Protests have started across almost all over the United States in the past few days following the death of an unarmed black man in police custody. George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer who knelt on the man’s neck, choking him to death sparking George Floyd protests. This unjust and brutal murder made people come on roads to ask for justice.
George Floyd Protests
Floyd’s death, the latest in a series of murders of African-Americans by law enforcement officers in the US, has reawakened intense outrage at generations of black people who have fallen victim to police ruthlessness – and revived a centuries-long movement for racial justice in America.
When did the protests start?
Protests started on May 27 in Minneapolis and have instantly increased to various cities across the US, including New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles.
Protests were mostly peaceful but in recent days have become more violent as police used power against protesters, looters, and journalists. The police have suffered extensive criticism for heavy-handed tactics.
Protest in the US
Cities saw another night of demonstrations and rallies despite extensive curfews as occasional tension continued across the US one week after George Floyd’s death, which post-mortems on Monday ruled was a homicide.
From New York to Washington DC and from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, many associations and communities enacted curfews on Monday, in some cases giving citizens just hours’ or minutes’ notice.
In Philadelphia, where the mayor declared a 6 pm curfew with about half an hour’s notice, emergency alerts went off in community on demonstrators’ phones – but they continued undeterred, shouting, “Whose streets? Our streets.”
In Washington DC, military helicopters and pepper spray were used to scatter the protesters, while in Oakland police launched a fire of teargas at a crowd of about 500 to 600 demonstrators, who immediately dispersed.
In St Louis, police told four officers were injured by gunfire after an earlier peaceful protest turned in violent, while in Buffalo, two people were injured when a car crashed into a line of police. Shootings involving police were also reported in Las Vegas later in the night.
Trump’s response to protests
Declaring himself “your president of law and order,” President Donald Trump swore Monday to restore the order to American streets using the military if public violence isn’t stopped, even as peaceful demonstrators just outside the White House gates were scattered with tear gas, flash grenades, and rubber bullets. It was all, obviously, so Trump could visit a nearby church.
He did not offer that on Monday, preferring instead to conserve. He called violent protests “domestic acts of terror” which law enforcement would “dominate the streets” to quell.
Yesterday was a bad day for the Cuomo Brothers. New York was lost to the looters, thugs, Radical Left, and all others forms of Lowlife & Scum. The Governor refuses to accept my offer of a dominating National Guard. NYC was ripped to pieces. Likewise, Fredo’s ratings are down 50%!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
He did not offer that on Monday, preferring instead to conserve. He called violent protests “domestic acts of terror” which law enforcement would “dominate the streets” to quell.
“If a city or state refuses to take the actions 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,” Trump said.
A large escort of military vehicles was seen running through the White House complex and onto Pennsylvania Avenue before Trump appeared to address. Trump spoke from the Rose Garden he was obliged to upholding laws and mobilizing military resources to end nationwide looting.
“My first and highest duty as president is to defend our great country and the American people,” Trump said. “I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do.”
