mercurynews--2020-06-04--San Jose police, city defend use of force at protests: ‘I stepped into a war zone’

SAN JOSE — After being criticized for several days over the tear gas and rubber rounds fired or lobbed at protesters downtown , the San Jose Police Department and city leaders gathered Thursday to defend their tactics , asserting that officers were besieged by agitators using the anonymity provided by the crowds to provoke and attack them .
“ I stepped into a war zone .
I ’ ve never seen anything like it , ” said Capt .
Jason Dwyer , who gave the first order for officers clad in riot gear to engage with what they described as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we pull back , we ’ re giving up downtown , we give them that space .
But once we give them that space , we can not control what happens in that space … We would have been one of those cities on the news burning.
” To many protesters , hundreds of whom have now filed complaints against the police department , that dramatic retelling leaves out the scores of people who were hit by rounds , were dizzied by stun grenades , or whose eyes burned from tear gas deployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the repeated justification of police violence , ” said Alex Lee , an East San Jose resident who has participated in each day of demonstrations in the city .
“ They showed a montage of scuff marks and broken windows without once acknowledging the outcry of violence by the SJPD — people being gassed , and shot at , and harassed.
” Lee was referring to a five-minute video shown by the police department at a news conference Thursday depicting people smashing and defacing cars — including police vehicles — setting fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full glass bottles and construction remnants at officers .
One of the images showed an officer , who had been punched in the face and briefly knocked out by a protester , being dragged away from a skirmish line .
The videos , which did not show any of the nonviolent and peaceful portions of the demonstrations , was shown by police to establish the “ blanket of chaos ” they say they faced in the first three days of the demonstrations born from national outcry over the police killing of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officers endured an onslaught of violence directed at them , in an unprecedented attempt by some to destroy parts of this city , ” Police Chief Eddie Garcia said .
“ What started out Friday as peaceful , righteous demonstrations against injustice , saw an insurrection of pre-planned violence and complete determination to destroy property that inserted itself in the crowd of lawful demonstrators.
” Between Friday and Tuesday , police arrested 180 people , the vast majority of them for alleged misdemeanors , and half of them hailing from San Jose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police department reports having received more than 1,200 citizen complaints related to the protests , and was notified that the Office of the Independent Police Auditor had received more than 500 .
Police said a large portion of complaints involved a viral video on Twitter viewed more than 12 million times showing Officer Jared Yuen , manning a skirmish line , antagonizing protesters with taunts of “ Let ’ s get this motherf—er ” and “ Shut up , bitch.
” Yuen has since been taken off street duty and his behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcia restated his regret over his initial response to the video .
In a Sunday interview with this news organization and at a subsequent press conference , Garcia condemned the acts in the video but called Yuen a “ good kid and a good officer , ” remarks interpreted by some as a soft approach amid the national blowback .
“ It was unprofessional behavior .
It made it seem like I was cavalier about his actions , ” Garcia said , adding that the incident “ tarnished ” other officers who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference , police repeatedly sought to draw a distinction between peaceful demonstrators and “ agitators , ” who they essentially described as agents of chaos , with the chief asserting that the use of force by officers was a response to violence they observed .
“ I ’ m not defending every single incident that happened in the face of chaos , and we will look into every complaint , ” Garcia said .
“ But the impetus to use that force to begin with was because there must have been act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dwyer added that officers show of force was necessary to prevent them from becoming overrun , and presented the use of rubber rounds and tear gas as a decision between those methods and more destructive force like baton strikes and potentially their firearms .
“ The force doesn ’ t look good .
It ’ s never going to look good … What looks worse , people rubbing their eyes , or officers striking protesters with batons ?
” he said .
“ We missed our mark on some of those things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it.
” Peter Allen , a San Jose planning commissioner , said there “ seems to be a disconnect between ” what the police chief and city officials are saying and what he experienced and witnessed while out at César Chávez Park with demonstrators over the weekend .
Allen , who said he walked there to witness and stand by demonstrators Friday night , was only there 20 minutes before police began clearing out the park .
As he tried to leave , he said he was pushed down twice by an officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubber rounds — one in the chest and another that has left a bruise nearly the size of a basketball on his thigh .
“ If I sustained these injuries and I was just a bystander , I can ’ t imagine what happened to the nonviolent , non-aggressive behavior who were confronting those police lines all day , ” he said .
“ From what I saw , I didn ’ t see any aggression toward the police aside from verbal .
No fires , no looting , no shenanigans other than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcia sought to reconcile the stark accounts of of violence and non-violence amid the thousands protesting .
“ When you ’ re part of a large crowd , your awareness can be very narrow , ” he said .
“ If an agitator throws a crowbar , which happened at an officer 20 feet away from a peaceful protester , they may not be aware of that , but our officers are communicating and responding to that attack.
” The chief also credited the 8:30 p.m. curfew , which the city instituted abruptly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went into effect , with thinning night crowds and eliminating the crowd cover for people looking to confront officers or damage property .
“ The curfew was highly successful in minimizing civil unrest , ” Garcia said .
Mayor Sam Liccardo , who has supported the police response to the protests , emphasized that the curfew was engineered based on intelligence gathered about looting plots throughout the city .
It was lifted Thursday .
“ We used it very reluctantly .
This is a very substantial imposition on the civil liberties of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not a city of martial law , that is not what we ’ re going to become .
We ’ re going to use this in a very targeted way , if we ever use it again.
” Both police , city officials and protesters agreed that starting Tuesday and for all of Wednesday , there was a dramatic shift in the tension between demonstrators and police , influenced in part by the effect of the curfew on the size and duration of the protests .
By the time protests ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find .
“ We were almost falling asleep at the command post , ” Dwyer said .
“ We were letting them taking the streets because we know they ’ re not hurting anybody.
” Lee saw a similar scene , noting that officers for the first time in five nights were not lined up on Santa Clara Street in riot gear , and the protesters left peacefully on their own .
“ I think it shows you that if you take the riot gear and trucks out of the equation , things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pondering aloud why that couldn ’ t happen earlier .
“ My question is what was the rationale for deploying all the troops in riot gear to meet the peaceful protests before any destruction happened to our city … It created a confrontation that didn ’ t need to happen.
” Police continue to be presented videos from demonstrators depicting San Jose officers lobbing flash-bang , or stun , grenades at demonstrators to break up crowds .
One video shows an SJPD motorcycle seemingly running down a man , though police say the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a reported break-in at a bank and ran into the officer ’ s motorcycle .
To Garcia , it was an example of the need to withhold judgment based on an unfavorable excerpt of footage .
“ When you see force incidents where all you ’ re getting is the last five to 10 seconds , you can ’ t necessarily base everything on that , ” he said .
“ I invite every community member who thinks they have filmed officer misconduct to send us the entire video , so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maggie Angst and Fiona Kelliher contributed to this report .
Check back later for updates to this story .

SAN JOSE — After being criticized for several days over the tear gas and rubber rounds fired or lobbed at protesters downtown, the San Jose Police Department and city leaders gathered Thursday to defend their tactics, asserting that officers were besieged by agitators using the anonymity provided by the crowds to provoke and attack them.
“I stepped into a war zone. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Capt. Jason Dwyer, who gave the first order for officers clad in riot gear to engage with what they described as combative protesters last Friday. “If we pull back, we’re giving up downtown, we give them that space. But once we give them that space, we cannot control what happens in that space. … We would have been one of those cities on the news burning.”
To many protesters, hundreds of whom have now filed complaints against the police department, that dramatic retelling leaves out the scores of people who were hit by rounds, were dizzied by stun grenades, or whose eyes burned from tear gas deployed on them.
“I was appalled by the repeated justification of police violence,” said Alex Lee, an East San Jose resident who has participated in each day of demonstrations in the city. “They showed a montage of scuff marks and broken windows without once acknowledging the outcry of violence by the SJPD — people being gassed, and shot at, and harassed.”
Lee was referring to a five-minute video shown by the police department at a news conference Thursday depicting people smashing and defacing cars — including police vehicles — setting fires, and hurling objects like rocks, full glass bottles and construction remnants at officers. One of the images showed an officer, who had been punched in the face and briefly knocked out by a protester, being dragged away from a skirmish line.
The videos, which did not show any of the nonviolent and peaceful portions of the demonstrations, was shown by police to establish the “blanket of chaos” they say they faced in the first three days of the demonstrations born from national outcry over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.
“Officers endured an onslaught of violence directed at them, in an unprecedented attempt by some to destroy parts of this city,” police Chief Eddie Garcia said. “What started out Friday as peaceful, righteous demonstrations against injustice, saw an insurrection of pre-planned violence and complete determination to destroy property that inserted itself in the crowd of lawful demonstrators.”
Between Friday and Tuesday, police arrested 180 people, the vast majority of them on misdemeanor charges, and half of them hailing from San Jose. As of the end of Monday, the police department reports having received more than 1,200 citizen complaints related to the protests and was notified that the Office of the Independent Police Auditor had received more than 500.
Police said a large portion of complaints involved a viral video on Twitter viewed more than 12 million times showing Officer Jared Yuen, manning a skirmish line, antagonizing protesters with taunts of “Let’s get this motherf—er” and “Shut up, bitch.” Yuen has since been taken off street duty and his behavior is being investigated by the department.
Garcia restated his regret over his initial response to the video. In a Sunday interview with this news organization and at a subsequent news conference, Garcia condemned the acts in the video but called Yuen a “good kid and a good officer,” remarks interpreted by some as a soft approach amid the national blowback.
“It was unprofessional behavior. It made it seem like I was cavalier about his actions,” Garcia said, adding that the incident “tarnished” other officers who were performing their jobs faithfully.
Throughout the news conference, police repeatedly sought to draw a distinction between peaceful demonstrators and “agitators,” who they essentially described as agents of chaos, with the chief asserting that the use of force by officers was a response to violence they observed.
“I’m not defending every single incident that happened in the face of chaos, and we will look into every complaint,” Garcia said. “But the impetus to use that force to begin with was because there must have been an act of violence against a police officer.”
Dwyer added that officers’ show of force was necessary to prevent them from being overrun, and presented the use of rubber rounds and tear gas as a decision between those methods and more destructive force like baton strikes and potentially their firearms.
“The force doesn’t look good. It’s never going to look good. … What looks worse, people rubbing their eyes, or officers striking protesters with batons?” he said. “We missed our mark on some of those things, and we’re going to own it.”
Peter Allen, a San Jose planning commissioner, said there “seems to be a disconnect between” what the police chief and city officials are saying and what he experienced and witnessed while out at César Chávez Park with demonstrators over the weekend.
Allen, who said he walked there to witness and stand by demonstrators Friday night, was only there 20 minutes before police began clearing out the park. As he tried to leave, he said he was pushed down twice by an officer with a baton and hit by two rubber rounds — one in the chest and another that has left a bruise nearly the size of a basketball on his thigh.
Here’s just one of the rewards I got for the “lawlessness” of standing with my neighbors in a peaceful display of our #FirstAmendment rights. Maybe you can tell me what your officers shot at me while I was BACKING AWAY from them. Twice. (The other one hit me in the chest.) pic.twitter.com/CS2JBxvO8T — Peter Allen (@pjallen2) May 30, 2020
“If I sustained these injuries and I was just a bystander, I can’t imagine what happened to the nonviolent, non-aggressive behavior who were confronting those police lines all day,” he said. “From what I saw, I didn’t see any aggression toward the police aside from verbal. No fires, no looting, no shenanigans other than chanting and voicing their opinions loudly.”
Garcia sought to reconcile the stark accounts of violence and nonviolence amid the thousands protesting.
“When you’re part of a large crowd, your awareness can be very narrow,” he said. “If an agitator throws a crowbar, which happened at an officer 20 feet away from a peaceful protester, they may not be aware of that, but our officers are communicating and responding to that attack.”
The chief also credited the 8:30 p.m. curfew, which the city instituted abruptly Sunday evening about three hours before it went into effect, with thinning night crowds and eliminating the crowd cover for people looking to confront officers or damage property.
“The curfew was highly successful in minimizing civil unrest,” Garcia said.
Mayor Sam Liccardo, who has supported the police response to the protests, emphasized that the curfew was engineered based on intelligence gathered about looting plots throughout the city. It was lifted Thursday.
“We used it very reluctantly. This is a very substantial imposition on the civil liberties of our residents,” Liccardo said. “This is not a city of martial law, that is not what we’re going to become. We’re going to use this in a very targeted way, if we ever use it again.”
Police, city officials and protesters did agree that starting Tuesday and for all of Wednesday, there was a dramatic shift in the tension between demonstrators and police, influenced in part by the effect of the curfew on the size and duration of the protests. By the time protests ended Wednesday night, police were hard to find.
“We were almost falling asleep at the command post,” Dwyer said. “We were letting them take the streets because we know they’re not hurting anybody.”
Lee saw a similar scene, noting that officers for the first time in five nights were not lined up on Santa Clara Street in riot gear, and the protesters left peacefully on their own.
“I think it shows you that if you take the riot gear and trucks out of the equation, things de-escalate,” Lee said, before pondering aloud why that couldn’t happen earlier. “My question is what was the rationale for deploying all the troops in riot gear to meet the peaceful protests before any destruction happened to our city? … It created a confrontation that didn’t need to happen.”
Police continue to be presented videos from demonstrators depicting San Jose officers lobbing flash-bang, or stun, grenades at demonstrators to break up crowds. One video shows an SJPD motorcycle seemingly running down a man, though police say the footage fails to show he was fleeing from a reported break-in at a bank and ran into the officer’s motorcycle.
To Garcia, it was an example of the need to withhold judgment based on an unfavorable excerpt of footage.
“When you see force incidents where all you’re getting is the last five to 10 seconds, you can’t necessarily base everything on that,” he said. “I invite every community member who thinks they have filmed officer misconduct to send us the entire video so that we can review everything.”
Staff writers Maggie Angst and Fiona Kelliher contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-06-04--Bay Area curfews lifted, police hope demonstrations stay peaceful on day 7 of protests

As curfews lifted Thursday around the Bay Area after a violent weekend of protests and police clashes , police departments girded for trouble they hope won ’ t come back .
“ I ’ m not going to tell you I ’ m not concerned , ” San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia said during an extraordinary news conference Thursday when he defended his department ’ s use of tear gas , flashbang grenades and rubber bullets last weekend when protests escalated to violence and looting .
Having a curfew , he said , “ was extremely helpful for our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city.
” On the same day as the memorial service for George Floyd , who was killed last week by a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck , a scattering of demonstrations were underway Thursday afternoon around the Bay Area , including San Jose , Oakland , Mountain View and Fremont .
In Fremont , a city still under curfew orders , hundreds marched South on Fremont Boulevard in the hot afternoon sun , chanting , “ No Justice , No peace ” and “ f***k your curfew.
” Many were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter , ” “ Stop killing us , ” and End racism , not lives.
” “ I feel something different in the air , that we ’ re going to actually make some strides , ” said Giselle McNeill , 44 , of Fairfield , who came to Washington High School in Fremont Thursday afternoon with her 16-year-old daughter Kierra to protest Floyd ’ s death .
At Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland , many gathered on picnic blankets to listen to speakers denouncing police brutality .
San Jose joined Alameda County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berkeley , Palo Alto and a slew of other Bay Area jurisdictions in lifting their curfews Thursday , following a night of massive but overwhelmingly peaceful demonstrations throughout the region .
A large Oakland protest Wednesday night was organized to expressly violate the city ’ s curfew , but because the gathering was peaceful , police allowed it to continue well into the night .
Similarly , a massive protest in San Francisco , where the curfew was lifted Thursday morning , was mostly peaceful .
San Jose ’ s protest at City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the several hundred protesters left at the 8:30 p.m. curfew , was so orderly that officers were “ practically falling asleep at the command post , ” Police Cpt .
Jason Dwyer said during the news conference Thursday .
“ Watching the crowd move about freely , we ’ re letting them take the streets because we know they ’ re not hurting anyone.
” That was a sharp contrast to last weekend , when some protesters at City Hall picked up wooden boards from a construction site across the street and wielded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to shatter windows and throw rocks and other projectiles at police .
One officer was punched in the face and briefly fell unconscious .
On Wednesday — six days after Friday ’ s first violent night in San Jose — there was no police presence at San Jose City Hall until 9:15 p.m. — 45 minutes after curfew — and that came from the sky , with a helicopter circling and a loudspeaker instructing protesters to go home .
The curfews were a response to looting and vandalism at businesses throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction that coincided with mass demonstrations protesting the death of George Floyd , as well as police killings of other black men and women .
But when thousands of protesters in San Francisco and Oakland defied their curfews for hours Wednesday night , chanting , making speeches and even dancing in the street , police mostly let them be , and the night ended without violence .
Now , officials in many jurisdictions feel the curfews are no longer needed .
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo , during the same news conference Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ get a handle on what was a brutally difficult situation over the weekend ” and that the city will evaluate day to day whether curfews need to be reimposed .
However , the mayor said , he and the City Council would impose them again “ very reluctantly because I believe this is a very substantial imposition on the civil liberties of our residents .
Nobody in this department , nobody in the city intends to live under a curfew for any extended period of time .
Nobody believes that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not a state of martial law .
That ’ s not what we ’ re going to become .
”

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As curfews lifted around the Bay Area after nearly a week of demonstrations — many peaceful, others erupting into violence — the seventh day of protests on Thursday evening remained passionate and peaceful.
On the same day as the memorial service for George Floyd, who was killed last week by a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck, enthusiastic crowds marched, caravanned and rallied around the Bay Area.
San Jose joined Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto and a slew of other Bay Area jurisdictions in lifting their curfews Thursday, following a night of massive but overwhelmingly peaceful demonstrations throughout the region.
Still, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia expressed his fears earlier Thursday that without a curfew, trouble could start again.
“I’m not going to tell you I’m not concerned,” Garcia said during an extraordinary news conference Thursday when he defended his department’s use of tear gas, flashbang grenades and rubber bullets last weekend when protests escalated to violence and looting by splinter groups. Having a curfew, he said, “was extremely helpful for our police officers and for the health of the city.”
By 8:30 p.m. Thursday, however, the time of Wednesday’s curfew, protesters in San Jose were trickling away from City Hall, where they had spent the hot afternoon kneeling on the sidewalk in moments of silence and marching to Cesar Chavez Plaza several blocks away. San Francisco 49ers player Ian Williams was in the crowd.
At one point, a black police officer at the intersection of 5th and Santa Clara streets rolled down his window to enormous cheers. “I appreciate you,” the officer called out the window.
“Honk your horn!” a protester called back.
In Walnut Creek, a group of religious leaders gathered to pray for peace and denounce the use of force Monday night by local police trying to break up a crowd of demonstrators on a freeway onramp. One young woman, who is a member of the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, suffered a head injury when she was struck by a rubber bullet.
“We know the tactics used in these protests are symbols of the police brutality we’re experiencing in our community and that too often take the life of our black and brown kids,” said the Rev. Leslie Takahashi from the Mount Diablo church.
The peaceful scenes around the Bay Area Thursday offered a sharp contrast to last weekend, when some demonstrators ransacked stores around Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza, Emeryville’s Bay Street stores, Bayfair Center in San Leandro and downtown San Francisco. in San Jose, some demonstrators picked up wooden boards from a construction site and wielded them at police. One officer was punched in the face and briefly fell unconscious.
It was the second night of calm in San Jose. On Wednesday night, demonstrators left so peacefully shortly after curfew that officers were “practically falling asleep at the command post,” Police Cpt. Jason Dwyer said during the news conference Thursday. “Watching the crowd move about freely, we’re letting them take the streets because we know they’re not hurting anyone.”
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, during the same news conference, acknowledged that curfews had been necessary to “get a handle on what was a brutally difficult situation over the weekend” and that the city will evaluate day to day whether curfews need to be reimposed.
However, the mayor said, he and the City Council would impose them again “very reluctantly because I believe this is a very substantial imposition on the civil liberties of our residents. Nobody in this department, nobody in the city intends to live under a curfew for any extended period of time. Nobody believes that’s a tolerable way to live. This is not a state of martial law. That’s not what we’re going to become.”
In Fremont, a city still under curfew orders, the crowd broke up well before sunset. Hundreds had marched south on Fremont Boulevard in the hot afternoon sun, chanting, “No Justice, No peace” and “f***k your curfew.”
“I feel something different in the air, that we’re going to actually make some strides,” said Giselle McNeill, 44, of Fairfield, who came to Washington High School in Fremont Thursday afternoon with her 16-year-old daughter Kierra to protest Floyd’s death.
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, who caused a stir during a protest Tuesday when she refused to kneel at the police department when protestors asked her to, joined up with the demonstration Thursday at its terminus at the police department. She said she offered to pray with the crowd, but organizers declined. She explained on Facebook that she didn’t kneel Tuesday becauses she only kneels for God, but wanted to express her solidarity by marching Tuesday and showing up Thursday.
“I think it’s very important that people have the opportunity to gather to express their grief and their feelings and I’m very grateful that there was a great turnout and it was very peaceful,” she said of Thursday’s march.
In Mountain View, about 1,000 people, most of them teenagers and young people, marched down El Camino Real Thursday afternoon. Los Altos High School junior Ramirez Lopez, 16, said he’s tired of the racism that black people like himself experience. Just last month, he said, he was detained for an hour by police officers “for no reason.”
“It’s sad we have to do this,” Lopez said. “You go out every day not knowing if you’ll come back.”
Mountain View Mayor Margaret Abe-Koga marched alongside her two teenage daughters from San Antonio Road to city hall at Castro Street on the city’s historic commercial strip
Related Articles California News | Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing
Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing California News | San Jose: Federal excessive force lawsuit from George Floyd protests is greenlit for trial “It’s so promising to see young people out there and I hope the ones that can vote take the opportunity to make a change,” Abe-Koga said. “I have two daughters and they were the ones who told me about this protest. They were getting notes on Instagram and Snapchat.”
Police presence was minimal and no police in riot gear could be seen.
At Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland, many gathered on picnic blankets to listen to speakers denouncing police brutality, health care workers joined a kneel-in to protest racism and police abuse. In San Francisco, a “Caravan of Justice” car parade honked it way through town, from Golden Gate Park through neigborhoods from the Haight, to the Marina, Castro, Richmond and West Portal.
Staff writers George Kelly and Maggie Angst contributed to this story.


mercurynews--2020-06-04--LeBron James rips Fox News’ Laura Ingraham for her Drew Brees hypocrisy

When is it OK for professional athletes to speak out about political and societal issues ?
Well , if you ’ re Laura Ingraham , apparently it ’ s when the athletes agree with your views .
If you ’ re keeping score at home ( and we hope you are ) , the Fox News anchor infamously slammed NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant back in 2018 when they dared to criticize President Donald Trump .
Ingraham ’ s stance then ?
Guys who get paid lots of money to play sports should stick to sports .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Keep the political comments to yourselves .
… Shut up and dribble.
” Now compare that to what she said Wednesday night in defense of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees , who earlier in the day caught flak from fellow athletes — including some of his own teammates — when he expressed disdain for NFL players kneeling in silent protest during the national anthem .
“ Well , he ’ s allowed to have his view about what kneeling and the flag means to him , ” she told her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a person .
He has some worth I would imagine .
… ” How ’ s that for a dramatic about-face ?
The difference is even more notIceable when you consider Brees is white and James and Durant are back .
An exasperated James took to social media to slam dunk on Ingraham .
“ If you still haven ’ t figured out why the protesting is going on .
Why we ’ re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any simpler than this right here ?
?
?
?
” he tweeted .
Brees , by the way , issued an apology on Thursday , calling his remarks “ insensitive ” and saying they “ completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country.
” Now , will Ingraham apologize ?
Don ’ t hold your breath .
James received plenty of support on social media from athletes who were appalled by what the conservative TV anchor had to say .
They included Tampa bay wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her are f—— disgusting.
” ) , New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman , Seattle Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker , tennis star Naomi Osaka , skiing standout Lindsey Vonn ( “ Laura Ingraham , you ’ re the problem .
… It ’ s time that you look at yourself in the mirror.
” ) , Sacramento Kings guard De ’ Aaron Fox and several others .
Also joining the chorus was former Cal standout and current San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen :

When is it OK for professional athletes to speak out about political and societal issues? Well, if you’re Laura Ingraham, apparently it’s when the athletes agree with your views.
If you’re keeping score at home, the Fox News anchor infamously slammed NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant back in 2018 when they dared to criticize President Donald Trump.
Ingraham’s stance then? Guys who get paid lots of money to play sports should stick to sports. No one voted for them, after all. “Keep the political comments to yourselves. … Shut up and dribble.”
Now compare that to what she said Wednesday night in defense of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who earlier in the day caught flak from fellow athletes — including some of his own teammates — when he expressed disdain for NFL players kneeling in silent protest during the national anthem.
“Well, he’s allowed to have his view about what kneeling and the flag means to him,” she told her viewers. “I mean, he’s a person. He has some worth I would imagine. …”
How’s that for a dramatic about-face? The difference is even more notIceable when you consider Brees is white and James and Durant are back.
An exasperated James took to social media to slam dunk on Ingraham.
“If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here????” he tweeted.
If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here???? 🤦🏾♂. And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see https://t.co/e4pJ0PvwJj — LeBron James (@KingJames) June 4, 2020
Brees, by the way, issued an apology on Thursday, calling his remarks “insensitive” and saying they “completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country.”
UPDATE: Ingraham didn’t issue an apology, but during her Thursday show she did address the “online chorus of people” comparing her comments to previous ones.
“Without dwelling on the nuance between the two instances, let me be very clear about what I believe: We are all children of God, regardless of our racial or political differences and therefore must be treated equally,” she said. “Every American, every-American has the God-given right to speak his mind on any issue. I think in order to heal and shed light on gross injustices, our country needs more dialogue, not less. And we need more respect, less retribution.
“Emotions are hot right now and unfortunately, in times like these, we often find ourselves, I know it’s easy to do, talking past each other,” she added. “Right now Americans, I think most of them, are looking for reconciliation. That means politicians, police, and even cultural figures all working together. All of us.”
James received plenty of support on social media from athletes across the spectrum of sports. They included Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans (“People like her are f—— disgusting.”), New York Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman, Seattle Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker, tennis star Naomi Osaka, skiing standout Lindsey Vonn (“Laura Ingraham, you’re the problem. … It’s time that you look at yourself in the mirror.”), Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox and several others.
Also joining the chorus was former Cal standout and current San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen:


mercurynews--2020-06-04--White House fortifies security perimeter fence

The People ’ s House continued to be fortified from the public Thursday , as workers erected a perimeter of tall metal fencing around the White House complex .
After law enforcement forcefully dispersed peaceful protesters so President Donald Trump could participate in a photo opportunity with a Bible outside St. John ’ s Episcopal Church , workers were seen constructing fencing around Lafayette Park and at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue beside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building late Monday evening .
And on Thursday , construction of additional fencing along the White House complex began before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns ahead of expected continuing protests this weekend .
By Thursday afternoon , the fencing extended down 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue .
The 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue closed to vehicular traffic in 1995 shortly after the Oklahoma City Bombing , but it is normally open to pedestrians , a symbol of freedom in the nation ’ s capital .
Secret Service does close the area frequently — but temporarily — for a number of routine security reasons , including suspicious packages and presidential movements .
Secret Service declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fencing or how long it was expected to stand .
“ The US Secret Service does not comment on our protective means and methods for operational security reasons , ” a spokesperson said .
Last Friday and over the weekend , protests near the White House became violent at times , with looting and fires nearby , including at St. John ’ s church .
Trump was rushed to a bunker for nearly an hour amid intense protests on Friday evening , multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN .
Trump claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” rather than a retreat for his own safety .
Protests in the area were largely peaceful Tuesday and Wednesday evenings .
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Thursday she is concerned that the fencing may not be temporary , and that “ it ’ s a sad commentary that the ( White ) House and its inhabitants have to be walled off.
” “ I ’ m one of those people who grew up in Washington , DC , and has been very accustomed to being able to have access to all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Capitol grounds … from being able to walk all around the Supreme Court , to walk in front of the White House , on both sides , and now all of that is under threat , ” Bowser said during a news conference .
Jonathan Wackrow , a former Secret Service agent and CNN law enforcement contributor , said Secret Service is preparing for the possibility that protests that could again become tense amid additional events over the next week , including funeral and memorial services honoring George Floyd in Minneapolis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House has been a target of protest activity and tangential agitators , ” Wackrow said , noting that there were still some pockets of escalation on Tuesday and Wednesday .
In constructing additional fencing , Secret Service , he said , “ is having situational awareness of what the future is going to potentially bring , ” as well as looking “ at some of the gaps that are potentially present ” on the grounds .
A truck containing stacked metal fencing was parked on 17th Street before 6 a.m. Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive Office Building .
Later in the morning , the fencing extended well past the Eisenhower Executive Office Building toward Constitution Avenue .
And existing fencing constructed earlier this week at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue was reinforced with concrete barriers behind the fence , which , Wackrow said , would prevent vehicles from approaching crowds .
It ’ s not the first time fencing of this magnitude has gone up around the White House .
During the inaugural parade every four years , fencing extends from the Capitol to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why is anyone judged by skin color not action ?
• ACLU sues police over use of force on protesters • San Jose police , city defend use of force at protests : ‘ I stepped into a war zone ’ And Secret Service , Wackrow said , has significant experience with protests — there ’ s a protest of some form or fashion at the White House 365 days a year .
However , he added : “ The tenor of these protests has been different from what we ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the killing of George Floyd and systematic racism and injustice in the US , paired with consistent good weather in Washington , and the fact that more than 40 million Americans are out of work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic , is heightening the protest activity .

By Betsy Klein | CNN
The People’s House continued to be fortified from the public Thursday, as workers erected a perimeter of tall metal fencing around the White House complex.
After law enforcement forcefully dispersed peaceful protesters so President Donald Trump could participate in a photo opportunity with a Bible outside St. John’s Episcopal Church, workers were seen constructing fencing around Lafayette Park and at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue beside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building late Monday evening.
And on Thursday, construction of additional fencing along the White House complex began before dawn — perhaps a sign of security concerns ahead of expected continuing protests this weekend.
By Thursday afternoon, the fencing extended down 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue.
The 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue closed to vehicular traffic in 1995 shortly after the Oklahoma City Bombing, but it is normally open to pedestrians, a symbol of freedom in the nation’s capital. Secret Service does close the area frequently — but temporarily — for a number of routine security reasons, including suspicious packages and presidential movements.
Secret Service declined to comment on the purpose of the fencing or how long it was expected to stand.
“The US Secret Service does not comment on our protective means and methods for operational security reasons,” a spokesperson said.
Last Friday and over the weekend, protests near the White House became violent at times, with looting and fires nearby, including at St. John’s church. Trump was rushed to a bunker for nearly an hour amid intense protests on Friday evening, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Trump claimed Wednesday it was an “inspection,” rather than a retreat for his own safety.
Protests in the area were largely peaceful Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Thursday she is concerned that the fencing may not be temporary, and that “it’s a sad commentary that the (White) House and its inhabitants have to be walled off.”
“I’m one of those people who grew up in Washington, DC, and has been very accustomed to being able to have access to all of our federal facilities, going up on the Capitol grounds … from being able to walk all around the Supreme Court, to walk in front of the White House, on both sides, and now all of that is under threat,” Bowser said during a news conference.
Jonathan Wackrow, a former Secret Service agent and CNN law enforcement contributor, said Secret Service is preparing for the possibility that protests that could again become tense amid additional events over the next week, including funeral and memorial services honoring George Floyd in Minneapolis, Houston and North Carolina.
“The White House has been a target of protest activity and tangential agitators,” Wackrow said, noting that there were still some pockets of escalation on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In constructing additional fencing, Secret Service, he said, “is having situational awareness of what the future is going to potentially bring,” as well as looking “at some of the gaps that are potentially present” on the grounds.
A truck containing stacked metal fencing was parked on 17th Street before 6 a.m. Thursday, workers installing the fence beside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Later in the morning, the fencing extended well past the Eisenhower Executive Office Building toward Constitution Avenue. And existing fencing constructed earlier this week at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue was reinforced with concrete barriers behind the fence, which, Wackrow said, would prevent vehicles from approaching crowds.
It’s not the first time fencing of this magnitude has gone up around the White House. During the inaugural parade every four years, fencing extends from the Capitol to the White House.
Related Articles National News | Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing
Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing National News | San Jose: Federal excessive force lawsuit from George Floyd protests is greenlit for trial And Secret Service, Wackrow said, has significant experience with protests — there’s a protest of some form or fashion at the White House 365 days a year.
However, he added: “The tenor of these protests has been different from what we’ve seen in the past.”
The combination of the killing of George Floyd and systematic racism and injustice in the US, paired with consistent good weather in Washington, and the fact that more than 40 million Americans are out of work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, is heightening the protest activity.


mercurynews--2020-06-04--Photos: A look inside the George Floyd Memorial

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the gallery on your mobile device .
Hundreds gathered inside a sanctuary North Central University in Minneapolis to mourn over George Floyd during a memorial .
The service — which is one of several that will visit be held in three cities in six days — drew family , friends , national and local politicians and celebrities .
All gathered to remember the man whose death sparked a global protest and renewed calls for reform to the U.S. justice system .
The Rev .
Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy and in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s time for us to stand up in George ’ s name and say , ‘ Get your knee off our necks !
’ ” The Rev .
Jesse Jackson , Sen. Amy Klobuchar and members of Congress , including Reps. Ilhan Omar , Sheila Jackson-Lee and Ayana Pressley attended the service .
Celebrities such as Kevin Hart , Tiffany Haddish , Ludacris , T.I .
and Marsai Martin were also there .
According to AP , other memorials will be held in his birth place of Raeford , North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd grew up .
The images above show events in and around the memorial Thursday as mourners filed into the sanctuary to pay their respects .
For more images , follow our Instagram account .

Actress Tiffany Haddish, right, wipes away tears as she stands with civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Eric Garner's mother Gwen Carr, at a memorial service for George Floyd at North Central University, on Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Minneapolis. The service — the first in a series of memorials set for three cities over six days — unfolded with Hollywood celebrities, musicians and political leaders pay their respects in front of the golden casket of George Floyd, the man whose death at the hands of police sparked global protests. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)


mercurynews--2020-06-04--15 ways homes will change post-COVID-19

15 ways homes will change post-COVID-19

One of our kids was coming over with his family to celebrate his birthday .
( We ’ d all been sheltering in place , so this get together was a tiptoe back to quasi-reality for us . )
“ Uh , no , ” I said , then played out the scene : “ Here , blow your breath really hard all over this cake , then we ’ ll serve everyone a piece .
The days of birthday cakes and candles are over.
” While no one can foresee all the ways that home life will change after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will certainly be the chief goal .
To get a glimpse into how that might translate into homes of tomorrow , I spoke to two forward-looking designers : architect and home builder Phil Kean , of Winter Park , Fla. , and Donald Strum , head of product design for Michael Graves Architecture & Design , of Princeton , NJ .
Together , we identified 15 likely features of the post-COVID home : Hands-free fixtures : Expect to see more of anything that does not require hands , from motion- or foot-activated faucets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors and voice-activated TV remotes and sound systems .
“ We already have hands-free refrigerators and voice-activated coffee makers , ” said Kean .
“ More will come.
” Keyless entries : Soon , more of us will be opening doors with our phones , or with infrared detection systems .
More sinks : Now that handwashing has become a constant , a half-bathroom or just a sink near a home ’ s entrance will become fairly standard .
Smart toilets and bidets : Ever since The Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toilets has soared and will continue to , said Kean .
Today ’ s smart toilets retrofit to work with existing commodes , so they function as bidets , too .
Hands-free trash cans : Your doctor ’ s office had it right , Strum said .
Step-operated trash cans with self-closing lids will become standard in homes , too .
Better yards : Whether it ’ s a better-outfitted backyard , front porch or balcony , outdoor spaces will get more attention , as folks confined to their homes crave sunlight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the opportunity to share a socially distant quarantini with neighbors and friends .
Victory gardens : Home vegetable gardens will also gain ground , as people try to become more self-reliant , said Strum , who has doubled the size of his own home garden .
Fewer open floor plans : While big open spaces and great rooms have been popular , many homeowners have rediscovered the importance of doors , whether to get some work done , or just to get some space .
Privacy is trending .
Dedicated workspaces : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and much of that is likely to stick .
“ We will be rethinking spaces to make sure that those working at home have an office away from household disruptions , and that kids also have a quiet dedicated place to do schoolwork , ” Kean said .
Zoom zones : Homes today suddenly need Zoom appeal — a designated , publicly presentable space for teleconferencing that doesn ’ t capture dirty dishes or unmade beds , and that minimizes yapping pets and noisy kids , will become de facto .
More food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created a desire for more pantry and freezer space .
Bigger , better pantries will address our need to store more nonperishables , so we feel more secure .
Future homes will likely also have more freezer space to store perishable food .
Delivery rooms : “ We need to change the way we accept deliveries , so we don ’ t have to meet the delivery person , ” said Kean , who imagines homes having a giant drop box , or maybe a room adjacent to the house , with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste receptacles .
A shift to the suburbs : The pandemic has raised concerns about close living , driving up interest in housing away from densely populated cities , experts say .
Our homes have had to serve as offices , classrooms , gyms and isolation rooms .
College kids have come home for extended stays .
And we ’ ve witnessed the impact that communal living has had on nursing homes .
Home buyers are going to be looking for more room to house both our pastimes and our extended families , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And , yes , years from now we will view the act of blowing out dozens ( well , in my case ) of candles on a birthday cake as high-risk behavior , up there with hugging and shaking hands .
My bet is we ’ ll see more cupcakes .

“Should I get a birthday cake?” my husband asked.
One of our kids was coming over with his family to celebrate his birthday. (We’d all been sheltering in place, so this get together was a tiptoe back to quasi-reality for us.)
“Uh, no,” I said, then played out the scene: “Here, blow your breath really hard all over this cake, then we’ll serve everyone a piece. The days of birthday cakes and candles are over.”
DC pondered this. “That’s a good point.”
While no one can foresee all the ways that home life will change after COVID-19, minimizing the spread of germs will certainly be the chief goal. To get a glimpse into how that might translate into homes of tomorrow, I spoke to two forward-looking designers: architect and home builder Phil Kean, of Winter Park, Fla., and Donald Strum, head of product design for Michael Graves Architecture & Design, of Princeton, NJ. Together, we identified 15 likely features of the post-COVID home:
Hands-free fixtures: Expect to see more of anything that does not require hands, from motion- or foot-activated faucets and automatic flush toilets, to motion-sensitive doors and voice-activated TV remotes and sound systems. “We already have hands-free refrigerators and voice-activated coffee makers,” said Kean. “More will come.”
Keyless entries: Soon, more of us will be opening doors with our phones, or with infrared detection systems.
More sinks: Now that handwashing has become a constant, a half-bathroom or just a sink near a home’s entrance will become fairly standard.
Smart toilets and bidets: Ever since The Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020, the popularity of bidets and smart toilets has soared and will continue to, said Kean. Today’s smart toilets retrofit to work with existing commodes, so they function as bidets, too.
Hands-free trash cans: Your doctor’s office had it right, Strum said. Step-operated trash cans with self-closing lids will become standard in homes, too.
Better yards: Whether it’s a better-outfitted backyard, front porch or balcony, outdoor spaces will get more attention, as folks confined to their homes crave sunlight, fresh air, a change of scenery and the opportunity to share a socially distant quarantini with neighbors and friends.
Victory gardens: Home vegetable gardens will also gain ground, as people try to become more self-reliant, said Strum, who has doubled the size of his own home garden.
Fewer open floor plans: While big open spaces and great rooms have been popular, many homeowners have rediscovered the importance of doors, whether to get some work done, or just to get some space. Privacy is trending.
Dedicated workspaces: The pandemic has driven more telecommuting, and much of that is likely to stick. “We will be rethinking spaces to make sure that those working at home have an office away from household disruptions, and that kids also have a quiet dedicated place to do schoolwork,” Kean said.
Zoom zones: Homes today suddenly need Zoom appeal — a designated, publicly presentable space for teleconferencing that doesn’t capture dirty dishes or unmade beds, and that minimizes yapping pets and noisy kids, will become de facto.
More food storage: Food-hoarding during the pandemic has created a desire for more pantry and freezer space. Bigger, better pantries will address our need to store more nonperishables, so we feel more secure. Future homes will likely also have more freezer space to store perishable food.
Delivery rooms: “We need to change the way we accept deliveries, so we don’t have to meet the delivery person,” said Kean, who imagines homes having a giant drop box, or maybe a room adjacent to the house, with a way to directly discard packaging into outdoor waste receptacles.
A shift to the suburbs: The pandemic has raised concerns about close living, driving up interest in housing away from densely populated cities, experts say. Our homes have had to serve as offices, classrooms, gyms and isolation rooms. College kids have come home for extended stays. And we’ve witnessed the impact that communal living has had on nursing homes. Home buyers are going to be looking for more room to house both our pastimes and our extended families, Kean said.
A cupcake comeback: And, yes, years from now we will view the act of blowing out dozens (well, in my case) of candles on a birthday cake as high-risk behavior, up there with hugging and shaking hands. My bet is we’ll see more cupcakes.


mercurynews--2020-06-04--Letter: Are authorities unable to do what needs to be done?

Are authorities unable to do what needs to be done ?
I can ’ t be the only one troubled @ @ @ @ @ in most major cities in the aftermath of the unjustified murder of George Floyd .
@ @ @ @ @ weak response we have seen by the mayors and local police authorities .
The reports @ @ @ @ @ and property destruction without any apparent resistance by law enforcement .
When police cars are @ @ @ @ @ buildings are left to be destroyed , the rule of law has been left in @ @ @ @ @ What will we get with Trump or with Biden ?
• Letter : Phase 2 @ @ @ @ @ hardest of all • Letter : Video cameras bringing evil out of the shadows It @ @ @ @ @ so intimidated that they have stopped providing the services that we have relied upon them @ @ @ @ @ situations !
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to @ @

Are authorities unable to
do what needs to be done?
I can’t be the only one troubled with what is going on in most major cities in the aftermath of the unjustified murder of George Floyd.
What is disturbing is the weak response we have seen by the mayors and local police authorities.
The reports show open and blatant looting and property destruction without any apparent resistance by law enforcement. When police cars are set on fire and government buildings are left to be destroyed, the rule of law has been left in shambles.
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Letters: Insulate wires | CDE was wrong | Functional Chromebooks | Trump’s ego | Healthy debate | A new path Letters to the Editor | Letters: Local solar | Titan resources | Activism helps It seems that our authorities are so intimidated that they have stopped providing the services that we have relied upon them to perform. Two horrible situations!
Robert Jones
Alamo
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mercurynews--2020-06-05--Suspicious device found near California protest was ‘designed to cause harm’ but not explosive

A sheriff ’ s department bomb squad removed a suspicious device found Thursday near the location of a Santa Clarita protest over the death of Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police .
The sheriff ’ s Arson and Explosives Detail determined that the suspicious device found near a Shell gas station at McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard “ did not contain any incendiaries ” but was “ designed to cause harm to others when tossed into ( a ) crowd , ” according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff ’ s Station .
With deputies out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area , the city was ready for things to get out of control .
And that was before the bomb squad arrived on scene .
• Lawyers : 2 of 3 ex-cops charged in George Floyd ’ s killing were rookies ; 3rd cooperating with investigators • Letter : Oakland citizens deserve better than Schaaf and OPD • Southern California protest : Man who brandished gun , another who drove through crowd arrested • Letter : Next chapter on peaceful protest must be written But since the protest turned out to be non-violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a planned curfew that was designed to cut off the protest — and clear the streets — at 6 p.m .
The decision is the result of “ the peaceful protests we have seen today in our city , ” officials said on social media .
While the bomb squad was working on the suspicious device , other deputies kept protesters away from the area .
The discovery and removal of the device came amid an effort by protesters in the Santa Clarita Valley to make their voices heard Thursday over the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a noon demonstration began at Valencia and McBean .
The crowd grew as the afternoon wore on .
The demonstrators held signs in support of the Black Lives Matter movement .
One sign read , “ Racism is a sin — white supremacy is a scourge on the nation.
” Another read , “ We hold these truths to be self-evident that Black Lives Matter.
” The protesters stopped traffic at one point .
Even though Los Angeles County ended its curfew , the city of Santa Clarita voted Wednesday to declare a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curfew but later decided the protest was peaceful enough to dispense with the order .
The city had a warning for people who might “ take advantage of the situation to loot or riot.
” National Guard troops were in the area .
Not all passers-by were supportive of the protesters and their message .

A sheriff’s department bomb squad removed a suspicious device found Thursday near the location of a Santa Clarita protest over the death of Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police.
The sheriff’s Arson and Explosives Detail determined that the suspicious device found near a Shell gas station at McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard “did not contain any incendiaries” but was “designed to cause harm to others when tossed into (a) crowd,” according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
With deputies out in force and the National Guard in the area, the city was ready for things to get out of control. And that was before the bomb squad arrived on scene.
Related Articles California News | Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing
Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing California News | San Jose: Federal excessive force lawsuit from George Floyd protests is greenlit for trial But since the protest turned out to be non-violent, Santa Clarita officials decided to cancel a planned curfew that was designed to cut off the protest — and clear the streets — at 6 p.m.
The decision is the result of “the peaceful protests we have seen today in our city,” officials said on social media.
While the bomb squad was working on the suspicious device, other deputies kept protesters away from the area.
The discovery and removal of the device came amid an effort by protesters in the Santa Clarita Valley to make their voices heard Thursday over the issue of police treatment of African Americans as a noon demonstration began at Valencia and McBean.
The crowd grew as the afternoon wore on.
The demonstrators held signs in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. One sign read, “Racism is a sin — white supremacy is a scourge on the nation.”
Another read, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that Black Lives Matter.”
The protesters stopped traffic at one point.
Even though Los Angeles County ended its curfew, the city of Santa Clarita voted Wednesday to declare a local emergency and a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew but later decided the protest was peaceful enough to dispense with the order.
In light of the peaceful protests we have seen today in our City, and in consultation with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the City of Santa Clarita is rescinding the curfew for this evening. There will be no curfew tonight in #SantaClarita. pic.twitter.com/8cft4Gr4yl — Santa Clarita City (@santaclarita) June 4, 2020
Hundreds of protestors marching on Valencia Blvd in #SantaClarita. @SCVSHERIFF helicopter said March will be declare unlawful assembly if people stay on street. pic.twitter.com/b8nNR6JHl3 — Mauricio La Plante (@mslaplantenews) June 4, 2020
At a Black Lives Matter rally in #SantaClarita. The Santa Clarita City Council passed a curfew for 6 p.m., based off looting concerns. But local activists say lawmakers’ worries are unfounded. pic.twitter.com/dXgHi5LgWt — Mauricio La Plante (@mslaplantenews) June 4, 2020
A motorcyclist plays “Changes” by Tupac. pic.twitter.com/2YhHA6eFgB — Mauricio La Plante (@mslaplantenews) June 4, 2020
The city had a warning for people who might “take advantage of the situation to loot or riot.”
We are anticipating peaceful protests today and people having the opportunity to be heard. Resources are on hand should people try and take advantage of the situation to loot or riot. #SantaClarita pic.twitter.com/XrOwe1ULvf — Santa Clarita City (@santaclarita) June 4, 2020
National Guard troops were in the area.
National Guard has arrived to SCV. pic.twitter.com/Ps1Ht0Tr2C — SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF) June 4, 2020
#SantaClarita My son and I just drove back and forth past the protest. Fists in the air, Marvin Gaye blaring out of the speakers. A huge and peaceful turnout. Very little police presence, no National Guard to be seen. Pretty beautiful. Hope it stays that way. — Chris Loprete (@chloprete) June 4, 2020
Pastor Carthel Towns of Santa Clarita is marching with his kids. He said they just graduated high school and that he wanted to bring them out here to support their rights. pic.twitter.com/DlP95ILkoK — Mauricio La Plante (@mslaplantenews) June 4, 2020
Santa Clarita resident Tony Lopez is marching in crutches. He explains why he came out here despite having an injury. pic.twitter.com/dKPpbbMBVO — Mauricio La Plante (@mslaplantenews) June 4, 2020
Not all passers-by were supportive of the protesters and their message.
so far while protesting, have been shouted at by 2 white men, one telling us to get a job, another flipped us off, all we are preaching is blm… santa clarita is full of racists. #scvprotest — mali clare (@maliclare) June 4, 2020


mercurynews--2020-06-05--He quit his Facebook job because of Mark Zuckerberg’s inaction on Trump’s posts

A Facebook employee who quit the company this week told CNN he is worried the platform will be used to further escalate violence in the United States .
Timothy Aveni , a 22-year-old Facebook software engineer , quit after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to take action on President Donald Trump ’ s warning last week that “ looting ” would lead to “ shooting , ” as protests gripped the United States .
Aveni announced the move in a Facebook post that went viral .
Zuckerberg ’ s inaction , Aveni said , proved the 36-year-old billionaire had abandoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down calls for violence on Facebook .
“ Zuck has told us over and over that calls to violence would not be tolerated on the platform , even if they were by the President of the United States , ” Aveni told CNN Thursday from his home in Menlo Park , California , near Facebook ’ s world headquarters .
Aveni said he saw grim parallels between Facebook ’ s decision to allow Trump ’ s message on the platform and the manner in which Facebook was used to fuel violence against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Myanmar .
Facebook admitted in 2018 that it had failed to do enough to prevent its platform being used to fuel bloodshed in Myanmar .
Although the company has implemented new policies and procedures since — especially around misinformation , online hate , and incitement to violence — some Facebook staff say they have been left wondering if some of the company ’ s most significant commitments are hollow .
Zuckerberg had pledged that calls for violence would not be tolerated .
“ If anyone , including a politician , is saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling for violence or could risk imminent physical harm … we will take that content down , ” he said testifying before Congress last October .
As protests , some violent , played out across the US , President Trump posted on Facebook and Twitter last week , “ these THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd , and I won ’ t let that happen .
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way .
Any difficulty and we will assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the shooting starts.
” His phrase “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts , ” mirrors language used by a Miami police chief in the late 1960s in the wake of riots .
Aveni viewed Trump ’ s post as a call for violence .
Twitter took action on identical language posted on its platform saying Trump had glorified violence .
Zuckerberg decided to take no action , explaining in a Facebook post , “ we decided to leave it up because the National Guard references meant we read it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force.
” “ I don ’ t think that this was a decision made based on principle , ” Aveni told CNN Thursday , “ I think he made the decision and then tried to find some way to connect it to principle , because that was convenient for him .
And that ’ s not the way these things should go.
” After interning at the company twice during college , Aveni started a full-time job at Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was optimistic about the role he could play at Facebook , saying , “ I think Facebook in a lot of ways is a really positive force for good in the world .
There are incredible ways that Facebook is able to connect people to other people , and we ’ re seeing all over the world that that is having a really positive impact on people ’ s lives.
” Facebook had , by the time he joined in 2019 , faced scrutiny on a number of fronts .
Aveni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I knew that Facebook wasn ’ t pure , ” he said .
“ And I acknowledged that , you know , to some extent , maybe I , I should accept blame for , for going there anyway .
But I really do think that in many , many ways , Facebook is a net positive in the world , and I wanted to help contribute to the positive.
” After revelations of widespread misinformation before the 2016 US presidential election , Facebook partnered with the International Fact-Checking Network ( IFCN ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third-party fact-checkers .
While posts debunked by fact-checkers remain on Facebook , a fact-checking message is appended to them .
Facebook often points to the network of third-party fact-checkers when it attempts to push back on the perception that the company itself is an arbiter of truth .
As an engineer , Aveni said he is part of a team that is responsible for showing fact-checks to Facebook users .
It was only a few months into his time at the company though that Aveni , a registered Democrat , began feeling disturbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reneging on its principles .
In September , after protests from Republican US senators , Facebook removed a fact-check on an anti-abortion video .
Aveni saw Facebook ’ s intervention in the fact-check of the anti-abortion video as highly problematic , evidence , he says , of Zuckerberg bowing to pressure from conservatives and an abandonment of principle .
An investigation by the International Fact-Checking Network found the fact-check to be “ fair and accurate.
” But it was Facebook ’ s inaction on Trump ’ s posts last week was what ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s public resignation , along with growing public outcry from current employees on social media , is essentially unprecedented in a company where dissent is usually kept in-house .
Some employees , according to Aveni , have chosen to stay at the company in an attempt to use their positions to change it .
Aveni described resigning as an “ extreme option.
” “ I think that the right option for a lot of people , including many of my colleagues , is to keep trying to do the right thing from within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I couldn ’ t do it anymore .
I was exhausted.
” Despite his public Facebook post on Monday slamming Zuckerberg , when Aveni spoke to CNN Thursday he was still an employee of the company — having given Facebook two weeks ’ notice .
On Thursday night , a Facebook spokesperson told CNN that Aveni was no longer an employee .
A fact that Aveni said had not been relayed to him when asked by CNN on Thursday night .
Aveni said he still had access to systems including his work email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public with his resignation to show those who suffer racial injustice “ in this really chaotic time in the country that we are allies.
” Aveni said he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support since his post on Monday .
He ’ s received messages about potential new work , and he confirmed , “ I have received outreach from some employees at Twitter.
” A Facebook spokesperson did not respond directly to Aveni but pointed to a statement the company had issued earlier in the week , “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are feeling right now , especially our Black community .
We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership .
As we face additional difficult decisions around content ahead , we ’ ll continue seeking their honest feedback.
” The spokesperson also pointed to Zuckerberg ’ s two public posts on the issue .
One group controversially exempt from the fact-checking system at Facebook is politicians , who can lie without having their posts or ads flagged with fact-checking messages or penalized by the algorithm under Facebook ’ s current rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political ads .
We don ’ t do this to help politicians , but because we think people should be able to see for themselves what politicians are saying , ” Zuckerberg said in a speech defending the policy last year , “ I know many people disagree , but , in general , I don ’ t think it ’ s right for a private company to censor politicians or the news in a democracy.
” Despite disagreeing with that exemption , Aveni said he think Facebook has done a good job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why Facebook is doing nothing about Trump ’ s posts “ They ’ ve spun up a great misinformation team that ’ s done really incredible work in making sure that misinformation doesn ’ t have as big of an impact as it would have had otherwise , ” he said .
But , Aveni warns , it doesn ’ t matter how good the technology is , or how good partnerships with the likes of fact-check organizations are if Zuckerberg and company leadership aren ’ t going to step-up in the moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zuckerberg is ] scared to take action when it really , really matters , ” Aveni said , “ And that concerns me because I don ’ t know how many chances we have to do the right thing anymore .
I think we ’ re seeing the country go down a really , really dangerous path .
”

A Facebook employee who quit the company this week told CNN he is worried the platform will be used to further escalate violence in the United States.
Timothy Aveni, a 22-year-old Facebook software engineer, quit after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to take action on President Donald Trump’s warning last week that “looting” would lead to “shooting,” as protests gripped the United States. Aveni announced the move in a Facebook post that went viral.
Zuckerberg’s inaction, Aveni said, proved the 36-year-old billionaire had abandoned one of his key principles to shut down calls for violence on Facebook.
“Zuck has told us over and over that calls to violence would not be tolerated on the platform, even if they were by the President of the United States,” Aveni told CNN Thursday from his home in Menlo Park, California, near Facebook’s world headquarters.
[vemba-video id=”business/2020/06/05/facebook-employee-quit-trump-zw-orig.cnn-business”]
Aveni said he saw grim parallels between Facebook’s decision to allow Trump’s message on the platform and the manner in which Facebook was used to fuel violence against the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority group in Myanmar. Facebook admitted in 2018 that it had failed to do enough to prevent its platform being used to fuel bloodshed in Myanmar.
Although the company has implemented new policies and procedures since — especially around misinformation, online hate, and incitement to violence — some Facebook staff say they have been left wondering if some of the company’s most significant commitments are hollow.
Zuckerberg had pledged that calls for violence would not be tolerated.
“If anyone, including a politician, is saying things that can cause, that is calling for violence or could risk imminent physical harm … we will take that content down,” he said testifying before Congress last October.
"If anyone, including a politician, is saying things that can cause, that is calling for violence or could risk imminent physical harm…. we will take that content down." Zuckerberg told @AOC a few months ago.https://t.co/jANwJdhgmz pic.twitter.com/sbq4gw86n7 — Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) May 29, 2020
As protests, some violent, played out across the US, President Trump posted on Facebook and Twitter last week, “these THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
His phrase “when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” mirrors language used by a Miami police chief in the late 1960s in the wake of riots.
Aveni viewed Trump’s post as a call for violence. Twitter took action on identical language posted on its platform saying Trump had glorified violence.
Zuckerberg decided to take no action, explaining in a Facebook post, “we decided to leave it up because the National Guard references meant we read it as a warning about state action, and we think people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force.”
“I don’t think that this was a decision made based on principle,” Aveni told CNN Thursday, “I think he made the decision and then tried to find some way to connect it to principle, because that was convenient for him. And that’s not the way these things should go.”
Decision to quit
After interning at the company twice during college, Aveni started a full-time job at Facebook immediately after finishing college a year ago.
He was optimistic about the role he could play at Facebook, saying, “I think Facebook in a lot of ways is a really positive force for good in the world. There are incredible ways that Facebook is able to connect people to other people, and we’re seeing all over the world that that is having a really positive impact on people’s lives.”
Facebook had, by the time he joined in 2019, faced scrutiny on a number of fronts. Aveni said he understood that. “So I knew that Facebook wasn’t pure,” he said. “And I acknowledged that, you know, to some extent, maybe I, I should accept blame for, for going there anyway. But I really do think that in many, many ways, Facebook is a net positive in the world, and I wanted to help contribute to the positive.”
After revelations of widespread misinformation before the 2016 US presidential election, Facebook partnered with the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to work with a global network of third-party fact-checkers.
While posts debunked by fact-checkers remain on Facebook, a fact-checking message is appended to them.
Facebook often points to the network of third-party fact-checkers when it attempts to push back on the perception that the company itself is an arbiter of truth.
As an engineer, Aveni said he is part of a team that is responsible for showing fact-checks to Facebook users.
It was only a few months into his time at the company though that Aveni, a registered Democrat, began feeling disturbed by what he viewed as the company reneging on its principles. In September, after protests from Republican US senators, Facebook removed a fact-check on an anti-abortion video.
Aveni saw Facebook’s intervention in the fact-check of the anti-abortion video as highly problematic, evidence, he says, of Zuckerberg bowing to pressure from conservatives and an abandonment of principle.
An investigation by the International Fact-Checking Network found the fact-check to be “fair and accurate.”
But it was Facebook’s inaction on Trump’s posts last week was what ultimately led Aveni to quit.
Others stay
Aveni’s public resignation, along with growing public outcry from current employees on social media, is essentially unprecedented in a company where dissent is usually kept in-house. Some employees, according to Aveni, have chosen to stay at the company in an attempt to use their positions to change it.
Aveni described resigning as an “extreme option.”
“I think that the right option for a lot of people, including many of my colleagues, is to keep trying to do the right thing from within the company. I just felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. I was exhausted.”
Despite his public Facebook post on Monday slamming Zuckerberg, when Aveni spoke to CNN Thursday he was still an employee of the company — having given Facebook two weeks’ notice.
On Thursday night, a Facebook spokesperson told CNN that Aveni was no longer an employee. A fact that Aveni said had not been relayed to him when asked by CNN on Thursday night. Aveni said he still had access to systems including his work email.
Aveni said he decided to go public with his resignation to show those who suffer racial injustice “in this really chaotic time in the country that we are allies.”
Aveni said he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support since his post on Monday. He’s received messages about potential new work, and he confirmed, “I have received outreach from some employees at Twitter.”
A Facebook spokesperson did not respond directly to Aveni but pointed to a statement the company had issued earlier in the week, “We recognize the pain many of our people are feeling right now, especially our Black community. We encourage employees to speak openly when they disagree with leadership. As we face additional difficult decisions around content ahead, we’ll continue seeking their honest feedback.”
The spokesperson also pointed to Zuckerberg’s two public posts on the issue.
Some optimism
One group controversially exempt from the fact-checking system at Facebook is politicians, who can lie without having their posts or ads flagged with fact-checking messages or penalized by the algorithm under Facebook’s current rules.
“We don’t fact-check political ads. We don’t do this to help politicians, but because we think people should be able to see for themselves what politicians are saying,” Zuckerberg said in a speech defending the policy last year, “I know many people disagree, but, in general, I don’t think it’s right for a private company to censor politicians or the news in a democracy.”
Despite disagreeing with that exemption, Aveni said he think Facebook has done a good job fighting misinformation.
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‘Time to move on’: Mark Zuckerberg says Elon Musk ‘isn’t serious’ about cage fight Technology | House panel plans to move forward with Mark Zuckerberg contempt vote Thursday “They’ve spun up a great misinformation team that’s done really incredible work in making sure that misinformation doesn’t have as big of an impact as it would have had otherwise,” he said.
But, Aveni warns, it doesn’t matter how good the technology is, or how good partnerships with the likes of fact-check organizations are if Zuckerberg and company leadership aren’t going to step-up in the moments that matter.
“I think [Zuckerberg is] scared to take action when it really, really matters,” Aveni said, “And that concerns me because I don’t know how many chances we have to do the right thing anymore. I think we’re seeing the country go down a really, really dangerous path.”
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mercurynews--2020-06-05--Lawyers: 2 of 3 ex-cops charged in George Floyd’s killing were rookies; 3rd cooperating with investi

Lawyers: 2 of 3 ex-cops charged in George Floyd’s killing were rookies; 3rd cooperating with investigators

Two of three Minneapolis police officers accused of aiding and abetting in the death of George Floyd were rookies barely off probation when a more senior white officer ignored the black man ’ s cries for help and pressed a knee into his neck , defense attorneys said Thursday .
Earl Gray said his client , former officer Thomas Lane had no choice but to follow the instructions of Derek Chauvin , who has since been charged with second-degree murder in Floyd ’ s May 25 death .
Gray called the case against his client “ extremely weak.
” Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third officer has cooperated with investigators .
A judge set maximum bail at $ 1 million apiece for Lane , J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao , when they made their first appearances in Hennepin County District Court on Thursday .
Simultaneously , and just blocks away , celebrities , friends and relatives gathered to memorialize Floyd at a Bible college .
The Minneapolis Police Department fired all four officers last week and charged Chauvin — initially with third-degree murder — the following day .
But protests that began on the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling for justice for Floyd and other African Americans who were killed by police .
On Wednesday , the three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder .
If convicted , they potentially face the same penalty as Chauvin : up to 40 years in prison .
Gray said Thursday that all Lane did was hold Floyd ’ s feet so he couldn ’ t kick , and he underlined that the criminal complaint says Lane asked Chauvin twice if they should roll Floyd over and expressed concern that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Lane performed CPR in the ambulance .
“ What was my client supposed to do but follow what his training officer said ?
Is that aiding and abetting a crime ?
” Gray asked .
Gray and Kueng ’ s defense attorney , Tom Plunkett , asked the court for lower bail , saying their clients had been police officers for just four days when Floyd was killed .
Police records indicate that while the men were rookies , they had more experience than a handful of days on the force .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department in February 2019 and became full officers in December .
Minneapolis officers must serve a year on probation and spend time in field training with a more senior officer before they are fully qualified .
Kueng , who is black , became a police officer because he “ wanted to make his community a better place , ” Plunkett said .
He said Kueng was raised by his single mother on Minneapolis ’ predominantly black North Side .
Plunkett and Thao ’ s attorney , Robert Paule , did not address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and declined to comment after the hearing out of respect for Floyd ’ s family during the memorial .
But Paule told the New York Times that Thao had cooperated with investigators before they arrested Chauvin .
Judge Paul Scoggin set their next court dates for June 29 .
Gray said he plans to renew his arguments for lower bail then , saying it could take more than a year for Lane ’ s case to go to trial .
Chauvin ’ s first court appearance is Monday , the Star Tribune reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commented on the case .
The latest criminal complaint says his actions were a “ substantial causal factor in Mr. Floyd losing consciousness , constituting substantial bodily harm , and Mr. Floyd ’ s death as well.
” • Suspicious device found near California protest was ‘ designed to cause harm ’ but not explosive • Letter : Oakland citizens deserve better than Schaaf and OPD • Southern California protest : Man who brandished gun , another who drove through crowd arrested • Letter : Next chapter on peaceful protest must be written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notes that while he suggested to Chauvin , 44 , that Floyd should be rolled over he “ took no actions to assist Mr. Floyd , to change his position , or to reduce the force the officers were using against Mr. Floyd.
” Kueng ’ s complaint says the 26-year-old was positioned between Chauvin and Lane and could hear their comments .
Thao , 34 , was seen in the cellphone video standing near a crowd of bystanders , and his complaint says although he fetched a hobble restraint — designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody — from the squad car , “ the officers decided not to use it and maintained their positions.
” Chauvin is being held on a maximum bail of $ 1 million while in custody at the state prison in Oak Park Heights .
Gov .
Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights have ordered a civil rights investigation of the police department to determine how to address racial discrimination and create systemic change .

Two of three Minneapolis police officers accused of aiding and abetting in the death of George Floyd were rookies barely off probation when a more senior white officer ignored the black man’s cries for help and pressed a knee into his neck, defense attorneys said Thursday.
Earl Gray said his client, former officer Thomas Lane had no choice but to follow the instructions of Derek Chauvin, who has since been charged with second-degree murder in Floyd’s May 25 death. Gray called the case against his client “extremely weak.”
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that the third officer has cooperated with investigators.
A judge set maximum bail at $1 million apiece for Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, when they made their first appearances in Hennepin County District Court on Thursday. Simultaneously, and just blocks away, celebrities, friends and relatives gathered to memorialize Floyd at a Bible college.
The Minneapolis Police Department fired all four officers last week and charged Chauvin — initially with third-degree murder — the following day. But protests that began on the streets of Minneapolis quickly spread across the nation, calling for justice for Floyd and other African Americans who were killed by police.
On Wednesday, the three other officers were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. If convicted, they potentially face the same penalty as Chauvin: up to 40 years in prison.
Gray said Thursday that all Lane did was hold Floyd’s feet so he couldn’t kick, and he underlined that the criminal complaint says Lane asked Chauvin twice if they should roll Floyd over and expressed concern that Floyd might be in delirium. He said Lane performed CPR in the ambulance.
“What was my client supposed to do but follow what his training officer said? Is that aiding and abetting a crime?” Gray asked.
Gray and Kueng’s defense attorney, Tom Plunkett, asked the court for lower bail, saying their clients had been police officers for just four days when Floyd was killed. Police records indicate that while the men were rookies, they had more experience than a handful of days on the force. According to their records, they joined the department in February 2019 and became full officers in December. Minneapolis officers must serve a year on probation and spend time in field training with a more senior officer before they are fully qualified.
Kueng, who is black, became a police officer because he “wanted to make his community a better place,” Plunkett said. He said Kueng was raised by his single mother on Minneapolis’ predominantly black North Side.
Plunkett and Thao’s attorney, Robert Paule, did not address the merits of the charges in court and declined to comment after the hearing out of respect for Floyd’s family during the memorial. But Paule told the New York Times that Thao had cooperated with investigators before they arrested Chauvin.
Judge Paul Scoggin set their next court dates for June 29. Gray said he plans to renew his arguments for lower bail then, saying it could take more than a year for Lane’s case to go to trial.
Chauvin’s first court appearance is Monday, the Star Tribune reported, and his attorney has not publicly commented on the case. The latest criminal complaint says his actions were a “substantial causal factor in Mr. Floyd losing consciousness, constituting substantial bodily harm, and Mr. Floyd’s death as well.”
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Officer gets 4+ years for role in George Floyd killing Crime and Public Safety | San Jose: Federal excessive force lawsuit from George Floyd protests is greenlit for trial The complaint against Lane, 37, notes that while he suggested to Chauvin, 44, that Floyd should be rolled over he “took no actions to assist Mr. Floyd, to change his position, or to reduce the force the officers were using against Mr. Floyd.”
Kueng’s complaint says the 26-year-old was positioned between Chauvin and Lane and could hear their comments. Thao, 34, was seen in the cellphone video standing near a crowd of bystanders, and his complaint says although he fetched a hobble restraint — designed to restrict the movement of a person in custody — from the squad car, “the officers decided not to use it and maintained their positions.”
Chauvin is being held on a maximum bail of $1 million while in custody at the state prison in Oak Park Heights.
Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights have ordered a civil rights investigation of the police department to determine how to address racial discrimination and create systemic change.