theguardian--2020-05-31--George Floyd protests: the US cities that became hotspots of unrest

Protests have erupted across the US , from coast to coast and north to south , in reaction to the death of George Floyd , an African American man who was killed under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis last Monday .
Major cities from New York to Los Angeles and Miami to Seattle have seen a mix of peaceful demonstrations and violent outbreaks .
Dozens of smaller cities also witnessed protests and fierce unrest .
Under a hardline president gambling all to win re-election , the US is struggling to contain widespread anger over yet another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement officers , while under a coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 104,000 and cratered the economy , exposing stark inequality .
Cities that became hotspots of unrest on Saturday night include : The intersection where George Floyd died is a mass of flowers and chalked tributes and hundreds have marched peacefully in his name .
But riots have broken out nearby too .
The police precinct of the officers who detained Floyd has been burned out .
On Saturday night , crowds breaking curfew were met by massed state troops who overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rubber bullets .
Many locals barricaded businesses against looting and arson .
Demonstrators marched across the Manhattan Bridge , which connects downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn , on Saturday night .
Thousands marched during the day in neighborhoods from Harlem and the East Village to Flatbush and Downtown Brooklyn , demanding an end to police brutality .
Incidents involving Molotov cocktails and police vehicles driving into demonstrators were being investigated .
A state of emergency was declared late on Saturday as two days of discord escalated with looting and vandalism .
The authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control eruptions of violence .
Marchers in Beverley Hills chanted : “ Eat the rich.
” As curfew was lifted on Sunday morning , lines of police officers with helmets and shields were guarding police headquarters .
Evidence of unrest ranged from “ system broken ” spray-painted on a wall to carpets of broken glass and a burned-out squad car .
Local media reported “ passionate crowds ” in other Florida cities such as Tampa , Tallahassee , Coral Gables and Orlando , chanting “ No justice , no peace ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” rally against police mistreatment condemned those who veered from powerful protests in a park to chaotic nighttime marching that resulted in pockets of rioting and fires at the courthouse and city hall .
National guard troops were called in and violent confrontation ensued .
The capital of conservative Utah is not known as hotbed of unrest but a protest denouncing racism and deadly force by law enforcement turned violent on Saturday as protesters set cars on fire and threw rocks at businesses .
Police responded with rubber bullets and arrests , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier , hundreds peacefully marched from the police department to the capitol .
Curfew is mandated from Sunday afternoon until 8am Monday morning after what started as a demonstration where people wore masks against the coronavirus and distributed hand-sanitizer , food and water escalated and businesses were smashed up .
Ohio governor Mike DeWine leaned on state and federal help and pledged to “ bring to justice those whose lawlessness escalated an otherwise peaceful protest to a riot ” .
Other Ohio cities Cincinnati and Columbus also experienced unrest .
Up to 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gathered , banging drums , in front of the courthouse in this North Carolina city .
Demonstrators later stood close to police in riot gear and shouted : “ Who do you protect ?
Who do you serve ?
” When events turned tense then violent , as darkness fell , police fired smoke bombs and teargassed and pepper-sprayed the public and press .
A third night of anger in Kentucky also marked the death in March of resident Breonna Taylor , when police raided her home while she slept in bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple shootings , vandalism and looting .
Taylor ’ s sister Juniyah Palmer said the family wanted non-violent protest and those who escalated were “ no longer doing this for my sister ” .
A second day of protests saw 70 arrests and the deployment of troops ahead of further unrest in Savannah and other places across Georgia .
Atlanta officials have blamed some out-of-area provocateurs for escalating demonstrations into violence in the city , a concern echoed by many other leaders , including in Minneapolis .
Stores were ransacked on Friday but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Eric Johnson went on TV on Sunday morning to note that a majority of the 90 people arrested in the Texas city on Saturday were not from the area .
San Antonio , Texas , is under curfew and Dallas is considering the same while religious leaders organise a prayer gathering on Sunday evening , “ for justice and against racism ” .
George Floyd was from Houston and the city ’ s mayor said his body will be returning there for burial .
Protesters encircled the White House and crowds clashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and metropolitan police officers for a second consecutive night .
The presidential residence was guarded by armored vehicles and personnel as sweating , packed protesters eventually boiled over and threw fireworks and bottles , police swinging batons and firing pepper spay balls in response .
Sporadic looting occurred elsewhere .

Protests have erupted across the US, from coast to coast and north to south, in reaction to the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis last Monday.
Major cities from New York to Los Angeles and Miami to Seattle have seen a mix of peaceful demonstrations and violent outbreaks. Dozens of smaller cities also witnessed protests and fierce unrest.
Under a hardline president gambling all to win re-election, the US is struggling to contain widespread anger over yet another killing of a black American by law enforcement officers, while under a coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly 104,000 and cratered the economy, exposing stark inequality.
Cities that became hotspots of unrest on Saturday night include:
Minneapolis
The intersection where George Floyd died is a mass of flowers and chalked tributes and hundreds have marched peacefully in his name. But riots have broken out nearby too. The police precinct of the officers who detained Floyd has been burned out.
On Saturday night, crowds breaking curfew were met by massed state troops who overwhelmed them with tear gas, flash bombs and rubber bullets. Many locals barricaded businesses against looting and arson.
New York
Demonstrators marched across the Manhattan Bridge, which connects downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn, on Saturday night. Thousands marched during the day in neighborhoods from Harlem and the East Village to Flatbush and Downtown Brooklyn, demanding an end to police brutality. Incidents involving Molotov cocktails and police vehicles driving into demonstrators were being investigated.
Los Angeles
A state of emergency was declared late on Saturday as two days of discord escalated with looting and vandalism. The authorities expressed support for peaceful protest but struggled to control eruptions of violence. Marchers in Beverley Hills chanted: “Eat the rich.”
Miami
As curfew was lifted on Sunday morning, lines of police officers with helmets and shields were guarding police headquarters. Evidence of unrest ranged from “system broken” spray-painted on a wall to carpets of broken glass and a burned-out squad car. Local media reported “passionate crowds” in other Florida cities such as Tampa, Tallahassee, Coral Gables and Orlando, chanting “No justice, no peace”.
Nashville
Organizers of an “I will breathe” rally against police mistreatment condemned those who veered from powerful protests in a park to chaotic nighttime marching that resulted in pockets of rioting and fires at the courthouse and city hall. National guard troops were called in and violent confrontation ensued.
Salt Lake City
The capital of conservative Utah is not known as hotbed of unrest but a protest denouncing racism and deadly force by law enforcement turned violent on Saturday as protesters set cars on fire and threw rocks at businesses. Police responded with rubber bullets and arrests, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, adding that earlier, hundreds peacefully marched from the police department to the capitol.
Cleveland
Curfew is mandated from Sunday afternoon until 8am Monday morning after what started as a demonstration where people wore masks against the coronavirus and distributed hand-sanitizer, food and water escalated and businesses were smashed up. Ohio governor Mike DeWine leaned on state and federal help and pledged to “bring to justice those whose lawlessness escalated an otherwise peaceful protest to a riot”. Other Ohio cities Cincinnati and Columbus also experienced unrest.
Raleigh
Up to 1,000 protesters chanted “We want change” and gathered, banging drums, in front of the courthouse in this North Carolina city. Demonstrators later stood close to police in riot gear and shouted: “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” When events turned tense then violent, as darkness fell, police fired smoke bombs and teargassed and pepper-sprayed the public and press.
Louisville
A third night of anger in Kentucky also marked the death in March of resident Breonna Taylor, when police raided her home while she slept in bed. Unrest over three nights has included multiple shootings, vandalism and looting. Taylor’s sister Juniyah Palmer said the family wanted non-violent protest and those who escalated were “no longer doing this for my sister”.
Atlanta
A second day of protests saw 70 arrests and the deployment of troops ahead of further unrest in Savannah and other places across Georgia. Atlanta officials have blamed some out-of-area provocateurs for escalating demonstrations into violence in the city, a concern echoed by many other leaders, including in Minneapolis. Stores were ransacked on Friday but Saturday protests in Georgia were calmer.
Dallas
Mayor Eric Johnson went on TV on Sunday morning to note that a majority of the 90 people arrested in the Texas city on Saturday were not from the area. San Antonio, Texas, is under curfew and Dallas is considering the same while religious leaders organise a prayer gathering on Sunday evening, “for justice and against racism”. George Floyd was from Houston and the city’s mayor said his body will be returning there for burial.
Washington DC
Protesters encircled the White House and crowds clashed with Secret Service officers, national park and metropolitan police officers for a second consecutive night. The presidential residence was guarded by armored vehicles and personnel as sweating, packed protesters eventually boiled over and threw fireworks and bottles, police swinging batons and firing pepper spay balls in response. Sporadic looting occurred elsewhere.


theguardian--2020-05-31--George Floyd’s brother says Trump ‘kept pushing me off’ during phone call

At the White House on Friday , Donald Trump said he had spoken to the family of George Floyd , the 46-year-old African American man who was killed during an arrest by police officers in Minneapolis this week .
“ I just expressed my sorrow , ” Trump said , adding “ that was a horrible thing to witness ” and saying it “ looked like there was no excuse ” for Floyd ’ s death .
But according to Floyd ’ s brother , Philonise Floyd , the conversation did not go well , as he said Trump gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and appeared to have no interest in what he was trying to say .
“ He didn ’ t give me an opportunity to even speak , ” Floyd told MSNBC on Saturday .
“ It was hard .
I was trying to talk to him , but he just kept , like , pushing me off , like ‘ I don ’ t want to hear what you ’ re talking about.
’ “ And I just told him , I want justice .
I said that I couldn ’ t believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad daylight.
” The officer who kneeled on Floyd ’ s neck has been charged with murder .
Three other officers involved in the arrest have not yet been charged .
Protests and riots have spread to many cities across the US .
Trump has been rebuked for responses which critics say have only increased tensions , including apparent threats to have looters shot and boasts about “ vicious dogs ” and “ ominous weapons ” awaiting protesters outside the White House .
Trump and the White House did not immediately comment on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
Joe Biden , Trump ’ s presumptive challenger in the presidential election in November , also spoke to the family and issued a video address in which he called for calm .
“ I asked Vice-President Biden – I never had to beg a man before – but I asked him , could he please , please get justice for my brother , ” Philonise Floyd said .
“ I need it .
I do not want to see him on a shirt just like the other guys .
Nobody deserved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve that .
We ’ re all dying .

At the White House on Friday, Donald Trump said he had spoken to the family of George Floyd, the 46-year-old African American man who was killed during an arrest by police officers in Minneapolis this week.
“I just expressed my sorrow,” Trump said, adding “that was a horrible thing to witness” and saying it “looked like there was no excuse” for Floyd’s death.
But according to Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, the conversation did not go well, as he said Trump gave him little chance to express his views and appeared to have no interest in what he was trying to say.
“He didn’t give me an opportunity to even speak,” Floyd told MSNBC on Saturday. “It was hard. I was trying to talk to him, but he just kept, like, pushing me off, like ‘I don’t want to hear what you’re talking about.’
“And I just told him, I want justice. I said that I couldn’t believe that they committed a modern-day lynching in broad daylight.”
02:48 How the killing of George Floyd has upended America – video report
The officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck has been charged with murder. Three other officers involved in the arrest have not yet been charged. Protests and riots have spread to many cities across the US.
Trump has been rebuked for responses which critics say have only increased tensions, including apparent threats to have looters shot and boasts about “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons” awaiting protesters outside the White House.
Trump and the White House did not immediately comment on Philonise Floyd’s description of the call.
Joe Biden, Trump’s presumptive challenger in the presidential election in November, also spoke to the family and issued a video address in which he called for calm.
“I asked Vice-President Biden – I never had to beg a man before – but I asked him, could he please, please get justice for my brother,” Philonise Floyd said.
“I need it. I do not want to see him on a shirt just like the other guys. Nobody deserved that. Black folk don’t deserve that. We’re all dying.
“Black lives matter.”


theguardian--2020-05-31--George Floyd: police forcefully crack down on protests across US – as it happened

The Guardian ’ s Ankita Rao , reporting from New York , on the mayor ’ s controversial late-night statements : Mayor Bill de Blasio took to the podium on Saturday night to tell protestors across the city that they were “ heard , loud and clear ” .
But the response from some New Yorkers made it clear that they felt otherwise .
Over the course of two days , thousands of protesters swarmed through the streets of Brooklyn , Manhattan and Queens – holding signs , wearing masks and stopping traffic – to call for justice for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the countless other black men and women at the hands of the police .
The protests were angry yet largely peaceful , but several videos and documentation of police arresting minors , brutalizing protesters and at one point , driving their car into crowds , surfaced as well .
One woman was filmed being pushed over by cops , before she went into a seizure and was taken to the hospital .
In response , de Blasio ’ s main message appeared to be to keep the NYPD safe , and that violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He told people they had made their point and should go home , and blamed the agitation on outsiders coming to the city .
Notably , de Blasio responded to questions about the police vehicle driving into protestors with a flippant , “ they shouldn ’ t have done that ” and complained about damaged vehicles .
The speech was a stark departure from Keisha Lance Bottoms , the mayor of Atlanta , who described how she felt when she watched Floyd ’ s killing , saying she “ hurt like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her city , or Muriel Bowser , the DC mayor , who called out Donald Trump for hiding “ behind his fence afraid ” and said she stood with the people exercising their first amendment right .
De Blasio sounded little like the mayor of a city with a long and bloody history of officers brutalizing people of color .
His promise of change was vague and unemotional , and tucked away in the litany of patronizing rhetoric toward city protesters .
Some New Yorkers on Twitter slammed his livestream , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sirens still blazed throughout Brooklyn , where he was giving the speech , as small fires were set in trash cans .
New Yorkers are planning to protest again tomorrow in Queens .

Michael Safi  (now) and Sam Levin in Los Angeles, Tom Lutz and Martin Pengelly in New York (earlier)

31 May 2020 12.16 BST Authorities in Minneapolis deployed the National Guard on Saturday to deal with protests and riots in the city, determined to avoid the scenes of looting and destruction from the night before. Their tactics were aggressive, as this video below shows, with guardsmen marching through residential neighbourhoods ordering people to go inside their homes – and firing non-lethal rounds at them if they failed to comply. This footage, not usually the kind associated with American cities, is being widely shared. National Guard marches through a quiet residential neighborhood in #Minneapolis, screaming at citizens to get inside.
Soldiers stop to point their guns at residents on their balcony.
They yell “LIGHT THEM UP” as they fire riot control rounds at them.pic.twitter.com/NAsCxmeBlp — Chad Loder (@chadloder) May 31, 2020
31 May 2020 11.01 BST Reuters is the latest media outlet to report its staff were attacked by police last night. They’ve just posted this story: Two members of a Reuters TV crew were hit by rubber bullets and injured in Minneapolis on Saturday night when police moved into an area occupied by about 500 protesters in the southwest of the city shortly after the 8 p.m. curfew. Footage taken by cameraman Julio-Cesar Chavez showed a police officer aiming directly at him as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. “A police officer that I’m filming turns around points his rubber-bullet rifle straight at me,” said Chavez. Minutes later, Chavez and Reuters security advisor Rodney Seward were struck by rubber bullets as they took cover at a nearby gas station. On footage captured as they ran for safety, several shots are heard ringing out and Seward yells, “I’ve been hit in the face by a rubber bullet.” Asked about the incident, Minneapolis Police Department spokesman John Elder requested a copy of the video and made no immediate comment. Chavez, one of the journalists, has posted pictures of his injuries. Tonight I was shot in the arm and the back of my neck with rubber bullets in the middle of covering the Minneapolis protests. My security advisor was shot in the face; his gas mask protected him.
Here’s what happened: https://t.co/fwwVLAxFIY
Here’s what it looks like: pic.twitter.com/UwSBqpHv5N — Julio-César Chávez (@JulioCesrChavez) May 31, 2020
Updated at 11.03 BST
31 May 2020 09.58 BST Rioting appears to be ongoing and intense in the Californian city of La Mesa, close to San Diego. A curfew has been imposed but at least two banks and a fire truck have now been set on fire, local media is reporting, with unverified footage on social media indicating the damage may be far more extensive. pic.twitter.com/vcHvytb2U1 — KUSI News (@KUSINews) May 31, 2020 A police officer in the city was put on leave two days ago after footage emerged of him detaining an African American man after twice shoving him onto a bench. The officer claimed he was arresting the man for assault, but there’s no evidence of that on the video that was posted to Instagram this week and quickly amassed more than half a million views.
Updated at 10.07 BST
31 May 2020 09.29 BST We’re getting more information now from Indianapolis, where police are saying three people were shot, one fatally, after peaceful protests there turned violent on Saturday night. Earlier reports had only mentioned the one fatal shooting. It’s still unclear who fired the weapons but police say their officers were not involved. #IMPDNOW: we are investigating multiple shootings Downtown. These are NOT officer-involved incidents. IMPD officers have not fired shots tonight. pic.twitter.com/cnRbrZuFG0 — IMPD (@IMPDnews) May 31, 2020 The Indianapolis Star reported six people were arrested on Saturday night. Overnight curfews were imposed in more than a dozen major American cities including Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Seattle. More than 1,300 people have been arrested in 16 cities since Thursday, including over 500 Friday in Los Angeles. A man uses a fire extinguisher to protest the death of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man in police custody on Memorial Day in Minneapolis, Friday, May 29, 2020 in Indianapolis. The protest comes after a series of prominent black deaths that have inflamed racial tensions across the United States.(Jenna Watson/The Indianapolis Star via AP) Photograph: Jenna Watson/AP
Updated at 09.31 BST
31 May 2020 08.58 BST Michael Safi Hello, it’s Michael Safi taking over from Sam Levin. It’s 3.55am on the US east coast and 12.55am on west coast, and I’ll be steering you through the next hours as protests appear to quiet down across the country - but continue in parts of Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Sacramento and San Diego. One among the many disturbing features of the unrest of recent days has been attacks on journalists covering the protests and riots. The latest to surface is from Oakland, California, where reporter and photographer Sarah Belle Lin was shot with a paintball round as she was filming protesters running from police. She says she was wearing press accreditation and clearly had her camera out. “I confronted the line of police to inquire who had shot me and why. No one provided me with an identity,” she says. You can see footage of the incident at the end of the video below. Ill post the video below again for you to watch for the exact moment I was shot. pic.twitter.com/7MZUTQdnyN — Sarah Belle Lin (@SarahBelleLin) May 31, 2020 Lin says she’s okay and was able to get home. We’ve collated accounts of journalists being injured and attacked by police tonight in Minneapolis and other US cities here.
31 May 2020 07.31 BST One person killed amid Indianapolis protests, police say One person was killed and two other were shot during protests in downtown Indianapolis, according to a late-night announcement from police chief, Randal Taylor. Officials did not have details on the person who died, any suspects, or the injuries of others shot, the Indianapolis Star reported. The circumstances of the shooting remained largely unclear, though Taylor said police had not fired the shots and were not injured. Police made arrests and deployed teargas during the night, and there were ongoing reports of looting. People protest in Indianapolis. Photograph: Jenna Watson/AP
31 May 2020 07.16 BST There have been a number of new accounts of journalists in Minneapolis getting injured and attacked by police after trying to get out of the way, attempting to follow their order and making clear that they are reporters. Ryan Faircloth, a reporter for the Star Tribune, said officers blew out his car window with some kind of rubber bullet, writing, “The glass shattered into my face and body. I’m bleeding from the side of my face and down my left arm.” He said he was trying to get out of the area when officers fired on his car, causing glass to explode and his vehicle to fill with smoke. Better look at glass in car pic.twitter.com/Aw13CO3Tnq — Ryan Faircloth (@RyanFaircloth) May 31, 2020 Michael Anthony Adams, a reporter with Vice in Minneapolis, tweeted a video that captured him repeatedly shouting that he was press and showing his press ID, at which point an officer forced him on the ground and another one pepper-sprayed him in the face: Police just raided the gas station we were sheltering at. After shouting press multiple times and raising my press card in the air, I was thrown to the ground. Then another cop came up and peppered sprayed me in the face while I was being held down. pic.twitter.com/23EkZIMAFC — Michael Anthony Adams (@MichaelAdams317) May 31, 2020 And here’s more from a Los Angeles Times reporter, whose story of being teargassed we covered earlier: That’s the PG version of my leg courtesy of @MnDPS_MSP still going to report tonight and tomorrow pic.twitter.com/G2kIp00Rf1 — Molly Hennessy-Fiske (@mollyhf) May 31, 2020 State police did not respond to a request for comment on the treatment of journalists.
Updated at 07.18 BST
31 May 2020 06.58 BST The mayor of San Francisco has just announced a curfew, effective immediately until 5am. London Breed also said the National Guard is on standby: New: San Francisco Mayor @LondonBreed says there’ll be a curfew in the city until 5am effective immediately.
Breed says the National Guard is on standby.
“When it crosses the line we have a responsibility to protect our city,” Breed says. — Musadiq Bidar (@Bidar411) May 31, 2020 The late-night announcement came just as California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, where police have been attempting to enforce a curfew on protesters. The National Guard has already been deployed to LA and the surrounding areas. There are also ongoing reports of looting in Emeryville, near Oakland, where there are a number of chain outlets, including Target, Marshalls, Ross, Best Buy and Guitar Center. Target in Oakland. Photograph: John G Mabanglo/EPA Target announced today that it was temporarily closing a number of stores due to the protests, including a wide range throughout Minnesota, California, Texas and New York.
31 May 2020 06.20 BST Ankita Rao The Guardian’s Ankita Rao, reporting from New York, on the mayor’s controversial late-night statements: Mayor Bill de Blasio took to the podium on Saturday night to tell protestors across the city that they were “heard, loud and clear”. But the response from some New Yorkers made it clear that they felt otherwise. Over the course of two days, thousands of protesters swarmed through the streets of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens – holding signs, wearing masks and stopping traffic – to call for justice for the extrajudicial killing of George Floyd, and the countless other black men and women at the hands of the police. The protests were angry yet largely peaceful, but several videos and documentation of police arresting minors, brutalizing protesters and at one point, driving their car into crowds, surfaced as well. One woman was filmed being pushed over by cops, before she went into a seizure and was taken to the hospital. In response, de Blasio’s main message appeared to be to keep the NYPD safe, and that violence against the police would not be tolerated. He told people they had made their point and should go home, and blamed the agitation on outsiders coming to the city. Notably, de Blasio responded to questions about the police vehicle driving into protestors with a flippant, “they shouldn’t have done that” and complained about damaged vehicles. The speech was a stark departure from Keisha Lance Bottoms, the mayor of Atlanta, who described how she felt when she watched Floyd’s killing, saying she “hurt like a mother would hurt” in a speech to her city, or Muriel Bowser, the DC mayor, who called out Donald Trump for hiding “behind his fence afraid” and said she stood with the people exercising their first amendment right. I’m in Brooklyn to talk about tonight’s protests. https://t.co/oBVXGh7JWo — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 31, 2020 De Blasio sounded little like the mayor of a city with a long and bloody history of officers brutalizing people of color. His promise of change was vague and unemotional, and tucked away in the litany of patronizing rhetoric toward city protesters. Some New Yorkers on Twitter slammed his livestream, and called on him to resign. Meanwhile, sirens still blazed throughout Brooklyn, where he was giving the speech, as small fires were set in trash cans. New Yorkers are planning to protest again tomorrow in Queens.
Updated at 06.39 BST
31 May 2020 06.12 BST US prosecutors have filed federal charges against three people in New York, accusing them of using “molotov cocktails” on New York police vehicles during the Friday protests: BREAKING: Three people charged with federal crimes in connection with Molotov cocktail attacks on the NYPD during #GeorgeFloyd protests in NYC Friday night. pic.twitter.com/dyaDJByMit — Pervaiz Shallwani (@Pervaizistan) May 31, 2020 The three were “using and attempting to use improvised incendiary devices” to target police cars, prosecutors alleged in a press release. They were arrested early Saturday morning and will have to make an initial appearance before a judge on Monday. Two of the defendants are accused of throwing a molotov cocktail at an unoccupied, parked police car, and the third allegedly threw something at a car with multiple officers inside, shattering the windows. The announcement did not suggest officers were injured.


theguardian--2020-06-01--George Floyd protests across US create greatest uprising since 1968 – live

In bizarre scenes in Cincinnati on Sunday , a sheriff confirmed that a “ Thin Blue Line ” flag was raised outside a law enforcement building , in place of the Stars and Stripes .
Pictures of the flag went viral , stoking anger nationwide among people protesting the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd , a 46-year-old African American man , the latest case to fuel the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality .
In the words of the Associated Press , “ the Blue Lives Matter flag is a black-and-white US flag with a blue stripe replacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USA , the group that sells the flags , says the thin blue line represents officers in the line of duty and the black represents fallen officers.
” Cincinnati has like other major cities been the setting for protest over the last three nights .
Local media has extensive coverage .
On Sunday , Hamilton County sheriff Jim Neil said the American flag that usually flies outside the county Justice Center “ was stolen during the Vandalism of the Justice Center .
The Thin Blue Line was raised by our deputies to honor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The flag has been removed and we will replace it with the American Flag in the morning.
” Local media reported that the officer in question had been struck on his helmet by a bullet , but was not injured .
Chris Seelbach , chair of the Cincinnati city council , who was tagged in the sheriff ’ s tweet , tweeted back at his fellow Democrat : “ Should have been replaced with American flag immediately .
Not replaced with a politically charged blue lives matter flag when thousands are protesting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Neil has only made things worse .
Again.
” In Portland , Oregon last year , a government employee won $ 100,000 in a settlement after she alleged she was bullied by fellow employees who displayed the flag in her office .
As the AP reported then , in her lawsuit against Multnomah county , Karimah Guion-Pledgure said the flag demeaned the Black Lives Matter movement.
” In Cincinnati on Monday , local ABC affiliate WCPO reported that protest organisers had released a list of goals , intending “ to deliver a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Cincinnati police department and people of Cincinnati as to the goal of recent protests .
“ The first item on the list calls for Derek Chauvin , the officer arrested for Floyd ’ s death , to receive the maximum sentence for his charges and for the other three officers involved in Floyd ’ s death to be charged as well .
“ The remaining items on the list concern the Cincinnati area .
Some of the items include a call for the demilitarization of the Cincinnati police department , independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a call for CPD officers to spend ‘ 80 hours a year volunteering in the communities they patrol ’ .
” Here ’ s some further reading from Nathan Robinson , on how across America , police are responding to peaceful protests with violence :

2 Jun 2020 10.45 BST European Commission sides with Twitter over Trump row Daniel Boffey The European Commission has backed Twitter in its row with Donald Trump following the social media platform’s decision to hide one of the US president’s tweets with a warning over its glorification of violence.
The EU executive branch’s vice president, Věra Jourová, said politicians should answer “criticism with facts, not with threats and attacks,” in her response to the dispute. After the addition of a fact-checking label to one of Trump’s tweets, the president had signed an executive order to reduce the social media platform’s protections against civil claims. In a statement, Jourová said: “I support Twitter in their efforts to develop and implement a transparent, clear and consistent moderation policy. This is not about censorship. This is about flagging verifiably false or misleading information that may cause public harm, linking to reliable information, or flagging content violating their policies. “The role of public authorities is not to interfere with content policies of private companies but to ensure that fundamental rights are protected online as well as offline – rights such as freedom of expression and information, non-discrimination, right to security. “These rights protect all citizens, not only those in power. As politicians, we have to be held to account, and answer to criticism with facts, not with threats and attacks.” The comments come ahead of next week’s expected launch of an overhaul of EU regulation of digital platforms. The commission will look at whether the big tech giants should be held responsible for content published on their sites or goods sold online.
2 Jun 2020 10.10 BST A local television channel in Las Vegas is reporting that a city police officer was shot in the head tonight. 8 News Now said the incident, reportedly near the Circus Circus hotel and casino, was one of two shootings in the city. The second occurred at the federal courthouse, the report said, when police fired at a suspect after they allegedly fired a shot. #DEVELOPING: We are working to get more information. Again, Metro sources tell us an officer was shot in the head near Circus Circus. There are a lot of moving parts & @LVMPD is very busy. Stay with @8NewsNow for the latest updates. Here are more pics from @UMCSN. #8NN pic.twitter.com/W1wWtQXB1N — Orko Manna (@orko_manna) June 2, 2020 Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed two shootings had taken place and that one officer had been hit, but did not provide details on their condition. Protesters have been gathering on the main Las Vegas strip in recent days. On Monday evening, local media the demonstrations were largely peaceful although police broke up the crowds later in the night with tear gas.
2 Jun 2020 09.47 BST Watch this video of protesters around the US explaining why they came out to demonstrate against systemic racism. 02:13 'It's about time we stand up': the voices of the George Floyd protests – video
2 Jun 2020 08.49 BST The Associated Press has reported that two people have been killed in the Chicago suburb of Cicero as protests continued over the death of George Floyd. Town Spokesman Ray Hanania said 60 people were arrested during protests, and people broke into a liquor store and other businesses. Hanania did not provide additional information about those killed or how they died. We hope to have more details later on.
2 Jun 2020 08.37 BST More police have been wounded tonight in apparent attacks. In Buffalo, NY, a car ploughed through a group of officers at a protest, injuring at least two people. Just happened: a protest in a car run over a group of cops in Buffalo NY...Some of them might be dead
#BlackLivesMatter #protests2020 pic.twitter.com/UraxbRhMuV — Yousef NH (@YousefNH2) June 2, 2020 The above video shows the car accelerating through lines of riot police as they quickly disperse. What appears to be gunshots can be heard.
While the person who posted the video warned they might have been fatalities, authorities said the two injured officers were in stable condition.
2 Jun 2020 08.24 BST Four police officers shot in St. Louis Police in Missouri have said four of their officers were struck by gunfire tonight. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
We have had 4 officers struck by gunfire tonight. All have been transported to an area hospital. All are conscious and breathing. Their injuries are believed to be non-life threatening.
Officers are still taking gunfire downtown & we will share more info as it available. pic.twitter.com/Cwypi5EorP — St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) June 2, 2020 St. Louis’ police chief, John Hayden, said two were shot in the leg, one in the foot and one in the arm. “What constructive thing is going on?” he told reporters. “People have decided to steal and break windows. That’s all they are doing. So I don’t understand what that has to do with Mr Floyd’s death? That’s what I don’t understand.” “Some coward fired shots at officers,” Hayden said, before his voice cracked up. You can see his full comments here: Chief Hayden provides an update on 4 of our officers who were struck by gunfire tonight during the downtown unrest. https://t.co/Ml1CgIikHf — St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) June 2, 2020
2 Jun 2020 07.56 BST Los Angeles’ chief of police has apologised after he said people exploiting the protests to loot were also responsible for the death of George Floyd. “His death is on their hands, as much as it is on those officers. And that is a strong statement,” Chief Michel Moore told a press conference on Monday. Hours later, following an outcry, Moore retracted the comments on Twitter, acknowledging that they had been “terribly offensive”: My Apology for Remark Regarding the Death of George Floyd During a Press Conference Earlier Today:
I misspoke when making a statement about those engaging in violent acts following the murder of George Floyd. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) June 2, 2020 While I did immediately correct myself, I recognize that my initial words were terribly offensive. Looting is wrong, but it is not the equivalent of murder and I did not mean to equate the two. I deeply regret and humbly apologize for my characterization. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) June 2, 2020 Let me be clear: the police officers involved were responsible for the death of George Floyd. — Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) June 2, 2020 The city’s mayor, Eric Garcetti, has also spoken on the issue: The responsibility for George Floyd’s death rests solely with the police officers involved. Chief Moore regrets the words he chose this evening and has clarified them. — MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) June 2, 2020
2 Jun 2020 07.38 BST Hello to all those following.
Oliver Holmes here, taking over the blog for the next few hours. We’re now deep into the night across the US. Please do get in contact with me if you spot anything, no matter how local it may seem, and also for any questions or feedback. You can reach me via Twitter or on email, too: oliver.holmes [at] theguardian.com
2 Jun 2020 07.21 BST That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan for today. My colleague Oliver Holmes will be taking you through the latest US developments for the next few hours. Many thanks to those of you who got in touch on Twitter with information from your cities and elsewhere – it is hugely appreciated. And, as always, thanks for following along.
2 Jun 2020 07.16 BST Celebrities, influencers, brands and other users are publishing all-black posts on Instagram in support of protestors. Film star Timothée Chalamet posted this three times, tagging Black Lives Matter.
Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Allow and continue Surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore took part, too: Allow Instagram content? This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Allow and continue The music industry is also observing a “blackoutday” on Tuesday: The demonstration stands to bring major music companies, significant pieces of a $19bn industry, to a halt. The event organizer Live Nation will “pull the plug” on its operations and close offices for the day; radio shows will go silent; MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and other ViacomCBS-owned channels will “go dark”. #TheShowMustBePaused: music industry plans day of silence for George Floyd Read more
2 Jun 2020 07.00 BST Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has added her voice to protests over George Floyd’s death.
Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, has previously passed her time in quarantine posting lighthearted selfies in stylish clothes or by the side of a pool.
But her social media feed changed following Floyd’s death, as she posted news footage of his death and the statement “There comes a time when silence is betrayal” as well as tweeting: Just because it isn’t happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening at all. — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 29, 2020 On Monday she posted on Twitter:
When you tweet about the lootings before you tweet about the death of an unarmed black man 🤡🤡🤡🤡 — NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) June 1, 2020 Osaka joins other sports figures in speaking out against racism and police violence, including basketball great Michael Jordan and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.
2 Jun 2020 06.48 BST Floyd Mayweather to pay for George Floyd's funeral Former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has offered to pay for George Floyd’s funeral and memorial services, and the family has accepted the offer, AP reports. Mayweather personally has been in touch with the family, according to Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions. He will handle costs for the funeral on June 9 in Floyd’s hometown of Houston, as well as other expenses. Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather’s promotional company confirmed an offer has been made. Photograph: Eugene Hoshiko/AP TMZ originally reported Mayweather’s offer.
“He’ll probably get mad at me for saying that, but yes, he is definitely paying for the funeral,” Ellerbe told ESPN.com on Monday.
Floyd Mayweather offers to cover funeral costs for George Floyd Read more
2 Jun 2020 06.40 BST “We’ve reached the ‘mad emperor’ stage, and it’s terrifying to behold,” writes Guardian columnist Richard Wolffe. In the week since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police officers, Trump has watched and tweeted helplessly as the nation he pretends to lead has reached its breaking point. After decades of supposedly legal police beatings and murders, the protests have swept America’s cities more quickly than even coronavirus. This is no coincidence of timing. In other crises, in other eras, there have been presidents who understood their most basic duty: to calm the violence and protect the people. In this crisis, however, we have a president who built his entire political career as a gold-painted tower to incite violence. We've reached the 'mad emperor' stage, and it's terrifying to behold | Richard Wolffe Read more


theguardian--2020-06-01--George Floyd: fires burn near White House as US-wide protests rage – as it happened

California ’ s Department of Human Resources has just issued a directive that all state buildings “ with offices in downtown city areas ” must be closed on Monday , a sweeping order that covers everything from Department of Motor Vehicles offices to those that license workers and provide health care , the Associated Press reports .
“ After consultation with the California Highway Patrol and Office of Emergency Services , the decision was made this evening to advise all state departments with offices in downtown city areas to close tomorrow , and to notify staff of the decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state Government Operations Agency .
The directive was sent Sunday evening and it was left up to officials at individual agencies to determine which buildings should be closed .
A state Department of Justice memo sent to employees said the attorney general ’ s offices in Sacramento , Oakland , San Francisco , Los Angeles and San Diego would be closed , though employees who can work from home should do so .
“ Staff assigned to these offices should not report to work for any reason .
Staff who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so despite the office closures , ” the memo said .

Michael Safi (now); Lois Beckett, Tom Lutz and Martin Pengelly (earlier)

1 Jun 2020 12.05 BST California to close all state buildings in downtown areas California’s Department of Human Resources has just issued a directive that all state buildings “with offices in downtown city areas” must be closed on Monday, a sweeping order that covers everything from Department of Motor Vehicles offices to those that license workers and provide health care, the Associated Press reports. “After consultation with the California Highway Patrol and Office of Emergency Services, the decision was made this evening to advise all state departments with offices in downtown city areas to close tomorrow, and to notify staff of the decision,” said Amy Palmer, a spokeswoman for the state Government Operations Agency. The directive was sent Sunday evening and it was left up to officials at individual agencies to determine which buildings should be closed. A state Department of Justice memo sent to employees said the attorney general’s offices in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego would be closed, though employees who can work from home should do so. “Staff assigned to these offices should not report to work for any reason. Staff who are able to telework should continue to do so despite the office closures,” the memo said.
1 Jun 2020 11.59 BST Here’s footage of the moment last night when some of the White House’s exterior lights were shut off, providing symbolism some have found hard to resist. Remember when Donald Trump thought wearing a mask would make him look weak? #BunkerBoy pic.twitter.com/2Xlows8SIk — Hop von Squätch (@Hop_Squatch) June 1, 2020 The news that Donald Trump spent part of Friday evening in the presidential bunker, as protesters massed near to the White House, is getting a lot of traction online. #BunkerBoy is the leading trend on Twitter in the United States and in the top five in Australia.
1 Jun 2020 11.04 BST We’ve already reported how China’s state media is using these protests as an opportunity to goad Donald Trump and deflect from its own government’s treatment of Hong Kong and protesters in the city. Iran is also getting in on the act. Its foreign ministry spokesman has just given this press conference that observers are saying is the first he’s ever given in English, in which he directly addresses American protesters with messages of support. #Iran's Foreign Ministry spox to American people: The world has heard your outcry over the State oppression. The world is standing with you...The American regime is perusing violence & bullying at home & abroad...Stop violence against your people & let them breathe.#GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/nsXEIo1FrF — Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) June 1, 2020 His government doesn’t deem Iranians worthy of the same support, if last November’s nationwide protests are any indication. Security forces used teargas, live ammunition and other repressive measures to crush those demonstrations, which also involved riots and destruction of banks and state buildings. Estimates of how many were killed range from 304, according to Amnesty International, to about 1,500 according to Reuters. The Iranian government has not released its own figure.
1 Jun 2020 10.54 BST George Floyd’s killing has led to a global pouring of outrage and solidarity with protesters in the US. That has included four solidarity rallies in New Zealand, a large demonstration in London’s Trafalgar Square and protests in Berlin and Copenhagen. Demands for justice also featured in this weekend’s Bundesliga, the German football championship. Floyd’s visage also now features on a part of the former Berlin Wall, along with some of his last words, “I can’t breathe”. A portrait of George Floyd on a wall at Gedenkstatte Berliner Mauer in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: China News Service/Getty Images We’ve pulled those threads together into this story, just published: George Floyd: protests take place in cities around the world Read more
Updated at 10.56 BST
1 Jun 2020 08.30 BST A striking detail from tonight’s coverage has been reports that as protesters surged towards the White House on Friday night, US president Donald Trump, his wife Melania and son Barron briefly retreated to the Presidential Emergency Operations Centre – a fortified bunker-like structure beneath the residence. The last time a US head of state was publicly known to have used the bunker was on 11 September, 2001, where senior members of the George W Bush administration spent that day after their west wing offices were evacuated. There are no other public reports of presidents needing to use the area since - the New York Times, which first reported this detail, says “it has not been used much, if at all” since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But it notes the area has since been strengthened to withstand the impact of a passenger jet. The White House has declined to comment on the reports. Trump fled to bunker as protests over George Floyd raged outside White House Read more
1 Jun 2020 08.16 BST My colleague Julian Borger in Washington DC has just filed this update on a tense evening the capital. Multiple fires broke out near the White House late on Sunday evening, as angry protesters gathered in Washington DC for the third night in a row following the death of George Floyd. Sunday evening’s protests in front of the White House started relatively cheerfully, with a crowd of a few thousand in Lafayette park. Earlier in the day, demonstrators had marched through the city’s downtown, chanting “George Floyd! Say his name!” and “No Justice! No Peace!” But as the 11 pm curfew approached, tensions between protesters and police mounted. Demonstrators faced off against a line of a few hundred police supported by national guardsmen. The lights illuminating the north side of the White House, which had provided the backdrop to the face off between protesters and police, were turned off. In normal times, they are only ever turned off when a president dies. Inside it was reported that Donald Trump, his wife, Melania and son Barron, had been taken down to the White House bunker at the height of the protests and then brought back up as the crowds dispersed. When 11pm came, the police line in front of the White House advanced with tear gas rounds across Lafayette park clearing out the protesters, with intermittent sprints. Read the full story here: Fires light up Washington DC on third night of George Floyd protests Read more
1 Jun 2020 08.11 BST Michael Safi Hello, it’s just past 3am on the east coast and midnight on the west coast and the US is reeling from the sixth successive night of protests and riots following the killing of George Floyd. I’ll be steering you through the next hours of our coverage. Those just checking in might have missed this frightening scene from a Minneapolis freeway earlier today, where a tanker truck appeared to charge at full speed into a throng of protesters. Nobody was injured but the driver did seek medical assistance, according to local authorities. BREAKING- Truck moves at full speed into a crowd of thousands of demonstrators #GeorgeFloyd #Minnesota @KSTP pic.twitter.com/pUscK8JgFB — Brett Hoffland (@BrettHoffland) May 31, 2020 Police in the city have now named the driver as Bogdan Vechirko, and he’s been arrested.
1 Jun 2020 07.25 BST Many of the reporters on the ground are heading for some rest as the unrest quietens down for now. Just drove a couple big laps around the Capitol and through Cap Hill. Saw a couple dumpster fires but otherwise pretty quiet. I didn’t see many protesters. There are still cops everywhere. And “cops” doesn’t really do it justice — SWAT trucks, tons of them. Debris all over. — Alex Burness (@alex_burness) June 1, 2020 The show of force from police over the last hour in Denver has been way above and beyond anything else I’ve seen since all this started four days ago. In fact it’s beyond anything I’ve seen from police in my life. — Alex Burness (@alex_burness) June 1, 2020 I just got hit by a rubber bullet near the bottom of my throat. I had just interviewed a man with my phone at 3rd and Pine and a police officer aimed and shot me in the throat, I saw the bullet bounce onto the street @LAist @kpcc OK, that’s one way to stop me, for a while pic.twitter.com/9C2u5KmscG — Adolfo Guzman-Lopez (@AGuzmanLopez) June 1, 2020
1 Jun 2020 07.11 BST It’s the middle of the night in the US, where cities continue to reel under protest and violence and where Black Lives Matter leaders say president Donald Trump, has failed his country. This report from David Smith in Washington:
For three years, the first president elected without political or military experience rode his luck and skirted past disaster. In the fourth year, the fates demanded payback. Not even Trump’s harshest critics can blame him for a virus believed to have come from a market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, nor for an attendant economic collapse, nor for four centuries of slavery, segregation, police brutality and racial injustice. But they can, and do, point to how he made a bad situation so much worse. The story of Trump’s presidency was arguably always leading to this moment, with its toxic mix of weak moral leadership, racial divisiveness, crass and vulgar rhetoric and an erosion of norms, institutions and trust in traditional information sources. Taken together, these ingredients created a tinderbox poised to explode when crises came. Read Smith’s full report here. 'He is a destroyer': how the George Floyd protests left Donald Trump exposed Read more
Updated at 10.56 BST
1 Jun 2020 06.45 BST Today so far Cities across the US saw further unrest on Sunday as protests against police brutality and the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis raged on. On the sixth day of demonstrations since Floyd’s death, many throughout the nation defied curfews amid rising anger and frustration at the repeated failure of America’s policing system. More than 4,000 protestors have been
On the sixth day of demonstrations since Floyd’s death, many throughout the nation defied curfews amid rising anger and frustration at the repeated failure of America’s policing system. More than 4,000 protestors have been Fires burned in Washington DC, including near the White House. As the 11pm curfew passed, an area of a few blocks around the White House was thick with smoke.
As the 11pm curfew passed, an area of a few blocks around the White House was thick with smoke. Donald Trump was taken into a special secure bunker as protests sparked by the death of George Floyd raged outside the White House on Friday night, according to reports. Despite days of peaceful protests and violent clashes with police in some of America’s major cities, Trump has not addressed the nation and has repeatedly sent inflammatory messages over Twitter.
as protests sparked by the death of George Floyd raged outside the White House on Friday night, according to reports. Despite days of peaceful protests and violent clashes with police in some of America’s major cities, Trump has not addressed the nation and has repeatedly sent inflammatory messages over Twitter. Few defied the curfew in Minneapolis, where the main gathering place remained the street where Floyd was arrested and killed on Monday, now a memorial filled with flowers. Police had cleared protesters from the site with force last night.
Police had cleared protesters from the site with force last night. In the Twin Cities, thousands of people who had gathered on the Interstate 35 west bridge were forced off a semi-truck drove into the crowd. No protestors appear to have been injured by the “disturbing” incident, officials said.
No protestors appear to have been injured by the “disturbing” incident, officials said. New York descended into chaos once again, as t housands of demonstrators spread throughout the city, and at one point briefly shut down the Manhattan bridge. Protestors thew trash at the police and officers responded by beating crowds back with batons and making arrests.
Protestors thew trash at the police and officers responded by beating crowds back with batons and making arrests. New York Mayor’s Bill de Blasio’s 25-year-old daughter was one of the demonstrators who was arrested this weekend. As outlets reported the news, a New York City police union tweeted personal information about Chiara de Blasio’s arrest.
As outlets reported the news, a New York City police union tweeted personal information about Chiara de Blasio’s arrest. Throughout the country, police responded use tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and batons against demonstrators and press. Officers fired “beanbag rounds” at protestors in Austin, and in Denver police reportedly hit a Denver Post reporter with multiple nonlethal rounds despite him screaming “press”.
Officers fired “beanbag rounds” at protestors in Austin, and in Denver police reportedly hit a Denver Post reporter with multiple nonlethal rounds despite him screaming “press”. Los Angeles county, the largest county in the US, has announced a regional curfew to go from 6pm to 6am, as a number of protests continue across southern California. Business owners and residents spent Sunday morning cleaning up after Saturday night’s explosive demonstration, with many merchants putting up “minority-owned” and “Black Lives Matter” signs on the boarded-up storefronts
Business owners and residents spent Sunday morning cleaning up after Saturday night’s explosive demonstration, with many merchants putting up “minority-owned” and “Black Lives Matter” signs on the boarded-up storefronts Trump tweeted that “The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.” The president has blamed the violence during this week’s protests on Antifa and leftwing organizations despite the fact that it is unclear who is responsible for the looting. The Guardian’s team in London will continue live coverage of the protests. George Floyd: curfews fail to deter a new wave of protests across US Read more
Updated at 06.46 BST
1 Jun 2020 06.34 BST Report: New York police union 'doxes' mayor's daughter As news outlets reported that New York City mayor Bill de Blasio’s 25-year-old daughter had been arrested at a protest last night, a New York city police union tweeted personal information about Chiara de Blasio’s arrest. Gizmodo reporter Dell Cameron reported on the tweet from the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association, calling it a “doxing.” “How can the NYPD protect the city from rioting anarchist [sic] when the mayors object throwing daughter is one of them. Now we know why he is forbidding Mounted Units to be mobilized and keeping the NYPD from doing their jobs,” the tweet read. Deleted my tweet about NYPD doxing Mayor de Blasio's daughter.
I redacted all the personal information I saw. It's pretty blurry. Someone DM'd to say you could still read another piece of personal info on the screen.
Better safe than sorry. pic.twitter.com/tfdhBlXWOq — Dell Cameron BLM (@dellcam) June 1, 2020 Okay, for clarification, I'm told: The address they provided was Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence. (They used the wrong zip code). It did include an apartment number (?) The address was also not the only personally identifiable information (PII) included. — Dell Cameron BLM (@dellcam) June 1, 2020 It appears that Twitter subsequently removed the tweet, Cameron and other reporters noted, although comment from Twitter was not immediately available. Twitter has deleted this tweet by the NYPD's sergeants union, in which they unilaterally revealed arrest info about @NYCMayor's daughter. pic.twitter.com/T4hPPdm9Ud — 𝙅𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙮 (@Jose_Pagliery) June 1, 2020
1 Jun 2020 06.20 BST Maanvi Singh A fourth night of chaotic protests in New York City New York descended into chaos once again today, as the fourth night of demonstrations raged on. The demonstrations have been characterized by turbulent confrontations between police and protestors, with officers arresting hundreds though the weekend. Mayor Bill deBlasio’s daughter Chiara deBlasio, 25, was among the those arrested on Saturday night, news outlets reported on Sunday night, as the New York police union tweeted personal information about the mayor’s daughter’s arrest. In Union Square, flames rose two stories high, according to reporters at the scene. In Lower Manhattan, shops including a Duane Reade drugstore were looted. Thousands of demonstrators spread throughout the city, and at one point briefly shut down the Manhattan bridge. Protestors thew trash at the police, and officers responded by beating crowds back with batons and making more arrests. NYPD officers have been widely criticized for using excessive force in response to protestors throughout the weekend. Earlier in the day, the protests began with people kneeling at various spots across the city. Demonstrators held moments of silence in honor of George Floyd and even filmed a few officers joining in.
1 Jun 2020 05.44 BST Austin, Texas: Police firing ‘beanbag rounds’ at protesters ProPublica reporter Jessica Huseman is covering protests in Austin tonight. She tweeted that she can see an officer firing beanbag rounds at protesters, and that he is “smiling.” Police are firing beanbag rounds in Austin. There was no warning, it has made the situation much worse. pic.twitter.com/0cCZ3qTmjU — Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) June 1, 2020 The cop shooting beanbags, im not kidding, is smiling. I can see his face. — Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) June 1, 2020 None of the officers near him will tell me who he is and none will say why he started firing. — Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) June 1, 2020 Earlier today, the Austin Police Association tweeted about why the city’s police were using beanbag rounds against protesters: Q: Why is APD using bean bag rounds?
A: Bean bag rounds are used to stop protestors from throwing rocks, bottles, paint, and other dangerous items at @Austin_Police officers or other people nearby. The debris all over IH35 yesterday were items thrown at officers.#QandAwiththeAPA pic.twitter.com/FHp5cWq2k5 — Austin Police Association (@ATXPOA) May 31, 2020


theguardian--2020-06-01--Facebook workers rebel over Mark Zuckerberg's refusal to act against Trump

Facebook employees are staging a rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg ’ s refusal to act against Donald Trump , expressing their dissatisfaction with their boss on social media in a rare display of dissent from within the company .
Disagreement came from employees at all levels of the company , including some senior staff .
Particular criticism was levelled at Zuckerberg ’ s personal decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump in which the president appeared to encourage police to shoot rioters .
By contrast , Twitter hid the message behind a warning .
Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook ’ s Portal video-phone , tweeted : “ Giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable , regardless who you are or if it ’ s newsworthy .
I disagree with Mark ’ s position and will work to make change happen.
” Jason Stirman , a member of the company ’ s R & D team and the former chief executive of the “ mental training ” app Lucid , also posted on Twitter , saying : “ I don ’ t know what to do , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m a FB employee that completely disagrees with Mark ’ s decision to do nothing about Trump ’ s recent posts , which clearly incite violence .
I ’ m not alone inside of FB .
There isn ’ t a neutral position on racism.
” On Friday Zuckerberg said he disagreed with Twitter ’ s interpretation of Trump ’ s statement , which included the phrase : “ When the looting starts , the shooting starts.
” Where Twitter had read the statement as incitement – encouraging police to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read it as a warning to protesters that the police would be shooting at them .
The distinction meant that the post fell on the right side of Facebook ’ s rules , Zuckerberg said , and would not be removed .
“ Personally , I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric , ” Zuckerberg added .
“ I disagree strongly with how the president spoke about this , but I believe people should be able to see this for themselves , because ultimately accountability for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen when their speech is scrutinised out in the open.
” The Facebook founder ’ s statement galvanised responses from within his organisation .
“ Mark is wrong , and I will endeavour in the loudest possible way to change his mind , ” said Ryan Freitas , the director of product design for Facebook ’ s News Feed .
Others who spoke out included the director of product management , Jason Toff , and the product designer Sara Zhang .
Some appealed to the company ’ s oversight board , a quasi-independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ supreme court ” capable of ruling on difficult questions around content moderation .
But on Saturday , the board said it would not be able to intervene in time , but was “ working hard to set the board up to begin operating later this year ” .
The number of Facebook employees complaining publicly is small in absolute terms – a fraction of the company ’ s 45,000 or so employees – but is a rare external display of dissatisfaction with the leadership of Zuckerberg , who controls 57.9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s board .
The complaints are mirrored in internal discussions , according to reports in the New York Times and the Verge , where workers accused the company of applying its rules unevenly so as to avoid angering Trump .
Late on Sunday night , Zuckerberg committed a $ 10m donation from Facebook to groups working on racial justice .
“ It ’ s clear Facebook also has more work to do to keep people safe and ensure our systems don ’ t amplify bias , ” he said in a post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope that as a country we can come together to understand all of the work that is still ahead and do what it takes to deliver justice – not just for families and communities that are grieving now , but for everyone who carries the burden of inequality .
”

Alex Hern and Julia Carrie Wong in Oakland

Facebook employees are staging a rebellion over Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to act against Donald Trump, expressing their dissatisfaction with their boss on social media in a rare public display of dissent and, in some cases, staging a “virtual” walkout.
Disagreement came from employees at all levels of the company, including some senior staff. Particular criticism was levelled at Zuckerberg’s personal decision to leave up the Facebook version of a tweet sent by Trump in which the president appeared to encourage police to shoot rioters. By contrast, Twitter hid the message behind a warning.
Andrew Crow, the head of design for Facebook’s Portal video-phone, tweeted: “Giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable, regardless who you are or if it’s newsworthy. I disagree with Mark’s position and will work to make change happen.”
Jason Stirman, a member of the company’s R&D team and the former chief executive of the “mental training” app Lucid, also posted on Twitter, saying: “I don’t know what to do, but I know doing nothing is not acceptable. I’m a FB employee that completely disagrees with Mark’s decision to do nothing about Trump’s recent posts, which clearly incite violence. I’m not alone inside of FB. There isn’t a neutral position on racism.”
On Friday Zuckerberg said he disagreed with Twitter’s interpretation of Trump’s statement, which included the phrase: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Where Twitter had read the statement as incitement – encouraging police to shoot at protesters – Zuckerberg said he read it as a warning to protesters that the police would be shooting at them. The distinction meant that the post fell on the right side of Facebook’s rules, Zuckerberg said, and would not be removed.
“Personally, I have a visceral negative reaction to this kind of divisive and inflammatory rhetoric,” Zuckerberg added. “I disagree strongly with how the president spoke about this, but I believe people should be able to see this for themselves, because ultimately accountability for those in positions of power can only happen when their speech is scrutinised out in the open.”
The Facebook founder’s statement galvanised responses from within his organisation. “Mark is wrong, and I will endeavour in the loudest possible way to change his mind,” said Ryan Freitas, the director of product design for Facebook’s News Feed. Others who spoke out included the director of product management, Jason Toff, and the product designer Sara Zhang.
The number of Facebook employees complaining publicly is small in absolute terms – a fraction of the company’s 45,000 or so employees – but is a rare external display of dissatisfaction with the leadership of Zuckerberg, who controls 57.9% of the voting rights on Facebook’s board. The complaints are mirrored in internal discussions, according to reports in the New York Times and the Verge, where workers accused the company of applying its rules unevenly so as to avoid angering Trump.
Late on Sunday night, Zuckerberg committed a $10m donation from Facebook to groups working on racial justice. “It’s clear Facebook also has more work to do to keep people safe and ensure our systems don’t amplify bias,” he said in a post to his Facebook page. “I hope that as a country we can come together to understand all of the work that is still ahead and do what it takes to deliver justice – not just for families and communities that are grieving now, but for everyone who carries the burden of inequality.”
More than a dozen Facebook employees had published messages of dissent on Twitter by Monday morning, with some saying they were participating in a “virtual walkout”. The vast majority of Facebook employees are working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak. Dozens of employees requested the day off in order to support protests against police brutality, according to the New York Times.
A Facebook spokesperson said the company would not require participants in the “walkout” to use paid-time off. “We recognize the pain many of our people are feeling right now, especially our black community,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership.”
Waiting for the oversight board
Some appealed to the company’s oversight board, a quasi-independent body that Facebook has funded to act as a “supreme court” capable of ruling on difficult questions around content moderation. But on Saturday, the board said it would not be able to intervene in time, but was “working hard to set the board up to begin operating later this year”.
A co-chair of the nascent body is embroiled in a separate controversy around racist speech. Michael McConnell, a Stanford Law professor recently named one of the four co-chairs of the oversight board, is facing widespread criticism from students and faculty after he used the N-word during a Zoom lecture on Wednesday – two days after the death George Floyd. McConnell stopped the Zoom software from recording before he spoke the word as part of a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry.
The Stanford Black Law Student Association responded with a scathing open letter written as A Guide for White Professors on How to Say ‘[N-word]’ in Class. After satirizing the timeworn arguments of those who defend use of the slur – “After all, we can’t sanitize history” – they added: “If there is one thing black students know, it’s our own history. Ahmaud Arbery is our history. Breonna Taylor is our history. George Floyd is our history. White men refusing to stop saying [N-word] is our history.”
In an email reviewed by the Guardian, McConnell said he “made the pedagogical choice with good will” but understood why students were upset and “will not use the word again in the future”. McConnell has been contacted for comment.
The oversight board provided a statement of support for McConnell from fellow co-chair Jamal Green, a Columbia law school professor who is black. “While I might have made a different choice in this instance, I take professor McConnell at his word that he has learned from his experience, as we all must strive to do as educators.”
The oversight board also issued a statement saying that the board’s “diversity is its core strength”. “We respect the right of the students to speak out about how Michael’s use of this word has impacted them, and appreciate Michael’s explanation of his pedagogic purpose, as well as his commitment not to use the word again.”


theguardian--2020-06-01--‘It could have a chilling effect’: why Trump is ramping up attacks on mail-in voting

Donald Trump is escalating baseless attacks on mail-in voting in what appears to be an obvious effort to sow doubt about the fairness of the 2020 election .
The president has long made false accusations about voter fraud , claiming without evidence that 3-5 million Americans voted illegally in the 2016 election .
But his barrage against mail-in voting is particularly alarming ahead of an election during the Covid-19 pandemic , where there is likely to be severely limited in-person voting and many Americans will probably vote by mail for the first time .
Advocates worry voters who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote in person could also be swayed by Trump ’ s rhetoric , not feel comfortable voting by mail , and simply choose not to vote at all .
Trump ’ s menacing rhetoric could discourage some people , particularly minority groups , from casting mail-in votes , said Domingo Garcia , president of the League of United Latin American Citizens , which advocates on behalf of Hispanic Americans .
“ It could have a chilling effect and I think that ’ s the intent , ” he said .
“ President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discourage people from voting and to try to stop people from voting by mail.
” Trump ’ s tweets on mail-in voting in recent weeks have been a mix of unsubstantiated claims and outright falsehoods .
Trump absurdly suggested on Thursday that children could steal ballots out of people ’ s mailboxes and distribute them to voters .
Attacking a plan to mail-ballots to registered voters in California earlier this week , he also lied , saying the state was sending ballots to “ anyone living in the state , no matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ” .
He also said mailboxes would be robbed and that voting by mail would lead to fraudulently printed and signed ballots ( California allows voters to track their ballot and verifies the voter ’ s identity using their signature ) .
Last week , Trump falsely accused Michigan of planning to send absentee ballots to registered voters ; the state is actually sending mail-in ballot applications to voters , a measure Republicans elsewhere have endorsed .
Meanwhile , voter fraud , including fraud in mail-in voting , remains extremely rare .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ upside of having fewer people vote .
In a March interview , he dismissed Democratic efforts in Congress to make it easier to vote by mail during the Covid-19 pandemic , saying : “ If you ’ d ever agreed to it , you ’ d never have a Republican elected in this country again.
” Many people are used to brushing off Trump ’ s rhetoric about voter fraud , said Cliff Albright , a co-founder of the Black Voters Matter .
But Albright said Trump ’ s comments were worrisome in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to police voting .
In Georgia , Albright noted , Brad Raffensperger , the secretary of state , has encouraged absentee voting but also created an “ absentee ballot fraud taskforce ” stacked with prosecutors to monitor mail-in voting .
In Texas , which severely restricts absentee voting , Ken Paxton , the attorney general , warned of possible “ criminal sanctions ” for anyone who advised a voter they could use Covid-19 as the basis for requesting a mail-in ballot .
“ That one-two punch is what makes it very intimidating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence people and does intimidate people and makes some folks feel like this is not something they want to engage in.
” The Republican National Committee is also seeking to recruit up to 50,000 volunteers to monitor voting this fall , the first time in nearly three decades when they won ’ t be under a federal court order barring them from engaging in poll-watching activity .
There is growing alarm that Trump ’ s rhetoric will lay the groundwork to contest the results of the presidential election once the ballots are counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely to know the winner of the presidential race on election night as officials count ballots coming in ( some states allow ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by election day ) .
The candidate who appears to be ahead on election day may ultimately end up losing as more ballots are counted .
And a candidate could use the gap in getting official results to claim widespread fraud , said Nathaniel Persily , a law professor at Stanford University who closely studies elections .
“ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and questioning of the legitimacy of elections could come in .
You say there ’ s something fishy with the mail ballots if they are not reflective of the percentage that has not been revealed up to that point.
” Republicans offered a preview of this in 2018 , when they suggested there was something amiss as Democrats in California congressional races picked up votes as the state continued to count mail-in ballots after election day .
In Florida , Trump and Rick Scott , then the state ’ s governor , baselessly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted ballots in a US Senate race Scott was running in .
To shore up confidence in the results of the election , a consortium of experts recommended last month that states and media organizations make it clear they expect a delay in reporting official results well ahead of election night .
Accepting the legitimate transfer of power is crucial to the foundation of American democracy .
If there isn ’ t a belief the election is fair , that pillar is gone , Garcia said .
“ I ’ m concerned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have the same president saying that the election was somehow tainted because people voted by mail , ” Garcia said .
“ That could lead to a possible huge crisis in America ’ s democracy .
”

Donald Trump is escalating baseless attacks on mail-in voting in what appears to be an obvious effort to sow doubt about the fairness of the 2020 election.
The president has long made false accusations about voter fraud, claiming without evidence that 3-5 million Americans voted illegally in the 2016 election. But his barrage against mail-in voting is particularly alarming ahead of an election during the Covid-19 pandemic, where there is likely to be severely limited in-person voting and many Americans will probably vote by mail for the first time. Advocates worry voters who don’t want to risk their health and vote in person could also be swayed by Trump’s rhetoric, not feel comfortable voting by mail, and simply choose not to vote at all.
Trump’s menacing rhetoric could discourage some people, particularly minority groups, from casting mail-in votes, said Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which advocates on behalf of Hispanic Americans.
“It could have a chilling effect and I think that’s the intent,” he said. “President Trump is using his bully platform to try to discourage people from voting and to try to stop people from voting by mail.”
Trump’s tweets on mail-in voting in recent weeks have been a mix of unsubstantiated claims and outright falsehoods. Trump absurdly suggested on Thursday that children could steal ballots out of people’s mailboxes and distribute them to voters. Attacking a plan to mail-ballots to registered voters in California earlier this week, he also lied, saying the state was sending ballots to “anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there”. He also said mailboxes would be robbed and that voting by mail would lead to fraudulently printed and signed ballots (California allows voters to track their ballot and verifies the voter’s identity using their signature).
MAIL-IN VOTING WILL LEAD TO MASSIVE FRAUD AND ABUSE. IT WILL ALSO LEAD TO THE END OF OUR GREAT REPUBLICAN PARTY. WE CAN NEVER LET THIS TRAGEDY BEFALL OUR NATION. BIG MAIL-IN VICTORY IN TEXAS COURT TODAY. CONGRATS!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2020
Last week, Trump falsely accused Michigan of planning to send absentee ballots to registered voters; the state is actually sending mail-in ballot applications to voters, a measure Republicans elsewhere have endorsed. Meanwhile, voter fraud, including fraud in mail-in voting, remains extremely rare.
Trump has openly talked about the political upside of having fewer people vote. In a March interview, he dismissed Democratic efforts in Congress to make it easier to vote by mail during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying: “If you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again.”
President Trump is using his bully platform to try to discourage people from voting and to try to stop people from voting by mail Domingo Garcia
Many people are used to brushing off Trump’s rhetoric about voter fraud, said Cliff Albright, a co-founder of the Black Voters Matter. But Albright said Trump’s comments were worrisome in a larger context of aggressive Republican efforts to police voting.
In Georgia, Albright noted, Brad Raffensperger, the secretary of state, has encouraged absentee voting but also created an “absentee ballot fraud taskforce” stacked with prosecutors to monitor mail-in voting. In Texas, which severely restricts absentee voting, Ken Paxton, the attorney general, warned of possible “criminal sanctions” for anyone who advised a voter they could use Covid-19 as the basis for requesting a mail-in ballot.
“That one-two punch is what makes it very intimidating,” Albright said. “It does influence people and does intimidate people and makes some folks feel like this is not something they want to engage in.”
The Republican National Committee is also seeking to recruit up to 50,000 volunteers to monitor voting this fall, the first time in nearly three decades when they won’t be under a federal court order barring them from engaging in poll-watching activity.
There is growing alarm that Trump’s rhetoric will lay the groundwork to contest the results of the presidential election once the ballots are counted. Unlike past elections, America is unlikely to know the winner of the presidential race on election night as officials count ballots coming in (some states allow ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by election day).
The candidate who appears to be ahead on election day may ultimately end up losing as more ballots are counted. And a candidate could use the gap in getting official results to claim widespread fraud, said Nathaniel Persily, a law professor at Stanford University who closely studies elections.
“That’s where the disinformation and the polarizing rhetoric and questioning of the legitimacy of elections could come in. You say there’s something fishy with the mail ballots if they are not reflective of the percentage that has not been revealed up to that point.”
Republicans offered a preview of this in 2018, when they suggested there was something amiss as Democrats in California congressional races picked up votes as the state continued to count mail-in ballots after election day. In Florida, Trump and Rick Scott, then the state’s governor, baselessly accused election officials of fraud as they counted ballots in a US Senate race Scott was running in.
To shore up confidence in the results of the election, a consortium of experts recommended last month that states and media organizations make it clear they expect a delay in reporting official results well ahead of election night.
Accepting the legitimate transfer of power is crucial to the foundation of American democracy. If there isn’t a belief the election is fair, that pillar is gone, Garcia said.
“I’m concerned that we could have a constitutional crisis if we have the same president saying that the election was somehow tainted because people voted by mail,” Garcia said. “That could lead to a possible huge crisis in America’s democracy.”