thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--Protesters Chase Fox News Reporter From White House Demonstrations

NEW YORK ( AP ) — 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 .
Demonstrators also broke windows and vandalized the Atlanta office building where CNN is headquartered , and police in Louisville , Kentucky , apologized on Saturday after an officer fired what appeared to be pepper bullets at a television news crew .
“ We took a good thumping , ” he told The Associated Press .
A live shot he was doing was interrupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
CNN ’ s headquarters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @

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NEW YORK (AP) — 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.
Demonstrators also broke windows and vandalized the Atlanta office building where CNN is headquartered, and police in Louisville, Kentucky, apologized on Saturday after an officer fired what appeared to be pepper bullets at a television news crew.
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Fox’s Leland Vittert was rattled following the Washington attack 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.”
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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.
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“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.
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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.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--Flynn Told Russian Ambassador To Keep Cool Over Obama Sanctions, Transcripts Reveal

Michael Flynn urged Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak to convince the Kremlin to stay calm in response to sanctions by the outgoing Obama administration over Russian interference in America ’ s presidential election , newly released transcripts of his secret phone conversations revealed .
Flynn , tapped as Donald Trump ’ s national security adviser at the time , reached out to Kislyak a number of times before his boss was in the White House .
He urged Kislyak to not “ go any further than you have to ” in responding to the sanctions .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russians out of the country , I understand all that , ” Flynn told Kislyak regarding the sanctions , according to the transcripts of a call dated Dec. 29 , 2016 , released Friday .
“ But what I would ask Russia to do is ... to only make it reciprocal .
Make it reciprocal .
Don ’ t ... go any further than you have to .
Because I don ’ t want us to get into something that has to escalate , on a , you know , on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ambassador ?
” Flynn said if the Russian response was “ even-keeled , ” that “ is a good message and we ’ ll understand that message , ” according to the call that was intercepted by U.S. intelligence .
Flynn had a number of phone conversations with Kislyak beginning in December .
He left his post as national security adviser in February 2017 after offering contradictory information about the conversations and later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the calls .
Flynn early this year asked to withdraw his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice has moved to drop the case against him .
The president ’ s supporters claim that the Flynn surveillance was a subterfuge for the FBI to launch an illegitimate probe into the Trump administration .
Democrats say that Flynn ’ s secret talks were sign of possible collusion between the Kremlin and the incoming administration that justified the investigation .
Flynn and Kislyak never discussed the Kremlin orchestrated hack of Democratic Party emails in the transcripts .
But Flynn also did not say anything negative to Kislyak about Russian interference in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the American intelligence community .
Kislyak responded to Flynn in a follow-up call that “ our conversation was ... taken into account ” in Moscow .
“ Your proposal that we need to act with cold heads ... is exactly what is invested in the decision , ” Kislyak added .
He told Flynn “ we will be able to start working in more constructive way ” in two weeks , when Trump would be in office .
Flynn ’ s attorney , Sidney Powell , insisted the transcripts show Flynn did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he should be “ applauded ” for reining in tensions between the two countries , The Wall Street Journal reported .
Rep. Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) , chairman of the House Intelligence Committee , said in a statement Friday that the calls clearly reveal Flynn lied to the FBI about them .
The calls also underscore that Flynn was trying to mute a response to sanctions imposed because Russian interfered in U.S. elections in a bid to help Trump , he added .
His message to the Kremlin was that the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more favorable to Russia , Schiff noted .
The transcripts were provided to members of Congress by new Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe after outgoing director Richard Grenell declassified them and revealed a list of Obama administration officials who viewed Flynn ’ s identity in intelligence reports collected by the National Security Agency .
Those who requested the reports were all authorized to receive them , said NSA officials .

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Michael Flynn urged Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak to convince the Kremlin to stay calm in response to sanctions by the outgoing Obama administration over Russian interference in America’s presidential election, newly released transcripts of his secret phone conversations revealed.
Flynn, tapped as Donald Trump’s national security adviser at the time, reached out to Kislyak a number of times before his boss was in the White House. He urged Kislyak to not “go any further than you have to” in responding to the sanctions.
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“They’re gonna dismiss some number of Russians out of the country, I understand all that,” Flynn told Kislyak regarding the sanctions, according to the transcripts of a call dated Dec. 29, 2016, released Friday.
“But what I would ask Russia to do is ... to only make it reciprocal. Make it reciprocal. Don’t ... go any further than you have to. Because I don’t want us to get into something that has to escalate, on a, you know, on a tit for tat. You follow me, Ambassador?”
Flynn said if the Russian response was “even-keeled,” that “is a good message and we’ll understand that message,” according to the call that was intercepted by U.S. intelligence.
Flynn had a number of phone conversations with Kislyak beginning in December. He left his post as national security adviser in February 2017 after offering contradictory information about the conversations and later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the calls. Flynn early this year asked to withdraw his guilty plea, and the Department of Justice has moved to drop the case against him.
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The president’s supporters claim that the Flynn surveillance was a subterfuge for the FBI to launch an illegitimate probe into the Trump administration. Democrats say that Flynn’s secret talks were sign of possible collusion between the Kremlin and the incoming administration that justified the investigation.
Flynn and Kislyak never discussed the Kremlin orchestrated hack of Democratic Party emails in the transcripts. But Flynn also did not say anything negative to Kislyak about Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election that had been uncovered by the American intelligence community.
Kislyak responded to Flynn in a follow-up call that “our conversation was ... taken into account” in Moscow. “Your proposal that we need to act with cold heads ... is exactly what is invested in the decision,” Kislyak added. He told Flynn “we will be able to start working in more constructive way” in two weeks, when Trump would be in office.
Trump was delighted with Russia’s moderate response to the sanctions.
Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016
Flynn and Kisylak also discussed cooperation in the Middle East, and setting up a “secure video line” between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Flynn’s attorney, Sidney Powell, insisted the transcripts show Flynn did “nothing wrong,” and that he should be “applauded” for reining in tensions between the two countries, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement Friday that the calls clearly reveal Flynn lied to the FBI about them. The calls also underscore that Flynn was trying to mute a response to sanctions imposed because Russian interfered in U.S. elections in a bid to help Trump, he added. His message to the Kremlin was that the Trump administration would now forge a new course more favorable to Russia, Schiff noted.
The transcripts were provided to members of Congress by new Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe after outgoing director Richard Grenell declassified them and revealed a list of Obama administration officials who viewed Flynn’s identity in intelligence reports collected by the National Security Agency. Those who requested the reports were all authorized to receive them, said NSA officials.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--Trump Justice Department Killed Police Reform Programs That Could Have Helped Minneapolis

As protests rage across the country over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis , the Justice Department is once again brushing aside its mandate to bring broader reform to troubled police departments that have lost ― or never had ― their community ’ s trust .
Under Attorney General William Barr and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions before him , the Trump Justice Department has subscribed to a “ bad apples ” view of policing that dismisses systemic problems in local police departments that make unconstitutional policing routine .
Sessions rolled back police reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t actually read any of the DOJ police department investigations he described as “ anecdotal.
” Barr recently said that communities that don ’ t show more respect for law enforcement “ might find themselves without the police protection they need.
” Federal authorities , like a lot of law enforcement leaders across the country , have expressed shock at the disturbing video of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyd ’ s neck until he died .
But they have stopped short of stating that Chauvin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture within the Minneapolis Police Department .
“ This Justice Department has walked away from police reform , ” said Vanita Gupta , who headed the Civil Rights Division under President Barack Obama .
Their rhetoric and inaction “ created an us-versus-them mentality between law enforcement and the communities they serve , ” said Gupta , citing speeches by Barr and Trump , who endorsed police brutality in a 2017 speech to law enforcement .
“ They ’ ve actually added fuel to the fire.
” “ When something like this happens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have happened if we had an active Civil Rights Division , ” Lopez told HuffPost .
“ You always just wonder , how would that influence how individual officers act ?
How stringent would police chiefs be in making sure the rules were followed ?
” Lopez said that other police killings in Minneapolis raise questions about how the police are investigating complaints and overseeing use-of-force incidents .
She was also disturbed by the behavior of the other four officers on the scene who failed to step up as their colleague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressed down on Floyd ’ s neck .
“ It ’ s not just that they didn ’ t intervene , it ’ s that they don ’ t even appear concerned or surprised by the officer using this tactic , ” Lopez said .
Had other officers stepped forward to intervene , the outcome could have been totally different , she said .
“ He might well not have died , ” Lopez said .
“ But even if he would have , imagine the difference it would have made to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him and to keep the other officer away from him.
” Federal authorities are still deliberating whether to bring criminal federal civil rights charges against Chauvin or any of his colleagues on the scene .
Chauvin is already facing third-degree murder and manslaughter charges in Minnesota .
But federal prosecutors face a higher bar for prosecution in civil rights cases : Authorities must be able to prove that Chauvin intended to violate Floyd ’ s constitutional rights .
“ It really requires that an officer has specific intent to kill somebody or to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told HuffPost .
“ So the factors that federal prosecutors usually look to in these cases that have a really high bar seem to be present here.
” Barr , however , reportedly sided against attorneys in the Civil Rights Division who wanted to bring charges against the New York Police Department officer who fatally choked Eric Garner .
In an appearance at the Justice Department on Saturday , Barr trained his focus on the rioting and destruction in cities across the United States , which he claimed was “ planned , organized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , using Antifa-like tactics , many of whom travel from out of state to promote the violence.
” While local and state leaders were primarily responsible for the law enforcement response , Barr said the federal government would enforce laws that make it “ a federal crime to cross state lines or to use interstate facilities to incite or participate in violent rioting.
” Matthew Krueger , the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin , warned Saturday that federal law “ imposes stiff penalties for commercial arson and other crimes.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to a request for comment , but a spokesperson said in a previous statement to HuffPost that DOJ was “ committed to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of all individuals , and understands the important role the department plays in helping communities and police departments as they seek to achieve the same goal while fighting violent crime and protecting public safety .
”

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As protests rage across the country over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, the Justice Department is once again brushing aside its mandate to bring broader reform to troubled police departments that have lost ― or never had ― their community’s trust.
Since President Donald Trump took office, his appointees at the Justice Department have all but eliminated the federal government’s police reform work. The Civil Rights Division’s police practices group has shrunk by half, and it hasn’t opened any major pattern-or-practice investigations that could rein in police departments that regularly violate constitutional rights.
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The Trump administration effectively killed a collaborative reform initiative created by DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services that allowed cities to voluntarily implement reform, a move that left the local officials who had partnered with DOJ feeling abandoned.
Under Attorney General William Barr and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions before him, the Trump Justice Department has subscribed to a “bad apples” view of policing that dismisses systemic problems in local police departments that make unconstitutional policing routine. Sessions rolled back police reform even though he conceded he hadn’t actually read any of the DOJ police department investigations he described as “anecdotal.” Barr recently said that communities that don’t show more respect for law enforcement “might find themselves without the police protection they need.”
President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr attended the 38th Annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service in Washington on May 15, 2019. Carlos Barria / Reuters
Federal authorities, like a lot of law enforcement leaders across the country, have expressed shock at the disturbing video of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck until he died. But they have stopped short of stating that Chauvin’s conduct reveals anything more broadly about the culture within the Minneapolis Police Department.
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“This Justice Department has walked away from police reform,” said Vanita Gupta, who headed the Civil Rights Division under President Barack Obama. Their rhetoric and inaction “created an us-versus-them mentality between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Gupta, citing speeches by Barr and Trump, who endorsed police brutality in a 2017 speech to law enforcement. “They’ve actually added fuel to the fire.”
The focus on “bad apples” and charging only individual officers Gupta said, “completely misses the point” and “will not be enough to address the systemic problems and the culture in the department.”
“This is deep,” Gupta told HuffPost. “One single criminal prosecution ― while really important for accountability ― is not going to be sufficient to address the long-standing, deep, systemic issues that clearly exist.”
Christy Lopez, who led the Justice Department’s police reform efforts in Ferguson, said incidents like Floyd’s death leave her pondering the “impossible” question of whether a different Justice Department would have made a difference.
“When something like this happens, I always wonder if maybe it wouldn’t have happened if we had an active Civil Rights Division,” Lopez told HuffPost. “You always just wonder, how would that influence how individual officers act? How stringent would police chiefs be in making sure the rules were followed?”
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Lopez said that other police killings in Minneapolis raise questions about how the police are investigating complaints and overseeing use-of-force incidents. She was also disturbed by the behavior of the other four officers on the scene who failed to step up as their colleague ― agonizing minute after agonizing minute ― pressed down on Floyd’s neck.
“It’s not just that they didn’t intervene, it’s that they don’t even appear concerned or surprised by the officer using this tactic,” Lopez said. Had other officers stepped forward to intervene, the outcome could have been totally different, she said.
“He might well not have died,” Lopez said. “But even if he would have, imagine the difference it would have made to see these three other officers trying to help him and to keep the other officer away from him.”
Federal authorities are still deliberating whether to bring criminal federal civil rights charges against Chauvin or any of his colleagues on the scene. Chauvin is already facing third-degree murder and manslaughter charges in Minnesota. But federal prosecutors face a higher bar for prosecution in civil rights cases: Authorities must be able to prove that Chauvin intended to violate Floyd’s constitutional rights.
Gupta, now president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, thinks federal prosecutors can meet that standard here with the help of compelling video evidence.
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“It really requires that an officer has specific intent to kill somebody or to violate their constitutional rights,” Gupta told HuffPost. “So the factors that federal prosecutors usually look to in these cases that have a really high bar seem to be present here.”
Barr, however, reportedly sided against attorneys in the Civil Rights Division who wanted to bring charges against the New York Police Department officer who fatally choked Eric Garner. In an appearance at the Justice Department on Saturday, Barr trained his focus on the rioting and destruction in cities across the United States, which he claimed was “planned, organized and driven by anarchistic and far-left extremists, using Antifa-like tactics, many of whom travel from out of state to promote the violence.”
While local and state leaders were primarily responsible for the law enforcement response, Barr said the federal government would enforce laws that make it “a federal crime to cross state lines or to use interstate facilities to incite or participate in violent rioting.” Matthew Krueger, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, warned Saturday that federal law “imposes stiff penalties for commercial arson and other crimes.”
More broadly, the Trump Civil Rights Division has continued prosecuting egregious incidents of excessive use of force by members of law enforcement. But in many cases, those individual charges raise questions about patterns of conduct in local police departments that the Justice Department never addresses.
DOJ prosecuted a racist police chief in New Jersey, but choose not to evaluate whether the department the bigoted chief headed might have some underlying problems.
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Federal prosecutors charged four St. Louis cops in connection with the beating of a Black undercover officer during a protest, but haven’t charged any officers with assaulting any actual protesters even after uncovering text messages depicting officers salivating for an opportunity to unleash violence on demonstrators.
A Justice Department spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but a spokesperson said in a previous statement to HuffPost that DOJ was “committed to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of all individuals, and understands the important role the department plays in helping communities and police departments as they seek to achieve the same goal while fighting violent crime and protecting public safety.”
Barr, the statement said, “is committed to holding any officer responsible who violates the law without restraining the ability of good police officers trying to do their part in reducing violent crimes.”
Lopez says she thinks the career Civil Rights Division attorneys who have stuck around this long into the Trump administration are hoping to be able to return to their broader police reform work if former Vice President Joe Biden defeats Trump in November.
“If you’ve weathered this much of the storm, at this point you can see what appears to be light at the end of the tunnel,” Lopez said. “If I were still there, I would certainly be waiting it out to see whether a brighter dawn is within reach.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--George Floyd's Brother Says Trump Was Dismissive On Condolence Call

A condolence phone call from President Donald Trump ended up frustrating George Floyd ’ s brother , who said Trump “ didn ’ t give [ him ] the opportunity to even speak.
” “ It hurt me , ” Philonise Floyd said in an interview Saturday on MSNBC .
Floyd ’ s brother George died Monday during an arrest by white police officers in Minneapolis .
He was 46 .
“ He didn ’ t give me the opportunity to even speak , ” Floyd said , as his son Brandon sat beside him .
“ It was hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , but he just kept , like , pushing me off , like : ‘ I don ’ t want to hear what you ’ re talking about.
’ ” Floyd said : “ I just told him I want justice .
I said that I couldn ’ t believe that they committed a modern-day lynching in broad daylight .
I can ’ t stand for that .
I can ’ t .
And it hurt me.
” George Floyd , who was Black , died after police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unarmed Floyd was restrained and held on the ground .
Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
The other three officers involved in the arrest were fired , but remain free .
“ They all need to be convicted of first-degree murder and given the death penalty , ” Philonise Floyd told Sharpton .
“ They didn ’ t care about what they wanted to do with my brother .
He wasn ’ t a person to them .
He was scum , he was nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine how many people they did like that.
” Floyd became emotional later in the interview .
“ I just don ’ t understand , man , ” he told Sharpton tearfully .
“ Why we got ta go through this ?
Why we got ta have all this pain , man ?
I love my brother .
I ’ m never going to see him again .
”

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A condolence phone call from President Donald Trump ended up frustrating George Floyd’s brother, who said Trump “didn’t give [him] the opportunity to even speak.”
“It hurt me,” Philonise Floyd said in an interview Saturday on MSNBC. Floyd’s brother George died Monday during an arrest by white police officers in Minneapolis. He was 46.
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The call with Trump was “so fast,” Floyd told the Rev. Al Sharpton on “Politics Nation.”
“He didn’t give me the opportunity to even speak,” Floyd said, as his son Brandon sat beside him. “It was hard. I was trying to talk to him, but he just kept, like, pushing me off, like: ‘I don’t want to hear what you’re talking about.’”
Floyd said: “I just told him I want justice. I said that I couldn’t believe that they committed a modern-day lynching in broad daylight. I can’t stand for that. I can’t. And it hurt me.”
George Floyd, who was Black, died after police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for several minutes while an unarmed Floyd was restrained and held on the ground. Chauvin has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three officers involved in the arrest were fired, but remain free.
“They all need to be convicted of first-degree murder and given the death penalty,” Philonise Floyd told Sharpton. “They didn’t care about what they wanted to do with my brother. He wasn’t a person to them. He was scum, he was nothing [to them]. I can imagine how many people they did like that.”
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Floyd became emotional later in the interview. “I just don’t understand, man,” he told Sharpton tearfully. “Why we gotta go through this? Why we gotta have all this pain, man? I love my brother. I’m never going to see him again.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--Police Crackdowns Escalate As More Protesters Nationwide Demand Justice For George Floyd

Protests prompted by the police killing of George Floyd popped up in even more cities across the U.S. on Saturday as tens of thousands of people continued to demand justice for Black victims of police brutality , and in many cities they were met with increasingly heavy-handed police crackdowns .
Earlier in Brooklyn , protesters set fire to a dumpster and at least two police vehicles .
Police tried to keep groups of protesters separated from each other and were seen arresting people , according to HuffPost ’ s Christopher Mathias , who was reporting from the scene and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of several journalists who has been arrested or harassed while covering the weekend ’ s protests .
Linda Tirado , a freelance photographer , said she was left permanently blind in one eye after a rubber bullet shot by police hit her in the face in Minneapolis on Friday .
Protesters in D.C. attacked a Fox News correspondent and his crew ; and crowds of demonstrators vandalized CNN ’ s headquarters in Atlanta .
Many protesters faced a time crunch , because a number of curfews were announced shortly before they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to comply with the orders .
In Seattle , the curfew went into effect 14 minutes after it was announced .
Chicago ’ s curfew was announced with just 20 minutes ’ notice .
“ I came out today because for too long , people who look like me have been terrorized for no reason except [ for ] our skin color , and enough is enough , ” she said .
“ I shouldn ’ t be afraid to die just because I exist.
” “ It feels like there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
A lot of times people try and divide us by what we look instead of seeing the human in us , ” Davis told HuffPost in a text message during the protests in Los Angeles .
Protests across the country have given rioters an opportunity to burn buildings and assault police , leading to mass property damage and violence in numerous cities .
For law enforcement , determining the proper response to unrest is an extremely difficult task .
A federal protective service officer was killed in Oakland on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But there have also been countless instances of overreach and abuse by law enforcement officials , especially with unnecessary use of less-lethal projectiles , such as rubber bullets .
Numerous videos have circulated of police firing rubber bullets at and arresting protesters who clearly posed no threat .
According to an AP News tally , at least 1,669 people in 22 cities have been arrested since Thursday .
After the unrest in Ferguson , Missouri in 2014 , the Justice Department commissioned an after-action report to evaluate the response of law enforcement officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be warranted in many protest situations , but that officers should take care not to use those weapons against citizens simply exercising their constitutional rights and choose a course of action that is not just authorized , but “ is right .
”

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Protests prompted by the police killing of George Floyd popped up in even more cities across the U.S. on Saturday as tens of thousands of people continued to demand justice for Black victims of police brutality, and in many cities they were met with increasingly heavy-handed police crackdowns.
By late Saturday, at least 25 cities across 16 states had imposed curfews in response to the demonstrations, CNN reported. Several cities ordered curfews to go into effect again on Sunday night.
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Large swaths of people gathered on the streets of Austin, Texas; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Salt Lake City; San Francisco; Washington, D.C. and more on the warm weekend day.
A protester is arrested on Friday in San Jose, California. ASSOCIATED PRESS
As night fell, tensions increased in numerous cities. Police in Indianapolis said they were investigating multiple shootings downtown where protests had turned violent. At least one person had been killed and several people were injured in the shootings, said Randal Taylor, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department chief.
“Enough is enough. Indianapolis, we are better than this,” Taylor said, adding the downtown area was “not safe at this time.”
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At least 13 police officers in Philadelphia were injured when demonstrations became violent, The New York Times reported.
Police officers take position to shoot tear gas at demonstrators in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. APU GOMES via Getty Images
The National Guard said early Sunday that approximately 5,000 of its soldiers and airmen had been deployed “in response to civil disturbances” in 15 states and the nation’s capital, with “another 2,000 prepared to activate if needed.” Nevada, North Dakota, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, and Kentucky were among the states that called in the National Guard.
The Pentagon ― in an extraordinary move ― said it had also put military units on a four-hour alert to be ready if Minnesota’s governor requested assistance.
In numerous cities, police employed brutal tactics. In Brooklyn, a police SUV drove through a crowd standing around a blockade, knocking several people backward, as seen in a video filmed from a building.
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Another video, apparently filmed from a different angle, shows protesters throwing plastic bottles and traffic cones at a police vehicle before a second vehicle arrives and drives through the group of people.
Earlier in Brooklyn, protesters set fire to a dumpster and at least two police vehicles. Police tried to keep groups of protesters separated from each other and were seen arresting people, according to HuffPost’s Christopher Mathias, who was reporting from the scene and was later arrested while reporting.
Mathias is one of several journalists who has been arrested or harassed while covering the weekend’s protests. Linda Tirado, a freelance photographer, said she was left permanently blind in one eye after a rubber bullet shot by police hit her in the face in Minneapolis on Friday. Protesters in D.C. attacked a Fox News correspondent and his crew; and crowds of demonstrators vandalized CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta on Friday.
MSNBC reporters were just almost hit with some sort of explosive device by law enforcement officers in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/Cy4ayEm5TE — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 31, 2020
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Los Angeles Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske said Saturday that she and other journalists were injured by rubber bullets after being shot at by Minneapolis police.
“I’ve covered protests involving police in Ferguson, Mo., Baton Rouge, La., Dallas and Los Angeles. I’ve also covered the U.S. military in war zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan. I have never been fired at by police until tonight,” Hennessy-Fiske said.
Cops keep charging and pepper spraying and arresting people pic.twitter.com/7yt4nwZh2o — Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) May 31, 2020
We got a dumpster fire and another cop car on fire in Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/hHHL19uN8S — Christopher Mathias (@letsgomathias) May 31, 2020
Video taken by Vice News correspondent Michael Anthony Adams shows police pepper-spraying him in the face as he is lying on the ground and identifying himself as press. Journalist and NBC News contributor Simon Moya-Smith also said he was pepper-sprayed and then arrested by Minneapolis police after identifying himself as a reporter.
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Police just raided the gas station we were sheltering at. After shouting press multiple times and raising my press card in the air, I was thrown to the ground. Then another cop came up and peppered sprayed me in the face while I was being held down. pic.twitter.com/23EkZIMAFC — Michael Anthony Adams (@MichaelAdams317) May 31, 2020
In Nashville, Tennessee, protesters began to disperse once a smoke bomb went off after nightfall on Saturday at an “I Will Breathe” demonstration, where some had set fires and smashed windows in City Hall and a courthouse.
Police in several cities, including Minneapolis; Richmond, Virginia; and Orlando, Florida, used tear gas and other projectiles to scatter protesters. One video posted to Twitter appeared to show the National Guard in Minneapolis intentionally shooting people on their front porch with paint canisters. The state’s curfew does not forbid people from being outside their house, on their property, after hours.
Share widely: National guard and MPD sweeping our residential street. Shooting paint canisters at us on our own front porch. Yelling “light em up” #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #JusticeForGeorge #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/bW48imyt55 — Tanya Kerssen (@tkerssen) May 31, 2020
In Denver, police fired canisters of tear gas to disperse crowds soon after a curfew went into effect in the city on Saturday night.
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In an attempt to quell protests overnight, cities implemented curfews to get demonstrators to clear the streets and give law enforcement power to crack down. In Los Angeles and Chicago, anyone out after 9 p.m. could be arrested for violating curfew, officials said.
But a number of curfews were announced shortly before they went into effect — giving people insufficient time to comply with the orders. In Seattle, the curfew went into effect 14 minutes after it was announced Saturday. Chicago’s curfew was announced with just 20 minutes’ notice.
According to The New York Times, the imposition of curfews across the country on Saturday appeared to be “more widespread than at any time since the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.”
Broken record, I know, because we’re three days into this, but the amount of tear gas that’s being dropped on Denver during a respiratory pandemic is just staggering. This video was taken mere minutes after curfew expired. Cops wasted no time tonight. https://t.co/y0cX9MIQcL — Alex Burness (@alex_burness) May 31, 2020
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At many of Saturday’s demonstrations, protesters chanted and held signs, repeating the words that Floyd, 46, uttered as a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for over eight minutes: “I can’t breathe.”
Morgan Davis, a 29-year-old Los Angeles resident, told HuffPost she came out to protest on Saturday because she is tired of Black people, including herself, being “terrorized.”
“I came out today because for too long, people who look like me have been terrorized for no reason except [for] our skin color, and enough is enough,” she said. “I shouldn’t be afraid to die just because I exist.”
Morgan Davis, a protester in Los Angeles, sent me this video of protesters standing clear + applauding as an ambulance drives by.
She told me: “I came out today bc for too long people who look like me have been terrorized for no reason except our skin color + enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/UpwiBDn8AM — Carla H. Russo (@carlalove) May 31, 2020
The protest for George Floyd continues in @CityOfFayNC, with chants of “I can’t breathe,” to repeat Floyd’s final words. pic.twitter.com/sa49DKCIjZ — RachaelRiley (@RachaelRiley85) May 30, 2020
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Hundreds of people turned out in Salt Lake City. In Washington, D.C., hundreds of protesters gathered near the White House as police attempted to hold them back. Hundreds of people in Fayetteville came out for two separate protests.
In Salt Lake City, a police car was overturned and spray-painted, and in Cleveland, a local reporter took a video of two police cars on fire.
In Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon, protesters moved aside to let an ambulance pass and cheered as the driver sounded the siren. Some protesters paused their march to dance in the streets.
“It feels like there are more things that connect us than separate us. A lot of times people try and divide us by what we look instead of seeing the human in us,” Davis told HuffPost in a text message during the protests in Los Angeles.
She added later: “It’s time for people to collectively do the right thing by each other and end racism for good.”
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Protests weren’t limited to American cities over the weekend. There were similar demonstrations in Berlin, London and Toronto. Videos posted to social media showed protesters marching with signs and chanting, “Black lives matter.”
In the U.S., protests have given rioters an opportunity to burn buildings and turn violent. For law enforcement, determining the proper response to unrest is an extremely difficult and dangerous task. A federal protective service officer was killed in Oakland, California, on Friday, and other officers have been injured.
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But there have also been countless instances of overreach and abuse by police, especially concerning the use of less-lethal projectiles, such as rubber bullets. Numerous videos have circulated of police firing rubber bullets and violently arresting protesters who clearly posed no threat. According to an AP News tally, at least 1,669 people in 22 cities have been arrested since Thursday.
After the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, the Justice Department commissioned an after-action report to evaluate the response of law enforcement officers. The report stated that less-lethal munitions could be warranted in many protest situations, but that officers should take care not to use those weapons against citizens simply exercising their constitutional rights and choose a course of action that is not just authorized, but “is right.”
Demonstrators carry placards as they march in the road near the U.S. Embassy in central London on Sunday. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS via Getty Images
Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck as Floyd struggled for breath, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on Friday, but the other three officers have not been charged.
President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that anti-fascist activists and “left-wing groups” were responsible for the violence at the protests.
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“The violence is being led by antifa and other left-wing groups who are terrorizing the innocent, destroying jobs, hurting businesses and burning down buildings,” he said at a press conference.
“Radical left criminals, thugs and others, all throughout our country and throughout the world, will not be able to set communities ablaze,” Trump said. “The leadership of the National Guard and the Department of Justice are now in close communication with state and city officials in Minnesota and we’re coordinating with local law enforcement.”
At a later speech on Saturday, Trump offered a more reserved statement.
“We support the right of peaceful protesters, and we hear their pleas,” he said. “But what we are now seeing on the streets of our cities has nothing to do with justice or peace.”
In Louisville at this hour. pic.twitter.com/YHVSTT6zaq — Marcus Green (@MarcusGreenWDRB) May 31, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--Trump Uses SpaceX Launch To Criticize Protesting 'Thugs' And 'Angry Mobs'

President Donald Trump led his remarks on the country ’ s first manned rocket launch in nearly a decade with some harsh words for civil rights protesters around the country demanding police accountability .
“ My administration will stop mob violence , and we ’ ll stop it cold , ” Trump said from Florida hours after ordering the Pentagon to put military police on alert for potential deployment to the demonstration sites .
“ Radical left criminals , thugs and others , all throughout our country and throughout the world , will not be able to set communities ablaze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , most of them peaceful , have taken place all week in cities across the country following the death of George Floyd , a Black man , while in police custody ; four police officers were later fired .
One of the officers — seen in a video of the incident pinning Floyd to the pavement with his knee — has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter .
Some of the larger demonstrations have turned violent in recent days .
Protesters in Minneapolis managed to force police officers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police station , as well as several businesses in the area .
Damage to police vehicles has also been documented in other cities .
Local and national leaders of both parties have lamented the property damage .
Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz said in a press conference early Saturday morning that he understood the “ rage ” but not the “ wanton destruction.
” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was “ reeling ” after Floyd ’ s death but stressed that “ there is no honor in burning down your city.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better and more widespread understanding of the issues underlying the anger , including police brutality and a justice system that all too often appears biased in favor of white people .
Trump has expressed disbelief at the video of Floyd ’ s death while calling for ever more aggressive policing tactics in clear opposition to protesters ’ demands .
He tweeted threats to the protesters early Friday morning , writing , ” [ W ] hen the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” a phrase used by a racist Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights protests in the 1960s .
Twitter slapped a content warning over the president ’ s message for the second time this week , saying it glorified violence .
On Saturday , Trump claimed the violence was “ being led by Antifa and other left-wing groups who are terrorizing the innocent , destroying jobs , hurting businesses and burning down buildings.
” But Minnesota officials are reportedly investigating whether white supremacy groups were behind the violence .
“ I will not allow angry mobs to dominate .
Won ’ t happen , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we protect the crown jewel of American democracy : the rule of law.
” “ We support the overwhelming majority of police officers who are incredible in every way and devoted public servants , ” Trump said .
“ They keep our cities safe , protect our communities from gangs and drugs , and risk their own lives for us every day .
”

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President Donald Trump led his remarks on the country’s first manned rocket launch in nearly a decade with some harsh words for civil rights protesters around the country demanding police accountability.
“My administration will stop mob violence, and we’ll stop it cold,” Trump said from Florida hours after ordering the Pentagon to put military police on alert for potential deployment to the demonstration sites.
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“Radical left criminals, thugs and others, all throughout our country and throughout the world, will not be able to set communities ablaze,” Trump said.
Civil rights protests, most of them peaceful, have taken place all week in cities across the country following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, while in police custody; four police officers were later fired. One of the officers — seen in a video of the incident pinning Floyd to the pavement with his knee — has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Some of the larger demonstrations have turned violent in recent days. Protesters in Minneapolis managed to force police officers to retreat as they set fire to a police station, as well as several businesses in the area. Damage to police vehicles has also been documented in other cities.
Local and national leaders of both parties have lamented the property damage. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a press conference early Saturday morning that he understood the “rage” but not the “wanton destruction.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was “reeling” after Floyd’s death but stressed that “there is no honor in burning down your city.”
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Critics, however, are pushing for a better and more widespread understanding of the issues underlying the anger, including police brutality and a justice system that all too often appears biased in favor of white people.
Trump has expressed disbelief at the video of Floyd’s death while calling for ever more aggressive policing tactics in clear opposition to protesters’ demands. He tweeted threats to the protesters early Friday morning, writing, ”[W]hen the looting starts, the shooting starts,” a phrase used by a racist Miami police chief during the height of civil rights protests in the 1960s. Twitter slapped a content warning over the president’s message for the second time this week, saying it glorified violence.
On Saturday, Trump claimed the violence was “being led by Antifa and other left-wing groups who are terrorizing the innocent, destroying jobs, hurting businesses and burning down buildings.” But Minnesota officials are reportedly investigating whether white supremacy groups were behind the violence.
“I will not allow angry mobs to dominate. Won’t happen,” Trump said. “It is essential that we protect the crown jewel of American democracy: the rule of law.”
Later, he voiced support for law enforcement.
“We support the overwhelming majority of police officers who are incredible in every way and devoted public servants,” Trump said. “They keep our cities safe, protect our communities from gangs and drugs, and risk their own lives for us every day.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-30--D.C. Mayor Calls Trump's Comments About 'Vicious Dogs' An 'Attack On Black America'

Washington , D.C. , Mayor Muriel Bowser said Saturday she was “ shaken ” by President Donald Trump ’ s threat about unleashing “ vicious dogs ” on people protesting the death of George Floyd , saying it called up associations of segregationist violence .
On Saturday morning , Trump tweeted that protesters at the White House Friday night would have been met with the “ most vicious dogs , and most ominous weapons ” if they had managed to breach the fence .
“ That ’ s when people would have been really badly hurt , at least , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a press briefing that Trump ’ s reference to “ vicious dogs ” was “ no subtle reminder to African Americans of segregationists who let dogs out on women , children and innocent people in the South.
” Bowser said she and others are “ just shaken that an American president would utter such words about his fellow Americans.
” “ What used to be heard in dog whistles , we now hear from a bullhorn , ” she said .
People are “ tired , sad , angry and desperate for change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said .
“ We need leaders who recognize this pain , and in times of great turmoil and despair can provide us a sense of calm , and a sense of hope.
” Protests and demonstrations have occurred across the U.S. this week after Floyd , who was Black , died in the custody of Minneapolis police on Monday .
A white police officer knelt on Floyd ’ s neck for more than eight minutes as Floyd struggled to breathe .
The officer was fired and , later , arrested and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump called protesters “ THUGS ” in a tweet this week and warned that “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” It was the same language a Miami police chief used in 1967 when threatening violence against Black males .
Twitter veiled Trump ’ s message for “ glorifying violence.
” Trump also claimed that Bowser , who is Black , failed to mobilize metro police to aid the Secret Service in protecting the White House , which was briefly shut down during Friday ’ s protests .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for money & help , wouldn ’ t let the D.C. Police get involved , ” Trump tweeted .
Trump ’ s own Secret Service contradicted his accusation .
Officials issued a statement saying that both the “ Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police were on the scene ” during Friday ’ s protest .
Bowser said local police “ were doing their jobs from the start ” and coordinated with the Secret Service as well as U.S. Park Police .
She emphasized that “ at no time was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protest activity.
” Check out Bowser ’ s comments on Trump ’ s tweets in the video up top .
Her reaction to his tweets , in response to a reporter ’ s question , begins at 14:15 .

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said Saturday she was “shaken” by President Donald Trump’s threat about unleashing “vicious dogs” on people protesting the death of George Floyd, saying it called up associations of segregationist violence.
On Saturday morning, Trump tweeted that protesters at the White House Friday night would have been met with the “most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons” if they had managed to breach the fence. “That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least,” he wrote.
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In response, Bowser called Trump’s comments “an attack on humanity” and “an attack on Black America.”
Bowser said at a press briefing that Trump’s reference to “vicious dogs” was “no subtle reminder to African Americans of segregationists who let dogs out on women, children and innocent people in the South.” Bowser said she and others are “just shaken that an American president would utter such words about his fellow Americans.”
“What used to be heard in dog whistles, we now hear from a bullhorn,” she said.
People are “tired, sad, angry and desperate for change” amid America’s continuing racism, she said. “We need leaders who recognize this pain, and in times of great turmoil and despair can provide us a sense of calm, and a sense of hope.”
Instead, what the White House offered was “the glorification of violence against American citizens,” Bowser added.
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Protests and demonstrations have occurred across the U.S. this week after Floyd, who was Black, died in the custody of Minneapolis police on Monday. A white police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes as Floyd struggled to breathe. The officer was fired and, later, arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Trump called protesters “THUGS” in a tweet this week and warned that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” It was the same language a Miami police chief used in 1967 when threatening violence against Black males. Twitter veiled Trump’s message for “glorifying violence.”
Trump also claimed that Bowser, who is Black, failed to mobilize metro police to aid the Secret Service in protecting the White House, which was briefly shut down during Friday’s protests. “The D.C. Mayor, who is always looking for money & help, wouldn’t let the D.C. Police get involved,” Trump tweeted.
Trump’s own Secret Service contradicted his accusation. Officials issued a statement saying that both the “Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police were on the scene” during Friday’s protest.
Bowser said local police “were doing their jobs from the start” and coordinated with the Secret Service as well as U.S. Park Police. She emphasized that “at no time was the chief of police concerned about losing control of protest activity.”
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D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said he supplied Secret Service officers with equipment they did not have, including riot helmets.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-31--As Protests Ramped Up Across The Country, So Did Police Brutality

BRYAN R. SMITH via Getty Images NYPD officers arrest protesters in Brooklyn , New York , during a May 30 demonstration against the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police .
As protests against police killings and inequality stretched into their fifth night in cities across the U.S. , law enforcement officers geared up to go to battle with their own citizens .
And in some cases , police brutality was on full display .
It was a weekend of violence between American authorities and the citizenry .
Over the course of several days of protests ― prompted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other deaths and instances of injustice ― major cities burned as protesters lashed out at police and the government .
Linda Tirado , a freelance writer in Minneapolis , says she ’ s “ permanently blind ” in her left eye after allegedly being hit by a rubber bullet or tracer round fired by authorities on Friday .
Tirado said she ’ d identified herself as press but was shot with a projectile anyway .
Reports and videos have emerged from all over the country of police firing so-called “ less-lethal ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground or otherwise beating them , and using other means of force .
In Louisville , Kentucky ― where people have taken to the streets in memory of Breonna Taylor , the 26-year-old former EMT shot and killed by officers serving a warrant at her home ― reporters posted video of officers apparently confiscating and destroying water stores held by protesters .
The night before , Louisville police fired what appeared to be pepper balls directly at Kaitlin Rust , a journalist at WAVE 3 , and her crew .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City on Saturday , an NYPD cruiser was caught on video careening into a crowd of protesters .
It was unclear how many were injured .
Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly called the incident “ troubling ” in an interview with NY1 , but it wasn ’ t clear whether there would be an internal investigation .
“ NYPD officers just drove an SUV into a crowd of human beings .
They could ’ ve killed them , & we don ’ t know how many they injured , ” Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night .
“ NO ONE gets to slam an SUV through a crowd of human beings.
” Officers in various places reportedly continued to target journalists on Saturday .
HuffPost senior reporter Chris Mathias was detained amid protests in Brooklyn , New York , after reportedly identifying himself as a member of the press .
Mathias , who covers the far right , disinformation and hate , had been reporting for days on the protests , and was wearing a press identification card around his neck at the time of his arrest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas at reporters “ at point blank range , ” and a Vice News reporter says he was thrown to the ground , held down and pepper sprayed by police after identifying himself as press .
Police just raided the gas station we were sheltering at .
After shouting press multiple times and raising my press card in the air , I was thrown to the ground .
Then another cop came up and peppered sprayed me in the face while I was being held down .
pic.twitter.com/23EkZIMAFC — Michael Anthony Adams ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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As protests against police killings and inequality stretched into their fifth night in cities across the U.S., law enforcement officers geared up to go to battle with their own citizens. And in some cases, police brutality was on full display.
It was a weekend of violence between American authorities and the citizenry. Over the course of several days of protests ― prompted by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other deaths and instances of injustice ― major cities burned as protesters lashed out at police and the government.
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The authoritarian response to those demonstrations was often cruel.
Linda Tirado, a freelance writer in Minneapolis, says she’s “permanently blind” in her left eye after allegedly being hit by a rubber bullet or tracer round fired by authorities on Friday. Tirado said she’d identified herself as press but was shot with a projectile anyway.
A protestor is assisted by medic protestors after being hit by tear gas near the 5th police precinct during a demonstration to call for justice for George Floyd, a Black man who died while in custody of the Minneapolis police, on May 30, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) CHANDAN KHANNA via Getty Images
Reports and videos have emerged from all over the country of police firing so-called “less-lethal” rounds at protesters, shoving them to the ground or otherwise beating them, and using other means of force.
On Saturday, the reports were similarly dire.
In Louisville, Kentucky ― where people have taken to the streets in memory of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old former EMT shot and killed by officers serving a warrant at her home ― reporters posted video of officers apparently confiscating and destroying water stores held by protesters.
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I cannot believe what I just witnessed. They pulled up onto the square with a police siren on and did this. #Louisville pic.twitter.com/65o2lgZCJh — Natalie Neysa Alund (@nataliealund) May 30, 2020
The night before, Louisville police fired what appeared to be pepper balls directly at Kaitlin Rust, a journalist at WAVE 3, and her crew. The company caught the attack on camera.
In New York City on Saturday, an NYPD cruiser was caught on video careening into a crowd of protesters. It was unclear how many were injured. Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly called the incident “troubling” in an interview with NY1, but it wasn’t clear whether there would be an internal investigation.
“NYPD officers just drove an SUV into a crowd of human beings. They could’ve killed them, & we don’t know how many they injured,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted Saturday night. “NO ONE gets to slam an SUV through a crowd of human beings.”
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Officers in various places reportedly continued to target journalists on Saturday. HuffPost senior reporter Chris Mathias was detained amid protests in Brooklyn, New York, after reportedly identifying himself as a member of the press. Mathias, who covers the far right, disinformation and hate, had been reporting for days on the protests, and was wearing a press identification card around his neck at the time of his arrest.
After the dust had settled in New York City, de Blasio told a local TV station that he thought the NYPD showed “tremendous restraint” on Saturday night.
"Some things were done in the right way, we saw tremendous restraint from the NYPD. When you composite the whole day, thousands of situations I saw a lot of restraint," @NYCMayor — Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) May 31, 2020
In Minneapolis, police reportedly fired tear gas at reporters “at point blank range,” and a Vice News reporter says he was thrown to the ground, held down and pepper sprayed by police after identifying himself as press.
Police just raided the gas station we were sheltering at. After shouting press multiple times and raising my press card in the air, I was thrown to the ground. Then another cop came up and peppered sprayed me in the face while I was being held down. pic.twitter.com/23EkZIMAFC — Michael Anthony Adams (@MichaelAdams317) May 31, 2020
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MSNBC host Ali Velshi, an NBC News reporter and their crews were reportedly tear gassed and struck by rubber bullets in Minneapolis. Separately, a CBS News crew was shot with rubber bullets despite being nowhere near protesters.
This is the moment Minneapolis Police fired on our CBS News crew with rubber bullets. As you can see, no protesters anywhere near us- we all were wearing credentials and had cameras out. Our sound engineer was hit in the arm. #cbsnews pic.twitter.com/UAy7HYhGnL — Michael George (@MikeGeorgeCBS) May 31, 2020
In Salt Lake City, police knocked down an older man with a cane who was standing alone on the street.
Salt Lake City cops shove down an elderly man with a cane for the crime of standing along the street: pic.twitter.com/PCLkHqQtJg — Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 31, 2020
Early Sunday morning, another reporter in Minneapolis said authorities shot out his car window with “live rounds,” and posted pictures of himself bleeding from his face and arm.
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In Denver, Rev. Melech E. M. Thomas tweeted that police had fired rubber bullets at his sister, even after she had fallen to the ground.
Studies have repeatedly shown that rubber bullets and other so-called “less-lethal” rounds are in fact deadly. One review of dozens of studies found that 15% of those injured by those projectiles were left permanently disabled, while 3% died, according to The Guardian.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-31--Trump Postpones G7 Meeting, Calls Current Group 'Very Outdated'

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE ( AP ) — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will postpone until the fall a meeting of Group of 7 nations he had planned to hold next month at the White House despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
And he said he plans to invite Russia , Australia , South Korea and India as he again advocated for the group ’ s expansion .
Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida that he feels the current makeup of the group is “ very outdated ” and doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going on in the world.
” He said he had not yet set a new date for the meeting , but thought the gathering could take place in September , around the time of the annual meeting of the United Nations in New York , or perhaps after the U.S. election in November .
Alyssa Farah , White House director of strategic communications , said that Trump wanted to bring in some of the country ’ s traditional allies and those impacted by the coronavirus to discuss the future of China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angela Merkel ’ s office said Saturday that she would not attend the meeting unless the course of the coronavirus spread had changed by then .
The leaders of the world ’ s major economies were slated to meet in June in the U.S. at Camp David , the presidential retreat in Maryland , but the coronavirus outbreak hobbled those plans .
Trump announced in March he was canceling the summit because of the pandemic and that the leaders would confer by video conference instead .
But Trump then switched course , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to host an in-person meeting .
“ Now that our Country is ‘ Transitioning back to Greatness ’ , I am considering rescheduling the G-7 , on the same or similar date , in Washington , D.C. , at the legendary Camp David , ” Trump tweeted .
“ The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK .
It would be a great sign to all - normalization !
” Trump has repeatedly advocated for expanding the group to include Russia , prompting opposition from some members , including Canada ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had privately aired his objection to Russian readmittance .
“ Russia has yet to change the behavior that led to its expulsion in 2014 , and therefore should not be allowed back into the G7 , ” he said at a news conference .
Russia had been invited to attend the gathering of the world ’ s most advanced economies since 1997 , but was suspended in 2014 following its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea .

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ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will postpone until the fall a meeting of Group of 7 nations he had planned to hold next month at the White House despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. And he said he plans to invite Russia, Australia, South Korea and India as he again advocated for the group’s expansion.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned to Washington from Florida that he feels the current makeup of the group is “very outdated” and doesn’t properly represent “what’s going on in the world.”
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He said he had not yet set a new date for the meeting, but thought the gathering could take place in September, around the time of the annual meeting of the United Nations in New York, or perhaps after the U.S. election in November.
Alyssa Farah, White House director of strategic communications, said that Trump wanted to bring in some of the country’s traditional allies and those impacted by the coronavirus to discuss the future of China.
The surprise announcement came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office said Saturday that she would not attend the meeting unless the course of the coronavirus spread had changed by then.
The leaders of the world’s major economies were slated to meet in June in the U.S. at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, but the coronavirus outbreak hobbled those plans. Trump announced in March he was canceling the summit because of the pandemic and that the leaders would confer by video conference instead. But Trump then switched course, saying a week ago that he was again planning to host an in-person meeting.
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“Now that our Country is ‘Transitioning back to Greatness’, I am considering rescheduling the G-7, on the same or similar date, in Washington, D.C., at the legendary Camp David,” Trump tweeted. “The other members are also beginning their COMEBACK. It would be a great sign to all - normalization!”
The G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The group’s presidency rotates annually among member countries.
Trump has repeatedly advocated for expanding the group to include Russia, prompting opposition from some members, including Canada’s Justin Trudeau, who told reporters he had privately aired his objection to Russian readmittance.
“Russia has yet to change the behavior that led to its expulsion in 2014, and therefore should not be allowed back into the G7,” he said at a news conference.
The House also passed a bipartisan resolution in December 2019 that supports Russia’s previous expulsion from the annual gathering.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-31--White House National Security Adviser Denies 'Systemic Racism' Across U.S. Police Forces

White House national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien on Sunday denied that there ’ s “ systemic racism ” across police agencies in the U.S. , despite numerous incidents in which officers have harassed or killed unarmed Black men , including George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week .
Asked on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” whether systemic racism is a problem within these agencies , O ’ Brien said no .
″I don ’ t think there ’ s systemic racism , ” O ’ Brien said .
“ I think 99.9 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And many of them are African American , Hispanic , Asian ― they ’ re working the toughest neighborhoods.
” O ’ Brien added : “ But you know what ?
There are some bad apples in there .
There are some bad cops that are racist , and there are cops that maybe don ’ t have the right training .
... And they need to be rooted out.
” Floyd died Monday in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck , sparking nationwide protests .
Photos and videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas fired rubber bullets and pepper-sprayed demonstrators .
In New York City , a police van appeared to drive into a crowd of protesters .
Police have arrested several journalists , including HuffPost ’ s Chris Mathias , while they were covering the protests .
Mathias was released hours after being taken into custody by New York City police officers on Saturday .
Black men and boys face the highest risk of being killed by police , according to a study published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 96 out of 100,000 deaths , according to the study .
By comparison , white men and boys face a lower rate of 39 per 100,000 deaths , despite representing a much larger portion of the U.S. population .
“ We have systems and institutions that produce racially disparate outcomes , regardless of the intentions of the people who work within them , ” Washington Post columnist Radley Balko wrote in 2018 .
“ When you consider that much of the criminal-justice system was built , honed and firmly established during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone , conservatives included , will concede [ was ] rife with racism — this is pretty intuitive.
” Earlier on Sunday ’ s “ State of the Union , ” Melvin Carter , the mayor of St. Paul , Minnesota , dismissed claims that there are just a few “ bad apples ” within U.S. police forces .
He pointed to bystander video that showed four police officers ignoring Floyd ’ s statements that he couldn ’ t breathe as one of them knelt on his neck .
“ If it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , ‘ Rogue officer , bad apple , ’ ” Carter said .
“ But when you have four officers in the video all responsible for the taking of George Floyd ’ s life , it points to a ... normalized culture that ’ s ... been accepted and that can not be a part of our culture moving forward.
” St. Paul , Minnesota Mayor Melvin Carter : `` When you have four officers in the video all responsible for the taking of George Floyd 's life , it points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that 's been accepted , and that can not be a part of our culture moving forward '' # CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/NLW76Urp0m — State of the Union ( @ CNNSotu ) May 31 , 2020

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White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien on Sunday denied that there’s “systemic racism” across police agencies in the U.S., despite numerous incidents in which officers have harassed or killed unarmed Black men, including George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week.
Asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” whether systemic racism is a problem within these agencies, O’Brien said no.
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″I don’t think there’s systemic racism,” O’Brien said. “I think 99.9% of our law enforcement officers are great Americans. And many of them are African American, Hispanic, Asian ― they’re working the toughest neighborhoods.”
O’Brien added: “But you know what? There are some bad apples in there. There are some bad cops that are racist, and there are cops that maybe don’t have the right training. ... And they need to be rooted out.”
“No, I don’t think there’s systemic racism,” White House National Security adviser Robert O’Brien says about US law enforcement agencies. “There’s a few bad apples that are giving law enforcement a terrible name” #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/Tdwo9XfTQ7 — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 31, 2020
O’Brien said that he’s “so proud” of the way police have handled the current protests “with restraint.”
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Floyd died Monday in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck, sparking nationwide protests. Photos and videos from the protests show police in some areas fired rubber bullets and pepper-sprayed demonstrators. In New York City, a police van appeared to drive into a crowd of protesters.
Police have arrested several journalists, including HuffPost’s Chris Mathias, while they were covering the protests. Mathias was released hours after being taken into custody by New York City police officers on Saturday.
Black men and boys face the highest risk of being killed by police, according to a study published last year in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. They are killed at a rate of 96 out of 100,000 deaths, according to the study. By comparison, white men and boys face a lower rate of 39 per 100,000 deaths, despite representing a much larger portion of the U.S. population.
“We have systems and institutions that produce racially disparate outcomes, regardless of the intentions of the people who work within them,” Washington Post columnist Radley Balko wrote in 2018. “When you consider that much of the criminal-justice system was built, honed and firmly established during the Jim Crow era — an era almost everyone, conservatives included, will concede [was] rife with racism — this is pretty intuitive.”
Balko added: “It’s pretty clear to me that the evidence of racial bias in our criminal-justice system isn’t just convincing — it’s overwhelming.”
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Earlier on Sunday’s “State of the Union,” Melvin Carter, the mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, dismissed claims that there are just a few “bad apples” within U.S. police forces. He pointed to bystander video that showed four police officers ignoring Floyd’s statements that he couldn’t breathe as one of them knelt on his neck.
“If it was just one, you might be able to say, ‘Rogue officer, bad apple,’” Carter said. “But when you have four officers in the video all responsible for the taking of George Floyd’s life, it points to a ... normalized culture that’s ... been accepted and that cannot be a part of our culture moving forward.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-31--Trump Says Antifa Will Be Designated A Terrorist Organization

President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. will designate anti-fascist protesters known as antifa as a terrorist organization amid nationwide protests over the recent death of unarmed Black man George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody .
Trump , who announced his intentions on Twitter , blamed “ radical left anarchists , ” as well as the media , for stirring up trouble in various cities and urged local leaders to shut their demonstrations down “ before it is too late !
” “ It ’ s ANTIFA and the Radical Left .
Don ’ t lay the blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after demonstrators gathered outside the White House over Floyd ’ s death and the president ’ s response to it .
Many chanted “ Black lives matter , ” “ I can ’ t breathe ” and “ No justice , no peace.
” Some threw items at police and destroyed local property .
The protesters had “ little to do with the memory of George Floyd , ” Trump said , adding that they “ were just there to cause trouble.
” “ As this tweet demonstrates , terrorism is an inherently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no legal authority for designating a domestic group .
Any such designation would raise significant due process and First Amendment concerns , ” said ACLU National Security Project Director Hina Shamsi in a statement to HuffPost .
Professor Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas School of Law similarly slapped down Trump ’ s plans , tweeting : “ The United States of America has no legal authority to designate *any* domestic entities as ‘ terrorist organizations.
’ ” The FBI considers domestic terrorism to be “ violent , criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences , such as those of a political , religious , social , racial , or environmental nature.
” The U.S. officially designates only foreign terrorist organizations , and supporting such organizations can trigger federal terrorism charges .
Domestic organizations — from antifa to the Ku Klux Klan — enjoy broader First Amendment protections unless members of those organizations violate specific federal statutes .
Still , the federal government has broad powers to investigate organizations it considers criminal enterprises if officials see evidence of a conspiracy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is suggesting an aggressive approach against left-wing protesters .
Trump ’ s comments , which failed to acknowledge the events that sparked the nation ’ s ongoing upheaval , came as White House national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien denied that there is a problem with systemic racism in the nation ’ s police forces .
“ There are some bad apples in there .
There are some bad cops that are racist , and there are cops that maybe don ’ t have the right training .
... And they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Brien said in an interview Sunday with CNN .
Attorney General William Barr also backed Trump ’ s depiction of the demonstrators in a statement on Sunday that accused them of “ exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate , violent , and extremist agenda .
“ It is time to stop watching the violence and to confront and stop it , ” he said , a message that appeared to mirror the Black Lives Matter movement ’ s own “ call to action in response to state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly , ” Barr said while imploring state and local leaders to use law enforcement resources and the National Guard where warranted .
Its participants “ believe in active , aggressive opposition to far right-wing movements .
Their ideology is rooted in the assumption that the Nazi party would never have been able to come to power in Germany if people had more aggressively fought them in the streets in the 1920s and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ website said .

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President Donald Trump on Sunday said the U.S. will designate anti-fascist protesters known as antifa as a terrorist organization amid nationwide protests over the recent death of unarmed Black man George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody.
Trump, who announced his intentions on Twitter, blamed “radical left anarchists,” as well as the media, for stirring up trouble in various cities and urged local leaders to shut their demonstrations down “before it is too late!”
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“It’s ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!” he tweeted Saturday after demonstrators gathered outside the White House over Floyd’s death and the president’s response to it. Many chanted “Black lives matter,” “I can’t breathe” and “No justice, no peace.” Some threw items at police and destroyed local property.
The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2020
The protesters had “little to do with the memory of George Floyd,” Trump said, adding that they “were just there to cause trouble.”
An American Civil Liberties Union official, responding to Trump’s terrorism call for antifa on Sunday, called it “abused and misused.”
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“As this tweet demonstrates, terrorism is an inherently political label, easily abused and misused. There is no legal authority for designating a domestic group. Any such designation would raise significant due process and First Amendment concerns,” said ACLU National Security Project Director Hina Shamsi in a statement to HuffPost.
Police are seen armed with batons after protesters violated a curfew in effect in Minneapolis on Saturday. Damairs Carter/MediaPunch/MediaPunch/IPx
Professor Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas School of Law similarly slapped down Trump’s plans, tweeting: “The United States of America has no legal authority to designate *any* domestic entities as ‘terrorist organizations.’”
The FBI considers domestic terrorism to be “violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.”
The U.S. officially designates only foreign terrorist organizations, and supporting such organizations can trigger federal terrorism charges. Domestic organizations — from antifa to the Ku Klux Klan — enjoy broader First Amendment protections unless members of those organizations violate specific federal statutes.
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Still, the federal government has broad powers to investigate organizations it considers criminal enterprises if officials see evidence of a conspiracy to break federal law. The Trump administration is suggesting an aggressive approach against left-wing protesters.
Police detain demonstrators protesting in Atlanta on Saturday. The protest started peacefully earlier in the day before demonstrators clashed with police. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trump’s comments, which failed to acknowledge the events that sparked the nation’s ongoing upheaval, came as White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien denied that there is a problem with systemic racism in the nation’s police forces.
“There are some bad apples in there. There are some bad cops that are racist, and there are cops that maybe don’t have the right training. ... And they need to be rooted out,” O’Brien said in an interview Sunday with CNN.
Attorney General William Barr also backed Trump’s depiction of the demonstrators in a statement on Sunday that accused them of “exploiting the situation to pursue their own separate, violent, and extremist agenda.
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“It is time to stop watching the violence and to confront and stop it,” he said, a message that appeared to mirror the Black Lives Matter movement’s own “call to action in response to state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism.”
“This violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly,” Barr said while imploring state and local leaders to use law enforcement resources and the National Guard where warranted.
Attorney General Barr’s statement on rioting, the role of the Department of Justice, and Antifa.
“The violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.” pic.twitter.com/6aKElRYZdR — KerriKupecDOJ (@KerriKupecDOJ) May 31, 2020
Antifa is not one organization but rather a loosely linked collection of groups of protesters who take on right-wing demonstrators, sometimes physically, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Its participants “believe in active, aggressive opposition to far right-wing movements. Their ideology is rooted in the assumption that the Nazi party would never have been able to come to power in Germany if people had more aggressively fought them in the streets in the 1920s and 30s,” the ADL’s website said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-05-31--Atlanta Mayor: Trump's Response To Protests 'Like Charlottesville All Over Again'

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Sunday condemned President Donald Trump ’ s response to the nationwide protests sparked by George Floyd ’ s death , calling it reminiscent of his response to the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , in 2017 .
“ He should just stop talking , ” Bottoms said during an appearance on CNN ’ s “ State Of The Union.
” “ This is like Charlottesville all over again .
He speaks and he makes it worse.
” “ There are times when you should just be quiet , and I wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
“ Or if he can ’ t be silent , if there is somebody of good sense and good conscience in the White House , put him in front of the teleprompter and pray that he reads it and at least says the right things.
” “ This is like Charlottesville all over again .
He speaks and he makes it worse .
There are times when you should just be quiet .
And I wish that he would just be quiet.
” Atlanta Mayor @ KeishaBottoms reacts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country .
# CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/FN3qQJcOS2 — State of the Union ( @ CNNSotu ) May 31 , 2020 Trump has condemned Floyd ’ s death , which happened Monday after a police officer knelt on his neck and two others held him down as he stated repeatedly that he couldn ’ t breathe .
But the president has also stoked tensions by threatening to use military force against people looting during the protests .
“ Any difficulty and we will assume control but , when the looting starts , the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoing a racist phrase originally used by an aggressive Miami police chief during civil rights protests in the 1960s .
The president tweeted Saturday that the federal government will “ step in ” if “ Liberal Governors and Mayors ” don ’ t get tougher on non-peaceful protestors , including “ using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests.
” Earlier Saturday , Trump tweeted that he watched protesters outside the White House “ scream ” and “ rant ” and praised the Secret Service for keeping them at bay .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fence , ” he wrote .
“ That ’ s when people would have been really badly hurt , at least .
Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action .
‘ We put the young ones on the front line , sir , they love it , and ... good practice.
’ ” On Sunday , Bottoms blasted Trump ’ s remarks , comparing them to comments he made in the wake of the Charlottesville rally , which drew criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers .
“ I think there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president had said , referring to rallygoers and counter-protesters .
“ He ’ s making it worse , ” Bottoms told CBS ’ s “ Face The Nation ” in an interview that aired later Sunday .
“ This is not about using military force .
This is about where we are in America .
We are beyond a tipping point in this country .
And his rhetoric only inflames that.
” During an appearance on “ Fox News Sunday , ” Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” calling on the president to “ lead with compassion.
” “ I spoke with the president yesterday morning , and he and I had a good conversation about what are the next steps , ” Scott said .
“ Mr .
President , it helps us when you focus on the death , the unjustified — in my opinion , the criminal ― death of George Floyd .
”

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Sunday condemned President Donald Trump’s response to the nationwide protests sparked by George Floyd’s death, calling it reminiscent of his response to the deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
“He should just stop talking,” Bottoms said during an appearance on CNN’s “State Of The Union.” “This is like Charlottesville all over again. He speaks and he makes it worse.”
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“There are times when you should just be quiet, and I wish that he would just be quiet,” she added. “Or if he can’t be silent, if there is somebody of good sense and good conscience in the White House, put him in front of the teleprompter and pray that he reads it and at least says the right things.”
“This is like Charlottesville all over again. He speaks and he makes it worse. There are times when you should just be quiet. And I wish that he would just be quiet.”
Atlanta Mayor @KeishaBottoms reacts to President Trump’s handling of protests across the country. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/FN3qQJcOS2 — State of the Union (@CNNSotu) May 31, 2020
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump has condemned Floyd’s death, which happened Monday after a police officer knelt on his neck and two others held him down as he stated repeatedly that he couldn’t breathe. But the president has also stoked tensions by threatening to use military force against people looting during the protests.
“Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Trump tweeted Friday, echoing a racist phrase originally used by an aggressive Miami police chief during civil rights protests in the 1960s.
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The president tweeted Saturday that the federal government will “step in” if “Liberal Governors and Mayors” don’t get tougher on non-peaceful protestors, including “using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests.”
Earlier Saturday, Trump tweeted that he watched protesters outside the White House “scream” and “rant” and praised the Secret Service for keeping them at bay.
“Nobody came close to breaching the fence,” he wrote. “That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. ‘We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and ... good practice.’”
On Sunday, Bottoms blasted Trump’s remarks, comparing them to comments he made in the wake of the Charlottesville rally, which drew criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. “I think there is blame on both sides,” the president had said, referring to rallygoers and counter-protesters.
“He’s making it worse,” Bottoms told CBS’s “Face The Nation” in an interview that aired later Sunday. “This is not about using military force. This is about where we are in America. We are beyond a tipping point in this country. And his rhetoric only inflames that.”
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During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said Trump’s tweets threatening violence were “not constructive,” calling on the president to “lead with compassion.”