democracynow--2020-06-01--A Class Rebellion: Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor on How Racism & Racial Terrorism Fueled Nationwide Anger

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman in New York City , joined by my co-host Nermeen Shaikh from her home also here in New York City .
Hi , Nermeen .
NERMEEN SHAIKH : Good morning , Amy .
And welcome to our listeners and viewers around the country and around the world .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , in the largest nationwide uprising since the 1960s , protesters shut down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend following the police killing of George Floyd , the 46-year-old African American man in Minneapolis .
AMY GOODMAN : George Floyd died one week ago , on Memorial Day , when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin arrested him and pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly gasped , “ I can ’ t breathe , ” and then stopped moving .
On Friday , Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
The three other officers involved have been fired along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Walz has announced Attorney General Keith Ellison will take the lead in the investigation and any prosecutions related to George Floyd ’ s killing .
At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was killed , people created a memorial and declared it a sacred space .
Meanwhile , protests continued throughout the weekend from coast to coast .
The police erupted in violence in response to the widespread protests , arresting more than 4,000 people and attacking demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets in cities across the country .
Police cars and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ braved the coronavirus and increasing police violence to demonstrate .
In New York City alone , authorities said 47 police vehicles have been damaged .
At least 40 cities have imposed curfews .
The National Guard has been deployed in Minnesota , California , Illinois , Florida and other states .
Police departments are facing increasing criticism for using excessive force on protesters and , in at least 50 separate incidents , attacking journalists .
The protests come as the nation ’ s dealing with its largest public health crisis in generations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Depression .
During protests Friday , President Trump was moved to the White House ’ s underground bunker .
On Saturday , he took to Twitter to threaten protesters with “ vicious dogs ” and “ ominous weapons.
” He also tweeted he would designate antifa as a terrorist organization , even though legal experts say he lacks the authority to designate a domestic group as a terrorist organization , and warn such a move would violate the First Amendment .
Outrage over Floyd ’ s death comes after protests led to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the February shooting death of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia , and then a third man arrested , and after the Louisville police shooting death of Breonna Taylor in her home in March , which the FBI is now investigating .
The demonstrations have been mostly outside , with many people wearing masks , so it ’ s unclear if they ’ ll trigger spread of the coronavirus .
But many protesters who were arrested were taken to jails that are COVID hot spots .
For more , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West , professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard University , author of many books , including Race Matters and Black Prophetic Fire .
And we ’ re joined by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor , assistant professor of African American studies at Princeton University .
Her recent piece for The New York Times is headlined “ Of Course There Are Protests .
The State Is Failing Black People.
” She ’ s also author of Race for Profit : How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership and From # BlackLivesMatter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Charlotte , North Carolina , Bakari Sellers is with us , an attorney and author of his new memoir , My Vanishing Country .
He became the youngest African American elected official in the country when he was elected to the South Carolina state Legislature in 2006 .
We welcome you all to Democracy Now !
We ’ re going to begin with professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor .
If you can respond to the mass uprising that has happened around the country and the police response to it , as well as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of George Floyd ?
KEEANGA-YAMAHTTA TAYLOR : Well , thank you , Amy , for letting me come on this morning to talk .
You know , I think part of what we are seeing is years and years of pent-up rage .
Many people have referenced the 1960s , have referenced Ferguson in 2014 , but I think it ’ s important to say that these are not just repeats of past events .
These are the consequences of the failures of this government and the political establishment , the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crises , and so they build and accumulate over time .
And we are watching the boiling over of that .
Imagine how angry , desperate , rage-filled you would have to be to come out and protest in the conditions of a historical pandemic that has already killed over 103,000 Americans , that has had a disproportionately horrendous impact in Black communities .
I believe 23,000 or 24,000 Black people have died .
To put it more bluntly , one in every 2,000 African Americans in the United States has died as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how difficult things have to be for people to come out in those conditions .
So , I think that the buildup around police brutality , the continuation of police brutality , police abuse and violence and murder has compelled people to have to endure those conditions , because it is obvious that there is either nothing that our government can do about this or that the government is complicit and chooses not to do anything about this .
And I think that we have to add to that the crisis that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well , because we all know that the videotapes of police beatings , abuse , murder have never stopped .
So , the movement that grew out of the Ferguson uprising , that became Black Lives Matter , the conditions that led to that never actually ended .
And I think that what has reignited that is obviously the public lynching of George Floyd one week ago in Minneapolis , but also the conditions , the wider context within which that is spilling over .
And because of that wider condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has been caused by the pandemic , that this is not just — I don ’ t believe these are just protests around or against police brutality .
But we see a lot of — hundreds , if not thousands , of young white people in these uprisings , making these multiracial rebellions , really .
And I think that that is important .
Some people have sort of described the participation of white people as outside agitators , or I know that there are reports of white supremacists infiltrating some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those are things that we have to pay attention to , keep track of and try to understand .
But I think we can not dismiss in a widespread way the participation of young white people , because we have to see that what has happened over the last decade has gutted their lives , too .
And there has been some discussion about this with perhaps their parents ’ generation , with the description of deaths by despair .
So , we know that the life expectancy of ordinary white men and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by the way , that does not typically happen in the developed world .
And it is driven by opioid addiction , alcoholism and suicide .
And so , this generation , whose lives really — you know , if you ’ ve graduated from college , your life has been bracketed by war at the turn of the 21st century , by recession and now by a deadly pandemic .
And so , I think we ’ re seeing the convergence of a class rebellion with racism and racial terrorism at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many ways , we are in uncharted territory in the United States .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman in New York City, joined by my co-host Nermeen Shaikh from her home also here in New York City. Hi, Nermeen.
NERMEEN SHAIKH: Good morning, Amy. And welcome to our listeners and viewers around the country and around the world.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, in the largest nationwide uprising since the 1960s, protesters shut down cities across the United States over the weekend following the police killing of George Floyd, the 46-year-old African American man in Minneapolis.
PROTESTERS: George Floyd! Say his name! George Floyd! Say his name! George Floyd! Say his name! George Floyd!
What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now! What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now! If we don’t get it? Shut it down! If we don’t get it? Shut it down! If we don’t get it? Shut it down! What do we want? Justice!
AMY GOODMAN: George Floyd died one week ago, on Memorial Day, when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin arrested him and pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly gasped, “I can’t breathe,” and then stopped moving. On Friday, Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers involved have been fired along with Chauvin but not arrested. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced Attorney General Keith Ellison will take the lead in the investigation and any prosecutions related to George Floyd’s killing. At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was killed, people created a memorial and declared it a sacred space.
Meanwhile, protests continued throughout the weekend from coast to coast. The police erupted in violence in response to the widespread protests, arresting more than 4,000 people and attacking demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets in cities across the country. Police cars and buildings went up in flames as thousands braved the coronavirus and increasing police violence to demonstrate. In New York City alone, authorities said 47 police vehicles have been damaged. At least 40 cities have imposed curfews. The National Guard has been deployed in Minnesota, California, Illinois, Florida and other states. Police departments are facing increasing criticism for using excessive force on protesters and, in at least 50 separate incidents, attacking journalists.
The protests come as the nation’s dealing with its largest public health crisis in generations and the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression. During protests Friday, President Trump was moved to the White House’s underground bunker. On Saturday, he took to Twitter to threaten protesters with “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons.” He also tweeted he would designate antifa as a terrorist organization, even though legal experts say he lacks the authority to designate a domestic group as a terrorist organization, and warn such a move would violate the First Amendment.
Outrage over Floyd’s death comes after protests led to the arrest of two white men last month for the February shooting death of Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and then a third man arrested, and after the Louisville police shooting death of Breonna Taylor in her home in March, which the FBI is now investigating.
The demonstrations have been mostly outside, with many people wearing masks, so it’s unclear if they’ll trigger spread of the coronavirus. But many protesters who were arrested were taken to jails that are COVID hot spots.
For more, we’re hosting a roundtable discussion with Dr. Cornel West, professor of the practice of public philosophy at Harvard University, author of many books, including Race Matters and Black Prophetic Fire. And we’re joined by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, assistant professor of African American studies at Princeton University. Her recent piece for The New York Times is headlined “Of Course There Are Protests. The State Is Failing Black People.” She’s also author of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership and From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation. And with us from Charlotte, North Carolina, Bakari Sellers is with us, an attorney and author of his new memoir, My Vanishing Country. He became the youngest African American elected official in the country when he was elected to the South Carolina state Legislature in 2006.
We welcome you all to Democracy Now! We’re going to begin with professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. If you can respond to the mass uprising that has happened around the country and the police response to it, as well as the original horror on Memorial Day, the killing of George Floyd?
KEEANGA-YAMAHTTA TAYLOR: Well, thank you, Amy, for letting me come on this morning to talk.
You know, I think part of what we are seeing is years and years of pent-up rage. Many people have referenced the 1960s, have referenced Ferguson in 2014, but I think it’s important to say that these are not just repeats of past events. These are the consequences of the failures of this government and the political establishment, the economic establishment of this country to resolve those crises, and so they build and accumulate over time. And we are watching the boiling over of that.
Imagine how angry, desperate, rage-filled you would have to be to come out and protest in the conditions of a historical pandemic that has already killed over 103,000 Americans, that has had a disproportionately horrendous impact in Black communities. I believe 23,000 or 24,000 Black people have died. To put it more bluntly, one in every 2,000 African Americans in the United States has died as the result of COVID. So imagine how difficult things have to be for people to come out in those conditions. So, I think that the buildup around police brutality, the continuation of police brutality, police abuse and violence and murder has compelled people to have to endure those conditions, because it is obvious that there is either nothing that our government can do about this or that the government is complicit and chooses not to do anything about this.
And I think that we have to add to that the crisis that is unfolding beyond police brutality in the country, as well, because we all know that the videotapes of police beatings, abuse, murder have never stopped. So, the movement that grew out of the Ferguson uprising, that became Black Lives Matter, the conditions that led to that never actually ended. And I think that what has reignited that is obviously the public lynching of George Floyd one week ago in Minneapolis, but also the conditions, the wider context within which that is spilling over. And because of that wider condition of mass unemployment, of the death that has been caused by the pandemic, that this is not just — I don’t believe these are just protests around or against police brutality.
But we see a lot of — hundreds, if not thousands, of young white people in these uprisings, making these multiracial rebellions, really. And I think that that is important. Some people have sort of described the participation of white people as outside agitators, or I know that there are reports of white supremacists infiltrating some of the demonstrations. And I think that those are things that we have to pay attention to, keep track of and try to understand. But I think we cannot dismiss in a widespread way the participation of young white people, because we have to see that what has happened over the last decade has gutted their lives, too. And there has been some discussion about this with perhaps their parents’ generation, with the description of deaths by despair.
So, we know that the life expectancy of ordinary white men and women has gone into reverse — something, by the way, that does not typically happen in the developed world. And it is driven by opioid addiction, alcoholism and suicide. And so, this generation, whose lives really — you know, if you’ve graduated from college, your life has been bracketed by war at the turn of the 21st century, by recession and now by a deadly pandemic. And so, I think we’re seeing the convergence of a class rebellion with racism and racial terrorism at the center of it. And in many ways, we are in uncharted territory in the United States.


democracynow--2020-06-01--Headlines for June  1, 2020

Headlines for June  1, 2020

Protests erupted across the United States as people continued to take to the streets over the weekend following the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis .
Curfews have been enacted in at least 40 cities , including Los Angeles , Philadelphia , Chicago and Seattle .
The National Guard was called in to several states as protests mounted .
Protesters in Minneapolis are calling for the arrest of all four officers involved in Floyd ’ s death .
Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
The three other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not been charged , even as new video appears to show two of them also kneeling on George Floyd ’ s body as he laid on the pavement .
On Saturday , Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he ’ d “ fully mobilized ” the National Guard for the first time in his state ’ s history , adding another 1,000 soldiers to the 700 he ’ d already ordered into the streets of Minneapolis and Saint Paul .
Throughout the weekend , crowds of protesters were met with wave after wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stun grenades .
This is Minneapolis community leader and business owner Marques Armstrong speaking at a protest Saturday .
Marques Armstrong : “ They continued to allow the abuses to happen to the community .
And so this is an uprising .
We are not condoning the violence that ’ s happening , the looting , the rioting .
We understand it , though .
We want this city to not burn , but it seems like that ’ s what it has to take in order for them to finally start listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six years we ’ ve been saying to them , introducing policy changes , sitting across the table from them , from the mayor , from the police and the governor , the city councilmembers .
We ’ ve been talking to them .
We ’ ve been sitting with them .
We ’ ve been urging them .
We ’ ve been challenging them .
We ’ ve been pushing them .
And they ain ’ t listening.
” Governor Walz said Saturday he ’ d asked Pentagon chief Mark Esper and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff to help gather “ signal intelligence ” on protesters .
On Friday , publicly available flight data showed Customs and Border Protection had diverted one of its Predator drones to circle 20,000 feet above Minneapolis as protesters gathered in the streets below .
The drone is normally used to patrol the U.S.-Canadian border far to the north of the Twin Cities .
A viral video posted online Saturday night shows a phalanx of officers in riot gear following an armored personnel carrier down a residential street in Minneapolis ’ s Whittier neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect .
Officers repeatedly shout at residents to remain inside their homes , before firing crowd control rounds on a group of residents peacefully filming from their front porch .
In another harrowing moment , a truck driver barreled a tanker truck into a crowd of peaceful protesters who were occupying a Minneapolis interstate on Sunday afternoon .
A crowd of thousands of people parted , with many diving to avoid the wheels of the massive truck .
The driver slowed the vehicle as protesters surrounded him , then pulled him from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved in and arrested the driver , 35-year-old Bogdan Vechirko , who was booked on assault charges .

Protests erupted across the United States as people continued to take to the streets over the weekend following the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. Curfews have been enacted in at least 40 cities, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle. The National Guard was called in to several states as protests mounted.
Protesters in Minneapolis are calling for the arrest of all four officers involved in Floyd’s death. Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers who were fired along with Chauvin have not been charged, even as new video appears to show two of them also kneeling on George Floyd’s body as he laid on the pavement.
On Saturday, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he’d “fully mobilized” the National Guard for the first time in his state’s history, adding another 1,000 soldiers to the 700 he’d already ordered into the streets of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Throughout the weekend, crowds of protesters were met with wave after wave of tear gas, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades. This is Minneapolis community leader and business owner Marques Armstrong speaking at a protest Saturday.
Marques Armstrong: “They continued to allow the abuses to happen to the community. And so this is an uprising. We are not condoning the violence that’s happening, the looting, the rioting. We understand it, though. We want this city to not burn, but it seems like that’s what it has to take in order for them to finally start listening to us. Like I said, six years we’ve been saying to them, introducing policy changes, sitting across the table from them, from the mayor, from the police and the governor, the city councilmembers. We’ve been talking to them. We’ve been sitting with them. We’ve been urging them. We’ve been challenging them. We’ve been pushing them. And they ain’t listening.”
Governor Walz said Saturday he’d asked Pentagon chief Mark Esper and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to help gather “signal intelligence” on protesters. On Friday, publicly available flight data showed Customs and Border Protection had diverted one of its Predator drones to circle 20,000 feet above Minneapolis as protesters gathered in the streets below. The drone is normally used to patrol the U.S.-Canadian border far to the north of the Twin Cities. A viral video posted online Saturday night shows a phalanx of officers in riot gear following an armored personnel carrier down a residential street in Minneapolis’s Whittier neighborhood after an 8 p.m. curfew went into effect. Officers repeatedly shout at residents to remain inside their homes, before firing crowd control rounds on a group of residents peacefully filming from their front porch.
In another harrowing moment, a truck driver barreled a tanker truck into a crowd of peaceful protesters who were occupying a Minneapolis interstate on Sunday afternoon. A crowd of thousands of people parted, with many diving to avoid the wheels of the massive truck. The driver slowed the vehicle as protesters surrounded him, then pulled him from the cab and roughed him up. Police moved in and arrested the driver, 35-year-old Bogdan Vechirko, who was booked on assault charges.


democracynow--2020-06-02--Autopsy Reports Showing George Floyd's Death Was a Homicide Underscore Corruption & Police Impunity

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
The Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González .
We end today ’ s show in Minneapolis , where protesters continue to take to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd , African American man killed by white police officer Derek Chauvin last week , when Chauvin pinned him to the ground , pressing his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said “ I can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes , he was lifeless .
The viral video of the murder sparked a nationwide uprising against police .
Two separate autopsies Monday confirmed Floyd ’ s death was a homicide .
Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .
The three other officers who were fired along with Chauvin have not been charged , even as new video appears to show two of them also kneeling on George Floyd ’ s body as he laid on the pavement .
George Floyd ’ s memorial service is planned for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for Tuesday in Houston .
On Monday , George Floyd ’ s younger brother Terrence called for peace from the site of his brother ’ s murder .
AMY GOODMAN : This comes one day after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced Attorney General Keith Ellison will take the lead in the investigation and any prosecutions related to George Floyd ’ s killing .
George Floyd ’ s family is calling for the other three officers involved in the killing to be charged .
For more , we ’ re joined by Nekima @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist , founder of the Racial Justice Network , former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP .
If you can talk , Nekima Levy Armstrong — and thanks so much for joining us once again — about the latest developments , the announcement of the second independent autopsy , which says that George Floyd died by asphyxiation , but also confirming what the coroner said , this was a homicide ?
And then talk about Keith Ellison , the now-attorney general , first Muslim member of Congress , taking over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG : I don ’ t think that most of us are surprised that the county medical examiner tried to find a reason related to why George Floyd died that distanced it from law enforcement ’ s role .
So , for example , if you think back to the night that George Floyd died , the police issued a press release , that we know was a bogus press release , claiming that George Floyd died as a result of a medical incident .
And so , the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with this notion that an underlying medical condition caused his death , whereas the autopsy that was conducted independently by the family of George Floyd shows that he died as a result of asphyxiation related to the officer holding his knee on George Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes and not allowing him the opportunity to breathe .
I think what this does is illustrates the corruption that exists within Hennepin County , where you have law enforcement working collaboratively with the County Medical Examiner ’ s Office , working collaboratively with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and ultimately resulting in people not being able to get justice when they are killed by police .
This happens time and time again .
Many of these cases are ruled as a homicide , but that has not resulted in justice for victims of police violence , victims of police shootings and , in this case , victims of asphyxiation as a result of police conduct .
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG : Now , recently , it was — go ahead .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Oh , no , go ahead .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recently , it was announced that Congressman — former Congressman Keith Ellison , now Minnesota attorney general , is going to take over the case .
And , I mean , for many of us , we are glad that the case will no longer be in the hands of Mike Freeman .
However , when Keith Ellison said that he would be taking over the case , he claimed that he would be working collaboratively with Mike Freeman ’ s office .
So that has raised our antenna , as activists as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , because we know that Mike Freeman has routinely failed to hold police officers accountable who kill civilians .
And so , we ’ re saying Mike Freeman should have no role in this case whatsoever .
Even if you look at the original charging decision , he has charged Chauvin , who is the main cop who has been arrested and the one seen in the video with his knee on George Floyd ’ s neck — he ’ s charged him with third-degree murder , which is similar to someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having a specific person that they ’ re targeting , and that person dying .
Minnesota case law has shown that you can ’ t sustain a third-degree murder conviction in a situation like the one at hand , where George Floyd is the victim , he was the intended target , and he died as a result of the police officers ’ conduct .
So , even the charging decision by the Hennepin County attorney is really setting this case up to be dismissed for lack of probable cause or , ultimately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer Chauvin , or former officer Chauvin , being exonerated , which we find to be unacceptable .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Nekima Levy Armstrong , the most recent video that shows that not only the one officer in the previous video , Chauvin , was actually — he had his knee on the victim ’ s neck , but that two other officers also had their knees down on his chest and his torso .
Do you think that ’ s sufficient right there to charge them with having been involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Absolutely .
It ’ s a no-brainer .
I mean , we ’ ve had medical professionals from around the country weighing in on social media , raising concerns about what happened and calling what occurred to George Floyd murder .
This is why we have been demanding that all four officers be charged now by Keith Ellison , because , again , we want the case completely taken out of the hands of the Hennepin County attorney .
But beyond that , I need to talk a little bit about our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not feel that Keith Ellison will be impartial enough to directly oversee prosecution in this case .
So what we are calling for is the appointment of a completely independent special prosecutor to oversee this case , preferably someone from outside the state of Minnesota , with a strong national reputation , a person who ’ s credible , a person who is known for being fair and just — AMY GOODMAN : Nekima Levy Armstrong , I want to thank you so much for being with us , civil rights attorney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Network , former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP .
And that does it for our show , Democracy Now !
working with as few people on site as possible .
The majority of our remarkable team is working from home .
If you ’ d like to sign up for our Daily Digest , our daily newsletter , you can go to democracynow.org .
Democracy Now !
produced with Renée Feltz , Mike Burke , Deena Guzder , Libby Rainey , Nermeen Shaikh , Carla Wills , Tami Woronoff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Astudillo .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González. We end today’s show in Minneapolis, where protesters continue to take to the streets to demand justice for George Floyd, African American man killed by white police officer Derek Chauvin last week, when Chauvin pinned him to the ground, pressing his knee into his neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd repeatedly said “I can’t breathe.” A number of those minutes, he was lifeless. The viral video of the murder sparked a nationwide uprising against police.
Two separate autopsies Monday confirmed Floyd’s death was a homicide. Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers who were fired along with Chauvin have not been charged, even as new video appears to show two of them also kneeling on George Floyd’s body as he laid on the pavement.
George Floyd’s memorial service is planned for Thursday in Minneapolis. His funeral is scheduled for Tuesday in Houston. On Monday, George Floyd’s younger brother Terrence called for peace from the site of his brother’s murder.
TERRENCE FLOYD: If I’m not over here wilding out, if I’m not over here blowing up stuff, if I’m not over here messing up my community, then what are y’all doing? What are y’all doing? Y’all are doing nothing! Because that’s not going to bring my brother back at all. I know he would not want y’all to be doing this.
AMY GOODMAN: This comes one day after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced Attorney General Keith Ellison will take the lead in the investigation and any prosecutions related to George Floyd’s killing. George Floyd’s family is calling for the other three officers involved in the killing to be charged.
For more, we’re joined by Nekima Levy Armstrong, civil rights attorney, activist, founder of the Racial Justice Network, former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP.
If you can talk, Nekima Levy Armstrong — and thanks so much for joining us once again — about the latest developments, the announcement of the second independent autopsy, which says that George Floyd died by asphyxiation, but also confirming what the coroner said, this was a homicide? And then talk about Keith Ellison, the now-attorney general, first Muslim member of Congress, taking over the prosecution and what’s happening there.
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG: I don’t think that most of us are surprised that the county medical examiner tried to find a reason related to why George Floyd died that distanced it from law enforcement’s role. So, for example, if you think back to the night that George Floyd died, the police issued a press release, that we know was a bogus press release, claiming that George Floyd died as a result of a medical incident. And so, the county medical examiner’s report is consistent with this notion that an underlying medical condition caused his death, whereas the autopsy that was conducted independently by the family of George Floyd shows that he died as a result of asphyxiation related to the officer holding his knee on George Floyd’s neck for several minutes and not allowing him the opportunity to breathe.
I think what this does is illustrates the corruption that exists within Hennepin County, where you have law enforcement working collaboratively with the County Medical Examiner’s Office, working collaboratively with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and ultimately resulting in people not being able to get justice when they are killed by police. This happens time and time again. Many of these cases are ruled as a homicide, but that has not resulted in justice for victims of police violence, victims of police shootings and, in this case, victims of asphyxiation as a result of police conduct.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And —
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG: Now, recently, it was — go ahead.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Oh, no, go ahead. Go ahead.
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG: Recently, it was announced that Congressman — former Congressman Keith Ellison, now Minnesota attorney general, is going to take over the case. And, I mean, for many of us, we are glad that the case will no longer be in the hands of Mike Freeman. However, when Keith Ellison said that he would be taking over the case, he claimed that he would be working collaboratively with Mike Freeman’s office. So that has raised our antenna, as activists as well as attorneys who care about social justice, because we know that Mike Freeman has routinely failed to hold police officers accountable who kill civilians. And so, we’re saying Mike Freeman should have no role in this case whatsoever.
Even if you look at the original charging decision, he has charged Chauvin, who is the main cop who has been arrested and the one seen in the video with his knee on George Floyd’s neck — he’s charged him with third-degree murder, which is similar to someone randomly shooting into a crowd, not having a specific person that they’re targeting, and that person dying. Minnesota case law has shown that you can’t sustain a third-degree murder conviction in a situation like the one at hand, where George Floyd is the victim, he was the intended target, and he died as a result of the police officers’ conduct. So, even the charging decision by the Hennepin County attorney is really setting this case up to be dismissed for lack of probable cause or, ultimately, for the case to result in officer Chauvin, or former officer Chauvin, being exonerated, which we find to be unacceptable.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Nekima Levy Armstrong, the most recent video that shows that not only the one officer in the previous video, Chauvin, was actually — he had his knee on the victim’s neck, but that two other officers also had their knees down on his chest and his torso. Do you think that’s sufficient right there to charge them with having been involved in the killing?
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG: Absolutely. It’s a no-brainer. I mean, we’ve had medical professionals from around the country weighing in on social media, raising concerns about what happened and calling what occurred to George Floyd murder. This is why we have been demanding that all four officers be charged now by Keith Ellison, because, again, we want the case completely taken out of the hands of the Hennepin County attorney.
But beyond that, I need to talk a little bit about our concerns regarding Keith Ellison. We do not feel that Keith Ellison will be impartial enough to directly oversee prosecution in this case. So what we are calling for is the appointment of a completely independent special prosecutor to oversee this case, preferably someone from outside the state of Minnesota, with a strong national reputation, a person who’s credible, a person who is known for being fair and just —
AMY GOODMAN: We have 10 seconds.
NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG: — [inaudible] cases like this.
AMY GOODMAN: Nekima Levy Armstrong, I want to thank you so much for being with us, civil rights attorney, activist, founder of the Racial Justice Network, former president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP.
And that does it for our show, Democracy Now! working with as few people on site as possible. The majority of our remarkable team is working from home. If you’d like to sign up for our Daily Digest, our daily newsletter, you can go to democracynow.org. Democracy Now! produced with Renée Feltz, Mike Burke, Deena Guzder, Libby Rainey, Nermeen Shaikh, Carla Wills, Tami Woronoff, Charina Nadura, Sam Alcoff, Tey-Marie Astudillo. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.


democracynow--2020-06-02--Black Lives Matter Co-Founder: Protests Are the Result of "Police Terror with No Accountability"

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : This is Democracy Now !
, democracynow.org , The Quarantine Report .
I ’ m Amy Goodman , with Juan González , as we go now to Los Angeles , where protesters took to the streets of downtown and Hollywood on Monday , another day of mass protests against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd .
Demonstrators briefly shut down the 405 Freeway in West L.A .
In Van Nuys , looting broke out near a peaceful protest organized by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a countywide curfew in Los Angeles , where protests have been widespread and resulted in thousands of arrests .
The wealthy enclaves of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica set 1 p.m. curfews after protests reached their neighborhoods .
On Sunday , hundreds were arrested in a mass protest in Santa Monica that left many storefronts destroyed .
Calls are growing for the firing of the LAPD chief , Michel Moore , who said Monday that looters were as responsible for George Floyd ’ s death as the police officers who killed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Chief Michel Moore has since apologized for his statements .
Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted , “ 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.
” This comes as Mayor Garcetti is facing criticism for increasing funding for the Los Angeles Police Department in a budget for the coming fiscal year .
Community members are demanding the City Council act to enact a People ’ s Budget that slashes money for police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead .
Well , for more , we ’ re going to Los Angeles , where we ’ re joined by Patrisse Cullors , political strategist , co-founder of Black Lives Matter , founder of Reform L.A. Jails .
She ’ s the co-author of When They Call You a Terrorist : A Black Lives Matter Memoir .
Welcome back to Democracy Now !
, Patrisse .
It ’ s great to have you with us .
Can you respond first to the death of George Floyd and then to the massive anti-police-brutality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CULLORS : Sure .
It ’ s really good to be here , Amy , and thank you so much for having me on .
I think , you know , I just start with my deep condolences to George Floyd ’ s family and the community of Minneapolis .
Once again , we see the devastation and the impact of the killing and torture of Black communities .
And so , I just want to start there .
I think these protests are massive in a way that we haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of reasons .
Number one , we ’ ve had to live under four years of a Trump regime that has completely devastated communities financially , spiritually , emotionally .
And number two , we have still dealt with years of police brutality , police violence and police terror , with no accountability whatsoever .
And this generation is tired .
Enough is enough .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Patrisse Cullors , you recently went back and watched some footage of the 1992 Rodney King uprising .
What struck you the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Well , I think it ’ s — you know , there ’ s two things happening in our city right now , in Los Angeles .
One is massive protest in solidarity with Minneapolis , but also talking about what ’ s happening in our own town .
There ’ s been 601 deaths since 2012 , involved specifically with police officers killing civilians .
And we have had a DA here , Jackie Lacey , who has not prosecuted a single officer and has been largely unaccountable to the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 54 % of L.A. city ’ s budget is actually LAPD ’ s budget .
And the community is over false promises .
We ’ re over having to deal with elected officials who , instead of listening to Black pain and grief , send out the National Guard , you know , create more havoc in our communities .
AMY GOODMAN : Patrisse Cullors , can you talk about the budget that has just been unveiled , and what you ’ re demanding , where you think money needs to be spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you see these protests going ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Sure .
Our local chapter , Black Lives Matter Los Angeles , led by Melina Abdullah , really has been the group that has been focusing on the city budget specifically .
For years , we have seen the unveiling of a city budget , and it has always prioritized LAPD ’ s money first , and it ’ s deprioritized everything else , all the social services that our communities need .
So , what we ’ re asking for is a slashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t believe that LAPD needs that much money .
Really , the national demand , as you ’ ll see , is a defunding of law enforcement .
Minneapolis is calling for it .
Los Angeles is calling for it .
Chicago is calling for it .
D.C. is calling for it .
We have created a system that overrelies on law enforcement and prioritizes their money , their budget , their needs over everything else .
Now is the time that we redirect resources back into our communities .
JUAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m wondering — the response of the police in many of these cities now , we ’ re seeing increasing aggressive moves by police , whether it ’ s in New York or in Louisville or in other cities , against peaceful demonstrators .
To what extent do you feel that the police across the country , many of them , have been emboldened by the language and the demeanor of President Trump over these last four years , that they feel that they have basically the backing of the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JUAN GONZÁLEZ : — exert much more authoritarian force in their local cities ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Absolutely .
I mean , we know Trump ’ s history .
We know how he has impacted just by way of how he communicates , just how he uses the media to stoke fear in mostly white , affluent communities .
He ’ s aligned himself historically with the police , being law and order .
He just went on the news yesterday telling people that he ’ s going to send the military into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would encourage people being beat up , counterprotesters that would come into his rallies when he was running for president .
This is the man who told law enforcement at a huge law enforcement conference that they should be beating up people .
And we know that he is in complete agreement with law enforcement terrorizing and using aggressive tactics like rubber bullets , like tear gas .
On Saturday , at our protest that we launched , Black Lives Matter Los Angeles , along with Build Power , for two hours , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of love , and we marched together .
The minute that march got violent is when the police showed up .
They started shooting into the crowd rubber bullets .
They started batoning people .
It was disturbing , and it was scary .
And it was so obvious that they feel emboldened right now .
AMY GOODMAN : How do you respond , Patrisse , to police officers showing solidarity with the protesters ?
On Monday , you have one of New York City ’ s top officers , Terence Monahan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a rally in Washington Square Park .
In Flint , Michigan , the Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson marched with protesters on Saturday .
In Green Bay , Wisconsin , Police Chief Andrew Smith condemned the killing of George Floyd and walked with protesters .
And we ’ re seeing this amidst the tear-gassing , amidst the shooting , amidst the pepper-spraying and the massive number of thousands of arrests .
Your comments ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : It ’ s like a really frightening abusive relationship .
It ’ s when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the partner is gaslighting you and telling you that “ Everything that you ’ re feeling is not true , and look what I ’ m doing for you.
” It ’ s not acceptable behavior , honestly .
You ’ re either going to be in solidarity with the community and stop brutalizing us , or you ’ re going to continue to do what you ’ ve been doing and business as usual .
But there ’ s no half-stepping .
Taking a knee , marching with protesters , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , doesn ’ t change our system that we live in , which is a system that continues to violate the rights of Black people , continues to kill Black people , hunt Black people and traumatize Black people .
That ’ s what law enforcement has done for years .
And these new acts of solidarity are — they don ’ t sit well with many of us .
AMY GOODMAN : Let me ask you — we talked to you about the film Bedlam , which very much focused on you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , all of these mass protests are taking place amidst the pandemic .
They could be super-spreading events , the horror of what could happen , and particularly impacting Black and Latino and Native American communities .
And I ’ m wondering , actually , what has happened with your brother Monte , who lives with schizoaffective disorder since he was a teenager , in the midst of all this — the pandemic , the police brutality protests .
PATRISSE CULLORS : Well , we were lucky enough to get Monte @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was hospitalized for quite a bit of time , as I received conservatorship of him .
And he ended up going to a mental health facility , so that ’ s where he ’ s at now .
The facility has not experienced a COVID-19 outbreak , although there has been some COVID-19 patients .
He is doing well right now , and he is safe .
And that feels really important to me , especially given what ’ s happening right now .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Patrisse , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know if you can answer this from your perspective , but I ’ ve been noticing in the reports that have been coming out about the protests and also about some of the looting and the vandalism that ’ s broken out , that it ’ s not just occurring in the major cities , but , for instance , in the Chicago suburbs .
Faraway suburbs from the major city , like Aurora , Cicero and others , have also seen strange incidents of looting that have gone on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be some attempts to actually — deliberate attempts to provoke violence , to stir up greater animosity among some sectors of the American community ?
PATRISSE CULLORS : Absolutely .
We know that there are three sets of folks who are out in the streets .
There are protesters , those of us who are fighting against police brutality and police terror .
There are white supremacists , those who are exploiting Black pain in this moment and really trying to undermine our protests .
And then there ’ s police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undercovers , and also uniformed officers , who have created significant amount of distress and havoc and confusion in protests .
We have to be careful when we ’ re protesting , both with COVID-19 but also because there are times where there ’ s agent provocateurs and there ’ s different people who have a different agenda than what our movement actually has .
AMY GOODMAN : We want to thank you , Patrisse , for joining us , Patrisse Cullors , political strategist , co-founder of Black Lives Matter , founder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the author of When They Call You a Terrorist : A Black Lives Matter Memoir .
When we come back , two autopsies agree George Floyd ’ s death was a homicide .
We ’ ll go to Minneapolis for response .
Stay with us .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The Quarantine Report. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González, as we go now to Los Angeles, where protesters took to the streets of downtown and Hollywood on Monday, another day of mass protests against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd. Demonstrators briefly shut down the 405 Freeway in West L.A. In Van Nuys, looting broke out near a peaceful protest organized by students.
Monday marked the third night of a countywide curfew in Los Angeles, where protests have been widespread and resulted in thousands of arrests. The wealthy enclaves of Beverly Hills and Santa Monica set 1 p.m. curfews after protests reached their neighborhoods. On Sunday, hundreds were arrested in a mass protest in Santa Monica that left many storefronts destroyed.
Calls are growing for the firing of the LAPD chief, Michel Moore, who said Monday that looters were as responsible for George Floyd’s death as the police officers who killed him.
POLICE CHIEF MICHEL MOORE: We didn’t have protests last night; we had criminal acts. We didn’t have people mourning the death of this man, George Floyd; we had people capitalizing. His death is on their hands as much as it is those officers.
AMY GOODMAN: The Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore has since apologized for his statements. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted, “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.”
This comes as Mayor Garcetti is facing criticism for increasing funding for the Los Angeles Police Department in a budget for the coming fiscal year. Community members are demanding the City Council act to enact a People’s Budget that slashes money for police and invests in services for the community instead.
Well, for more, we’re going to Los Angeles, where we’re joined by Patrisse Cullors, political strategist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, founder of Reform L.A. Jails. She’s the co-author of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir.
Welcome back to Democracy Now!, Patrisse. It’s great to have you with us. Can you respond first to the death of George Floyd and then to the massive anti-police-brutality protests and the police response?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Sure. It’s really good to be here, Amy, and thank you so much for having me on.
I think, you know, I just start with my deep condolences to George Floyd’s family and the community of Minneapolis. Once again, we see the devastation and the impact of the killing and torture of Black communities. And so, I just want to start there.
I think these protests are massive in a way that we haven’t seen them in years, for a number of reasons. Number one, we’ve had to live under four years of a Trump regime that has completely devastated communities financially, spiritually, emotionally. And number two, we have still dealt with years of police brutality, police violence and police terror, with no accountability whatsoever. And this generation is tired. Enough is enough.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Patrisse Cullors, you recently went back and watched some footage of the 1992 Rodney King uprising. What struck you the most about those events?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Well, I think it’s — you know, there’s two things happening in our city right now, in Los Angeles. One is massive protest in solidarity with Minneapolis, but also talking about what’s happening in our own town. There’s been 601 deaths since 2012, involved specifically with police officers killing civilians. And we have had a DA here, Jackie Lacey, who has not prosecuted a single officer and has been largely unaccountable to the community. And as Amy said earlier, 54% of L.A. city’s budget is actually LAPD’s budget. And the community is over false promises. We’re over having to deal with elected officials who, instead of listening to Black pain and grief, send out the National Guard, you know, create more havoc in our communities.
AMY GOODMAN: Patrisse Cullors, can you talk about the budget that has just been unveiled, and what you’re demanding, where you think money needs to be spent at this point, and also where you see these protests going?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Sure. Our local chapter, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, led by Melina Abdullah, really has been the group that has been focusing on the city budget specifically. For years, we have seen the unveiling of a city budget, and it has always prioritized LAPD’s money first, and it’s deprioritized everything else, all the social services that our communities need.
So, what we’re asking for is a slashing of LAPD’s budget. We don’t believe that LAPD needs that much money. Really, the national demand, as you’ll see, is a defunding of law enforcement. Minneapolis is calling for it. Los Angeles is calling for it. Chicago is calling for it. D.C. is calling for it. We have created a system that overrelies on law enforcement and prioritizes their money, their budget, their needs over everything else. Now is the time that we redirect resources back into our communities.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Patrisse Cullors, I’m wondering — the response of the police in many of these cities now, we’re seeing increasing aggressive moves by police, whether it’s in New York or in Louisville or in other cities, against peaceful demonstrators. To what extent do you feel that the police across the country, many of them, have been emboldened by the language and the demeanor of President Trump over these last four years, that they feel that they have basically the backing of the White House, if they have to —
PATRISSE CULLORS: Absolutely.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: — exert much more authoritarian force in their local cities?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Absolutely. I mean, we know Trump’s history. We know how he has impacted just by way of how he communicates, just how he uses the media to stoke fear in mostly white, affluent communities. He’s aligned himself historically with the police, being law and order. He just went on the news yesterday telling people that he’s going to send the military into cities. This is a man who would encourage people being beat up, counterprotesters that would come into his rallies when he was running for president. This is the man who told law enforcement at a huge law enforcement conference that they should be beating up people. And we know that he is in complete agreement with law enforcement terrorizing and using aggressive tactics like rubber bullets, like tear gas.
On Saturday, at our protest that we launched, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles, along with Build Power, for two hours, it was full of passion, full of love, and we marched together. The minute that march got violent is when the police showed up. They started shooting into the crowd rubber bullets. They started batoning people. It was disturbing, and it was scary. And it was so obvious that they feel emboldened right now.
AMY GOODMAN: How do you respond, Patrisse, to police officers showing solidarity with the protesters? On Monday, you have one of New York City’s top officers, Terence Monahan, taking a knee, hugging a protester during a rally in Washington Square Park. In Flint, Michigan, the Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson marched with protesters on Saturday. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, Police Chief Andrew Smith condemned the killing of George Floyd and walked with protesters. And we’re seeing this amidst the tear-gassing, amidst the shooting, amidst the pepper-spraying and the massive number of thousands of arrests. Your comments?
PATRISSE CULLORS: It’s like a really frightening abusive relationship. It’s when you’re in an abusive relationship, and the partner is gaslighting you and telling you that “Everything that you’re feeling is not true, and look what I’m doing for you.” It’s not acceptable behavior, honestly. You’re either going to be in solidarity with the community and stop brutalizing us, or you’re going to continue to do what you’ve been doing and business as usual. But there’s no half-stepping.
Taking a knee, marching with protesters, that doesn’t actually change the structure, doesn’t change our system that we live in, which is a system that continues to violate the rights of Black people, continues to kill Black people, hunt Black people and traumatize Black people. That’s what law enforcement has done for years. And these new acts of solidarity are — they don’t sit well with many of us.
AMY GOODMAN: Let me ask you — we talked to you about the film Bedlam, which very much focused on you, Patrisse, and your brother Monte. So, all of these mass protests are taking place amidst the pandemic. They could be super-spreading events, the horror of what could happen, and particularly impacting Black and Latino and Native American communities. And I’m wondering, actually, what has happened with your brother Monte, who lives with schizoaffective disorder since he was a teenager, in the midst of all this — the pandemic, the police brutality protests.
PATRISSE CULLORS: Well, we were lucky enough to get Monte off the streets last fall. And he was hospitalized for quite a bit of time, as I received conservatorship of him. And he ended up going to a mental health facility, so that’s where he’s at now. The facility has not experienced a COVID-19 outbreak, although there has been some COVID-19 patients. He is doing well right now, and he is safe. And that feels really important to me, especially given what’s happening right now.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Patrisse, I wanted to ask you — I don’t know if you can answer this from your perspective, but I’ve been noticing in the reports that have been coming out about the protests and also about some of the looting and the vandalism that’s broken out, that it’s not just occurring in the major cities, but, for instance, in the Chicago suburbs. Faraway suburbs from the major city, like Aurora, Cicero and others, have also seen strange incidents of looting that have gone on. Do you have some concern that there may be some attempts to actually — deliberate attempts to provoke violence, to stir up greater animosity among some sectors of the American community?
PATRISSE CULLORS: Absolutely. We know that there are three sets of folks who are out in the streets. There are protesters, those of us who are fighting against police brutality and police terror. There are white supremacists, those who are exploiting Black pain in this moment and really trying to undermine our protests. And then there’s police, who sometimes act as protesters, so undercovers, and also uniformed officers, who have created significant amount of distress and havoc and confusion in protests. We have to be careful when we’re protesting, both with COVID-19 but also because there are times where there’s agent provocateurs and there’s different people who have a different agenda than what our movement actually has.
AMY GOODMAN: We want to thank you, Patrisse, for joining us, Patrisse Cullors, political strategist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, founder of Reform L.A. Jails. She is the author of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir.
When we come back, two autopsies agree George Floyd’s death was a homicide. We’ll go to Minneapolis for response. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “$20 Bill (for George Floyd)” by Tom Prasada-Rao.


democracynow--2020-06-02--"A Declaration of War Against Americans": Trump Threatens to Deploy Military to Quell Protests

This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : Well , we have so much to do today as an historic week-long uprising against police violence continues and curfews are in place across the United States .
President Trump has declared himself “ the president of law and order ” and threatened Monday to send thousands of heavily armed soldiers into the streets .
AMY GOODMAN : While Trump spoke from the Rose Garden , blasts could be heard from nearby Lafayette Park as the National Guard and officers dressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullets and flashbangs to disperse peaceful protesters .
Moments later , Trump walked through the cleared park to have his photo taken with a Bible in front of St. John ’ s Episcopal Church , which was boarded up .
When he returned to the White House , Trump refused to take questions from reporters as he pumped his fist and posed for another photo op .
AMY GOODMAN : That last reporter saying , “ Mr .
President , is this still a democracy ?
” The president ’ s actions were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edgar Budde criticized Trump for using the church as a , quote , “ backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus , ” unquote .
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wrote on Twitter , quote , “ The fascist speech Donald Trump just delivered verged on a declaration of war against American citizens.
” The chief of police in Arlington County , Virginia , pulled his officers from D.C. after they were used to clear the park , saying their safety and the safety of others was endangered for a photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Guard clearing peaceful protesters from the streets of Washington , D.C. , before the 7 p.m. curfew .
AMY GOODMAN : A tall barrier fence has now been erected around Lafayette Park across from the White House .
For more , we ’ re joined in Washington , D.C. , by Kristen Clarke , president and executive director of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
And in Irvington , New York , William Arkin is with us , a longtime reporter on military and nuclear policy , author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America : The Rise of the New American Security State .
We welcome you both to Democracy Now !
Kristen Clarke , let ’ s begin with you .
Your concerns about Donald Trump ’ s speech last night saying he ’ s deploying thousands and thousands of troops to Washington , D.C. , and all over the country to quell the protests ?
KRISTEN CLARKE : You know , President Trump ’ s speech almost amounted to a declaration of war on Americans , on peaceful Americans who are out right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , and here to speak out against the long-standing problem of police violence and racial violence which has beleaguered our nation .
President Trump has invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807 .
This is a law that has been used in the past to deploy the military to states to deal with , for example , resistance to the desegregation orders that had been put in place for the University of Mississippi .
When officials were hostile and recalcitrant , President Kennedy ordered that troops go in to force the state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil rights law that required desegregation .
We saw President Bush deploy the military to Louisiana to help with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina , but that happened in coordination with officials in the state of Louisiana .
Here , Trump single-handedly seeks to deploy the military to states all across our country over the objections of state officials and with the sole and singular purpose of silencing Americans .
In many ways , this is the death of democracy , because people who are out right now have one singular goal : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not turn our backs on the long-overdue work that ’ s necessary to rid our nation of the scourge of police violence that has resulted in innumerous deaths of unarmed African Americans .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Kristen Clarke , I ’ m wondering — you mentioned the 1962 Oxford , Mississippi .
There was also , in 1958 , President Eisenhower sent federal troops into Little Rock , Arkansas , also to enforce desegregation orders in the public schools there .
But in the Oxford , Mississippi , the difference was that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marshals .
Several — dozens of federal marshals were wounded before the federal troops came in .
But then , also , under another Democratic president , Lyndon Johnson , federal troops were sent into Washington , D.C. after the assassination of Martin Luther King and rioting in D.C .
They were sent into Detroit , several other cities in 1967 .
So , what is the difference between , as you ’ re saying , what President Trump is claiming to do now versus some of these prior instances of not just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being sent into states ?
KRISTEN CLARKE : There is deep hypocrisy here .
You bring up examples of white hostility and racism throughout our history that has torn apart communities and divided our nation .
And those moments were moments where we needed federal intervention , with all deliberate speed , to ensure compliance with our civil rights laws .
And here we are in 2020 dealing yet again with the failure to comply with civil rights laws : police departments that abuse the civil rights of unarmed African Americans far too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s quite remarkable when you think about Charlottesville and the hate rally that unfolded there in 2017 that resulted in harm to individuals and loss of life , the loss of Heather Heyer ’ s life .
And President Trump ’ s reaction then couldn ’ t be any different .
There , he referred to the violent individuals who drove that rally as “ very fine people.
” And here , he ’ s essentially declaring war , declaring war on people who are out solely to speak out against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are saying , “ Enough is enough , ” people who are saying that “ We see these incidents time and time again captured on video , and we refuse to allow you to turn a blind eye to this any longer.
” And the killing of George Floyd , these images have gone viral across our country , across the globe .
It ’ s the straw that broke the camel ’ s back .
And here we are , people all across our country who are speaking out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump seeks to shut them down and silence them with the threat of deploying the military .
AMY GOODMAN : This is President Trump speaking Monday during a call with the nation ’ s governors .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that ’ s President Trump speaking to the governors , who were pushing back .
Bill Arkin , you have been writing about this , longtime reporter on military and nuclear policy .
What Trump ’ s plans are , now he ’ s announced them , though he hasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you talk about what you understand the plans to be , from your sources ?
WILLIAM ARKIN : Thank you for having me on , Amy .
I think it ’ s important to say at this moment that the Insurrection Act has not been evoked .
And what the president has done is he ’ s made a threat .
He ’ s made a threat to the governors that says if you ’ re not able to safeguard civilian lives and property , and if you refuse to protect the civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government will intervene .
That ’ s the provisions of the Insurrection Act , as it reads .
Now , that ’ s not the only condition under which the president can call federal forces out .
And in the case of the District of Columbia , for instance , he ’ s already activated the District of Columbia National Guard in federal status .
So , in fact , we now have a National Guard in our country , as of yesterday , under federal control .
And there have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Drum , New York , from Fort Riley , Kansas , and from Fort Bragg , North Carolina , to the D.C. area , and they ’ re now mustering at military bases at what ’ s called Force Protection Condition Delta , the highest condition , ready to take control of Washington , D.C. , if the president so orders .
So we have this very fluid and difficult situation because there are already 20,000 national guardsmen and women on the streets of America .
The Guard has been mobilized in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbia .
But I want to say this about the military being on the streets .
In many cases , we ’ ve seen instances where the National Guard has played a calming role .
For instance , I saw news stories last night out of Tennessee , where the national guardsmen of the Tennessee National Guard put down their shields and stood quietly and unarmed in front of a crowd and was actually serving in a calming presence .
The military also , I think , has the ability to relieve police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rioters for going on five nights .
So there could be some usefulness in having the National Guard and the military .
The problem here is President Trump and his both lack of knowledge and indifference to what the law actually requires the president to do .
And I would say the problem is the Defense Department leadership , Secretary of Defense Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley , who I think have provided terrible military advice to the president and no pushback — that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources — in terms of saying to him that the activation of those National Guard forces under federal control and the intervention of federal military forces onto the streets of America would actually be inflammatory rather than calming .
So I think the National Guard , as it ’ s currently deployed — that is , under governor control in 26 different states , and there are additional National Guard units now being activated — that that is enough , and that the idea that the federal government has to intervene , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which number in the tens of thousands , I think is an escalation that would just make the situation worse on the ground .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , William Arkin , I wanted to pursue this point that you mentioned in terms of sometimes the National Guard can create a calming situation .
I recall back — because I was there in 1992 at the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King situation , when the police were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King .
And back then , by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were already 62 people killed — 63 people killed in Los Angeles .
Over 12,000 people had been arrested .
And there was hundreds of millions , as much as a billion , dollars in damage to L.A. We ’ re seeing some disturbances in many cities and some looting , but nothing at the scale that would require a massive military presence .
And I ’ m wondering your sense of this question of proportionality in terms of the government response , because by the time the Guard came into L.A. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Los Angeles of almost relief , because there had been so much tension between the community and the local police and the commissioner then , Daryl Gates , that the Guard were almost seen as a neutral force , to some degree .
WILLIAM ARKIN : Well , there ’ s two things to remember , Juan , when one talks about the National Guard .
The National Guard in most states are the very citizens and neighbors of those states .
And so , when the National Guard comes into Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor of California requested the National Guard to come in , requested President Bush activate the National Guard under federal control and bring them in , those were Californians .
And it really does make a difference to people on the ground that they are local people who are involved .
I think the danger of bringing federal government troops into a state is that they ’ re not locals , and therefore they see their role and they see the world in a different way .
They see it more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary Esper , you know , “ the battle space of America.
” Well , it ’ s not a battle space .
This is not a combat zone .
And as far as we ’ ve seen everywhere around the country , it may be the case that the resources of local police are in fact going to be exhausted , especially if rioting continues over many more days , in which case the National Guard does provide a fresh force and does provide a different face .
And especially , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I don ’ t think the military necessarily is an opponent , whereas many African Americans see the police as the opponent .
So , there is a — AMY GOODMAN : Bill Arkin , you tweeted , “ Federal surveillance aircraft , helicopters and drones — from the @ DHSgov and the @ FBI , plus the military — have flown over at least eight cities last night , conducting reconnaissance , taking photos and video of protests.
” WILLIAM ARKIN : The federal government has done many things , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intercepting of phone calls , the intercepting of cellphones , the use of cellphones to locate people , the use of drones , surveillance aircraft , flown by the FBI , by Customs and Border Protection and by the military , including helicopters that have been flying over U.S. cities conducting surveillance missions .
This has all been done in the last 24 to 48 hours .
And it is a questionable use of the military force .
But up in the air and doing that surveillance , if in fact it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and feeding that information to the governors in order for them to be able to command their forces , to get better situational awareness and improve — AMY GOODMAN : But clearly the governors were fighting back , in their call , against President Trump last night , a number of the governors , on this .
He was talking about dominating the people of the United States .
Juan ?
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Yeah , I wanted to ask Kristen Clarke .
This is , of course , not the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another crisis , has suddenly resorted to calling out the military .
I ’ m thinking earlier in his administration , the bringing out of troops to the border with Mexico , and again overusing the military in an attempt to deal with another political problem that he had .
I ’ m wondering : Do you see parallels , as well , between his response to immigration and the use of troops and now to protests against police abuse ?
KRISTEN CLARKE : Well , there ’ s weaponization of tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And his use of social media , President Trump ’ s use of social media , is perhaps the best example of how he has weaponized this platform to incite violence and to escalate tensions across our country .
I do indeed see parallels .
You know , I just want to make sure that I underscore , though , that we can ’ t lose sight .
We can ’ t lose sight of what ’ s at the heart of these demonstrations and protests .
And it is the public crying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way policing is carried out in our country .
And we have a roadmap for this .
We have studied this issue time and time again .
And at my organization , the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , we are pushing Congress , we are urging states right now , to work on things like bans on chokeholds , bans on racial profiling .
We need Congress to revise a federal statute , 18 U.S.C .
242 , which would make it easier to hold police officers accountable when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We need a database so that we can track bad cops who were purged from one police department , so that they don ’ t jump right over to the next .
Racism infects every stage of our criminal justice system in the United States , and now is the time that we confront this crisis head on .
And we need not be distracted by President Trump ’ s invocations of executive orders , dangling of threats of prosecuting people and throwing the book at them , invoking , if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1807 .
In my view , many of these actions by President Trump are intended to derail the underlying objective and goals of demonstrations and protests , which have been very intentional and clear in their focus .
AMY GOODMAN : We want to thank you both for being with us , Kristen Clarke , president of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law , and William Arkin , longtime reporter on military and nuclear policy .
When we come back , we go to Los Angeles to speak with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author of When They Call You a Terrorist .
Stay with us .
AMY GOODMAN : “ Get Off the Track , ” a prominent song of the 1840s abolitionist struggle , made famous by the Hutchinson Family Singers of New Hampshire , performed here by the Dutchess Anti-Slavery Singers .

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: Well, we have so much to do today as an historic week-long uprising against police violence continues and curfews are in place across the United States. President Trump has declared himself “the president of law and order” and threatened Monday to send thousands of heavily armed soldiers into the streets.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them. I am also taking swift and decisive action to protect our great capital, Washington, D.C. What happened in this city last night was a total disgrace. As we speak, I am dispatching thousands and thousands of heavily armed soldiers, military personnel and law enforcement officers to stop the rioting, looting, vandalism, assaults and the wanton destruction of property.
AMY GOODMAN: While Trump spoke from the Rose Garden, blasts could be heard from nearby Lafayette Park as the National Guard and officers dressed in riot gear fired tear gas, rubber bullets and flashbangs to disperse peaceful protesters. Moments later, Trump walked through the cleared park to have his photo taken with a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was boarded up. When he returned to the White House, Trump refused to take questions from reporters as he pumped his fist and posed for another photo op.
JIM ACOSTA: Do you have a word for the protesters that were tear-gassed so you could make that trip, Mr. President?
REPORTER: Mr. President, what are you doing about excessive police use of force?
JIM ACOSTA: Mr. President, is this still a democracy?
AMY GOODMAN: That last reporter saying, “Mr. President, is this still a democracy?”
The president’s actions were widely denounced. D.C. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde criticized Trump for using the church as a, quote, “backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus,” unquote. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden wrote on Twitter, quote, “The fascist speech Donald Trump just delivered verged on a declaration of war against American citizens.” The chief of police in Arlington County, Virginia, pulled his officers from D.C. after they were used to clear the park, saying their safety and the safety of others was endangered for a photo op.
This is police and the National Guard clearing peaceful protesters from the streets of Washington, D.C., before the 7 p.m. curfew.
PROTESTER: Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!
AMY GOODMAN: A tall barrier fence has now been erected around Lafayette Park across from the White House.
For more, we’re joined in Washington, D.C., by Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. And in Irvington, New York, William Arkin is with us, a longtime reporter on military and nuclear policy, author of many books, including Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State.
We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Kristen Clarke, let’s begin with you. Your concerns about Donald Trump’s speech last night saying he’s deploying thousands and thousands of troops to Washington, D.C., and all over the country to quell the protests?
KRISTEN CLARKE: You know, President Trump’s speech almost amounted to a declaration of war on Americans, on peaceful Americans who are out right now exercising their First Amendment right to speak out, and here to speak out against the long-standing problem of police violence and racial violence which has beleaguered our nation.
President Trump has invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807. This is a law that has been used in the past to deploy the military to states to deal with, for example, resistance to the desegregation orders that had been put in place for the University of Mississippi. When officials were hostile and recalcitrant, President Kennedy ordered that troops go in to force the state to comply with the law, here the civil rights law that required desegregation. We saw President Bush deploy the military to Louisiana to help with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, but that happened in coordination with officials in the state of Louisiana.
Here, Trump single-handedly seeks to deploy the military to states all across our country over the objections of state officials and with the sole and singular purpose of silencing Americans. In many ways, this is the death of democracy, because people who are out right now have one singular goal: to ensure that at this moment we not turn our backs on the long-overdue work that’s necessary to rid our nation of the scourge of police violence that has resulted in innumerous deaths of unarmed African Americans.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Kristen Clarke, I’m wondering — you mentioned the 1962 Oxford, Mississippi. There was also, in 1958, President Eisenhower sent federal troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, also to enforce desegregation orders in the public schools there. But in the Oxford, Mississippi, the difference was that there were armed whites that actually attacked federal marshals. Several — dozens of federal marshals were wounded before the federal troops came in. But then, also, under another Democratic president, Lyndon Johnson, federal troops were sent into Washington, D.C. after the assassination of Martin Luther King and rioting in D.C. They were sent into Detroit, several other cities in 1967. So, what is the difference between, as you’re saying, what President Trump is claiming to do now versus some of these prior instances of not just National Guard, but actually federal troops being sent into states?
KRISTEN CLARKE: There is deep hypocrisy here. You bring up examples of white hostility and racism throughout our history that has torn apart communities and divided our nation. And those moments were moments where we needed federal intervention, with all deliberate speed, to ensure compliance with our civil rights laws. And here we are in 2020 dealing yet again with the failure to comply with civil rights laws: police departments that abuse the civil rights of unarmed African Americans far too often.
And, you know, it’s quite remarkable when you think about Charlottesville and the hate rally that unfolded there in 2017 that resulted in harm to individuals and loss of life, the loss of Heather Heyer’s life. And President Trump’s reaction then couldn’t be any different. There, he referred to the violent individuals who drove that rally as “very fine people.” And here, he’s essentially declaring war, declaring war on people who are out solely to speak out against racial violence, against police violence, people who are saying, “Enough is enough,” people who are saying that “We see these incidents time and time again captured on video, and we refuse to allow you to turn a blind eye to this any longer.”
And the killing of George Floyd, these images have gone viral across our country, across the globe. It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back. And here we are, people all across our country who are speaking out, and it is most unfortunate that President Trump seeks to shut them down and silence them with the threat of deploying the military.
AMY GOODMAN: This is President Trump speaking Monday during a call with the nation’s governors.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We have a lot of men. We have all the men and women that you need. But people aren’t calling them up. You have to dominate. If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time. They’re going to run over you. You’re going to look like a bunch of jerks. You have to dominate. And you have to arrest people, and you have to try people, and they have to go to jail for long periods of time.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that’s President Trump speaking to the governors, who were pushing back. Bill Arkin, you have been writing about this, longtime reporter on military and nuclear policy. What Trump’s plans are, now he’s announced them, though he hasn’t actually invoked the act. But can you talk about what you understand the plans to be, from your sources?
WILLIAM ARKIN: Thank you for having me on, Amy.
I think it’s important to say at this moment that the Insurrection Act has not been evoked. And what the president has done is he’s made a threat. He’s made a threat to the governors that says if you’re not able to safeguard civilian lives and property, and if you refuse to protect the civil rights of your citizens, then the federal government will intervene. That’s the provisions of the Insurrection Act, as it reads.
Now, that’s not the only condition under which the president can call federal forces out. And in the case of the District of Columbia, for instance, he’s already activated the District of Columbia National Guard in federal status. So, in fact, we now have a National Guard in our country, as of yesterday, under federal control. And there have been military police and infantry soldiers moved from Fort Drum, New York, from Fort Riley, Kansas, and from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the D.C. area, and they’re now mustering at military bases at what’s called Force Protection Condition Delta, the highest condition, ready to take control of Washington, D.C., if the president so orders. So we have this very fluid and difficult situation because there are already 20,000 national guardsmen and women on the streets of America. The Guard has been mobilized in 26 different states and the District of Columbia.
But I want to say this about the military being on the streets. In many cases, we’ve seen instances where the National Guard has played a calming role. For instance, I saw news stories last night out of Tennessee, where the national guardsmen of the Tennessee National Guard put down their shields and stood quietly and unarmed in front of a crowd and was actually serving in a calming presence. The military also, I think, has the ability to relieve police forces who have now been fighting protesters and rioters for going on five nights. So there could be some usefulness in having the National Guard and the military.
The problem here is President Trump and his both lack of knowledge and indifference to what the law actually requires the president to do. And I would say the problem is the Defense Department leadership, Secretary of Defense Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who I think have provided terrible military advice to the president and no pushback — that’s what I’m hearing from my sources — in terms of saying to him that the activation of those National Guard forces under federal control and the intervention of federal military forces onto the streets of America would actually be inflammatory rather than calming.
So I think the National Guard, as it’s currently deployed — that is, under governor control in 26 different states, and there are additional National Guard units now being activated — that that is enough, and that the idea that the federal government has to intervene, particularly the federal government law enforcement authorities, which number in the tens of thousands, I think is an escalation that would just make the situation worse on the ground.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, William Arkin, I wanted to pursue this point that you mentioned in terms of sometimes the National Guard can create a calming situation. I recall back — because I was there in 1992 at the Los Angeles riots after the Rodney King situation, when the police were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King. And back then, by the time the Guard came in, there were already 62 people killed — 63 people killed in Los Angeles. Over 12,000 people had been arrested. And there was hundreds of millions, as much as a billion, dollars in damage to L.A. We’re seeing some disturbances in many cities and some looting, but nothing at the scale that would require a massive military presence. And I’m wondering your sense of this question of proportionality in terms of the government response, because by the time the Guard came into L.A., there was a sense by the residents of Los Angeles of almost relief, because there had been so much tension between the community and the local police and the commissioner then, Daryl Gates, that the Guard were almost seen as a neutral force, to some degree.
WILLIAM ARKIN: Well, there’s two things to remember, Juan, when one talks about the National Guard. The National Guard in most states are the very citizens and neighbors of those states. And so, when the National Guard comes into Los Angeles in the case there, where the governor of California requested the National Guard to come in, requested President Bush activate the National Guard under federal control and bring them in, those were Californians. And it really does make a difference to people on the ground that they are local people who are involved.
I think the danger of bringing federal government troops into a state is that they’re not locals, and therefore they see their role and they see the world in a different way. They see it more, as the military stupidly said yesterday, Secretary Esper, you know, “the battle space of America.” Well, it’s not a battle space. This is not a combat zone. And as far as we’ve seen everywhere around the country, it may be the case that the resources of local police are in fact going to be exhausted, especially if rioting continues over many more days, in which case the National Guard does provide a fresh force and does provide a different face. And especially, I think, for African Americans in America, I don’t think the military necessarily is an opponent, whereas many African Americans see the police as the opponent. So, there is a —
AMY GOODMAN: Bill Arkin, you tweeted, “Federal surveillance aircraft, helicopters and drones — from the @DHSgov and the @FBI, plus the military — have flown over at least eight cities last night, conducting reconnaissance, taking photos and video of protests.”
WILLIAM ARKIN: The federal government has done many things, including the monitoring of social media, the intercepting of phone calls, the intercepting of cellphones, the use of cellphones to locate people, the use of drones, surveillance aircraft, flown by the FBI, by Customs and Border Protection and by the military, including helicopters that have been flying over U.S. cities conducting surveillance missions. This has all been done in the last 24 to 48 hours. And it is a questionable use of the military force. But up in the air and doing that surveillance, if in fact it’s done under the governors’ control and feeding that information to the governors in order for them to be able to command their forces, to get better situational awareness and improve —
AMY GOODMAN: But clearly the governors were fighting back, in their call, against President Trump last night, a number of the governors, on this. He was talking about dominating the people of the United States. Juan?
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, I wanted to ask Kristen Clarke. This is, of course, not the first time that President Trump, in the midst of another crisis, has suddenly resorted to calling out the military. I’m thinking earlier in his administration, the bringing out of troops to the border with Mexico, and again overusing the military in an attempt to deal with another political problem that he had. I’m wondering: Do you see parallels, as well, between his response to immigration and the use of troops and now to protests against police abuse?
KRISTEN CLARKE: Well, there’s weaponization of tools at his disposal at every turn. And his use of social media, President Trump’s use of social media, is perhaps the best example of how he has weaponized this platform to incite violence and to escalate tensions across our country. I do indeed see parallels.
You know, I just want to make sure that I underscore, though, that we can’t lose sight. We can’t lose sight of what’s at the heart of these demonstrations and protests. And it is the public crying out for desperately needed reform of the way policing is carried out in our country.
And we have a roadmap for this. We have studied this issue time and time again. And at my organization, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, we are pushing Congress, we are urging states right now, to work on things like bans on chokeholds, bans on racial profiling. We need Congress to revise a federal statute, 18 U.S.C. 242, which would make it easier to hold police officers accountable when they use deadly force against unarmed individuals. We need a database so that we can track bad cops who were purged from one police department, so that they don’t jump right over to the next.
Racism infects every stage of our criminal justice system in the United States, and now is the time that we confront this crisis head on. And we need not be distracted by President Trump’s invocations of executive orders, dangling of threats of prosecuting people and throwing the book at them, invoking, if not literally, figuratively, the Insurrection Act of 1807. In my view, many of these actions by President Trump are intended to derail the underlying objective and goals of demonstrations and protests, which have been very intentional and clear in their focus.
AMY GOODMAN: We want to thank you both for being with us, Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and William Arkin, longtime reporter on military and nuclear policy.
When we come back, we go to Los Angeles to speak with Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, author of When They Call You a Terrorist. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “Get Off the Track,” a prominent song of the 1840s abolitionist struggle, made famous by the Hutchinson Family Singers of New Hampshire, performed here by the Dutchess Anti-Slavery Singers.


democracynow--2020-06-02--Headlines for June  2, 2020

Headlines for June  2, 2020

As a historic uprising against police violence continues across the United States , President Trump Monday threatened to send heavily armed soldiers into the country ’ s streets .
President Donald Trump : “ Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled .
If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents , then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.
” As Trump spoke from the Rose Garden , blasts could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Guard and police officers fired tear gas , rubber bullets and flashbangs to disperse a peaceful protest against police brutality .
Many officers wore riot gear ; some were on horseback .
Moments later , Trump walked through the now-cleared park to have his photo taken with a Bible in front of St. John ’ s Episcopal Church , which was boarded up .
Trump was accompanied by Attorney General William Barr , Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper .
The president ’ s actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mariann Edgar Budde criticized Trump for using the church as a “ backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.
” The chief of police in Arlington , Virginia , pulled his officers from D.C. after they were used to clear the park , saying their safety and the safety of others was endangered for a photo op .
Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote on Twitter , “ The fascist speech Donald Trump just delivered verged on a declaration of war against American citizens .
”

As a historic uprising against police violence continues across the United States, President Trump Monday threatened to send heavily armed soldiers into the country’s streets.
President Donald Trump: “Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled. If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”
As Trump spoke from the Rose Garden, blasts could be heard from nearby Lafayette Park as the National Guard and police officers fired tear gas, rubber bullets and flashbangs to disperse a peaceful protest against police brutality. Many officers wore riot gear; some were on horseback. Moments later, Trump walked through the now-cleared park to have his photo taken with a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was boarded up. Trump was accompanied by Attorney General William Barr, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The president’s actions were widely denounced. D.C. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde criticized Trump for using the church as a “backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus.” The chief of police in Arlington, Virginia, pulled his officers from D.C. after they were used to clear the park, saying their safety and the safety of others was endangered for a photo op. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote on Twitter, “The fascist speech Donald Trump just delivered verged on a declaration of war against American citizens.”