronauts into orbit from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade .
NASA ’ s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode skyward aboard a sleek , white-and-black , bullet-shaped Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon 9 rocket , lifting off at 3:22 p.m. from the same launch pad used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half-century ago .
Minutes later , they safely slipped into orbit .
“ Let ’ s light this candle , ” Hurley said just before ignition , borrowing the words used by Alan Shepard on America ’ s first human spaceflight , in 1961 .
The two men are scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Sunday for a stay of up to four months , after which they will return to Earth in a Right Stuff-style splashdown at sea .
The mission unfolded amid the gloom of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , and racial unrest across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed black man , at the hands of Minneapolis police .
NASA officials and others held out hope the flight would would be a morale-booster .
“ Maybe there ’ s an opportunity here for America to maybe pause and look up and see a bright , shining moment of hope at what the future looks like , that the United States of America can do extraordinary things even in difficult times , ” NASA Administrator Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-time liftoff , SpaceX , founded by Musk , the Tesla electric-car visionary , became the first private company to launch people into orbit , a feat achieved previously by only three governments : the U.S. , Russia and China .
The flight also ended a nine-year launch drought for NASA , the longest such hiatus in its history .
Ever since it retired the space shuttle in 2011 , NASA has relied on Russian spaceships launched from Kazakhstan to take U.S. astronauts to and from the space station .
In the intervening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designing and building its next generation of spaceships to SpaceX and Boeing , awarding them $ 7 billion in contracts in a public-private partnership aimed at driving down costs and spurring innovation .
Boeing ’ s spaceship , the Starliner capsule , is not expected to fly astronauts until early 2021 .
Musk said earlier in the week that the project is aimed at “ reigniting the dream of space and getting people fired up about the future.
” Ultimately , NASA hopes to rely in part on its commercial partners as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moon in the next few years , and on to Mars in the 2030s .
Before setting out for the launch pad in a gull-wing Tesla SUV — another Musk product — Behnken pantomimed a hug of his 6-year-old son , Theo , and said : “ Are you going to listen to Mommy and make her life easy ?
” Hurley blew kisses to his 10-year-old son and wife .
A launch attempt on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes to go in the countdown because of lightning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened another postponement for most of the day , but then the skies began to clear in the afternoon just in time .
Nine minutes after liftoff , the 260-foot rocket ’ s first-stage booster landed , as designed , on a barge a few hundred miles off the Florida coast , to be reused on another flight .
“ Thanks for the great ride to space , ” Hurley told SpaceX ground control .
He and his crewmate batted around a sparkly purple toy , demonstrating that they had reached zero gravity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amazing day.
” SpaceX controllers at Hawthorne , California , cheered and applauded wildly .
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence flew in for the launch attempt for the second time in four days .
“ I ’ m so proud of the people at NASA , all the people that worked together , public and private .
When you see a sight like that it ’ s incredible , ” Trump said after liftoff .
Inside Kennedy Space Center , attendance was strictly limited because of the coronavirus , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a shadow of what it would have been without the threat of COVID-19 .
By NASA ’ s count , over 3 million viewers tuned in online .
Despite NASA ’ s insistence that the public stay safe by staying home , spectators gathered along beaches and roads hours in advance .
Among them was Neil Wight , a machinist from Buffalo , New York , who staked out a view of the launch pad from a park in Titusville .
“ It ’ s pretty historically significant in my book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s books .
With everything that ’ s going on in this country right now , it ’ s important that we do things extraordinary in life , ” Wight said .
“ We ’ ve been bombarded with doom and gloom for the last six , eight weeks , whatever it is , and this is awesome .
It brings a lot of people together.
” Because of the coronavirus , the astronauts were kept in quasi-quarantine for more than two months before liftoff .
The SpaceX technicians who helped them get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that made them look like black-clad ninjas .
And at the launch center , the SpaceX controllers were seated far apart .
Hurley , a 53-year-old retired Marine , and Behnken , 49 , an Air Force colonel , are veterans of two space shuttle flights each .
Hurley piloted the space shuttle on the last launch of astronauts from Kennedy , on July 8 , 2011 .
In keeping with Musk ’ s penchant for futuristic flash , the astronauts wore angular white uniforms with black trim .
Instead of the usual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Dragon capsule has three large touchscreens .
SpaceX has been launching cargo capsules to the space station since 2012 .
In preparation for Wednesday ’ s flight , SpaceX sent up a Dragon capsule with only a test dummy aboard last year , and it docked smoothly at the orbiting outpost on autopilot , then returned to Earth in a splashdown .
During the Mercury , Gemini , Apollo and shuttle programs , NASA relied on aerospace contractors to build spacecraft according to the agency ’ s designs .
NASA owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new , 21st-century partnership , aerospace companies design , build , own and operate the spaceships , and NASA is essentially a paying customer on a list that could eventually include non-government researchers , artists and tourists .
( Tom Cruise has already expressed interest . )
“ What Elon Musk has done for the American space program is he has brought vision and inspiration that we hadn ’ t had ” since the shuttle ’ s retirement , Bridenstine said .
The mission is technically considered by SpaceX and NASA to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voyage to the space station , set for the end of August , will have a full , four-person crew : three Americans and one Japanese .
Wednesday ’ s first human flight was originally targeted for around 2015 .
But NASA ’ s commercial crew program encountered bureaucratic delays and technical setbacks .
A SpaceX capsule exploded on the test stand last year .
Boeing ’ s first Starliner capsule ended up in the wrong orbit during an crew-less test flight in December and was nearly destroyed at the mission ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such things as the landing parachutes .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Mike Schneider in Cape Canaveral , Fla. , contributed to this report .

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A rocket ship built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth with two Americans on Saturday, ushering in a new era in commercial space travel and putting the United States back in the business of launching astronauts into orbit from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly a decade.
NASA’s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode skyward aboard a sleek, white-and-black, bullet-shaped Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, lifting off at 3:22 p.m. from the same launch pad used to send the Apollo astronauts to the moon a half-century ago. Minutes later, they safely slipped into orbit.
“Let’s light this candle,” Hurley said just before ignition, borrowing the words used by Alan Shepard on America’s first human spaceflight, in 1961.
The two men are scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Sunday for a stay of up to four months, after which they will return to Earth in a Right Stuff-style splashdown at sea.
The mission unfolded amid the gloom of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed over 100,000 Americans, and racial unrest across the U.S. over the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police. NASA officials and others held out hope the flight would would be a morale-booster.
“Maybe there’s an opportunity here for America to maybe pause and look up and see a bright, shining moment of hope at what the future looks like, that the United States of America can do extraordinary things even in difficult times,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said before launch.
With the on-time liftoff, SpaceX, founded by Musk, the Tesla electric-car visionary, became the first private company to launch people into orbit, a feat achieved previously by only three governments: the U.S., Russia and China.
The flight also ended a nine-year launch drought for NASA, the longest such hiatus in its history. Ever since it retired the space shuttle in 2011, NASA has relied on Russian spaceships launched from Kazakhstan to take U.S. astronauts to and from the space station.
In the intervening years, NASA outsourced the job of designing and building its next generation of spaceships to SpaceX and Boeing, awarding them $7 billion in contracts in a public-private partnership aimed at driving down costs and spurring innovation. Boeing’s spaceship, the Starliner capsule, is not expected to fly astronauts until early 2021.
Musk said earlier in the week that the project is aimed at “reigniting the dream of space and getting people fired up about the future.”
Ultimately, NASA hopes to rely in part on its commercial partners as it works to send astronauts back to the moon in the next few years, and on to Mars in the 2030s.
Before setting out for the launch pad in a gull-wing Tesla SUV — another Musk product — Behnken pantomimed a hug of his 6-year-old son, Theo, and said: “Are you going to listen to Mommy and make her life easy?” Hurley blew kisses to his 10-year-old son and wife.
A launch attempt on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes to go in the countdown because of lightning. On Saturday, stormy weather in Florida threatened another postponement for most of the day, but then the skies began to clear in the afternoon just in time.
Nine minutes after liftoff, the 260-foot rocket’s first-stage booster landed, as designed, on a barge a few hundred miles off the Florida coast, to be reused on another flight.
“Thanks for the great ride to space,” Hurley told SpaceX ground control. He and his crewmate batted around a sparkly purple toy, demonstrating that they had reached zero gravity.
Bridenstine pronounced it “just an amazing day.” SpaceX controllers at Hawthorne, California, cheered and applauded wildly.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence flew in for the launch attempt for the second time in four days.
“I’m so proud of the people at NASA, all the people that worked together, public and private. When you see a sight like that it’s incredible,” Trump said after liftoff.
Inside Kennedy Space Center, attendance was strictly limited because of the coronavirus, and the small crowd of a few thousand was a shadow of what it would have been without the threat of COVID-19. By NASA’s count, over 3 million viewers tuned in online.
Despite NASA’s insistence that the public stay safe by staying home, spectators gathered along beaches and roads hours in advance.
Among them was Neil Wight, a machinist from Buffalo, New York, who staked out a view of the launch pad from a park in Titusville.
“It’s pretty historically significant in my book, and a lot of other people’s books. With everything that’s going on in this country right now, it’s important that we do things extraordinary in life,” Wight said. “We’ve been bombarded with doom and gloom for the last six, eight weeks, whatever it is, and this is awesome. It brings a lot of people together.”
Because of the coronavirus, the astronauts were kept in quasi-quarantine for more than two months before liftoff. The SpaceX technicians who helped them get into their spacesuits wore masks and gloves that made them look like black-clad ninjas. And at the launch center, the SpaceX controllers were seated far apart.
Hurley, a 53-year-old retired Marine, and Behnken, 49, an Air Force colonel, are veterans of two space shuttle flights each. Hurley piloted the space shuttle on the last launch of astronauts from Kennedy, on July 8, 2011.
In keeping with Musk’s penchant for futuristic flash, the astronauts wore angular white uniforms with black trim. Instead of the usual multitude of dials, knobs and switches, the Dragon capsule has three large touchscreens.
SpaceX has been launching cargo capsules to the space station since 2012. In preparation for Wednesday’s flight, SpaceX sent up a Dragon capsule with only a test dummy aboard last year, and it docked smoothly at the orbiting outpost on autopilot, then returned to Earth in a splashdown.
During the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and shuttle programs, NASA relied on aerospace contractors to build spacecraft according to the agency’s designs. NASA owned and operated the ships.
Under the new, 21st-century partnership, aerospace companies design, build, own and operate the spaceships, and NASA is essentially a paying customer on a list that could eventually include non-government researchers, artists and tourists. (Tom Cruise has already expressed interest.)
“What Elon Musk has done for the American space program is he has brought vision and inspiration that we hadn’t had” since the shuttle’s retirement, Bridenstine said.
The mission is technically considered by SpaceX and NASA to be a test flight. The next SpaceX voyage to the space station, set for the end of August, will have a full, four-person crew: three Americans and one Japanese.
Wednesday’s first human flight was originally targeted for around 2015. But NASA’s commercial crew program encountered bureaucratic delays and technical setbacks.
A SpaceX capsule exploded on the test stand last year. Boeing’s first Starliner capsule ended up in the wrong orbit during an crew-less test flight in December and was nearly destroyed at the mission’s end. Both companies had trouble with such things as the landing parachutes.
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Mike Schneider in Cape Canaveral, Fla., contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-05-30--Denver enacts 8 p.m. curfew, National Guard called in as city responds to violent George Floyd prote

Denver enacts 8 p.m. curfew, National Guard called in as city responds to violent George Floyd protests

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock imposed a curfew Saturday and Gov .
Jared Polis called in the Colorado National Guard as the city attempts to restore order after two nights of George Floyd protests here and across the country .
The curfew , which applies to all of Denver , begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday , lifting at 5 the next morning .
“ Once 8 p.m. hits , our message is very simple : Go home , ” Hancock said in a news conference Saturday as the third day of protests unfolded nearby .
Behind him , wooden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the bottom of Denver ’ s city and county building , the result of protests that devolved into widespread vandalism and conflicts with police .
Hancock said he spent all night and Saturday morning speaking with mayors from cities around the United States about how to deal with the protests over Floyd ’ s death at the hands of Minneapolis police , which has reignited tensions regarding police use of force in minority communities .
The nationwide protests have come as people were slowly returning to work and other activities after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cities such as Denver have had to quickly shift focus from battling the coronavirus to keeping order amid mass protests .
Saturday brought the biggest crowd yet — believed to number in the thousands — and conflicts started much earlier , with a bottle thrown at an officer and the first tear gas deployed by police before 4 p.m. Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson said the curfew was Denver ’ s first in recent memory , while Hancock called the steps a last resort but ones he felt he had no choice but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable in our city , ” the mayor said .
Nineteen people were arrested Friday , following 13 arrests on Thursday , for acts involving arson , burglary , criminal mischief and weapons charges , Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said .
Police found three people with assault rifles Friday , he said .
“ Three assault rifles brought to what supposed to be honoring the loss of life , ” he said .
“ There ’ s no place for that in the type of positive change we need in our community.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 999 fine and up to 300 days in jail , Bronson said .
There are a number of people who are exempt from the order , including emergency and law enforcement personnel , news media , and those going to and from work .
Some protesters have alleged that officers are indiscriminately firing rounds at people who are walking around peacefully , and members of the media have also been hit while reporting on the conflict .
Pazen ardently defended his department ’ s response to the protesters , saying Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as tear gas and pepper rounds — to avoid more dangerous physical conflicts .
The police chief , mayor and city attorney all emphasized the difference between the peaceful protesters marching , chanting and waving signs during the day , and those who have come with baseball bats , crow bars and assault rifles in the evenings .
“ We will not allow these agitators to take over the message , to hijack the meaning and cause and intent of what we need to do together to keep this community and country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robinson , Denver ’ s new public safety director , said the city will hold a virtual protest over Zoom on Saturday night so people can still speak their mind and engage on the topics of racial injustice .
“ To my fellow young people , I ’ m calling on you to help stop the violence , ” Robinson said .
“ As we take over leadership in this country , we can not repeat the mistakes of previous generations .
Let us be the generation that comes together and removes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must have a nonviolent approach that includes partnership with civil activism .
”

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock imposed a curfew Saturday and Gov. Jared Polis called in the Colorado National Guard as the city attempted to restore order on the third day of George Floyd protests here and across the country.
The curfew, which applies to all of Denver, began at 8 p.m. Saturday and lifts at 5 Sunday morning. The curfew will be repeated Sunday night.
“Once 8 p.m. hits, our message is very simple: Go home,” Hancock said in a news conference Saturday as the third day of protests unfolded nearby.
Protester Ciera Murphy, a Denver resident, said she would listen. She’s worried “about the people and what will happen to them” if they remain, including if they’ll get arrested or hurt, she said.
Many protesters remained near the Capitol as 8 p.m. arrived, and they cheered and blew a horn. A line of police advanced down Lincoln Street just afterward, but hundreds of protesters were still out well after 9 p.m. An hour later, they were largely gone.
Tevone Hall said he was staying out past curfew because “the cops are still killing us and we’re finally doing something about it. … Sometimes it has to be violent before it gets peaceful.”
Saturday brought the biggest crowd yet — believed to number in the thousands — and conflicts started much earlier, with a bottle thrown at an officer and the first tear gas deployed by police before 4 p.m.
Hancock said he spent all night and Saturday morning speaking with mayors from cities around the United States about how to deal with the protests over Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, which has reignited tensions regarding police use of force in minority communities.
The nationwide protests have come as people were slowly returning to work and other activities after the global COVID-19 pandemic upended American life. Cities such as Denver have had to quickly shift focus from battling the coronavirus to keeping order amid mass protests.
Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson said the curfew was Denver’s first in recent memory, while Hancock called the steps a last resort but ones he felt he had no choice but to invoke.
“This is not acceptable in our city,” the mayor said.
Nineteen people were arrested Friday, following 13 arrests on Thursday, for acts involving arson, burglary, criminal mischief and weapons charges, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said. Police found three people with assault rifles Friday, he said.
“Three assault rifles brought to what supposed to be honoring the loss of life,” he said. “There’s no place for that in the type of positive change we need in our community.”
The curfew will be punishable by a $999 fine and up to 300 days in jail, Bronson said. There are a number of people who are exempt from the order, including emergency and law enforcement personnel, news media, and those going to and from work.
Some protesters have alleged that officers are indiscriminately firing rounds at people who are walking around peacefully, and members of the media have also been hit while reporting on the conflict. Pazen ardently defended his department’s response to the protesters, saying Saturday that officers are using nonlethal force — such as tear gas and pepper rounds — to avoid more dangerous physical conflicts.
The police chief, mayor and city attorney all emphasized the difference between the peaceful protesters marching, chanting and waving signs during the day, and those who have come with baseball bats, crow bars and assault rifles in the evenings.
“We will not allow these agitators to take over the message, to hijack the meaning and cause and intent of what we need to do together to keep this community and country safe,” Pazen said.
Murphy Robinson, Denver’s new public safety director, said the city will hold a virtual protest over Zoom on Saturday night so people can still speak their mind and engage on the topics of racial injustice.
“To my fellow young people, I’m calling on you to help stop the violence,” Robinson said. “As we take over leadership in this country, we cannot repeat the mistakes of previous generations. Let us be the generation that comes together and removes the needles of bigotry and racism. We must have a nonviolent approach that includes partnership with civil activism.”