Protests spread across US as cop charged over George Floyd death
Derek Chauvin charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man
- Protests erupt in cities across the United States over the deadly arrest of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, who was pinned to the ground by the knee of a white officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
- The fired officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for several minutes, as Floyd pleaded "I can't breathe", has been charged with murder and manslaughter.
- The Minnesota National Guard has arrived in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and surrounding areas.
- Minneapolis has imposed a weekend curfew.
- Community leaders and residents demand the arrest of the three other officers involved.
Here are the latest updates:
Saturday, May 30
07:55 GMT - Louisville police apologizes for targeting news crew at protest
The Louisville Metro Police Department apologised
after a police officer was seen on camera firing what appeared to be
pepper balls at a news crew during a live television broadcast.
A crew from WAVE-TV was downtown in the Kentucky
city Friday night, covering demonstrations over the death of Breonna
Taylor, a black woman killed by police in her own home in March.
As WAVE-TV was on air, reporter Kaitlin Rust is heard yelling
off-camera: "I've been shot! I've been shot!" Video shows a police
officer aiming directly at the camera crew, as Rust describes the
projectiles as "pepper bullets.""I want to apologize," Louisville police spokeswoman Jessie Halladay told the Courier Journal. "It's not something that should have occurred if she was singled out as a reporter."LIVE ON @wave3news - something I’ve never seen in my career.— Lauren Jones (@LaurenWAVE3TV) May 30, 2020
An armed officer shooting directly at our reporter @KaitlinRustWAVE and photographer @jbtcardfan during the protests in #Louisville.
My prayers are going out to everyone tonight.
Such a scary situation for all. pic.twitter.com/Ipg0DjFIXu
Halladay said she couldn't tell who the officer was at this time, but that police would review the video again and "if we need to do any investigation for discipline, we will do that."
07:00 GMT - One dead after shots fired at protesters in Detroit
A 19-year-old man was killed in Detroit, Michigan, after someone in an SUV fired shots into a crowd of people protesting Floyd's death in Minneapolis custody, police said.Sergeant Nicole Kirkwood said the shooting occurred about 11:30 pm local time on Friday near Detroit's Greektown entertainment district as officers were confronted with dozens of protesters.
An officer was not involved in the shooting, she said, adding that the suspect pulled up in a Dodge Durango and fired shots into the crowd.
06:50 GMT - Scuffles reported in front of the White House
US media reported scuffles between Secret Service officers and protesters in front of the White House as demonstrators returned to the area."Some violence here," said Ben Riley Smith, US editor at The Daily Telegraph. "Police just did a small charge after protesters got one of their shields and brandished as a trophy."Some violence here. Police just did a small charge after protesters got one of their shields and brandished as a trophy. Clashes as the line broke. White House viewable behind. 2.10am-ish. #GeorgeFloydProtets pic.twitter.com/MOdRGopA4w— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) May 30, 2020
Fin Gomez, CBS News's White House correspondent, said Secret Service officers were pushing back the crowds as some protesters tried to breach barricades in the area.
Protest in front of the White House. @SecretService using their plastic shields to push back vs some in crowd who are pulling on metal barricades #georgefloyd @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/tLRExwqrfE— Fin Gomez (@finnygo) May 30, 2020
06:24 GMT - Military police put on alert to go to Minneapolis, says AP
The Associated Press news agency said that the Pentagon has ordered the army to put several active-duty US military police units on the ready to deploy to Minneapolis.Citing three people with direct knowledge of the orders, AP said soldiers from Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Drum in New York have been ordered to be ready to deploy within four hours if called.
Soldiers in Fort Carson, in Colorado, and Fort Riley in Kansas have been told to be ready within 24 hours.
05:27 GMT - National Guard deploys to enforce Minneapolis curfew
Some 350 officers of the Minnesota National Guard and local police have deployed to enforce a curfew in Minneapolis, warning protesters they will be arrested if they refused to leave the city's Fifth Precint area.The warning came as KARE 11, a local TV station, reported protesters had lit fires at a gas station, a bank and a US post office building.Troopers are giving dispersal orders near the Fifth Precinct. Leave the area now or you will be arrested. #MACCMN— MnDPS_DPS (@MnDPS_DPS) May 30, 2020
"I urge residents to comply with 8pm curfew and go home immediately," said Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota.
A Minneapolis standoff ends in teargas pic.twitter.com/epXhxOL6e9— John Hendren (@johnhendren) May 30, 2020
04:57 GMT - Georgia declares state of emergency
Brian P Kempt, governor of the state of Georgia, declared a state of emergency in Fulton county and ordered the deployment of 500 National Guard troops as protests turned violent in Atlanta.Police in Atlanta said protesters lit fires and looted businesses in downtown Atlanta.
They will deploy immediately to assist @ga_dps, @GaDNRLE, @GA_Corrections & local law enforcement who are working tirelessly to subdue unlawful activity & restore peace. We will continue to make all state resources available to local leaders during this emergency situation. (2/2)— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) May 30, 2020
04:32 GMT - Protesters set fire to court building in Louisville
Hundreds of people protested for a second day in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, with some demonstrators breaking into the city's Hall of Justice and starting a fire inside.WHASS 11 TV said protesters broke into the court building through a basement window and lit a fire there. Police told the TV station "things are escalating, not de-escalating".
Crowds rallied in different parts of the city, with some chanting "Prosecute the police" and "I can't breathe".
03:46 GMT - Houston mayor calls for peaceful protests
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged protesters to remain peaceful after a group of people demonstrating against Floyd's death blocked highway entrances and threw objects at police officers.Some protesters clashed with police in downtown Houston, Texas, with officers deploying tear gas or pepper spray to disperse crowds.
Organisers believe more than 3,000 gathered with Black Lives Matter Houston to protest Floyd's death with chants of "I can't breathe" and "No justice, no peace".
Turner said some were arrested for attempting to block roads, but no injuries were reported. He added that some police vehicles were damaged.
02:50 GMT - Protesters defy Minneapolis curfew
Hundreds of people defied a curfew in Minneapolis by rallying in the city's downtown for a fourth day over Floyd's custodial death."It's an eerie scene right now," Allison Herrera, a Minneapolis resident, told Al Jazeera. "The curfew went into effect a little over an hour ago. And people are still out on the streets."
Earlier in the day, CBSN Minnesota reported 1,000 people led by athletes marched to the Hennepin Bridge in downtown Minneapolis and took a knee in Floyd's memory.
02:30 GMT - Police and protesters clash in New York City
Demonstrators took to New York City streets for a second day in protest over the death of Floyd, and invoked the names of other black people who died at police hands.In Brooklyn, crowds of demonstrators chanted at police officers lined up outside the Barclays Center.
There were several moments of struggle, as some in the crowd pushed against metal barricades and police pushed back.A lot just popped off at the protest for George Floyd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Pepper spray, batons, and several arrests. pic.twitter.com/ZuciQA82fe— Jon Campbell (@j0ncampbell) May 29, 2020
Scores of water bottles flew from the crowd toward the officers, and in return police sprayed an eye-irritating chemical at the group twice.
01:54 GMT - Police in Atlanta use tear gas as mayor decries 'chaos'
Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds in downtown Atlanta, local media reported, as the city's mayor pleaded with protesters to go home."What I see happening is not Atlanta. This is not a protest ... this is chaos," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said at a news briefing after protesters vandalised police cars, setting one vehicle on fire.
"Go home," she pleaded. "Go home.
01:29 GMT - White House goes on brief lockdown
The White House went into a brief lockdown, according to US media, after hundreds of people rallied gathered at a park across the street from the president's mansion.Peter Alexander, NBC News' White House correspondent, said in a tweet: "The White House is under lockdown orders from the US Secret Service due to protests outside the gates over George Floyd."
The lockdown was lifted about an hour later.
Demonstrators gathered at the Lafayette Park had wielded signs saying "Stop Killing Us" and called for justice for Floyd.White House lockdown lifted. Heading out. pic.twitter.com/7lO32ZOxx9— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) May 30, 2020
01:14 GMT - Denver mayor calls for calm
Michael Hancock, the mayor of Denver, Colorado, called for calm and unity after the first of several planned city protests over George Floyd's death turned violent."Let not the story be about the riots and protests. Let's keep the focus on the life that was lost," he said.
"I can tell you not to go out and demonstrate but the reality is it's going to happen," Hancock said at a news briefing, stressing he shared outrage over what he's called the "senseless and tragic murder" of Floyd in Minneapolis.
Hancock blamed what he called a minority of agitators among peaceful protesters for inciting violence throughout downtown on Thursday. That violence included throwing rocks at police officers, setting small fires, and breaking windows and damaging cars at the state Capitol and at businesses.
00:38 GMT - Police car set on fire in Atlanta
A police car was set on fire in Atlanta, where protesters used barricades to break the windows of cruisers while others jumped on the vehicles and shattered windshields as they demonstrated against the death of George Floyd.Hundreds of protesters confronted police outside CNN's downtown headquarters. Activists spray-painted a large CNN logo outside the building, breaking a window and tagging doors. One protester climbed on top of the CNN sign and waved a "Black Lives Matter" flag to cheers from the crowd.
Protesters pelted officers who came over with bottles, striking some of them. Other bottles thrown at authorities exploded behind the police line, but no officers appeared to get hit.HAPPENING NOW: Atlanta #protests in response to the #GeorgeFloyd killing have turned chaotic as police in riot gear are called in: https://t.co/LWmWiyII4D pic.twitter.com/T9ae1hLRAE— AJC (@ajc) May 30, 2020
Protesters chanted, "Quit your jobs."
The officers backed their line away from the group of protesters who were throwing objects at them.
Police ordered demonstrators to leave the street and threatened to arrest them if they did not leave quickly.
Friday, May 29
22:00 GMT - Protests kicking off in major US cities
Protests against police brutality were kicking off in major cities across the United States late on Friday.Video shared on social media showed demonstrators marching in Houston, Texas, chanting: "I can't breathe" and "hands up, don't shoot".
Protesters also rallied in Washington, DC and New York City, with demonstrations scheduled in other major cities later on Friday and throughout the weekend.MUST-SEE VIDEO: Police blocked protesters from entering the Gulf Freeway at Allen Parkway in downtown Houston this afternoon during a march for George Floyd https://t.co/RLG9oBsPaO pic.twitter.com/4dKeuWc2Rc— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) May 29, 2020
Covering a protest against the death of George Floyd in Washington, DC. pic.twitter.com/m1hs671Vw2— Matthew Rodier (@mattrodierphot1) May 29, 2020
21:15 GMT - Trump says he spoke with family of George Floyd
US President Donald Trump said he had spoken with the family of George Floyd.
Trump, speaking during an event at the White House, also
said "we can't allow" the demonstrations in Minneapolis "to descend
further into lawless anarchy and chaos".
20:40 GMT - Minneapolis imposes weekend curfew
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has imposed a curfew in the city beginning Friday night.Under the curfew, only specified public safety personnel and other essential workers will be allowed in public places from 8pm to 6am (01:00-10:00 GMT) Friday and Saturday nights.
Mayor Frey has issued Emergency Regulation No. 2020-2-1 which imposes a curfew throughout the City of Minneapolis beginning at 8 p.m. tonight (Fri., May 29) and extends through the weekend.— Minneapolis Clerk (@mplsclerk) May 29, 2020
See the posted regulation for details at: https://t.co/iebgleKnyx pic.twitter.com/7l61oURPtc
20:05 GMT - FBI asks for info, photos, video on George Floyd's death
The FBI in Minneapolis asked for public assistance with its civil rights investigation of the death of Floyd.It encourages the public to provide any info, photos or videos from before, during or after the incident.
19:50 GMT - Floyd was unresponsive for nearly three minutes before officer removed knee: Complaint
George Floyd was unresponsive for nearly three minutes before the officer removed his knee from his neck, according to a complaint filed by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in the arrest of Derek Chuavin.Citing a preliminary autopsy, the complaint said being constrained, underlying health conditions and any potential intoxicants in Floyd’s system “likely contributed to his death”.
18:32 GMT - Trump defends tweet, says he wasn't glorifying violence
Responding to Twitter's decision to hide President Donald Trump tweet that it deemed to be glorifying violence, Trump said he was only stating a fact."Looting leads to shooting, and that’s why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night," Trump tweeted, repeating the phrase he initially tweeted late on Thursday.
"It was spoken as a fact, not as a statement. It’s very simple, nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media. Honor the memory of George Floyd!" Trump said.
The phrase "looting leads to shooting" was first used, however, by former Miami Police Chief Walter Headley in declaring a war on criminals, according to the Washington Post.
“I’ve let the word filter down that when the looting starts, the shooting starts,” Headley reportedly said.
18:10 GMT - Fired police officer charged with murder, manslaughter
A fired Minneapolis police officer has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said.
Former officer
Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for several minutes before the black
man went motionless, a video of the incident showed.
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Minneapolis residents called the arrest a good "first
step" but demanded the three other officers involved to be arrested and
charged as well.
Freeman said those officers are still under investigation.
17:20 GMT - Fired officer who knelt on Floyd's neck taken into custody, local media report
According to local media, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has taken into custody former officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd's neck for several minutes before the black man went motionless.No criminal charges have been filed as of yet.
16:50 GMT - Obama: This shouldn't be the normal in America
Former President Barack Obama issued a statement on Floyd’s killing via Twitter. Obama cited conversations with friends in recent days, including one with an African American business owner who said Floyd’s killing “hurt” to watch.While it's “natural” for people to want things to return to normal, Obama said, “we have to remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently on account of race is tragically, painfully, maddeningly ‘normal’."
“This shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in America. It can’t be ‘normal.’ If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must be better," Obama said.My statement on the death of George Floyd: pic.twitter.com/Hg1k9JHT6R— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 29, 2020
16:05 GMT - National Guard arrives in Minneapolis
Members of the Minnesota National Guard arrived in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul areas. The National Guards said about 500 members would be activated to the area.
16:00 GMT - NABJ calls arrest of CNN journalist 'unfathomable'
The on-air arrest of CNN journalist Omar Jimenez, who is Black, was condemned by Dorothy Tucker, president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)."It is unfathomable and upsetting to witness this structural racism in real time. We are closely monitoring this situation," Tucker said in a tweet.
Local NABJ chapter head Nicole Norfleet reached out to Jimenez to offer support.
Let us know if there's anything we can do for you, Omar. I'm the president of the local @NABJ chapter here and board member of @mnspj . We just put out a joint statement. Please reach out if you need additional assistance while here in the Twin Cities.— Nicole Norfleet (@nicolenorfleet) May 29, 2020
15:30 GMT - Minnesota governor apologises for CNN arrests, says there will be swift justice for Floyd
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he expects "swift" justice for George Floyd.
"It
is my expectation that justice for the officers involved in this will
be swift, that it will come in a timely manner, that it will be fair,"
Swift said. "That is what we've asked for. I have been in contact with
Hennepin County attorney, and I am confident that those very things I
just said will happen."
Prosecutors have been criticised for taking more than three days to announce a decision on charges against the officers.
Walz also publicly apologised for the arrest of a CNN crew.
14:20 GMT - Biden 'furious' about Trump tweet
Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said on Twitter that he was "furious" about Trump's tweet glorifying violence against protesters in Minneapolis."I will not lift the President's tweet," the former vice president said. "I will not give him that amplification. But he is calling for violence against American citizens during a moment of pain for so many. I'm furious, and you should be too."
Biden said he would speak later on Friday about the protests.I will not lift the President's tweet. I will not give him that amplification. But he is calling for violence against American citizens during a moment of pain for so many. I'm furious, and you should be too.— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 29, 2020
14:15 GMT - US first lady calls for peace
Striking a noticeably different tone from her husband, US First Lady Melania Trump tweeted her condolences to the family of George Floyd and called for peace."Our country allows for peaceful protests, but there is no reason for violence," she said. "I've seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can't stop now. My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. As a nation, let's focus on peace, prayers & healing."
Our country allows for peaceful protests, but there is no reason for violence. I've seen our citizens unify & take care of one another through COVID19 & we can't stop now. My deepest condolences to the family of George Floyd. As a nation, let's focus on peace, prayers & healing.— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 29, 2020
13:10 GMT - Minnesota attorney general says charges are likely
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says he expects "there will be charges" against the police officers involved in Floyd's deadly arrest."We are standing by and helping any way we can," Ellison told CNN. "I anticipate there will be charges. I hope they're soon. But that is the prerogative of another prosecuting authority. They are trying to be careful. They are trying to make sure their case is strong and airtight."
12:00 GMT - Brother of George Floyd: 'I just want justice'
Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, says he just wants justice.Philonise said the protesters "have the same pain that I feel".
"I want everybody to be peaceful right now but people are torn and hurt because they're tired of seeing black men die constantly, over and over again," Philonise told CNN.
"I understand and I see why a lot of people are doing a lot of different things around the world. I don't want them to lash out like that, but I can't stop people right now. Because they have pain. They have the same pain that I feel. I want everything to be peaceful, but I can't make everybody be peaceful. I can't. It's hard."
Read more here.
11:00 GMT - Twitter flags and hides Trump's tweet that 'glorified violence'
Twitter has, for the first time, flagged and hidden a tweet by Trump, saying he violated Twitter's rules about glorifying violence.Trump took to Twitter on Friday, saying "when the looting starts, the shooting starts", in reference to nationwide protests that followed the deadly arrest of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in Minneapolis.
Twitter flagged the second tweet with a disclaimer, saying: "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence. However, Twitter has determined that it may be in the public's interest for the Tweet to remain accessible," allowing the public to still view the tweet by clicking on "View".
Read more here.
09:00 GMT - Protests over deadly arrest rock US's Minneapolis
Protests erupted across the United States on Thursday night as anger over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, intensified, with some demonstrators gaining access to a police precinct in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and setting sections of the building on fire.
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