thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Israeli police kill unarmed Palestinian in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM - Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian near Jerusalem ’ s Old City on Saturday who they had suspected was carrying a weapon but turned out to be unarmed .
The police say he was carrying “ a suspicious object that looked like a pistol ” and ran away when ordered to stop .
The police say they chased him on foot and opened fire .
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld later said that no gun was found in the area .
A relative of the deceased identified him as Iyad Halak , 32 .
The relative said Halak was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby school for people with special needs .
The relative spoke on condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns .
The shooting came a day after Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank who they said had tried to ram them with his vehicle .
No Israelis were wounded in either incident .
Tensions have risen in recent weeks as Israel has pressed ahead with plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank in line with President Donald Trump ’ s Middle East plan , which strongly favours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Palestinian Authority said last week that it was no longer bound by past agreements with Israel and the United States and was cutting off all ties , including longstanding security co-ordination .
Lone Palestinian attackers with no clear links to armed groups have carried out a series of stabbings , shootings and car-ramming attacks in recent years .
The PA is not allowed to operate in east Jerusalem or the areas in the West Bank where most attacks have occurred .
Rights groups have accused Israeli security forces of using excessive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing individuals who could have been arrested or using lethal force when their lives were not in danger .
Saturday ’ s shooting occurred in east Jerusalem , which Israel captured in the 1967 war along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip .
The Palestinians want all three territories for their future state .
The Trump plan would allow the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of the city , beyond Israel ’ s separation barrier .
It would grant them limited statehood in a cluster of enclaves surrounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet a long list of stringent conditions .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Merkel won’t attend G7 summit in person if US goes ahead

BERLIN - Chancellor Angela Merkel will not personally attend a meeting in the U.S. with the leaders of the world @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump goes ahead with it , unless the course of the coronavirus spread @ @ @ @ @ spokesman said Saturday .
After cancelling the Group of Seven summit , originally scheduled for @ @ @ @ @ , Trump said a week ago that he was again considering hosting an in-person meeting @ @ @ @ @ would be a “ great sign to all ” of things returning to normal during @ @ @ @ @ that announcement , Merkel suggested she had not yet made up her mind on whether @ @ @ @ @ by video conference , but her spokesman , Steffen Seibert , told the dpa news @ @ @ @ @ a decision .
“ As of today , given the overall pandemic situation , she @ @ @ @ @ in person , ” Seibert said .
He added that she chancellor would continue to @ @ @ @ @ case things change .

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thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Louisville PD apologizes for targeting news crew at protest

LOUISVILLE , Ky. - A police officer was seen on camera firing what appeared to be pepper balls at a news crew during a live television broadcast of the second night of Louisville protests , prompting an apology from the Louisville Metro Police Department .
A crew from WAVE-TV was downtown in the Kentucky city Friday night , covering demonstrations over the death of Breonna Taylor , a black woman killed by police in her own home in March .
Police presence intensified around 9:45 p.m. , as officers in riot gear stood shoulder-to-shoulder moving people down a key street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
As WAVE-TV was on air , reporter Kaitlin Rust is heard yelling off-camera : “ I ’ ve been shot !
I ’ ve been shot !
“ Video shows a police officer aiming directly at the camera crew , as Rust describes the projectiles as “ pepper bullets.
” “ I want to apologize , ” Louisville police spokeswoman Jessie Halladay told the Courier Journal .
“ It ’ s not something that should have occurred if she was singled out as a reporter.
” Halladay said she couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time , but that police would review the video again and “ if we need to do any investigation for discipline , we will do that.
” The video shows Rust and the camera crew moving away as indignant in-studio anchors ask if they ’ re OK and what ’ s going on .
Rust tells them they ’ re OK , and that the crew was behind the line , but police wanted them to move further away .
“ Well I ’ m sure if they would have just said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done so , ” an anchor is heard telling Rust .
A clip of the WAVE-TV broadcast posted to Twitter amassed more than 8 million views in less than six hours , and was retweeted more than 50,000 times , including by other journalists and rapper Ice-T. Louisville ’ s protests followed the release of a 911 call Taylor ’ s boyfriend made March 13 , moments after the 26-year-old EMT was shot eight times by narcotics detectives who knocked down her front door .
No drugs were found in her home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national headlines alongside the killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia in February and George Floyd , the black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes as he pleaded for air .
Protesters carried signs calling for justice for Taylor and Floyd , whose death has touched off protests across the country this week , including in Minneapolis itself .
The use of non-lethal force on the WAVE-TV crew happened the same day CNN employees were arrested live on air while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were arrested at Friday night ’ s protest in Louisville , and no significant injuries were reported , Halladay said .
That ’ s in contrast to Thursday night ’ s protests , where seven people were shot .
Louisville police have said officers didn ’ t fire their service weapons .
Mayor Greg Fischer criticized the destruction of property seen Friday night .
“ This violence and destruction is absolutely unacceptable .
It besmirches any claim to honour Breonna Taylor ’ s memory , “ Fischer said in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family called for peaceful and safe protest.
” Fischer said most of the grievances associated with Taylor ’ s death have been addressed in a live-streamed press conference after 1 a.m. Fischer had announced Friday that the use of no-knock warrants by police were being suspended , the latest in a series of policy changes and other actions in response to Taylor ’ s death .
Fischer and Halladay said police believed a “ significant percentage ” of protesters came from outside Louisville .
“ I don ’ t know anyone from our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .

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thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Italy’s seas speak: No tourists or boats mean cleaner water

FIUMICINO , Italy - Pollution from human and agriculture waste spilling into the seas off Rome has decreased 30 % during Italy ’ s coronavirus lockdown , preliminary results from a nationwide survey of seawater quality indicate .
Authorities stressed it was too soon to give the lockdown sole credit for the change , saying that shifting sea currents and limited rainfall in April and May also could have been responsible for reduced runoff of livestock and fertilizer waste .
But Marco Lupo , director general of the Lazio region ’ s environmental agency , hypothesized that the evaporation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the amount of sewage produced by the 30 million tourists who normally visit Rome each year .
In addition , the lockdown meant Italians couldn ’ t flock to their seaside vacation homes as they normally would in spring , a phenomenon that typically overwhelms local water treatment plants and results in increased pollutants spewing into the seas , Lupo said .
“ This year , coastal towns have been much less populated , decreasing the ( human-caused pollution ) burden ” on the water , he told The Associated Press .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaner , since the lockdown is ending and any pollution reduction may be temporary .
But scientists around the world have documented some remarkable ecological changes as a result of travel ceasing , industrial production in many countries grinding to a halt and people staying home .
Air pollution is down in some of the world ’ s smoggiest cities , while wildlife such as coyotes and boars have been seen in urban areas .
Off Italy ’ s coasts , which are popular and occasionally polluted , there are visible effects of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gulf of Naples cleared of pleasure boats , cargo and cruise ships , dolphins usually only seen far out in the Mediterranean flock close to shore .
Jellyfish have been spotted in the empty canals of Venice .
During the lockdown , fishermen are pulling in bigger hauls than usual off Rome ’ s main industrial port at Civitavecchia .
In April , for example , fishermen pulled in 60,000 kilograms ( 132,277 pounds ) of fish compared with 52,000 kilograms ( 114,640 pounds ) during the same month last year .
Roberto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s local fishing co-operative , hypothesized that the sharp reduction in maritime traffic had resulted in more fish swimming closer to shore .
Environment Minister Sergio Costa noted that the coronavirus emergency , while tragic given the loss of life , offered an unprecedented opportunity to create a “ photograph ” of Italy ’ s seas .
Costa on April 15 tasked the Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies to work with regional environmental authorities to take water samples and monitor and assess changes in the seas off Italy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coastline .
The results will provide data and a baseline from which the country can reboot industrial production sustainably and create “ a new normal that we know is absolutely necessary , ” he said .
“ This can give us a point of departure , actually a point of re-departure , ” he said in a statement .
“ This photograph will become the point of reference for the future controls of the seas , lakes and rivers , so that nature and our country can be better cared for.
” Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for the Lazio region , said it was appropriate to seize the moment to determine if an elimination of tourism and boating had a measurable effect on water quality .
He described the sampling underway as a “ blood test of the sea.
” “ There is only one sea and we must protect it , ” he said .
“ So when the sea talks to us , we have to listen to it .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Biden speaks of racial ‘open wound,’ contrasting with Trump

WASHINGTON - Joe Biden lamented the “ open wound ” of the nation ’ s systemic racism on Friday as he responded to the police killing of a black man in Minnesota .
He drew an implicit contrast with President Donald Trump , who has suggested authorities could respond with violence to the protests that followed George Floyd ’ s death .
“ The original sin of this country still stains our nation today , ” Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , said in remarks broadcast from his home in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at uncomfortable truths.
” Biden announced his bid for the presidency last year arguing he ’ s uniquely positioned to unite a deeply divided country .
He pointed to Trump ’ s response to a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville , Virginia , as unworthy of America ’ s people and values .
As the country endures another spasm of racial unrest , the central premise of Biden ’ s campaign is being tested .
Biden is responding by positioning himself as an empathetic counter to Trump , who often struggles to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level during moments of crisis .
Biden said he spoke with Floyd ’ s family and demanded justice for his death while calling for “ real police reform that holds all cops up to the high standards that so many of them actually meet.
” The president later said that he , too , had spoken with Floyd ’ s family and called them “ terrific people.
” Trump initially condemned police actions in Floyd ’ s death but later agitated the unrest by tweeting that protesters could be met with violent police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring Minneapolis “ under control , ” called violent protesters outraged by the killing “ thugs ” and revived a civil-rights-era phrase fraught with racist overtones .
“ When the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” Trump wrote in a tweet that was flagged by Twitter as violating rules against “ glorifying violence.
” The White House said the president “ did not glorify violence .
He clearly condemned it.
” By Friday afternoon , Trump sought to acknowledge the shocking circumstances of Floyd ’ s death while commending law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain , obviously , and couldn ’ t breathe , ” the president said of Floyd .
“ It was a very , very sad thing for me to see it .
We also know that most policemen , you see the great job they do.
“ Biden , without mentioning Trump by name , made clear he would approach the presidency differently .
“ This is no time for incendiary tweets .
This is no time to encourage violence , ” Biden said .
“ This is a national crisis , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leadership that will bring everyone to the table so we can take measures to root out systemic racism.
” Later appearing on PBS , Biden pointed more openly at Trump : “ I think this president has stoked racism.
” “ America is on fire , ” she said in an interview Friday .
“ And this president is standing there with gasoline .
He is dangerous .
He ’ s destructive , he ’ s dangerous and he can ’ t even rise to this occasion.
” Amid the outrage , Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country feel what it was like to be African American in modern U.S. society .
“ Every day , African Americans go about their lives with constant anxiety and trauma , wondering who will be next , ” he said , adding , “ the anger and the frustration and the exhaustion — it ’ s undeniable.
” Biden must go beyond establishing himself as a calming alternative to the president and demonstrate that he will take action that spurs the unity he ’ s promised .
It ’ s a feat he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he wants to inspire African Americans to turn out for him in November .
The task is especially critical after Biden suggested last week that African American voters who were still undecided between him and Trump “ ain ’ t black , ” a comment that some black leaders said were interpreted as taking their votes for granted .
Biden quickly said he regretted the comment .
NAACP President Derrick Johnson said he believes the nation is in chaos because of a lack of leadership in the White House .
But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people in positions of power who will be willing to boldly address the needs of affected communities .
“ I think the real question is , what are people going to do about it and how are those who are in positions of authority , and those who are seeking positions of authority , how are they going to lay out a plan moving forward ?
” Johnson said .
“ It ’ s about what is the collective will of this society to address the systemic deficits that we all know so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address.
” Moments of acute racial tension have afforded platforms for leadership from presidential candidates in the past .
Robert F. Kennedy was seeking the White House in April 1968 and arriving in Indianapolis when he learned that Martin Luther King Jr. had been shot and killed .
Kennedy stood on a flatbed truck and spoke about the country having to move past the terrible moments of racial strife — comments later credited with preventing unrest .
Kennedy was assassinated two months later .
Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza said Biden needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with black people and create a more robust black agenda that specifically tackles the need for policing reform and more .
“ Black people can not wait for an agenda that speaks to how it is that our lives will change under a new administration , ” Garza said .
“ We currently have a president who is inciting violence against black communities and yet , on the other hand , we have somebody who wants to lead this country that needs to go further in their plans , proposals and their vision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with the state of emergency that black communities are facing.
” “ It is not enough to engage in politics as usual , ” Garza added , “ and expect results , as usual.
” Stafford reported from Detroit .
Associated Press writer Alan Fram in Washington contributed to this report .

Will Weissert And Kat Stafford - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Trump walks back his incendiary Minneapolis ‘thugs’ post

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has tried to walk back his post-midnight “ thugs ” tweet about Minneapolis protesters that added to outrage over the police killing of a black man .
Trump ’ s repeated condemnation of the killing and outreach to the man ’ s family was a marked change in tone from his earlier comments that also invoked a civil-rights-era phrase fraught with racist overtones .
“ When the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” Trump had written in a tweet that was quickly flagged by Twitter as violating rules against “ glorifying violence.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misconstrued .
“ Frankly it means when there ’ s looting , people get shot and they die , ” he said .
Trump ’ s explanation did little to satisfy hundreds of protesters who gathered outside the White House into early Saturday , shouting “ No justice , no peace ” as well as an obscene chant directed at the president .
Trump ’ s whiplash comments came after protesters torched a Minneapolis police station on Thursday night , following three days of searing demonstrations over the death of George Floyd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air as a white police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes .
And they underscored Trump ’ s complicated relationship with race as he tries to maintain a law-and-order mantle while looking to appeal to black voters during an election year .
They also highlighted his refusal to avoid controversy or cede the spotlight even as the battered nation tries to make sense of another killing and reels over the mounting COVID-19 death toll .
Trump , in his tweets , borrowed a phrase once used by former Miami Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlining his department ’ s efforts to “ combat young hoodlums who have taken advantage of the civil rights campaign.
” In the speech , Headley said his department had been successful “ because I ’ ve let the word filter down that when the looting starts , the shooting starts.
“ “ We don ’ t mind being accused of police brutality , ” he said in the same speech , according to news reports from the time .
Trump , after hours of backlash , said Friday evening that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But I ’ ve heard it for a long time , as most people have .
And frankly it means when there ’ s looting , people get shot and they die , ” he said .
Trump also revealed that he had been in touch with Floyd ’ s family as he continued to denounce the circumstances of the man ’ s killing , which he called “ a terrible insult to police and to policemen.
” “ I just expressed my sorrow , ” Trump told reporters .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and couldn ’ t breathe .
And it was very obvious to anybody that watched it.
“ Still , Trump called on protesters to keep their demonstrations peaceful .
“ The family of George is entitled to justice , and the people of Minnesota are entitled to live in safety , “ he said .
“ Law and order will prevail.
” Criticism of the Trump ’ s tweet had been swift , with his presumptive Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden saying it was “ no time for incendiary tweets , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not helpful , “ said Minnesota ’ s Democratic Gov .
Tim Walz .
“ Anything we do to add fuel to that fire is really , really challenging.
” Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver , D-Mo.
, said that , as the country passed the grim milestone of more than 100,000 COVID-19 deaths , Trump had missed a chance to help the public cope with “ two viruses : One is the coronavirus and the other is the virus of racial animus.
” Trump has been accused of stoking racial tensions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he ran for president , beginning with the full-page ads he ran in 1989 calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five , five young men of colour who were wrongly convicted of assaulting a white jogger .
Trump — who rarely holds his tongue — has been silent in the face of a long list of high-profile killings by police of black men , including Eric Garner , who was placed in a chokehold and whose dying words , “ I can ’ t breathe , ” became a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement .
( Trump has instead invoked those words on several occasions to mock political rivals , even bringing his hands to his neck for dramatic effect . )
He spent years railing against NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other players for kneeling during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality .
And in one speech he appeared to advocate rougher treatment of people in custody , speaking dismissively of the police practice of shielding the heads of handcuffed suspects as they are being placed in patrol cars .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign have tried to make inroads with black Americans , particularly after Biden suggested last week that black voters who support Trump “ ain ’ t black.
” A bedrock of the Democratic base , black Americans are unlikely to embrace Trump en masse , but his campaign believes even a marginal shift could make a difference — and send a message to white voters uneasy about the president ’ s charged rhetoric .
Meanwhile , the unrest complicates the Trump campaign ’ s plans for Minnesota , one of the key swing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twitter ’ s decision to flag Trump ’ s tweet — the second time it has acted this week — came a day after he signed an executive order challenging the social media giant ’ s protections against lawsuits as he accuses it of stifling conservative voices .
The warning label prevented the tweet from being shared or liked , though it could still be viewed by users .
The White House , trying to skirt the blockage , reposted the message on its own official Twitter account Friday morning .
Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing the White House of promoting violence .
Supporters of the president balked at the move .
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale accused the media , Biden and other Democrats of “ purposefully misrepresenting what the President had said , and showing once again that they are incapable of resisting their base impulse of dividing Americans , solely for the purpose of political gain , ratings , and cable news profit .
”

Jill Colvin And Zeke Miller - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--China says US action on Hong Kong ‘doomed to fail’

BEIJING - The mouthpiece of China ’ s ruling Communist Party said U.S. moves to end some trading privileges for Hong Kong “ grossly interfere ” in China ’ s internal affairs and are “ doomed to fail.
” Saturday ’ s editorial in the newspaper People ’ s Daily was responding to an announcement from President Donald Trump , after China ’ s ceremonial parliament bypassed Hong Kong ’ s local legislature to advance legislation that could severely curtail free speech and opposition political activities in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory .
It was the “ firm determination of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hong Kong affairs by any external forces , the paper said .
“ This hegemonic act of attempting to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and grossly interfere in China ’ s internal affairs will not frighten the Chinese people and is doomed to fail , “ it said .
Attempts at “ forcing China to make concessions on core interests including sovereignty and security through blackmailing or coercion ... can only be wishful thinking and day-dreaming !
” China has threatened to retaliate over the U.S. move to cancel trading advantages granted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Chinese rule in 1997 .
Tensions over Hong Kong have increased over the past year as China has cracked down on protesters and strengthened its control over the Asian financial hub .
Critics say the vote Thursday at the National People ’ s Congress to impose security legislation on Hong Kong effectively negates Beijing ’ s pledge to maintain the territory ’ s separate civil , legal and economic institutions under the “ one country , two systems “ framework .
Trump said the administration would begin eliminating the “ full range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kong a relationship with the U.S. that mainland China lacked , including exemptions from controls on certain exports .
“ China has replaced its promised formula of one country , two systems , with one country , one system , ” he said .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo notified Congress on Wednesday that Hong Kong is no longer deserving of the preferential trade and commercial status it has enjoyed from the U.S.
It ’ s not yet clear what impact the decision will have on U.S. companies that operate in Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position as Asia ’ s major financial hub .
Beijing has yet to give details on what specific measures it will take in response , although the People ’ s Daily editorial said China was prepared to make a “ resolute counterattack and what awaits you can only be a shameful failure.
” In Hong Kong on Saturday , Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng said it was “ completely false and wrong ” to say the territory was losing its autonomy .
China ’ s central authorities have the absolute right to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cheng told reporters .
She also criticized the U.S. , saying “ any other state that tries to use coercion or whatever means with a view to interfering with the sovereign right of a state to pass its own national security law is arguably infringing on the principle of non-intervention under public international law , and that is not acceptable.
” China passed the Hong Kong national security law after stiff public opposition scuppered a previous attempt by the territory ’ s legislature to pass such legislation in 2003 .
Beijing ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by months of anti-government protests in Hong Kong that frequently led to violent confrontations between police and the largely youthful demonstrators .
China repeatedly accused foreign governments and international organizations of fueling the demonstrations , while showing no direct evidence .
Speculation over Washington ’ s response has included the possibility that those connected with the crackdown , including members of the Hong Kong police force , could face U.S. travel bans or other sanctions .
“ It is now clear that Hong Kong is caught in the middle of major China-U.S. tensions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong .
Businesses face multiple unanswered questions about the unraveling of the special trading relationship and it “ won ’ t be like flipping a switch , “ Joseph said .
Associated Press writer Zen Soo in Hong Kong contributed to this report .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Truck drives through Florida protesters; no serious injuries

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. - A pickup truck drove through a crowd of protesters Saturday in Florida ’ s capital , sending some running and screaming as the vehicle stopped and started and at one point had a person on its hood , police said .
Video shows Tallahassee protesters walking around the truck as it stopped at a traffic light , while some appeared to speak to the driver .
In one video , a bottle was apparently smashed against the widow and the truck then suddenly accelerated , knocking several people to the side , but no serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest demanding justice for George Floyd was one of several in Florida and dozens across the nation .
Demonstrators outraged over Floyd ’ s death faced off against heavily-armed officers in other states Friday , with some smashing police cars , ransacking businesses and setting fires that smouldered through the night .
An officer , who is seen on video pressing his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes as Floyd begged for air , was charged Friday in Floyd ’ s death .
Lucas von Hollen , an IT instructor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were chanting , marching and carrying signs Saturday near the Capitol building when he heard a distinct scream of fear .
He looked out a window from a second-floor work building and saw the burgundy pickup .
He said it slowed down as some protesters moved aside , while others remained in place .
“ Then the truck revved its engines … a couple people got out of the way , but some people didn ’ t , and it just drove straight through the crowd , ” he said .
Witnesses said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to stop .
Tallahassee Police immediately handcuffed the driver , shut down the street and redirected protesters to another area .
Police did not release the name of the driver or say whether he would face any charges , saying details would be forwarded to the state attorney once the investigation was complete .
“ This is an extremely tense , emotional time across the nation , “ Chief Lawrence Revell said in a statement .
“ Mutual respect among all of us is vital .
The Tallahassee Police Department supports the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their constitutional right to do so while making every effort to maintain a safe environment for our community.
” Von Hollen said police responded swiftly and efficiently in full force , separating the driver and protesters before the situation could escalate , adding he felt “ zero sense of danger ” after taking to the streets to catch a glimpse firsthand .
“ Some people were carrying negative signs about the police and the police were helping them out anyway , ” he noted .
“ It was refreshing and a reminder that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other places , but it doesn ’ t seem to be that bad here .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Officials blame differing groups of ‘outsiders’ for violence

WASHINGTON - As protests over the death of George Floyd grow in cities across the U.S. , government officials have been warning of the “ outsiders ” -- groups of organized rioters they say are flooding into major cities not to call for justice but to cause destruction .
But the state and federal officials have offered differing assessments of who the outsiders are .
They ’ ve blamed left-wing extremists , far-right white nationalists and even suggested the involvement of drug cartels .
These leaders have offered little evidence to back up those claims , and the chaos of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceedingly difficult .
Police officers across the country were gearing up Saturday for another night of potentially violent clashes in major cities .
Some states had even called in the National Guard to aid overwhelmed police .
The finger pointing on both sides of the political spectrum is likely to deepen the political divide in the U.S. , allowing politicians to advance the theory that aligns with their political view and distract from the underlying frustrations that triggered the protests .
Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz on Saturday told reporters he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming from elsewhere to stoke the violence and that even drug cartels “ are trying to take advantage of the chaos.
” John Harrington , the state ’ s commissioner of public safety , later said they had received intel reports on white supremacists .
“ But I can not say that we have confirmed observations of local law enforcement to say that we ’ ve seen cells of white supremacists in the area , ” he said Saturday .
But federal officials later pointed “ far left extremist groups.
“ President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Antifa and other radical groups.
” Antifa , short for anti-fascists , is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups that resist neo-Nazis and white supremacists at demonstrations .
Attorney General William Barr later seemed to echo Trump ’ s assertion , saying the violent incidents in Minneapolis were driven by groups using “ Antifa-like tactics.
” Barr vowed that federal prosecutors across the country would use federal riots statutes to charge protesters who cross state lines to participate in violent rioting .
A Justice Department spokesperson said the attorney general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided from state and local law enforcement agencies , but did not detail what that information entailed .
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf was even more vague , declining to point to any particular ideology in his assessment .
His agency has heard that “ a number of different groups are involved in these whether it ’ s Antifa or it ’ s others , frankly , “ he said .
The groups appeared to be organized and using tactics that wouldn ’ t normally happen in peaceful protest , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the motives behind the violence was unclear , there was firmer evidence that some of the protesters were coming to the demonstrations from outside the urban centres that have been the epicenter of the demonstrations .
In New York City , federal officials were bringing charges against several suspects , including one of two sisters from upstate New York accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail through the back window of a police van in Brooklyn , a law enforcement official said .
The initially peaceful demonstrations in New York City over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as night fell Friday .
Protester confronted police officers , destroying police vehicles and setting fires .
In Detroit , 37 of the 60 people who were arrested in overnight protests did not live in the city — and many came from nearby suburbs , police Chief James Craig said Saturday .
Although Detroit is about 80 % black , many of those arrested were white .
“ We support the right to free speech .
We support peaceful protests , ” Craig told reporters .
“ If you want to disrupt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community.
” St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said Saturday he ’ d been told all of those arrested in his city Friday were from outside the state .
“ What we are seeing right now is a group of people who are not from here , ” he said .
Carter expressed the opinion of many black activists in the Twin Cities who have expressed disbelief that local residents would destroy their own neighbourhoods , burning down essential services and damaging small businesses .
And while it was local protesters and groups that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations , it was agitators from elsewhere that strategically escalated the tension by causing damage and setting fires , they said .
Their beliefs were reinforced by the large numbers of white people in the protests in Minneapolis .
“ I think about third of the people are from out of town here to make the city burn , ” said Justin Terrell , executive director of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage .
“ It is just putting black people in a crossfire not just between fascists and anarchists -- but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national guard.
” It ’ s exceedingly difficult in the chaos and dark of the events to prove these claims .
The challenge is made harder in the Minnesota protest , where very few arrest were made in the first two nights of unrest .
St. Paul arrest records showed 18 people were arrested on charges related to civil unrest from Thursday to early Saturday morning .
Of those , only four were from outside the state ; two were listed as unknown .
Still , some civil rights leaders had a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even those who show up to call for justice for Floyd .
“ The moment has passed .
Go home , stay away from here .
We are a vulnerable population .
At the end of that day if black folks can ’ t rebuild then the only thing we ’ ve done is build more power for white folks , “ said Terrell .
” You ’ re talking about years , decades of work undone by these groups -- and by the officer.
” Trump vowed Saturday that the “ radical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ not be allowed to set communities ablaze.
” “ I will not allow angry mobs to dominate , ” he said.
” “ Won ’ t happen.
” Hennessey reported from Minneapolis .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in Cape Canaveral , Fla. , Michael R. Sisak in New York and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report .

Michael Balsamo And Kathleen Hennessey - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Democrats to interview ousted State Department watchdog

WASHINGTON - Members of three House and Senate committees will interview former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on Wednesday as part of an investigation by House Democrats into his abrupt firing by President Donald Trump .
Linick will speak to members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , according to two congressional aides working on the investigation who requested anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting .
Democrats announced Friday that they are expanding their probe into Linick ’ s firing earlier this month with a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a larger effort by Democrats and some Republicans to find out more about Trump ’ s recent moves to sideline several independent government watchdogs .
The Democrats plan to interview multiple officials in the administration who may have more information about Linick ’ s dismissal on May 15 , including whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recommended the firing for retaliatory reasons .
Pompeo has denied Linick ’ s firing was retaliatory but has not given specific reasons for his dismissal .
The investigation is being led by House Foreign Affairs Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney , D-N.Y. , and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez , the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
Republicans on those panels will also be invited to question Linick and other witnesses .
“ If Secretary Pompeo pushed for Mr. Linick ’ s dismissal to cover up his own misconduct , that would constitute an egregious abuse of power and a clear attempt to avoid accountability , ” the Democrats said in a joint statement Friday .
The committees said they will release transcripts shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unclear whether Linick will come to Capitol Hill in person or appear virtually for the transcribed interviews .
The House will be out of session over the coming week as lawmakers work from home during the coronavirus pandemic .
The committee has asked several other State Department officials to sit for interviews in the probe , including Undersecretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao , Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper , Pompeo ’ s executive secretary Lisa Kenna and acting State Department legal adviser Marik String , according to the congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed the administration for more answers about the firings , but the White House has provided few , simply stating the dismissals were well within Trump ’ s authority .
Pompeo said after the firing that he had been concerned about the inspector general ’ s work for some time and that he regretted not calling for his dismissal earlier .
He said he recommended to Trump that Linick be terminated .
Pompeo told reporters that he was unaware of any investigation into allegations that he may have mistreated staffers by instructing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his wife such as walking his dog and picking up dry cleaning and takeout food .
Thus , Pompeo said , the move could not have been retaliatory .
Pompeo did acknowledge that he was aware of an investigation into his decision last year to bypass congressional objections to approve a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Saudi Arabia because he had answered written questions about it posed by Linick ’ s office .
He maintained he did not know the scope or scale of the investigation .
Engel and Menendez have been demanding answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo personally for months on a variety of topics that goes far beyond Linick ’ s dismissal .
After complaining for more than a year that Pompeo and his staff have either refused to respond or provided only perfunctory answers to questions posed on personnel and policy matters , the two Democrats and their Democratic committee colleagues have teamed up to try to force a complete explanation from Pompeo and the White House as to why Trump fired Linick .
Engel and Menendez earlier demanded that administration officials preserve and turn over all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They said they have received no information so far .
Linick is one of several inspectors general whom Trump has removed from office , sparking outrage among Democrats who say the administration is undermining government accountability .
Linick was an Obama administration appointee whose office was critical of what it saw as political bias in the State Department ’ s current management but had also taken issue with Democratic appointees .
He played a small role in Trump ’ s impeachment last year .
In October , Linick turned over documents to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a close Pompeo associate that contained information from debunked conspiracy theories about Ukraine ’ s role in the 2016 U.S. election .
Democrats were probing Trump ’ s pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrats .
Linick is the second inspector general to be fired who was involved with the impeachment process .
Michael Atkinson , the former inspector general for the intelligence community , triggered the impeachment probe when he alerted Congress about a whistleblower complaint that described a call between Trump and Ukraine ’ s president last summer .
Trump fired Atkinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidence in him .
Sen. Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , has said the White House is legally required to provide more answers to Congress about the firings and gave Trump a deadline to give them .
But in a letter to Grassley this week , the administration offered no new details about why they were let go .
The response from White House counsel Pat Cipollone said that Trump has the authority to remove inspectors general , that he appropriately alerted Congress and that he selected qualified officials as replacements .
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Department of Health and Human Services , Christi Grimm , who testified that her office was moving ahead with new reports and audits on the department ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic despite Trump ’ s public criticism of her .
In addition , Trump demoted acting Defence Department Inspector General Glenn Fine , effectively removing him as head of a special board to oversee auditing of the coronavirus economic relief package .
Fine later resigned .

Mary Clare Jalonick And Matthew Lee - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Tear gas and burning cars in US cities as unrest continues

MINNEAPOLIS - Tense protests over the death of George Floyd and other police killings of black men grew Saturday from New York to Tulsa to Los Angeles , with police cars set ablaze and reports of injuries mounting on all sides as the country lurched toward another night of unrest after months of coronavirus lockdowns .
The protests , which began in Minneapolis following Monday ’ s death of George Floyd after a police officer pressed his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for more than eight minutes , have left parts of the city a grid of broken windows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have since become a national phenomenon as protesters decry years of deaths at police hands .
The large crowds involved , with many people not wearing masks or social distancing , raised concerns among health experts about the potential for helping spread the coronavirus pandemic at a time when overall deaths are on the decline nationwide and much of the country is in the process of reopening society and the economy .
After a tumultuous Friday night , racially diverse crowds took to the streets again for mostly peaceful demonstrations in dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The previous day ’ s protests also started calmly , but many descended into violence later in the day .
— In the Greenwood District of Tulsa , Oklahoma , the site of a 1921 massacre of black people that left as many as 300 dead and the city ’ s thriving black district in ruins , protesters blocked intersections and chanted the name of Terence Crutcher , a black man killed by a police officer in 2016 .
— In Tallahassee , Florida , a pickup truck drove through a crowd of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the vehicle stopped and started and at one point had a person on its hood , police said , but no serious injuries were reported .
Witnesses said a group followed the vehicle and forced it to stop .
Police handcuffed the driver but did not release his name or say whether he would face any charges .
— In Columbia , South Carolina , a television reporter for WIS-TV was injured by rocks thrown outside the main police station .
Several hundred people participated in the demonstration , tearing down the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the building .
They also swarmed a police car , breaking its windows , The State reported .
— In Los Angeles protesters chanted “ Black Lives Matter , ” some within inches of the face shields of officers .
Police used batons to move the crowd back and fired rubber bullets at demonstrators .
One man used a skateboard to try to break the windshield of a police SUV .
A spray-painted police car burned in the street .
— In New York City , video posted to social media showed officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they took people into custody and cleared streets .
One video showed on officer slam a woman to the ground as he walked past her in the street .
“ Our country has a sickness .
We have to be out here , ” said Brianna Petrisko , among those at lower Manhattan ’ s Foley Square , where most were wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ This is the only way we ’ re going to be heard.
” Back in Minneapolis , the city where the protests began , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent days reflects longstanding frustration and rage in the black community .
“ I don ’ t condone them , ” he said .
“ But you have to look deeper into why these riots are happening.
” Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz fully mobilized the state ’ s National Guard and promised a massive show of force .
“ The situation in Minneapolis is no longer in any way about the murder of George Floyd , ” Walz said .
“ It is about attacking civil society , instilling fear and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen major cities nationwide imposed overnight curfews ranging from 6 p.m. in parts of South Carolina to 10 p.m. around Ohio .
People were also told to be off the streets of Atlanta , Denver , Los Angeles and Minneapolis - where thousands ignored the same order the previous night .
The unrest comes at a time when most Americans have spent months inside over concerns surrounding the coronavirus , which the president has called an “ invisible enemy.
” The events of the last 72 hours , seen live on national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sudden pivot to crowds , screaming protesters and burning buildings , a stark contrast to the empty streets of recent months .
Hundreds of people were arrested Friday , and police used batons , rubber bullets and pepper spray to push back crowds in some cities .
Many departments reported injured officers , while social media was awash in images of police using forceful tactics , throwing protesters to the ground , using bicycles as shields and trampling one protester while on horseback .
This week ’ s unrest recalled the riots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the acquittal of the white police officers who beat Rodney King , a black motorist who had led them on a high-speed chase .
The protests of Floyd ’ s killing have gripped many more cities , but the losses in Minneapolis have yet to approach the staggering totals Los Angeles saw during five days of rioting in 1992 , when more than 60 people died , 2,000-plus were injured and thousands arrested , with property damage topping $ 1 billion .
Many protesters spoke of frustration that Floyd ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It came in the wake of the killing in Georgia of Ahmaud Arbery , a black man who was shot dead after being pursued by two white men while running in their neighbourhood , and in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic that has thrown millions out of work , killed more than 100,000 people in the U.S. and disproportionately affected black people .
The officer who held his knee to Floyd ’ s neck as he begged for air was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many protesters are demanding the arrests of the three other officers involved .
President Donald Trump stoked the anger , firing off a series of tweets criticizing Minnesota ’ s response , ridiculing people who protested outside the White House and warning that if protesters had breached its fence they would “ have been greeted with the most vicious dogs , and most ominous weapons , I have ever seen.
” Leaders in many affected cities have voiced outrage over Floyd ’ s killing and expressed sympathy for protesters ’ concerns .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a desperate need to protect their cities and said they would call in reinforcements , despite concerns that could lead to more heavy-handed tactics .
Minnesota has steadily increased to 1,700 the number of National Guardsmen it says it needs to contain the unrest , and the governor is considering a potential offer of military police put on alert by the Pentagon .
Governors in Georgia , Kentucky , Ohio and Texas also activated the National Guard after protests there turned violent overnight , while nighttime curfews were put in place in Portland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police in St. Louis were investigating the death of a protester who climbed between two trailers of a Fed Ex truck and was killed when it drove away .
And a person was killed in the area of protests in downtown Detroit just before midnight after someone fired shots into an SUV , officers said .
Police had initially said someone fired into the crowd from an SUV .
In Atlanta , where crews worked Saturday to clean up glass and debris from rioting the night before , a large electronic billboard flashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta PLEASE GO HOME , ” echoing pleas from the mayor .
Numerous AP journalists contributed from across the U.S .

Tim Sullivan And Aaron Morrison - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--‘Back in the game’: SpaceX ship blasts off with 2 astronauts

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. - A rocket ship built by Elon Musk ’ s SpaceX company thundered away from Earth with two Americans on Saturday , ushering in a new era in commercial space travel and putting the United States back in the business of launching astronauts into orbit from home soil for the first time in nearly a decade .
NASA ’ s Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode skyward aboard a white-and-black , bullet-shaped Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon 9 rocket , lifting off at 3:22 p.m. from the same launch pad used to send Apollo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Minutes later , they slipped safely into orbit .
“ Let ’ s light this candle , ” Hurley said just before ignition , borrowing the historic words used by Alan Shepard on America ’ s first human spaceflight , in 1961 .
The two men are scheduled to arrive Sunday at the International Space Station , 250 miles above Earth , for a stay of up to four months , after which they will come home with a Right Stuff-style splashdown at sea , something the world hasn ’ t witnessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid the gloom of the coronavirus outbreak , which has killed more than 100,000 Americans , and racial unrest across the U.S. over the case of George Floyd , the handcuffed black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police .
NASA officials and others expressed hope the flight would lift American spirits and show the world what the U.S. can do .
“ We are back in the game .
It ’ s very satisfying , ” said Doug Marshburn , of Deltona , Florida , who shouted , “ USA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 260-foot rocket climb skyward .
SpaceX becomes the first private company to launch people into orbit , a feat achieved previously by only three governments : the U.S. , Russia and China .
“ This is something that should really get people right in the heart of anyone who has any spirit of exploration , ” Musk , the visionary also behind the Tesla electric car company , said after liftoff , pounding his chest with his fist .
The flight also ended a nine-year launch drought for NASA .
Ever since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , NASA has relied on Russian spaceships launched from Kazakhstan to take U.S. astronauts to and from the space station .
Over the past few years , NASA outsourced the job of designing and building its next generation of spaceships to SpaceX and Boeing , awarding them $ 7 billion in contracts in a public-private partnership aimed at driving down costs and spurring innovation .
Boeing ’ s spaceship , the Starliner capsule , is not expected to fly astronauts until early 2021 .
NASA plans to rely in part on commercial partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sending astronauts back to the moon within a few years , and on to Mars in the 2030s .
At a post-liftoff rally held at NASA ’ s massive 525-foot-high Vehicle Assembly Building , President Donald Trump commended Musk and proclaimed : “ Today we once again proudly launch American astronauts on American rockets , the best in the world , from right here on American soil.
” He vowed the U.S. will be the first to land on Mars , promising a “ future of American dominance in space.
” Vice-President Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said that as the nation deals with the coronavirus and racial strife , “ I believe with all my heart that millions of Americans today will find the same inspiration and unity of purpose that we found in those days in the 1960s ” during Apollo .
The first attempt to launch the rocket , on Wednesday , was called off with less than 17 minutes to go in the countdown because of lightning .
On Saturday , stormy weather threatened another postponement for most of the day , but the skies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The astronauts set out for the launch pad in a gull-wing Tesla SUV after Behnken pantomimed a hug of his 6-year-old son , Theo , and said : “ Are you going to listen to Mommy and make her life easy ?
” Hurley blew kisses to his 10-year-old son and wife .
Nine minutes after liftoff , the rocket ’ s first-stage booster landed , as designed , on a barge a few hundred miles off the Florida coast , to be reused on another flight .
“ Thanks for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told SpaceX ground control .
The two crewmates batted around a floating blue dinosaur plush toy doubling as a dragon , demonstrating that they had reached zero gravity .
SpaceX controllers at Hawthorne , California , cheered and applauded wildly , and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine declared : “ This is everything that America has to offer in its purest form.
” Attendance inside Kennedy Space Center was strictly limited because of the coronavirus , and the crowd amounted to only a few thousand .
By NASA ’ s count , over 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA ’ s insistence that the public stay safe by staying home , spectators flocked to beaches and roads , some of them not wearing masks or keeping 6 feet from others .
Among the spectators was Neil Wight , a machinist from Buffalo , New York .
“ With everything that ’ s going on in this country right now , it ’ s important that we do things extraordinary in life , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve been bombarded with doom and gloom for the last six , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this is awesome .
It brings a lot of people together.
” Hurley , a 53-year-old retired Marine , and Behnken , 49 , an Air Force colonel , are veterans of two space shuttle flights each .
Because of the coronavirus , the astronauts were kept in quasi-quarantine for more than two months .
The SpaceX technicians who helped them get into their spacesuits wore masks and gloves that made them look like black-clad ninjas .
And the SpaceX controllers had masks and were seated far apart .
In keeping with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the astronauts wore angular white uniforms with black trim .
Instead of the usual multitude of dials , knobs and switches , the Dragon capsule has three large touchscreens .
Once settled in orbit , Hurley disclosed that the capsule has been christened Endeavour , a storied name in the history of exploration , also given to one of the space shuttles .
SpaceX has been launching cargo capsules to the space station since 2012 .
Under the new corporate-public model , aerospace companies design , build , own and operate spaceships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customer on a list that could eventually include non-government researchers , artists and tourists .
( Tom Cruise has already expressed interest . )
Saturday ’ s mission is technically considered a test flight .
The next SpaceX voyage to the space station , set for the end of August , will have a full , four-person crew : three Americans and one Japanese .
The first flight was originally targeted for around 2015 .
But the project encountered bureaucratic delays and technical setbacks .
A SpaceX capsule exploded on the test stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Starliner capsule ended up in the wrong orbit and was nearly destroyed during a test flight in December .
For SpaceX and the future of public-corporate space exploration , the stakes on Saturday were extraordinarily high .
With the spaceship finally on its way , Musk got choked up talking about the weight of his responsibility for the astronauts ’ lives and their families and noted that the return to Earth is more dangerous in some ways than ascent , “ so we don ’ t want to declare victory yet.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t nervous about the launch on Saturday the way he was during the previous attempt .
“ Today , I don ’ t know , it felt like just the fates were aligned , ” he said .
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Mike Schneider in Cape Canaveral , Fla. , contributed to this report .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--The Latest: Inslee activates National Guard due to protests

SEATTLE - The Latest on protests in the Northwest sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis ( all times local ) : Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee on Saturday evening activated up to 200 members of the National Guard to respond to violent protests in downtown Seattle that forced the closure of Interstate 5 and the imposition of a citywide curfew .
Inslee said the guard personnel will be unarmed and be directed by Seattle officials , who requested the help to protect property and manage crowds who had gathered in response to the killing of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced a 5 p.m. curfew for Saturday following rowdy protests that spilled onto Interstate 5 , forcing the freeway ’ s closure through the central part of the Northwest ’ s largest city .
Thousands of people gathered in downtown and a largely peaceful early afternoon rally turned rowdier , with police pepper spraying demonstrators and deploying flash bands .
Police said arrests were made but an exact figure wasn ’ t available .
Portland ’ s mayor declared an 8 p.m. PDT curfew for Saturday after that city saw fiery protests Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both directions of Interstate 5 through downtown Seattle as a protest over the killing of George Floyd spilled onto the freeway Saturday afternoon .
“ The freeway is not a safe or appropriate place for demonstration , ” state patrol Chief John Batiste said in a statement .
Thousands of people gathered in downtown and a largely peaceful early afternoon rally turned rowdier , with police pepper spraying demonstrators and deploying flash bands .
Police said arrests were made but an exact figure wasn ’ t available .
Thousands of people gathered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd and a largely peaceful gathering turned rowdier Saturday afternoon .
Police deployed flash bangs and pepper sprayed some demonstrators who got close to police lines .
Police on bicycles pushed back several protesters .
A police spokeswoman , Sgt .
Lauren Truscott , said some people were arrested though she didn ’ t have an exact figure .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Squad cars damaged, protesters struck with batons in Chicago

CHICAGO - Several police cars were damaged , including at least one set on fire , as protests continued Saturday over the death of George Floyd , a handcuffed black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes .
Officers struck multiple demonstrators with batons amid the protest near the Trump Tower on the city ’ s Near North Side , the Chicago Sun-Times reported .
Video sent out by another local reporter also showed police in tactical gear walking on a downtown street .
The crowd of thousands converged on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s protest march .
The demonstration began at 2 p.m. and protesters began marching north about 90 minutes later , the Chicago Tribune reported .
Saturday ’ s demonstration came after Chicago officials , following overnight clashes with protesters , asked that additional protests remain peaceful .
Demonstrations are expected throughout the weekend over Floyd ’ s death .
Chicago police Superintendent David Brown said peaceful protests that began Friday afternoon turned more confrontational as the night wore on , resulting in 108 arrests .
Protesters blocked traffic along major streets , threw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shattered the windows of downtown businesses .
About a dozen squad cars were damaged and some officers suffered minor injuries , including a broken wrist .
The violence in Chicago and many other cities was sparked by anger over over Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis on Monday , which was captured on cellphone video .
It led to the firing Tuesday of the four police officers who were arresting Floyd for suspicion of passing a counterfeit bill and to third-degree murder and manslaughter charges being filed Friday against the officer who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more than eight minutes , even as Floyd pleaded for air and went limp .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Launch gives spectators pride, reprieve from troubled times

TITUSVILLE , Fla. - For many spectators who filled parks , beaches and roads along Florida ’ s Space Coast , the launch of two astronauts into orbit Saturday was a welcome accomplishment and a reprieve from the coronavirus pandemic , economic worries and now unrest in the streets .
“ With everything that ’ s going on in this country right now , it ’ s important that we do things extraordinary in life , ” said Neil Wight , a machinist from Buffalo who drove from upstate New York to watch the launch .
“ We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last six , eight weeks , whatever it is , and this is awesome.
” Dressed in a white astronaut costume , helmet included , Tampa lawyer Tim Engelbrecht marveled at the sight of the rocket lifting off 15 miles away , from a park in Titusville where he watched with his wife and children .
“ It ’ s nice to come out here and have everybody of every stripe , every interest and every opinion come together for something we can all believe in and get behind , ” Engelbrecht @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humankind take the next step is really kind of encouraging , especially in these tough times.
” Doug Marshburn of Deltona , Florida , shouted out , “ USA .
USA .
We ’ re back in the race , ” as the SpaceX rocket lifted through clouds above Kennedy Space Center .
Around him , spectators screamed , whistled and clapped after shouting out the countdown from the 10-second mark .
They lifted cameras and cellphones in the air to record the moment .
“ I ’ m very proud of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the game .
It ’ s very satisfying , ” Marshburn said .
Saturday ’ s launch was the first of NASA astronauts from Florida since 2011 , when the space shuttle program ended , and the first by a private company .
Since then , Americans have flown on Russian rockets , the only way to and from the International Space Station .
Many spectators had been there just days earlier on Wednesday for the first launch attempt , which was scrubbed due to the weather .
Because of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming for the launch of astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken and had drastically limited employees and visitors inside Kennedy Space Center .
At Space View Park in Titusville , few spectators wore masks and there wasn ’ t much social distancing .
Instead , there was tailgating , lines for the Italian ice truck and a pizza worker who sold dozens of pizzas from an SUV .
After Wednesday ’ s scrub , Sarah Bryant , along with her sister , Jen Bryant , and four children between them , decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from outside Houston to Florida for the launch .
They were on the road for 20 hours , and dealt with a blown tire and a checkpoint at the Florida state line meant to ward off people with coronavirus , before arriving early Saturday .
Sarah Bryant ’ s 14-year-old son , Brooks , is obsessed with space , and had written out a checklist of all the steps in the launch process .
“ We just decided to come and within 24 hours we were on the road , ” said Jen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at NASA ’ s Johnson Space Center on the space station program , had driven from Houston with his wife , Charlene , and preschool-aged boys , Miles and Carter , to be at Wednesday ’ ’ s attempt .
They came back Saturday and were rewarded by watching the rocket stream through the air .
“ For so long , yes , we hear the astronauts are going to space , but you don ’ t see them leave or come from here , “ Francis said .
“ Now look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astronauts leave from U.S. soil .
”


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Trump calls for delay in Group of 7 meeting, seeks expansion

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Saturday he will postpone a meeting of Group of 7 nations until fall and @ @ @ @ @ the group ’ s membership because he considers it an outdated group that doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ s taking place in the world .
The G7 members are Canada , France , @ @ @ @ @ , the United Kingdom and the United States .
Trump singled out Russia , Australia @ @ @ @ @ as possible additions .
The leaders of the world ’ s major economies were slated @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. , but the coronavirus outbreak hobbled those plans .
Trump told reporters aboard @ @ @ @ @ returned from Florida that he had not yet set a new date , but he @ @ @ @ @ place in September around the time of the annual meeting of the United Nations .
@ @ @ @ @ wait until after the November election .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--US cities fear protests may fuel new wave of virus outbreaks

LOS ANGELES - The massive protests sweeping across U.S. cities following the police killing of a black man in Minnesota have sent shudders through the health community and elevated fears that the huge crowds will lead to a new surge in cases of the coronavirus .
Some leaders appealing for calm in places where crowds smashed storefronts and destroyed police cars in recent nights have been handing out masks and warning demonstrators they were putting themselves at risk .
“ If you were out protesting last night , you probably need to go get a COVID test this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday evening .
“ There is still a pandemic in America that ’ s killing black and brown people at higher numbers.
” Minnesota ’ s governor said too many protesters weren ’ t socially distancing or wearing masks after heeding the call earlier in the week .
But many seemed undeterred .
“ It ’ s not OK that in the middle of a pandemic we have to be out here risking our lives , ” Spence Ingram said Friday after marching with other protesters to the state capitol in Atlanta .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ my life and fight for my life all the time.
” Ingram , 25 , who was wearing a mask , said she has asthma and was worried about contracting the virus .
But she said as a black woman , she always felt that her life was under threat from police and she needed to protest that .
The demonstrations over the killing of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis officer pressed a knee into his neck , are coming at a time when many cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s especially worrisome for health experts who fear that silent carriers of the virus who have no symptoms could unwittingly infect others at gatherings with people packed cheek to jowl and cheering and jeering without masks .
“ Whether they ’ re fired up or not that doesn ’ t prevent them from getting the virus , ” said Bradley Pollock , chairman of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California , Davis .
Even for the many protesters who have been wearing masks , those don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends cloth masks because they can make it more difficult for infected people to spread the virus — but they are not designed to protect the person wearing the mask from getting it .
The U.S. has been worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak , with more than 1.7 million cases and over 103,000 deaths , according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University .
In New York , where more than 21,000 people have died during the pandemic , a large crowd in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torched a police van Friday outside the Barclays Center .
Officers cleared the crowd by spraying an eye-irritating chemical .
Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz said after another night of unrest in Minneapolis that many protesters wearing masks were simply trying to hide their identities and “ cause confusion and take advantage of this situation.
” “ I will continue to stress , because it seems like a lifetime ago : We are still in the middle of a pandemic and passed 1,000 deaths yesterday .
We still have hospitals on the verge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey echoed those concerns : “ We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one other.
“ The state ’ s health commissioner had warned just days earlier that the massive protests were almost certain to fuel new cases of the virus .
Minnesota reported 35 deaths on Thursday , a single-day high since the start of the outbreak , and 29 more on Friday .
But it wasn ’ t just protesters at risk — unmasked officers stood within arm ’ s reach of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Erika Shields waded into a crowd without a mask Friday while she listened to people air frustrations .
When Los Angeles officials announced earlier in the week that the city was relaxing stay-at-home orders and reopening stores , they said political protests could resume but with a cap of 100 people .
Several hundred people showed up for a protest organized by Black Lives Matter-LA and later shut down a freeway .
Most wore masks , but many did not observe a buffer zone .
Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern .
“ Show respect for each other by putting on that face covering so that your respiratory droplets aren ’ t unintentionally getting into somebody else ’ s mouth , nose or eyes , ” she said .
Those same concerns surfaced Saturday in Paris when unions flouted a ban on large gatherings at a march to protest conditions for workers in the country illegally .
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds and said they had banned the march due to the “ health risks that such an event is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Union on Saturday urged President Donald Trump to rethink his decision to terminate the U.S. relationship with the World Health Organization as spiking infection rates in India and elsewhere reinforced that the pandemic is far from contained .
Trump on Friday charged that the WHO didn ’ t respond adequately to the pandemic and accused the U.N. agency of being under China ’ s “ total control.
” The U.S. is the largest source of financial support for the WHO , and its exit is expected to significantly weaken the organization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive arm urged Trump to reconsider .
“ The WHO needs to continue being able to lead the international response to pandemics , current and future , ” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said .
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Germany ’ s Funke media group that Trump ’ s decision was the “ wrong signal at the wrong time.
” In China , where the virus outbreak began , only four new confirmed cases were reported Saturday , all brought from outside the country .
More than 6 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with over 368,000 deaths and more than 2.5 million recoveries , according to the Johns Hopkins tally .
The true death toll is widely believed to be significantly higher , with experts saying many victims died of the virus without ever being tested for it .
Elite sporting events will be allowed to resume in England starting Monday , but without spectators , paving the way for the planned June 17 return of the Premier League , the world ’ s richest soccer competition .
England ’ s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precarious .
“ I believe this is also a very dangerous moment , ” he said .
“ We have to get this right.
” India registered another record single-day jump of 7,964 cases and 265 deaths .
The government had been expected to end a 2-month-old nationwide lockdown but instead extended measures in some areas due to coronavirus outbreaks .
Italy , though , added 111 new victims to its death toll and nearly 420 new infections , in line with its recent daily tallies , suggesting the virus is under control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gingerly loosening a strict lockdown in the onetime European epicenter of the pandemic .
Seewer reported from Toledo , Ohio .
AP reporters from around the world contributed to this report .

Brian Melley And John Seewer - The Associated Press


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Hong Kong’s protest movement ‘facing the darkest hour’

HONG KONG—Protesters have deleted their social-media accounts , afraid that their messages could be used against them under China ’ s new national security laws .
Young parents have scoured the internet for instructions on emigration .
Organizers have planned rallies , only to cancel them at the last minute in the face of impenetrable police blockades .
Hong Kong ’ s protest movement — which last year cowed the local government and humiliated the authorities in Beijing who direct it — is in crisis .
The tactics that had pushed officials to retreat at times are suddenly inadequate against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and a Chinese Communist Party that has run out of patience .
Many protesters feel they have exhausted their options .
“ It ’ s the beginning of the end , ” said Michael Mo , a protest organizer and local official .
The Chinese government ’ s plan to impose security laws on Hong Kong that could curtail the city ’ s civil liberties has left the freewheeling and decentralized opposition movement seeking not only a next move , but a new vision .
Its campaign for democracy was always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government whose leadership is only accountable to Beijing .
But China ’ s direct intervention has made the challenges even more explicit , forcing a more fundamental reckoning about how to fight back , what the goal is — and whether it is even worth it to try .
Further complicating their calculus , the protesters — a jumble of students , teachers , politicians and activists — find themselves at the centre of a fight between China and the United States .
China ’ s leader , Xi Jinping , sees the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s sovereignty , while U.S. President Donald Trump has cast it as an encroachment on civil liberties , moving on Friday to strip away some of Hong Kong ’ s privileges with the United States .
Some protesters say they will continue to march , futile though it may be , while others who had thrown Molotov cocktails say they now prefer boycotts or strikes .
Some want to preserve Hong Kong ’ s relative autonomy from China , while others have joined the once-taboo call for outright independence .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States ’ pressure on China , but others fear they will become pawns in their rivalry .
What binds many of the protesters together , more than anything , is weariness and dread .
Their demands for universal suffrage — which would allow for direct elections of Hong Kong ’ s chief executive and all lawmakers — and for a more accountable police force remain unmet , despite months of demonstrations .
Now that Beijing has escalated the fight , many protesters realize that they may not be able to do the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could think of last year , ” said Alex Tang , 32 , a labour organizer .
“ Maybe we will come up with something better later .
But in this moment , the people just feel tired.
” The movement ’ s wounded condition has been most evident in the place where it first showed its strength : the streets .
Protests against the national security laws in the past week drew thousands , demonstrating that months of pandemic-induced stasis had not dampened their anger .
But the turnout fell far short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at times , more than one million — who attended some of last year ’ s marches .
Many demonstrators have been deterred by the police ’ s increasingly forceful response .
Last year , peaceful protesters were given wide latitude , and when clashes erupted , they raged for hours .
Protesters lobbed bricks and gasoline bombs , while officers responded with tear gas and rubber bullets .
Now , swarms of anti-riot officers , under the command of a new police chief appointed by Beijing , scatter even peaceful demonstrators with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outset .
On Wednesday , protesters called off a rally at the legislature after hundreds of police officers pre-emptively surrounded the complex .
When the protesters poured into the streets instead , the police detained them en masse , in some cases within an hour .
More than 360 were arrested Wednesday on top of 180 earlier in the week .
Organizers have acknowledged that for some , the cost of protesting may now be too high .
“ My gut feeling is that it might let really peaceful protesters , average Joes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mo said of the pending security laws .
“ They are afraid of being arrested , harassed by police.
” Google searches for the word “ immigration ” in Hong Kong spiked after the national security announcement , an indication that some residents may be searching for an exit strategy .
So many protesters , fearing future arrests , deleted their accounts on messaging app Telegram that others began urging people to stay online .
“ If you are timid , you will lose your whole life , ” a widely circulated message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face everything will there be a turning point.
” But the alternatives to street protests seem increasingly risky .
Activists suggested that labour unions and boycotts of pro-Beijing businesses could offer new avenues for resistance .
That approach had worked in August , when large numbers of air-traffic controllers called in sick , forcing the cancellation of more than 200 flights .
In February , even as the coronavirus made large gatherings impossible , a medical workers ’ strike helped force the government to close parts of the border with the mainland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will be sweeping in scope , could target unions and non-governmental organizations , many of which formed out of last year ’ s protests .
The language of the security plan , which China ’ s legislature approved Thursday , is broad : China could impose laws punishing any “ acts and activities ” that threaten national security , according to state media .
The Global Times , a state-run tabloid , suggested that tweets critical of Beijing could run afoul of the rules .
Officials in Hong Kong and Beijing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to uphold Hong Kong ’ s relative autonomy .
But on the mainland , the party has accused church leaders , union leaders and other organizers of undermining state security .
Timing is also not on the unions ’ side .
The pandemic has further battered Hong Kong ’ s economy , and some workers are reluctant to strike when unemployment is high , said Tang , the labour organizer , whose union of information technology workers is one of the newly formed groups .
That could change if the global recession , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deep income inequalities fuelling many young protesters who feel that they have little to lose .
“ If you just give them some time , and the environment is getting worse , they may just say , ‘ Screw it .
I ’ ll go out anyway , ’ ” Tang said .
In perhaps the clearest sign of how Beijing ’ s latest move has forced many protesters to reassess their strategy , calls for independence for Hong Kong — once a fringe idea — have become common at recent demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed the idea of independence as impractical and needlessly divisive , pointing to Hong Kong ’ s cultural and economic ties with China .
They pushed instead to preserve the city ’ s high degree of autonomy enshrined in the “ one country , two systems ” political formula enacted in 1997 after Britain returned Hong Kong to China .
But activists said the new push by Beijing proved that the status quo was untenable , and that it had jolted awake protesters who thought they could work within the system .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coming election , or they still had some optimistic expectation in the future of the movement , ” said Ventus Lau , 26 , a prominent organizer who identifies as a member of the protests ’ “ radical ” wing , referring to legislative elections in September .
The brazenness of the security laws , which bypassed Hong Kong ’ s government , was “ a very good reminder ” for those people , he continued .
“ We ’ re already facing the darkest hour , ” Lau said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Still , independence remains a deeply fraught , risky topic .
Beijing has said that the national security laws would target secession .
Candidates for elected office can be disqualified for supporting independence .
Several protesters who have joined the recent pro-independence chants said the calls were largely symbolic .
“ When I call for independence , I am simply expressing a wish for the things I am supposed to have , ” such as human rights and free expression , said Win Kwan , a 50-year-old clerk at Sunday ’ s protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marches and protests , but it seems like we hadn ’ t gotten anything.
” Many protesters ’ true hope , they said , rested with the international community , as they no longer believed that Hong Kongers ’ own actions would have any effect on Beijing .
In addition to appealing to the United States and Britain , other protesters have lobbied the United Nations and European Union to condemn the Communist Party .
Many protesters welcomed the United States ’ move this week announcing that it no longer saw Hong Kong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designation that , though intended to punish the mainland , would also jeopardize the city ’ s position as a global commercial hub .
Trump moved forward on Friday with plans to revoke the city ’ s special status with the United States , as well as to sanction Chinese and Hong Kong officials seen as responsible for the erosion of freedoms in the semi-autonomous region .
It is unlikely that such moves would sway the party .
Beijing sees many of the city ’ s activists as colluding with hostile foreign forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mainland — a threat that the security laws expressly seek to quash .
The protesters know they are in for a long fight .
“ Just because we might not see the results in our lifetime doesn ’ t mean that our efforts would disappear , ” said Alice Chan , a 35-year-old high school teacher who attended Sunday ’ s protest .
“ Everything we do now is building the foundation for the generations to come .
”

Vivian Wang,,Tiffany May and Austin Ramzy - The New York Times


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Los Angeles mayor imposes downtown curfew

Protesters were back in the streets Saturday .
Garcetti said everyone must be off the downtown streets of the sprawling @ @ @ @ @ time until 5:30 a.m.. Several police cars were torched Saturday afternoon as some protesters ignored @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations following a night of violence that saw windows smashed , stores robbed and fires @ @ @ @ @ arrested 533 people last night .
This story has been corrected to say that Mayor @ @ @ @ @ is for downtown Los Angeles only .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--US faith leaders wrestle twin traumas in protests, virus

NEW YORK - American religious leaders across faiths are grappling with the heavy burden of helping to heal two active traumas : rising civil unrest driven by the police killing of George Floyd and the coronavirus pandemic .
Christian , Jewish and Muslim leaders have raised their voices to condemn racial bias in the justice system while discouraging violence in response to the killing of Floyd , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck .
Those words of solidarity , for many clergy , came as their worship routines remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to rely on digital or outdoor gathering .
At Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis , which has provided relief and medical help to demonstrators this week as protests roiled the city , associate pastor Angela T. Khabeb said the shared pain caused by Floyd ’ s death was exposing the brutal double toll being exacted on people of colour .
“ There were other pandemics we didn ’ t always talk about that faced black communities , indigenous , Latinx ” before the virus outbreak , Khabeb said , citing “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And then we layer on COVID-19 , which disproportionately affects black , indigenous , Latinx communities.
” Khabeb acknowledged that she felt challenged by the task of tending to her congregation during the current crisis when the latest police killing of a black American had caused “ a crisis of my own that ’ s very personal.
” Among the religious leaders in Minnesota organizing for spiritual care since Floyd ’ s death was Bernard Hebda , the Catholic archbishop of the Twin Cities .
Hebda held a Friday online prayer service “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rev .
Erich Rutten , the priest of a historic African American parish in St. Paul .
The Revs .
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton also travelled to Minneapolis on Thursday , with Jackson speaking at a local Baptist church .
Imam Asad Zaman , the Muslim American Society of Minnesota ’ s executive director , outlined multiple law enforcement reform proposals in response to Floyd ’ s death .
Zaman noted in an op-ed this week that “ the Qur ’ an teaches us that to save a single life is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the frustration sparked by Floyd ’ s killing scorched dozens of other cities , religious denominations nationwide began speaking out to sympathize with the pain that brought protesters into the streets .
White Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged with murder in connection with Floyd ’ s death , which follows the highly-publicized killings of two black Americans this year -- Georgian Ahmaud Arbery , shot while running , and Breonna Taylor , shot by police in her Louisville , Kentucky home .
Seven senior members of the U.S. Conference of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue , “ adding : “ While it is expected that we will plead for peaceful non-violent protests , and we certainly do , we also stand in passionate support of communities that are understandably outraged.
” The National Association of Evangelicals rooted its call for racial equality in the Bible , while Southern Baptist leaders released a statement noting Biblical teachings against “ injustice and the misuse of authority and force.
” One pastor planning to reopen his church for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tension over the public health risk of physical services , said the protests show communities have a strong need for religious institutions during a time of crisis .
“ I think the church is essential , and I think people need church in America , and the church has got to stand against social injustice , ” said Danny Carroll , of Water of Life Community Church in Fontana , California .
For Rev .
Jacqui Lewis , whose church plans to keep forgoing in-person worship as the pandemic goes on , spiritual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as effectively online .
Lewis , senior minister at New York City ’ s Middle Collegiate Church , urged other faith leaders to respond to Floyd ’ s killing by taking their sympathy from words to actions .
“ Grief is not enough .
Prayer is not enough , “ Lewis said .
“ It ’ s a baby , first step for denominations to decry the violence .
The next step is , what will you do to make sure your congregations are not racist ?
” This week ’ s protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared to mark a national day of mourning and lament for those killed by the coronavirus on Monday , an effort backed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors .
Sen. Chris Coons , D-Delaware , part of an accompanying bipartisan congressional proposal for a civic moment of silence , said the effort to honour the dead would “ show the best of what faith means in America.
” The demonstrations also erupted just ahead of the Christian holy day of Pentecost and the Jewish holiday of Shavuot , both celebrated at a set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faiths .
That count imbued this holy day with a more solemn meaning for Rabbi Rick Jacobs , president of the Union for Reform Judaism .
Just as Jews have counted the days between Passover and Shavuot , Jacobs said , they have been “ counting the dead from COVID-19 , and sadly , tragically , we ’ re counting more black people killed in our country at the hands of law enforcement.
” “ We could treat all of these things as separate … but I do think there ’ s an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outsized effect on communities already struggling with racism , he added .
Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation .
The AP is solely responsible for this content .


thetorontostar--2020-05-30--Federal officer killed guarding courthouse near protest

OAKLAND , Calif. - A federal law enforcement officer in California was shot and killed and another wounded while providing security at the U.S. courthouse in Oakland amid one of the increasingly violent protests unfolding around the country .
“ When someone targets a police officer or a police station with an intention to do harm and intimidate — that is an act of domestic terrorism , ” Department of Homeland Security Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said at a Washington , D.C. , news conference Saturday .
The Oakland shooting occurred after a vehicle pulled up outside the Ronald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Friday .
Someone opened fire at two contract security officers who worked for Homeland Security ’ s Federal Protective Service , killing one and critically wounding the other , authorities said .
The officers protect federal court houses as part of their regular duties .
DHS officials said the two officers were monitoring the Oakland protest over the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota .
The identities of the officers have not been released .
A suspect hasn ’ t been named and it wasn ’ t immediately known whether authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the protest .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom called for patience and perspective as the federal investigation plays out .
“ No one should rush to conflate this heinous act with the protests last night , ” he said in a statement .
Federal officials said they ’ re seeing more threats and assaults against law enforcement officers at protests and they will step up security measures to protect them .
“ There are currently threats by some to attack police stations and federal buildings , “ Cuccinelli said .
“ That violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are also committed to ensuring that it won ’ t succeed anywhere.
” Newsom said authorities in California are closely monitoring violent extremist organizations .
“ In California and across the country , there are indications that violent actors may be attempting to use these protests for their own agendas , “ he said .
“ To those who seek to exploit Californians ’ pain to sow chaos and destruction , you are not welcome.
” The protest in downtown Oakland began peacefully but spiraled into chaos late into the night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fires and threw objects at officers .
Police said 13 officers were injured .
The federal building ’ s glass doors were smashed and the front entrance was sprayed with anti-police graffiti .
“ We have to know right from wrong and not use the terrible tragedy in Minneapolis to perpetrate more violence.
“ she said “ There ’ s never an excuse to shoot and kill a security guard , destroy businesses or injure innocent people .
”


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

NEW YORK - A Fox News reporter was pummeled and chased by protesters who had gathered outside the White House early Saturday as part of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd .
For several journalists across the country , the demonstrations were taking an ominous , dangerous turn .
A television reporter in Columbia , S.C. , was hurt by a thrown rock Saturday and a journalist in Minneapolis was shot in the thigh by a rubber bullet .
Demonstrators also broke windows and vandalized the Atlanta office building where CNN is headquartered , and police in Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fired what appeared to be pepper bullets at a television news crew .
Fox ’ s Leland Vittert was rattled following the Washington attack that he said was clearly targeted at his news organization .
“ We took a good thumping , ” he told The Associated Press .
A live shot he was doing was interrupted by a group of protesters who shouted obscenities directed at Fox .
Flanked by two security guards , he and photographer Christian Galdabini walked away from Washington ’ s Lafayette Park trailed by an angry group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there were no markings on him or the crew ’ s equipment to identify them as from Fox .
But he said during the demonstration , one man continually asked him who he worked for .
He didn ’ t answer , but the man found a picture of Vittert on his cellphone 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.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a memo on Saturday that Fox was taking all necessary security precautions to protect its journalists covering the story .
“ We are truly living in unprecedented and transformative times and freedom of the press is a vital element to the foundation of our society , ” Scott wrote .
On Friday , CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and his two-person crew were arrested while covering overnight protests in Minneapolis .
They were quickly released , and Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz apologized to CNN .
CNN ’ s headquarters in Atlanta was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident , and said police would review the video for potential discipline .
Demonstrators surrounded the police department headquarters in Columbia , S.C. on Saturday and a scuffle broke out with someone wearing a “ Make America Great Again ” hat .
Rocks were thrown and Miranda Parnell , a television reporters from WIS-TV , was injured and taken to the hospital , according to a tweet from network anchor Judi Gatson .
It was not clear who threw the rock that hit Parnell .
In Minneapolis on Saturday , a Swedish journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber bullet , apparently from a police gun , while covering a protest , according to the Norwegian newspaper VG .
AP correspondents Mike Stewart in Atlanta , Jari Tanner in Minneapolis and Bruce Schreiner and Dylan Lovan in Louisville , and Jeffrey S. Collins in Columbia , S.C. contributed to this report .