Wed 03 June 2020:
The United States has been gripped by protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died last week in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and police brutality nationwide.
Protesters are demanding all four officers involved be charged in Floyd’s death. So far, only one – white officer Derek Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as the Black man pleaded, “I can’t breathe” – has been arrested and charged on Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Medical examiners have ruled the death a homicide.
Sympathy with protests disapprove Trump’s response: Poll
The majority of Americans sympathise with nationwide protests over Floyd’s, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The survey conducted on Monday and Tuesday found that 64 percent of American adults were “sympathetic to people who are out protesting right now,” while 27 percent said they were not and 9 percent were unsure.
The poll also underscored the political risks for Trump, who has adopted a hardline approach to the protests and threatened to deploy the US military to quell violent dissent – he faces reelection in November.
More than 55 percent of respondents said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of the protests, including 40 percent who “strongly” disapproved, while just one-third said they approved – lower than his overall job approval of 39 percent the poll showed.
02:30 GMT – Thousands of protesters on New York City streets after curfew
Thousands of demonstrators protesting the death of Floyd remained on New York City streets after an 8pm (00:00 GMT) curfew.
Mayor Bill de Blasio had doubled down on a citywide curfew, moving it up from 11pm (03:00 GMT) a night earlier, but rejected urging from Trump and an offer from Governor Andrew Cuomo to bring in the National Guard.
NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD. The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast! Don’t make the same horrible and deadly mistake you made with the Nursing Homes!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
People marched in groups of thousands in parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, as merchants boarded up their businesses. As the curfew time arrived, many were still in the streets and continued marching, with officers initially standing by and allowing them.
But officers started ordering people to move along, and began taking people into custody. Demonstrators who had been on the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan were herded off, with parts of the roadway blocked off behind them.
20:30 GMT – Indianapolis mayor extends curfew for 3rd night
Indianapolis’ mayor extended an overnight curfew into a third night.
Mayor Joe Hogsett’s office said officers would continue to use an “education first” approach before arresting people who violate the curfew, which will run from 9 pm Tuesday until 6 am Wednesday.
During the curfew, residents cannot travel on public streets or be out in public unless they are traveling directly to or from work, their jobs involve travel, are seeking medical care or are fleeing danger.
20:25 GMT – New Jersey to overhaul police use-of-force guidelines
Citing Floyd’s death, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said the state will update its guidelines governing the use of force by police for the first time in two decades and will move to require a statewide licensing program for all officers.
“To the thousands of New Jerseyans that assembled peacefully this week let me be clear: we hear you, we see you, we respect you, we share your anger and we share your commitment to change,” Grewal said during a news conference.
20:15 GMT – US attorney general asked for protesters to be pushed back
US Attorney General William Barr personally asked for protesters to be pushed back from Washington’s Lafayette Square the Washington Post reported, just before Trump spoke from the White House Rose Garden.
The Washington Post reported that Barr made the request about pushing back protesters from the square after finding a previous decision to widen the security perimeter around the White House had not been acted upon.
16:50 GMT – Floyd public memorials, viewings announced
The lawyers for Floyd’s family have released the details for the public memorials and funeral for Floyd
Minneapolis, Minnesota, Memorial:
Date: Thursday, June 4
Time: 1pm (18:00 GMT)
Raeford, North Carolina, Public Viewing and Memorial:
Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: Public viewing 11am – 1pm (15:00-17:00 GMT)
Memorial 3pm (19:00 GMT)
Date: Monday, June 8
Time: 12 – 6pm CT (17:00 GMT-23:00 GMT)
Houston, Texas, Memorial:
Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time: 11am (16:00 GMT)
15:00 GMT – Area around White House sealed off
The streets around the White House complex were shut Tuesday morning, guarded by a mix of Secret Service officers and FBI agents.
Overnight, a fence was constructed around Lafayette Park and along 17th Street at Pennsylvania Avenue, two areas that have been focal points for protests.
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